The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for Feb. 25, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "A college student from Saudi Arabia charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction has made an initial appearance at a federal court in Lubbock." — Saudi terror suspect who allegedly targeted Bush appears in Lubbock court, The Dallas Morning News

• "Colby Bohannan said that when he first applied to college, his family didn't have a huge stockpile of money set aside to pay for school. He found many scholarships for women and minorities, but none aimed at people like him: white men … So Bohannan, a mass communication major and Iraq war veteran, and others formed the Former Majority Association for Equality — a San Marcos-based nonprofit group that is offering five $500 scholarships exclusively to white male students." — Texas State students offer scholarships exclusively for white males, Austin American-Statesman

• "A native Texan who is a veteran advocate of equal rights for gay and lesbian Americans was named White House Social Secretary today by President Obama." — President Obama picks Texas native, gay rights activist as first male White House social secretary, Texas on the Potomac

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "It's official. Republican Tom Leppert, who stepped down as Mayor of Dallas this week, told a Dallas TV station that he is joining the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in 2012." — Tom Leppert Announces Senate Bid

• "Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the Republican Governors Association chairman, squared off with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, the Democratic Governors Association chief, this morning." — Perry, O'Malley Talk Wisconsin, Jobs at Governors Meeting