The Midday Brief: June 18, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"The fallout for Rep. Joe Barton's apology continues to mount, with Democrats blasting the Republican Congressman from Texas and Republicans distancing themselves from their colleague." — Fallout mounts from Rep. Joe Barton's apology to BP, Texas on the Potomac

"Prosecutors at a hearing this morning will attempt to revive the case against Judge Sharon Keller, accused of closing the state's top criminal court as a death-row inmate's lawyers tried to file a last-minute appeal." — Prosecutors will try today to reopen case against Judge Sharon Keller, The Dallas Morning News

"A team of independent monitors has found 'dehumanizing practices' at a state institution in Austin for people with mental disabilities, according to a report made public this morning." — Report: ‘Dehumanizing practices’ at Austin institution, Postcards

"Texas employers expanded payrolls by 43,600 jobs in May, the largest monthly gain in more than three years, according to preliminary data released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission." — Texas employers add 43,600 jobs, The Dallas Morning News

New in The Texas Tribune:

"Capitol staffers report that they're being evacuated because of a bomb threat." — TribBlog: Capitol Being Evacuated

"After shocking abuse was uncovered at Texas Youth Commission facilities in 2007, lawmakers successfully overhauled the state juvenile justice system. Three years later, advocates worry that budget woes will halt that progress." — Cuts That Cost

"The latest Rasmussen Report poll results show incumbent Gov. Rick Perry with an 8-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Bill White." — 2010: Perry 48, White 40