Helping inmates remain close to their families is a good idea, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has decided.

Here's video of the first session of our 84th Legislature preview symposium today: "The House vs. the Senate." Also, catch the other sessions live at http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/

The general election is over, but a pending pre-session deadline spurs a biennial fundraising spurt from state officeholders. They won't be allowed to raise money again until June, and they're in a hurry to build their treasuries.

Ross Ramsey: http://trib.it/1vmb3PW

(Photo illustration by Todd Wiseman)

The first Texas governor to use a wheelchair will soon move into a governor’s mansion built 134 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act required accessibility for the disabled. But thanks to an arsonist’s Molotov cocktail, the 1856 mansion needs only minor fixes before the January arrival of Gov.-elect Greg Abbott.

Christine Ayala reports: http://trib.it/1w4glGN

(Photo by: Bob Daemmrich)

Depending on your political leanings, the spending cap state lawmakers set this week was either too low, too high or just right. Regardless, the arcane measure could effectively block lawmakers from accessing billions of dollars in state revenue.

Aman Batheja explains: http://trib.it/1vmejLa

(Photo by: Bob Daemmrich)

84th LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW - Beginning at 8:30 a.m. Central on Friday, the Tribune will host several panel discussions with Texas legislators previewing the upcoming legislative session. Topics of discussion will include the relationship between the House and Senate, what the Tea Party wants, the coming battle over the state budget and what’s in store for the big issues on the agenda like public education, energy, transportation and health care. The event will take place at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus (press welcome) and will be livestreamed on the Tribune’s website.

For full schedule, list of panelists and to view online: http://trib.it/1xBrWLH

State Rep. Craig Goldman in TribTalk: "Rather than campaign against your fellow conservatives who have chosen to publicly endorse someone other than your preferred candidate, let us commit to pushing for a more unified Republican Party in the state of Texas."

Colin's back on the river, so let's catch up with the Disappearing Rio Grande Expedition! Day 166: http://trib.it/1vsxE2d (photos: Mike Kane)

Full video of our 12/4 conversation with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who talked about Dan Patrick, education funding, border security, the two-thirds rule, what he'll do next, and more.

http://trib.it/1yW8JoK

Members of the press will continue to be allowed on the Texas House floor in the upcoming legislative session, but they will now be required that to affirm that they do not lobby.

John Reynolds reports: http://trib.it/1zVer8K

Tensions at the nearly 80-year-old Kilgore College have reached new — and possibly violent — heights amid allegations that the school was in the habit of improperly removing and disposing of asbestos from its buildings.

Reeve Hamilton has the story: http://trib.it/1ySi154

We're livestreaming this morning's conversation between outgoing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith at the Austin Club.

Watch on our homepage at 8:00 a.m.: http://www.texastribune.org/

"For too long, our leadership’s obsession with rail as a symbol of a 'world-class city' has stood in the way of addressing Austin’s real transit needs," Jace Deloney writes. Read on in TribTalk.

Greg Abbott has filed his promised lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's moves to shield up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation, and 16 other states have joined in.

Reeve, Evan, Ross and Terri discuss the case of a schizophrenic man on death row, the spending cap for the next budget, Gov. Rick Perry's presidential prep work, and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's latest lawsuit against President Obama.

http://trib.it/12nJ4Zk

The governor is lunching with potential backers -- including a fair number of Iowans -- and huddling with experts as he gears up for a could-be campaign.

Reeve Hamilton reports:

Here's Terri Langford's update on a federal appeals court halting the execution of Texas death row inmate Scott Louis Panetti.

From Terri Langford: The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stays the execution of Scott Louis Panetti "to allow us to
fully consider the late arriving and complex legal questions." Updated story coming.

A Conversation With U.S. Rep.-Elect Will Hurd

With the help of more than $6 million from the state of Texas, prairies west of Houston are being restored with native grasses to increase the population of bobwhite quail, whose numbers have been on the decline in recent years.

Houston Public Media's Dave Fehling reports for StateImpact Texas. Listen: http://trib.it/1rSQu36

(Photo by: Jerod Foster)

In city council runoff elections now underway in Austin, some voters will have the chance to weigh in on a sibling rivalry, while others will be asked to choose sides in a fight over religion and a theory about 9/11.

Edgar Walters and Christine Ayala report: http://trib.it/1yDVO9H

(Photo by: Bob Daemmrich)

Scott Panetti, who donned a cowboy suit to defend himself at his capital murder trial, is set for lethal injection unless Gov. Rick Perry or the courts step in.

Terri Langford reports: http://trib.it/1vMfYxi

In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: Climate change poses new challenges in Texas, water markets offer new way to deal with shortage and an interview with Walt Sears of the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District. http://trib.it/1mgVC7z

Subscribe today, it's free! http://trib.it/1qAMmPV

The three Republicans vying to replace Glenn Hegar tangled in a debate Tuesday night. Neither of the two Democratic candidates showed up.

New in TribTalk: Houston scientist Dorit Donoviel on how medical innovations being developed for astronauts in space are improving the practice of medicine on Earth.

Full video of our 12/1 conversation on the Texas Woman's University campus with state Reps. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton.

Watch: http://trib.it/1w18zgR

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said on Tuesday that a new border security task force is coming to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of President Obama's executive action on immigration. Republicans, however, warned Johnson that he should prepare for another surge of illegal migration like the one Texas saw over the summer.

Julián Aguilar reports: http://trib.it/1FLuvh2

Two new members of the Tribune’s news apps team mean more database explorers, more interactive graphics, more investigative features — in short, more great journalism.

Ryan Murphy makes the introductions: http://trib.it/1HSZbyM

Today is ‪#‎GivingTuesday‬ — a global day of giving back! There are thousands of worthy organizations all over the world, and no end of good we can do by showing them our support. Learn more here: http://www.givingtuesday.org/

Some of our readers don't know we're a nonprofit — learn more about our mission: http://anniversary.texastribune.org/

Less than a month after state leaders announced $1 million in state-matching funds to develop coordinated veterans’ mental health programs, local and regional agencies are primed to learn the ins and outs of the application process.

Alana Rocha has the story: http://trib.it/1FJFGH0

(Photo by: Lain Yandahi)

A rule change will allow the Texas Department of Transportation to move more quickly in lowering speed limits on particularly dangerous roads in the state's drilling regions in West and South Texas.

Aman Batheja reports: http://trib.it/1FJFuHM

(Photo by: Tamir Kalifa)

The Brief: Can Cruz finance a White House Run?; Mental health initiative for veterans to take next step; Lower speed limits coming in drilling areas; Fracking a "nuisance," Denton tells court; Betty King, longtime secretary of Texas Senate, dies; Panetti fate in hands of Perry, appeals courts.

John Reynolds with The Brief for Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014: http://trib.it/1ybnN30

(Photo by: Bob Daemmrich)

The first city in Texas to ban hydraulic fracturing tells a court that it has every right to do so, despite challenges from the General Land Office and the oil and gas industry.

Jim Malewitz reports:

Chairman calls committee's report "a blueprint for tackling some of our state's most pressing healthcare issues."

Edgar Walters reports:

New in TribTalk: Rob Jackson of Stanford University on why the Railroad Commission should reopen an investigation into water contamination in the Barnett Shale.

As Wednesday's scheduled execution of schizophrenic inmate Scott Panetti draws nearer, the parole board votes unanimously not to recommend a reprieve.

Terri Langford reports:

The Legislative Budget Board has cobbled together funding to keep state troopers and the National Guard on the border into next year.

The growth rate guides how far the next budget can exceed the current one in spending on “nondedicated revenue,” which are the parts of the budget that are funded by state taxes but not required to go to specific programs.

We're livestreaming today's preview of the 2015 84th legislative session with state Reps. Myra Crownover, Tan Parker and Ron Simmons from the campus of Texas Woman's University in Denton. Watch at noon: http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/

A day of Thanks. 2 days of deals. Then there's ‪#‎GivingTuesday‬: http://trib.it/O2Ktcs

Lawmakers this week will choose a number — a projected growth limit for the state government — that will frame their budget battles throughout the coming legislative session.

Analysis from Ross Ramsey: http://trib.it/1AZWzxg

(Photo illustration by Todd Wiseman)

As shrubs and seedlings take hold in the scorched Bastrop State Park, park officials face a new quandary: An abundance of whitetail deer is threatening the new growth.

Christine Ayala reports: http://trib.it/1vwvZat

(Photo by: Martin do Nascimento)

On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jason Wheeler, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey, an annual tradition: the Turkey Awards.

http://trib.it/1rJUE7M

The return of six books temporarily suspended by Highland Park officials to classrooms has not ended an intense debate over who should determine what is read in public classrooms. Since September, two opposing groups of parents have mobilized.

Morgan Smith has the story: http://trib.it/15KFkmN

Before transitioning to the governor's office, Greg Abbott, the outgoing attorney general, indicated that he intends to file at least one more lawsuit against the Obama administration, so Reeve Hamilton kicks of our playlist this week with the Levon Helm Band's "One More Shot."

http://trib.it/1rGylW3

DuPont said it revised its initial estimate after determining how much gas was in the plant’s pipes and vessels before and after the tragedy.

Four candidates with ties to the state and a possible earlier primary date have already put Texas at the center of the 2016 GOP presidential race. Read on in TribTalk.

Satija introduces a new state representative, Root on Texas Republicans and immigration, Langford on the state’s next lawsuit, Rocha and Dehn’s video roundup of the week, Malewitz on college students and fracking, Batheja on new highway money, Aguilar on a new rail line on the Texas-Mexico border, and yours truly on the depth of the Republican wins in statewide elections: the best of our best for the week of Nov. 24 to Nov. 28, 2014.

Ross Ramsey: http://trib.it/1Cpa8be

VIDEO
This week in the Roundup: House lawmakers prepare for a contested speaker’s race, some legislators face election before the next session convenes and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott vows to challenge President Obama’s executive order on immigration.

Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn: http://trib.it/1uX9Cwj

"Female veterans are between two and four times as likely as their civilian counterparts to become homeless, according to recent studies. And if they’re young and black, those chances seem only to rise." Read on in TribTalk.