Debate over the balance between rigor and flexibility in high school graduation requirements dominated the House’s debate over legislation that would significantly change the courses students need for a high school diploma. It would lower the number of math and science courses required for graduation, and would also cut the number of tests students are required to take.

The Texas House approved legislation that would use $2 billion to start funding water projects in the state. House Bill 4, by state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, would create a water bank that would offer loans for projects like new water reservoirs, pipelines and conservation projects. Only two members voted against the bill, which is now on its way to the Senate. 

University of Texas System regents chairman Gene Powell responded to a strongly worded letter from Texas senators, saying that a decision on how to proceed with a review of UT-Austin's law school foundation would be made in the "next few weeks." A majority of Texas senators signed a letter calling the UT System's planned review of the foundation unnecessary.

After peaking in September, applications for deferred action have dropped off dramatically. Immigration attorneys think most eligible undocumented immigrants are in a wait-and-see mode amid the federal immigration reform debate.

Family members of Christine Morton and Debra Baker filled a Tom Green County courtroom with tearful hugs and relieved smiles on Wednesday after a jury found Mark Alan Norwood guilty of murder. Norwood, 58, received an automatic life sentence after the jury decided he was guilty of the 1986 killing. Michael Morton spent nearly 25 years in prison wrongfully convicted of his wife's murder. He was released from prison and exonerated in 2011 after DNA testing linked his wife’s death and the murder of another woman to Norwood. Morton called the verdict a "mixed bag."

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, walked into the Montgomery County Jail on Tuesday morning to be booked on two counts of barratry. In a statement, he maintained his innocence.  His arrest came a day after authorities raided his Houston law office, the offices of seven other area attorneys and two chiropractic practices for their alleged involvement in a quarter-million-dollar kickback scheme. Last month, the Harris County district attorney dropped similar charges against Reynolds, a personal injury attorney.