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The article discusses Texas governor Rick Perry. In an era of rising federal spending under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, Perry appeals to voters who say they want more freedom and economic growth, and a smaller government. Professor David McComb believes Perry is also attractive to Texans made anxious by the declining proportion of whites in their state. Perry was an early supporter of the U.S. Tea party movement, and claims to have no interest in running for President in 2012.

This article discusses incidents in which individuals from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico have been taken to the Thomason Hospital trauma center in El Paso, Texas for treatment after being violently injured in drug-related crimes. A total of 46 such patients were treated at Thomason in 2008, and it is stated that violence related to drug trafficking continues to grow.

The article reports on problems faced by Houston, Texas six months after it welcomed the largest number of evacuees from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Nearly 150,000 people settled in Houston after the hurricane, and the city responded by granting generous rent and utility vouchers, welcoming children in schools, and providing medical care. However, it has seen an increase in violent crimes including murder, clashes between students at high schools, and in infection rates for sexually transmitted diseases.

This article discusses the murder of Brandon McClelland in Paris, Texas and the debate surrounding whether or not it was a racially based hate crime or an act of drunken rage. Paris, Texas has a longstanding history of racial violence and delivery of unequal justice. African-American residents are now pointing out other examples of racial harassment or inequality in the area.

This article focuses on the U.S.-Mexico border. It explains that the U.S. government is planning to build an 18-foot-high barrier along parts of the Mexican border in Texas. Its likely impact on the town of Brownsville, Texas is discussed in terms of residents' fears that the fence will disrupt wildlife, landowners' rights, and cultural aspects of the area.

The article focuses on a criminal investigation involving a polygamous sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints in Eldorado, Texas. State officials have removed 416 children from a compound in response to alleged phone calls for help from a 16-year-old girl. The temporary housing arrangements for the children and the 130 adult females removed from the compound are discussed.

The author reflects on the campaign of 2008 U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. According to the author Clinton is starting to fall behind 2008 U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama and so is trying to strengthen her standing with campaigning in Texas and Ohio. He thinks that her last shot at winning the presidential nomination is in winning primaries in Texas and Ohio with the support of the Latino population.

The article discusses a scandal that occurred at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas, where cheerleaders of the high school football team were posting provocative pictures of themselves on the web site Myspace.com. When the pictures were discovered the girls received a 30 day suspension from the school and were threatened to be kicked off the cheerleading team. The cheerleaders' coach then accused the girls of receiving preferential treatment from school administrators.