It’s official: Even after the nightmarish grind of the five-day chubbathon, Speaker Joe Straus has announced that he wants to be speaker again in 2011. On Wednesday afternoon he took a few minutes to explain his decision to the press.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.