Aaronson on a freshman lawmaker’s rogue antics, Aguilar on how cartel violence affects tick eradication, Galbraith on Midland’s water woes, Hamilton on the exit of a higher ed reformer, Murphy maps voting age by county, Philpott on the data breach at the Comptroller’s office, Ramsey on why Susan Combs needs to eat crow, my TribLive interview with U.S. Sen John Cornyn, Ramshaw on Cornyn’s refusal to take the “nickel tour” of Planned Parenthood, M. Smith annotates the contracts of superintendents, Stiles on a GOP-friendly redistricting map and Tan on a possible Rainy Day Fund raid: The best of our best content from April 18 to 22, 2011.
redistricting
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 76
In this week’s jam-packed episode, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss higher education reformers, data security at the Comptroller’s office, redistricting, the budget, and birthdays.
Representatives Move Back Redistricting
House lawmakers will get another day to pore over redistricting maps, after Democratic members vehemently opposed an effort to change the deadline for submitting amendments.
Guest Column: Don’t Mess With My District!
Partisan redistricting aimed to protect or harm politicians only hurts the voters and their ability to participate in the political process. At its core, this is not about me or my party affiliation. It’s about the people of Senate District 10.
On the Records: A GOP Map Protects the GOP
A proposed map for redrawing Texas House district boundaries could help fortify the Republicans’ majority in the lower chamber in 2012.
Doggett Dismayed by Redistricting Plan
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, reacts to the proposed split of his current district.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Hamilton on Victoria’s efforts to divorce the University of Houston, Ramshaw on a disagreement between right-to-life groups over laws governing when life ends, E. Smith’s TribLive interview with Sen. Kel Seliger and Rep. Burt Solomons on redistricting, Aguilar’s interview with the mayor of Juárez, Tan on the continuing hunt for money to buy down budget cuts, Grissom on a psychologist who found more than a dozen inmates mentally competent to face the death penalty, Stiles and yours truly on the House redistricting maps and Galbraith on cutting or killing a tax break for high-cost natural gas producers: The best of our best content from April 11 to 15, 2011.
Texas House Redistricting Maps Debated
There are 101 Republicans in the Texas House. But according to the map released by Redistricting Committee Chair Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, not all of them will get re-elected.
In Politics, Size Doesn’t Always Matter
Redistricting can change the odds in legislative and congressional races, but in statewide races, it’s all about turnout.
Update: Peña’s Proposed District a Toss-Up?
Last year, after the Republicans won large majorities in the Texas House, state Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg left the Democrats to join the GOP. Is he now being rewarded with a district that a Republican can maintain? Check out these maps.

