The Midday Brief: Nov. 15, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

“Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison could be the first primary casualty of 2012. The Texas Republican, after years of back and forth over whether she will or won't retire, will have to make a decision soon about 2012. Waiting in the wings are a slate of Republicans who have already spent two years eyeing the race, including some who are prepared to run against her even if she seeks reelection.” — Kay Bailey Hutchison weighs reelection, could face real primary, Washington Post

"Two dozen demonstrators gathered amid 175 pairs of worn Army boots near Ford Stadium at the southern tip of Southern Methodist University. The boots represented some of the service members killed in Afghanistan and Iraq." — Anti-war protest held on SMU campus ahead of George W. Bush library groundbreaking, Dallas Morning News 

 “A new study suggests there may be 100,000 fewer Hispanics in Arizona than there were before the debate over the state'stough new immigration law earlier this year.” — Study: 100,000 Hispanics left Arizona after SB1070, The Associated Press

“Students and parents had accused Plano ISD of censorship following the school district’s decision to pull “Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, Alternate Volume,” used by Plano ISD freshmen and sophomores in the district’s gifted and talented classes.” — Plano ISD scraps plans to ban humanities textbook containing ancient nude statues, Dallas Morning News

“When the state of Texas licensed him as a peyote distributor in 1990, Mauro Morales put a sign in his front yard with his name and phone number: "Peyote Dealer. Buy or Sell Peyote." His neighbors balked, saying that calling so much attention to his trade had to be against the law. "So I called Austin and said, 'I think everything's legal. I've got the paperwork. Can't I put up a sign?' " Mr. Morales recalled.” — Peyote now precious, Washington Times

New in the Texas Tribune:

“The decision about whether an architect of Bush-era interrogation tactics will keep his license as a psychologist is in the hands of a Texas government agency.” — Terror War Psychologist Subject of Complaint

“Five private university presidents in Texas banked more than $1 million in 2008, according to a new report by The Chronicle of Higher Education.” — Texas College Presidents Made over $1 Million in 2008