The Midday Brief: Jan. 20, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "The U.S. Supreme Court threw out court-drawn Texas redistricting maps on Friday morning, saying a panel of federal judges should have used the Legislature's maps as their starting point." — Supreme Court Nixes Judge-Drawn Redistricting Maps

• "Texas’ unemployment rate — 7.8 percent — is the lowest it’s been since July 2009, when the recession was just heating up, according to employment statistics released by the Texas Workforce Commission today." — Texas Economy Improving, Unemployment Rate Low

• "When Gov. Rick Perry left the presidential campaign trail Thursday, he took his considerable fundraising muscle with him. His departure frees up his federal campaign dollars and the support of the Super PAC that spent $3.9 million backing Perry's bid for the White House." — Perry Exits, And So Does His Once-Hefty War Chest

Your afternoon reading:

• "Caving to a massive campaign by Internet services and their millions of users, Congress indefinitely postponed legislation Friday to stop online piracy of movies and music costing U.S. companies billions of dollars every year. Critics said the bills would result in censorship and stifle Internet innovation." — After protest, