The Midday Brief: Sept. 22, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• "Education Secretary Arne Duncan predicted this morning that Texas eventually will get access to $830 million in federal aid that would help school districts avert layoffs." — Texas will get its $830 million in bottled-up school aid, U.S. education chief predicts, The Dallas Morning News

• "Sarah Palin, whose buzzed-about endorsements have established her as a GOP kingmaker, has weighed in on a race close to home, endorsing Republican Stephen Broden in his challenge against Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson." — Sarah Palin endorses Stephen Broden, Eddie Bernice Johnson's challenger, Trail Blazers

• "State Rep. Debbie Riddle asked St. Mary’s University Law Professor Jeffrey Addicott, who runs the Center for Terrorism Law there, a question some folks might answer in the affirmative: 'Do you think that I’m just nuts?'" — Terror-baby theory goes for wild ride in media, San Antonio Express-News

• The Dallas Morning News has endorsed Jerry Patterson for land commissioner and Todd Staples for agriculture commissioner — both Republican incumbents.

• "At least one statewide Democratic candidate is touting her support of President Barack Obama as she stumps Texas in search of votes for the November election. Linda Chavez-Thompson, who is challenging incumbent Republican David Dewhurst in the lieutenant governor's race, told an audience Wednesday that she was proud to introduce the president at an Austin fundraiser last month." — Democratic nominee touts support of Obama in Texas, Trail Blazers

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Talking point No. 1 for an elected official facing an ethics investigation in Texas: Blame the politicization of the Public Integrity Unit, which is funded by the Legislature but operates out of the district attorney's office in heavily Democratic Travis County." — Why a County DA Prosecutes State, Federal Officials