After a relative was arrested for allegedly shoplifting at a grocery store, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst personally called the Allen Police Department to ask how to get her out of jail, referring to himself as the "No. 1 pick of all the law enforcement agencies within Texas." His staff has said he behaved appropriately in the call. 

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the Canadian-born Tea Party darling who appears to be eyeing the White House, released his birth certificate to The Dallas Morning News — but instead of putting questions to rest, it only sparked more of them. In response to concerns about whether he was qualified to run for president, Cruz said he would give up any claim he might have to Canadian citizenship. 

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott got crosswise with Jose Garza, a lawyer for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, calling Garza unethical for his suggestion that people in the Rio Grande Valley should attempt to vote without a photo ID. Garza said Texans have to test the impact of the 2011 voter ID law, which a court has allowed to take effect, to measure how many people it will keep from voting. 

The Texas Department of Transportation launched its effort to convert more than 80 miles of paved roads to gravel — a cost-saving repair mechanism for the cash-strapped agency. The plan has outraged some state lawmakers and many of the farmers and ranchers who live near those roads. Dimmit County, near the Texas-Mexico border, will be hit hardest by TxDOT’s decision. 

In February, Gov. Rick Perry sent an email to University of Texas System Regents Wallace Hall, Brenda Pejovich and Gene Powell suggesting that UT-Austin President Bill Powers was spreading "misinformation" to build up political support around the UT Law School Foundation investigation, according to records obtained by the Houston Chronicle. "Seems there is a contrived effort to stir up the [lieutenant governor]," Perry wrote in the email. "My bet is Powers, et al are deep into misinformation !!!"

Gov. Rick Perry's office is disputing reports that the state is negotiating with the federal government to draw down $100 million in additional financing under a rule created by the Affordable Care Act. Politico reported on Tuesday that Texas is taking advantage of the Community First Choice program, which was set up under Obamacare to increase federal Medicaid matching funds for home attendant services. Perry's office says none of his health policy aides have been involved in negotiations — and said the funding has "nothing to do with Obamacare." 

A proposal to include sexual orientation and gender identity in San Antonio's nondiscrimination policy has turned the city into a new gay rights battleground.