The Midday Brief: February 22, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

“An ambitious, multibillion-dollar project to hot-wire the new Southwest border fence with high-tech radar, cameras and satellite signals has been plagued with serious system failures and repeated delays and will probably not be completed for another seven years -- if it is finished at all.” — High-tech border fence is slow going — Los Angeles Times

“The campaign, which officially launches Tuesday at a San Antonio celebration, offers members special benefits in exchange for a yearly contribution – although some kinks have to be worked out.” — Alamo's stewards launching membership drive — The Dallas Morning News

“The Houston Democrat raised almost $70,000 in barely six weeks in her bid to prevail in a three-way contest.” — Jackson Lee leading money primary...in a landslide — Texas on the Potomac

“Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Toyota’s safety problems, the company acknowledged today as it prepared to answer questions on Capitol Hill about its widespread vehicle recalls.” — Toyota gets U.S. grand jury subpoena for documents — The Associated Press

New in the Texas Tribune:

Judging by the campaign signs in El Paso, you’d think Democrat Farouk Shami was on the fast track to the Texas Governor’s Mansion. Everywhere there’s a cluster of signs — which is a lot of places this time of year — at least two or three read “Farouk for Texas Governor." — Signs of Shami

As state Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, was stirring things at one end of the table, his challenger in the March 2 primary, David Simpson, appeared at the other end. That sent the regulars into orbit as they rushed to explain the differences between the candidates. — Primary Color: HD-7

The attorney who filed a lawsuit against the state for storing infants' blood samples without consent is demanding that Texas recover hundreds of baby blood spots turned over to a military lab to build a national — and someday international — mitochondrial DNA database. — TribBlog: Attorney Asks Perry To Get DNA Back From Feds

The Supreme Court of Texas last week issued an opinion on the Texas Public Information Act that is raising concerns among open-records advocates. — On the Records: 10 Days, Give or Take