The Midday Brief: Oct. 13, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• "State Rep. Warren Chisum is delivering a letter to colleagues today saying he will run for House speaker next year, challenging Speaker Joe Straus, his fellow Republican." — Chisum running for speaker, calls Straus ‘weak and ineffective’, Postcards

• "Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today said his office has joined with attorneys general of 48 other states in a joint investigation into allegations that mortgage companies mishandled documents and broke laws in foreclosing on hundreds of thousands of homeowners." — Texas joins foreclosure investigation, Austin American-Statesman

• "Just hold on. It really does get better. That's the message Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns shared in an emotional speech during Tuesday night's council meeting, saying his goal was to reach out to youths everywhere who are struggling with being gay." — Fort Worth councilman offers hope to youths struggling with their sexuality, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (video here)

• "A sergeant opened testimony in the probable cause hearing of Maj. Nidal Hasan Wednesday by describing the Army psychiatrist yelling, 'Allahu Akbar,' and opening fire at a post soldier readiness center." — Court hears victim's testimony, 911 recording at probable cause hearing for accused Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, The Dallas Morning News

• "The group invited the candidates in six races. Only one candidate from each race showed up. Organizers opted to have each candidate deliver a short speech instead of answering audience questions." — Candidate forum between Turner and Zedler fizzles out, PoliTex