Wendy Davis campaign manager Karin Johanson was replaced by state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, in a significant shake-up at the top of the gubernatorial hopeful's organization. Johanson's national experience was highlighted when she was brought on board. In Turner, Davis now has a campaign manager with experience in waging Texas campaigns in territory unfriendly to Democrats.

A new audit shed new light on the scope of the problems with wait times at VA facilities nationwide with more than 57,000 patients waiting three months or more for an appointment. Specialty clinics in Harlingen and McAllen had the worst wait times in the nation.

Attorney General Greg Abbott has asked the Obama administration for $30 million for state-based border security operations in response to a recent influx of minors entering the country illegally and overwhelming facilities on this side of the border.

The League of United Latin American Citizens filed suit against the state and a couple of school districts, alleging that not enough has been done to help English language learners. The action is a continuation of a legal battle over the quality of language instruction programs begun in 2006.

The Texas Racing Commission cast a preliminary vote in favor of historical racing, which would allow tracks to introduce betting on already conducted races transmitted on video terminals. The tracks have long been asking for something that could help boost their sagging revenue but critics said the devices are just slot machines going by another name and are illegal.