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The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas Just Can't Seem To Stop Killing Each Other

This week, we've given you a little background on the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, and some reasons why two experts familiar with the gang are skeptical that they could be behind the murders of Kaufman County DA Mark McLelland, his wife Cynthia, and ADA Mark Hasse. In short: because while the ABT are ... More >>

As Legislature Mulls State Parks' Closure, Would-Be Sites Languish For Decades

The budget ax brought down by the state legislature in 2011 gouged a huge chunk from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which lost more than a fifth of its funding. The result was layoffs and a reduction in staffing and hours of operation at a number of state parks. The initial spending propo ... More >>

Houston's New 311 App Sounds Awesome. So When's Dallas Getting One?

On Tuesday, the city of Houston went live with a 311 app for smartphones. Downloadable free from the iTunes store, the allows residents to submit complaints and track their progress on the go. "Say you see a pothole on your street. Before you even leave for work you can walk over, launch the app an ... More >>

The 30 Essential Texas Restaurants: Plus Some That Nearly Made It

If you've read this week's feature -- The 30 Essential Texas Restaurants to Visit Before You Die -- by food critic Katharine Shilcutt at our sister paper the Houston Press, then you've no doubt already asked why X, Y or Z restaurant didn't make the list. Maybe you've asked this question angrily to ... More >>

Texas Congressman Steve Stockman Says Gun-Free School Zones Are a "Deadly Experiment" That Must End

U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, who returned to Congress to represent his suburban Houston district last week after a 16-year absence, wasted no time courting controversy when he publicly called for John Boehner to be removed as House speaker. He's made his second foray into the headlines with a call to r ... More >>

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson Said There Should Be More Guns in Elementary Schools, Which Are a "Target-Rich Environment"

In the wake of the massacre of 27 people, 20 of them children, at a Connecticut elementary school today, Texas officials behaved with remarkable decorum. Attorney General Greg Abbott, a noted gun lover, sent a muted press release urging parents and students to be vigilant about school safety. And G ... More >>

What Texas Drillers and Regulators Learned From the Barnett Shale

The development of North Texas' Barnett Shale did not go as smoothly as gas companies had hoped. The flaming water in Parker County, elevated levels of benzene in DISH, elevated rates of breast cancer in Flower Mound, and any number of other reports contributed to the perception among the general pu ... More >>

Making My 16-Year-Old Cousin Listen To Therapy? and Hootie & the Blowfish

Unlike Jesse Hughey and Darryl Smyers, I do not have children yet. I come from a large family. My father is eldest of five, so it's understandable why I, a 33-year-old, have cousins who are teenagers. Something I've wondered about with my cousins is the kind of music they like these days. Is their ... More >>

Republicans Begin Renewed Push For School Vouchers

State Senator Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican, fired something of a warning shot two weeks ago when he announced a renewed push for school choice, both in the form of vouchers and expanded charter offerings. "To me, school choice is the photo ID bill of this session," Patrick told the Houston Chr ... More >>

Texas Wants 'In' on National Immigration Database, But Why It's Necessary Is A Mystery

Yesterday, Texas Secretary of State Esperanza "Hope" Andrade requested access to a federal database of immigration records as a way to ensure that voters are here legally. It's a little like putting border patrol agents at polling stations -- but without the threat of deportation, at least for now. ... More >>

What Ice Cream and Fracking Have in Common And Why Your Dessert Has Become So Pricey

The food industry has for decades leaned on an inexpensive and natural thickening agent: guar gum. It builds viscosity in ice cream, dressing, baked goods, and other foods you've likely eaten it in the past week (as well as makeup, explosives, and other things you probably haven't eaten, ever). In ... More >>

Politics and Pop Culture Take a Whoopin' in Shows Inspired by Green Day and Molly Ivins

University of Texas Fracking Study: No Evidence That It Contaminates Groundwater

​The University of Texas released the preliminary results today of that comprehensive study on the controversial natural gas producing process known as hydraulic fracturing (or fracking), drawing no link between it and claims of groundwater contamination. "While there have been casing/cement ... More >>

One Expert's Take on State's Redistricting. And: DISD's About to Begin Drawing Its New Lines.

