The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for March 11, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach spent a couple of days at the Capitol this week getting to know members of the Legislature, with the hope that they could help his lawsuit against Tech go forward." — Mike Leach seeks Legislature’s help in case against Tech, Postcards

• "On the cusp of a major House bill filing deadline, Texas representatives proposed several pieces of abortion-related legislation, on topics ranging from the outright banning of the procedure except when medically necessary, to a penalty for coercing someone to have an abortion." — Bill by Texas Rep. Parker bans abortion except when medically necessary, The Texas Independent

• "The Texas Supreme Court said today that it will reconsider a 6-2 November ruling that blunted state enforcement of the Open Beaches Act, a 51-year-old law meant to preserve public access to the shoreline." — Supreme Court to rehear open beaches case, Austin American-Statesman

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Sen. Bob Deuell, who chairs the Senate Nominations committee, says Gail Lowe has not been scheduled for a hearing as chair of the State Board of Education because she lacks the votes for a confirmation on the floor." — Deuell: Lowe Lacks Votes for Senate Confirmation

• "State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, filed legislation he said will explore the possibility of a state-run guest-worker program." — Peña Files Guest-Worker Bill to Address Immigration

• "You can’t buy liquor on Sundays and car dealerships can only be open one day over a weekend because of the last remnants of so-called 'blue laws' in Texas. But a state Senate bill would change that for alcohol sales." — Texplainer: Why Can't I Buy a Car or Liquor on Sundays?