Larry Laine will step down from his post as chief clerk for the Texas General Land Office this month. He's served in the position for more than 12 years. General Counsel Anne Idsal will fulfill chief clerk duties on an interim basis.

Early voting concludes today ahead of Tuesday's special election runoff between former Bexar County prosecutor Ina Minjarez and former San Antonio City Councilwoman Delicia Herrera to represent House District 124. The election will fill a vacancy created when José Menéndez resigned to join the Texas Senate.

Alfred Bennett was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a spot on the bench for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Bennett's nomination was made in September and he's been awaiting a confirmation vote ever since. Two other nominations to the Texas federal courts made at the same time as Bennett — George Hanks Jr. and Jose Olvera Jr. — are still waiting for a vote.

Deaths: Arthur "Buddy" Temple III, 73, four-term state representative (1973-81) from Diboll and railroad commissioner (1981-86). He also ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1982, and as a legislator co-sponsored the creation of the state's ethics code in 1973.

Disclosure: The Texas General Land Office was a corporate sponsor in 2011 of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.