Fiorina rises as key player for McCain [1]

By Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman, 24 July 2008

WASHINGTON — As Texan Phil Gramm was talking his way out of a high-profile role in Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, another economic adviser with Lone Star ties was talking her way into the spotlight.

Brimer to appeal ruling on opponent [2]

By ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2008

FORT WORTH — Republican state Sen. Kim Brimer will appeal a ruling that his Democratic challenger, Wendy Davis, is eligible to run against him in November.

Cleared — for now [3]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2008

FORT WORTH – During the dog days of summer, potential voters in Texas aren’t paying attention to much of anything other than how to stay cool.

2 Texas high schoolers test positive for steroids [4]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 23 July 2008

DALLAS — The nation's largest steroids testing program caught only two Texas high school athletes taking unauthorized substances out of more than 10,000 students who were tested, according to results issued by the state Wednesday.

College leaders say state needs more top-tier universities [5]

By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 23 July 2008

AUSTIN – Lawmakers should "bet on winners" and choose UTEP to be the state's next top-tier research university, President Diana Natalicio said Wednesday.

7 universities pitch case for flagship status [6]

By MELISSA LUDWIG, San Antonio Express-news, 24 July 2008

AUSTIN — Lawmakers on Wednesday took one step closer to anointing a third public flagship by inviting leaders of Texas' seven "emerging" research institutions to pitch a case for why they should become the state's next tier one research university, and how much it would cost the state.

Hance hoping Tech gets tier-one status [7]

By Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 24 July 2008

AUSTIN – For years, Texas Tech officials, professors and students have felt the school should be in the same league as the University of Texas and Texas A&M.

Seven Texas universities push for "Tier One" status [8]

By HOLLY K. HACKER / The Dallas Morning News, 23 July 2008

DALLAS – These days it seems like every public university in the state wants to be the next University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M University.

An out for schools with many dropouts [9]

By ERICKA MELLON, Houston Chronicle, 24 July 2008

HOUSTON – For the second year in a row, Texas schools with high dropout rates will escape landing on the state's dreaded unacceptable list thanks to a free pass from state Education Commissioner Robert Scott.

TxDOT resists requests for wreck data [10]

By Ben Wear, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 24 July 2008

AUSTIN – Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation have sued Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's office to prevent the release of records about Texas vehicle crashes.

Lawsuits sure to follow Bible classes [11]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 24 July 2008

WACO – The Texas Legislature should never have passed legislation that adds Bible courses to public schools without guidance, funding or assistance to handle the inevitable consequences.

TEXAS Grant: Don't choke it, fund it [12]

El Paso Times, 24 July 2008

EL PASO – Texas officials need to think of ways to send more students on to higher education, not fewer.

Texas needs to grow more research schools [13]

Dallas Morning News, 24 July 2008

DALLAS – A handful of state senators heard an earful yesterday from Texas college executives about why the state needs more national research universities.

Steroid Use [14]

Texarkana Gazette, 24 July 2008

TEXARKANA – The results are in from the nation’s largest testing program for steroid use among high school athletes.

Sonnier executed for 1991 double murder [15]

By Kristin Edwards, Huntsville Item, 24 July 2008

HUNTSVILLE – A man convicted of a 1991 sexual assault and double murder was executed Wednesday at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Walls Unit.

Convicted killer executed in Huntsville [16]

Dallas Morning News, 24 July 2008

HUNTSVILLE — A man convicted of the 1991 stabbing deaths of a Humble woman and her 2-year-old son was executed Wednesday.

Texas Ranger: More FLDS indictments likely [17]

By Paul A. Anthony, San Angelo Standard-Times, 23 July 2008

SAN ANGELO – A day after a Schleicher County grand jury indicted six members of a polygamous sect, one of the leaders of the investigation said he expects further charges.

Catching 5 from West Texas polygamist ranch may require wide net [17]

By EMILY RAMSHAW / Dallas Morning News, 23 July 2008

AUSTIN – Authorities began their pursuit Wednesday of five members of a West Texas polygamist sect accused of committing crimes against children but acknowledged the men – some of whom are believed to be influential elders who married underage girls – could be difficult to find.

Polygamous Sect to Defend 6 Members in Court and Its Practices on Capitol Hill [18]

By GRETEL C. KOVACH, New York Times, 24 July 2008

As Texas Rangers and prosecutors prepared to arrest members of a polygamous sect, advocates and critics of the sect headed to Washington for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Nevada senator plans polygamy task force bill [19]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 24 July 2008

SALT LAKE CITY — A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the Nevada lawmaker plans to introduce legislation for a federal polygamy task force.

Netroots Farewell Stay focused! [20]

BY RICHARD WHITTAKER, Austin Chronicle, 25 July 2008

AUSTIN – The Netroots Nation convention, held last weekend at the Austin Convention Center, gathered politicians, liberal bloggers, and online activists.

Texas makes wise move on energy front [21]

Midland Reporter-Telegram, 24 July 2008

MIDLAND – We were not surprised to learn of Texas' bold plan to place a high-priced bet on wind power.

Baby, think it over [22]

Houston Chronicle, 24 July 2008

HOUSTON – Houston's method of protection doesn't seem to be working.

Ex-transportation chairwoman named secretary of state [23]

By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2008

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday named a longtime San Antonio business leader and community activist as the first Hispanic woman to serve as Texas’ secretary of state.

Andrade becomes Texas' first Latina secretary of state [24]

By PEGGY FIKAC, Houston Chronicle, 24 July 2008

AUSTIN — Texas' new secretary of state, Esperanza "Hope" Andrade of San Antonio, said Wednesday she feels a particular responsibility to do "an exceptional job" because her appointment is a first for a Hispanic woman.

Ex-transportation commissioner Esperanza Andrade named Texas secretary of state [25]

Dallas Morning News, 23 July 2008

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has named former transportation commissioner Esperanza "Hope" Andrade as Texas' new secretary of state.

George P. Bush is leaving Fort Worth [26]

By AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2008

FORT WORTH – George P. Bush, the president’s nephew and a rising star in the Republican Party, is relocating to Austin two years after moving to Fort Worth.

Second member of PUC resigns [27]

By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle, 24 July 2008

AUSTIN — Julie Caruthers Parsley said Wednesday she will leave the Public Utility Commission on Sept. 2.

Secret donations to presidential libraries is a national scandal [28]

Austin American-Statesman, 24 July 2008

AUSTIN – President Bush is trying to deflect the scandal involving a Houston businessman caught trying to squeeze money for Bush's presidential library by peddling his influence with the administration.

Al Gore, T. Boone Pickens are unlikely allies [29]

By MARIANNE MEANS, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 23 July 2008

WASHINGTON – Former Vice President Al Gore has navigated his crusade on behalf of environmental change into heavy waters, getting lots of attention but no credible non-partisan denial of what he is saying.