It was a different Fourth of July holiday this year as most towns in Texas banned the use of fireworks. Record numbers of wildfires and continuing drought conditions convinced most authorities that the risk of a spark was too severe. Although some metropolitan areas like Dallas and Houston went ahead with their professionally run celebrations, most Texans faced fines if they set off any fireworks in their own backyards.

After reports circulated that families were being prevented from making religious references at veterans' funerals, hundreds of protesters showed up on Independence Day in Houston to express their disapproval. Nonprofit groups have filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the director of the Houston National Cemetery, which they say banned them from using religious language at burials unless the text is submitted in advance for approval. VA officials disputed the claim, maintaining that veterans' families across the country are free to use any sacred language or ritual they choose.

Willie Nelson's not quite off the hook yet from his marijuana bust in November. Although the prosecutor in Hudspeth County offered a plea deal that Nelson agreed to and mailed in, the judge overseeing has case, Becky Dean-Walker, has rejected the agreement. Dean-Walker made a statement accusing the county attorney of giving preferential treatment to a celebrity. This isn't the first time she's accused him of working out a deal that is unacceptable to her. In the spring, news leaked that the prosecutor was offering a deal for Nelson to plead out, pay a small fine and sing "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain." The judge quickly quashed that idea.

The first court hearings on Texas' abortion sonogram law, which Gov. Rick Perry signed into law in May, took place Wednesday. The Center for Reproductive Rights is charging that the law is unconstitutional and sued in federal court to stop enforcement of the provision. The group also filed a request for an injunction against the requirement that doctors perform and describe an ultrasound to women seeking abortions. The sonogram law isn't the only legislative action under legal fire. At least 12 lawsuits have already been filed in response to the redistricting maps passed by lawmakers, and more are expected. Controversies abound related to the counting of prisoners, illegal immigrants and minority representation.

Texas once again finds itself in the national spotlight over its death chamber. Mexican national Humberto Leal Jr. was executed Thursday for the 1994 rape and murder of a San Antonio teenager. The Obama administration and international groups said the execution was done in violation of U.N.'s Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. That treaty guarantees consular representation to foreign nationals upon their arrest, which didn't happen in the case of Leal, who was subsequently sentenced to death. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected the argument by a 4-1 vote. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue a stay in the case, and prison officials went ahead with the scheduled execution.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker has found a new weapon in her re-election effort: a letter from an anti-gay activist attacking her for her alleged homosexual agenda. Parker wrote her own solicitation letter and attached a copy of David Wilson's letter, claiming that he was attacking her solely because she is gay. During the 2009 mayoral campaign, Wilson tried a similar tactic, sending out thousands of fliers objecting to Parker's sexual orientation.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker has found a new weapon in her re-election effort: a letter from an anti-gay activist attacking her for her alleged homosexual agenda. Parker wrote her own solicitation letter and attached a copy of David Wilson's letter, claiming that he was attacking her solely because she is gay. During the 2009 mayoral campaign, Wilson tried a similar tactic, sending out thousands of fliers objecting to Parker's sexual orientation.

As expected, the court martial of Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has resulted in a capital case. The commander of Fort Hood has allowed prosecutors to seek the death penalty in the case against Hasan, consisting of 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 of attempted premeditated murder. The trial is expected to take place in about a year.

Andrew Card, a former White House chief of staff, was named acting dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Card is filling in for Ryan Crocker, who is serving as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, until Crocker returns.

Put Scott O'Grady in the hunt for the open HD-33 seat in Rockwall and Collin Counties. O'Grady, a Republican making his first run for office, first came to the public's attention when his F-16 was shot down over Bosnia in 1995 and he evaded capture for almost a week until the Marines got him out.

Comptroller Susan Combs created a new position — chief privacy officer — and hired Elizabeth Rogers to fill it. She also hired Jesse Rivera as the agency's chief information security officer. Rogers, a lawyer who once worked for the attorney general and for the State Bar of Texas, was most recently with Resources Global Professionals. Rivera comes from the University of Texas-Pan American, where he had the same title he's got at the comptroller's office.

Gov. Rick Perry named Richard Wendt III of Bellaire chairman of the Texas Board of Licensure for Professional Medical Physicists. Wendt is a licensed and board-certified medical nuclear physicist, and a professor of imaging physics at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The governor also appointed:

• Daniel "Eric" Kalenak of Midland as justice of the 11th Court of Appeals. Kalenak is first assistant Midland County district attorney, and a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

• Four members to the Texas Bioenergy Policy Council. Bruce Bagelman of Dallas is founder and president of Green Spot Market and Fuels. Michael Doguet of Nome is president of Doguet Turf Farms and Doguet's Diamond D Ranch, and general manager of Doguet's Rice Milling Company. Michael Kerby Jr. of Houston is manager of Global Chemical Research at ExxonMobil Chemical Company. Jeffrey Trucksess of Austin is founder of Green Earth Fuels.

• James Lee of Houston to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a term to expire Aug. 31, 2011. Lee is president of JHL Capital Holdings.

• Steven Thomas of Kountze as judge of the 356th Judicial District Court. Thomas is a partner at the Chambers, Templeton, Thomas and Brinkley Law Office.

• James LaFavers of Amarillo and Michelle Skyrme of Longview to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. LaFavers is a self-employed private investigator. Skyrme is executive administrative assistant for the Gregg County Health Department, and a former adult probation case clerk for Gregg County Community Supervision and Corrections.

• Dr. Nizam Peerwani of Fort Worth chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He's the chief medical examiner for Tarrant, Denton, Johnson and Parker counties. He'll replace Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, who couldn't win confirmation from the state Senate.

• Barbara Cargill to chair the State Board of Education. She replaces Gail Lowe, who remains on the board but who, like Bradley, couldn't win Senate consent for that appointment.

Press corps moves: Robert Wood, long with the Texas State Network, is leaving radio, and reporting, to become the communications director with the Texas Association of Business.

Dr. Mike McKinney, the former chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, joined the Schlueter Group, an Austin-based lobbying firm.

Take Seth McKinney out of the HD-14 House race he said last week he'd be entering. He decided not to do it.