The Midday Brief: Aug. 4, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Rick Perry, in an interview with CBN's David Brody, takes a veiled poke at Mitt Romney without naming him." — Rick Perry takes veiled Mitt Romney swipe on health care, Politico
  

• "In Texas, few institutions are as venerated as its flagship universities. Their alumni networks are vast and devoted. The state’s political power structure is woven by college ties that are as strong as party ones. And just about everyone’s athletic allegiance comes down to a choice: Longhorns or Aggies. So former Aggie yell leader Rick Perry surely knew he was stirring something up on May 21, 2008, when he summoned the governing boards of the state’s six university systems to a hotel ballroom four blocks from the state capitol in Austin for what was billed as 'Governor Perry’s Higher Education Summit.'" — Texas Gov. Rick Perry wages an assault on state’s university establishment, The Washington Post

• "A prominent San Antonio doctor and philanthropist is hosting a 'call to action' retreat at his Texas Hill County ranch later this month for Rick Perry and top donors." — Hill County Texas retreat planned for Rick Perry, Politico

• "A Lewisville-based nonprofit urging presidential candidates to sign its deficit reduction pledge has found itself in the middle of a scandal this week as news emerged that one of its key Iowa operatives is also employed by the Tim Pawlenty campaign." — North Texas political group under fire in Iowa, PoliTex

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "It’s official: Texas is now in the midst of the worst one-year drought on record, according to State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon." — State Climatologist: Drought Officially Worst On Record
  

• "DAY 4 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Less financial aid will be available for college students in Texas." — 31 Days, 31 Ways: Texas College Students to Receive Less Financial Aid