The Evening Brief: Feb. 11, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Ted Nugent to Attend State of the Union With Stockman: "Musician Ted Nugent will attend the State of the Union address Tuesday night with U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman. On Monday, Nugent said 'this administration cannot be trusted to do the right thing.'"

•   Senators to Vote on Education Board Leader's Nomination: "On Monday, a panel of senators questioned Barbara Cargill on her appointment to lead the State Board of Education. If she wins their approval, she will be the first SBOE leader to earn confirmation from the Legislature since 2005."

•    Paul Angers Fans by Turning to UN to Get Domain Names: "Ron Paul has asked a United Nations agency to help him take control of a self-titled domain owned by some of his supporters, infuriating several of his libertarian fans."

•    What Shared Consultant Means for Perry, Abbott: "Eric Bearse's client list may be the best evidence yet that there’s harmony between Attorney General Greg Abbott, who's rumored to have designs on the governor’s mansion, and Gov. Rick Perry, the man who currently occupies it."

•    UT-Austin Announces Nine Massive Open Online Courses: "The University of Texas at Austin will offer nine massive open online courses through edX in the coming year, officials announced on Monday."

•    Todd Staples: The TT Interview: The Texas agriculture commissioner on his book and campaign to highlight what he sees as a crisis on the border, his opinions on which immigration policies work and which don't, and why Americans shouldn't believe it when they are told the border is secure.

Culled

•    Texas business leader calls for bipartisan immigration reform (The Dallas Morning News): "The president of the Texas Association of Business has added his voice to a chorus calling on the country’s Republicans to support comprehensive immigration reform. Bill Hammond, in a call with reporters, called for an immigration system in which businesses are protected and aren’t forced to be 'enforcement experts.'"

•    Poll: Texans want a chance to vote on gambling (Austin American-Statesman): "The vast majority of Texans support a statewide referendum on gambling, according to a survey by a pro-gambling interest. … Of all respondents, 82 percent said they’d support being able to vote on a constitutional amendment to allow gambling, and 78 percent of Republican primary voters — the folks that, let’s face it, decide our statewide elections — also supported the idea of putting gambling to a public vote, according to poll results."