​Speaking of redistricting ...Had an awfully long talk with Dallas County Commissioner Maurine Dickey this afternoon, which I'd post now if she didn't mention a few things worth tracking down. So that'll have to wait till tomorrow. But while we're on the subject, I see here that Nate Silver and re ... More >>

Reviewing the Redistricting, So Far

Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding counties as divvied up in the Solomons-Seliger Congressional Proposal​Yesterday morning, the state House Committee on Redistricting and the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting released what's known as PlanC125 -- or the Solomons-Seliger Congressional Proposa ... More >>

Wall of Shame

CNN, USA Today, and other media organizations got fooled

Bake Sale Bandits

Local Movement Fights for Cottage Food Bill.

News & Notes: Jenkins Surgery Update, Who Sent Sherbet's Stuff Home and Former Cowboys QB Poised to Swap Senate Teams

Photo by Sam MertenClay Jenkins​What a Week For the New County Judge Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins has been pummeled in the media and political circles for playing Scottie Pippen to Commissioner John Wiley Price's Michael Jordan in the game to push out Elections Administrator Bruce Sherbet ... More >>

So Now It's "Blues, Bandits, and BBQ" And Better Block Redux on September 12

Danny Hurley​In late June, the Better Block project -- which, in April, transformed the dangerous intersection of Kings Highway, W. 7th Street and N. Tyler Street into a pedestrian-friendly plaza -- reached the pages of the Houston Chronicle. And, some time after that, it found its way to Anderson ... More >>

Serving a Dish Called Revenge

A chef could always tell a critic to lick his chocolate salty balls.​BRC, the gastropub with the naughty name that's been a sensation in Houston this summer, failed to impress Houston Chronicle critic Alison Cook. In her review this week, Cook declined to give Big Red Cock a single star. But ... More >>

"Pole Tax" Dances Into Texas Supreme Court

Last spring, The Lodge made a big show of presenting the state with a big check that's been sitting in escrow ever since.​As you no doubt recall, the state of Texas has been trying for years to find a way to make its so-called "pole tax" stick. The first time around, a judge slapped down the $5-pe ... More >>

On The Range: Pupusas

On The Range is a weekly exploration of the history and lore of Texas menu items.If Cole Porter, world-famous composer, musical philosopher and inspiration for the Jonas Brothers...yeah, right...were alive today and writing about food instead of music, he might term El Salvador's love affair with p ... More >>

10 Questions: Jim Schutze

Our own investigative curmudgeon, legendary political writer and sometime author of crime narratives sure likes to stir the pot.He's been called a liar by targets of his reporting, touched off verbal feuds amongst elected, drawn the wrath of...well, a lot of people. Along the way, he's won national ... More >>

Where's the Action, Jackson?

The "Jackson" in question is Gary Jackson, concierge at Barney New York's NorthPark outpost, who was profiled a year ago by our former colleague Ann Zimmerman in The Wall Street Journal. His name pops up today in the Houston Chronicle, where he offers "An ultimate insider's guide to Dallas." Bec ... More >>

Harris County GOP Boss Says Fred Baron's Money is "Tainted"

One More Reason Why Dallas Is Awesomer Than Houston

Whatever Happened to That Presidential Library Disclosure Bill, Anyhows?

For District Judge Anne Ashby, What Happened in Vegas Didn't Stay in Vegas

When Money Meant for Mexico Stays in U.S., Well, That's a Bad Sign

In Austin Yesterday, Talk About Creating Texas' First "Innocence Commission"

Dallas Dems Donkying Up the Dough

Quiet, Kids. It's the Law.

Still Too Premature to Talk A&M, Arkansas in Arlington. Or Is It?

Breathe Easier? Not So Much.

Lawyer Cannibalism? Mmm, Tasty.

See, Houston Does Want to Be Like Dallas

Gosh, Can't They Both Be Mayor?

A Waco Economist Say Dallas Full of "Good Feelings." And a Touch of Gas.

Times and Chronicle are Forgainst the Bush Library

Teachers Wanna Get Paid

Houston: A Donkey Move

Everyone's a Winner

Enron CEO Gets Big DUI

Gapping the Bridge

Here She Comes to Save the Day

One More Reason Why Houston Sucks

State of Disunion

Republic reincarnated: Dastardly Deeds

Suck it Up

Fear, loathing and forgetfulness at The Dallas Morning News

Buzz

Rough Justice

The trails of covering the Irvin case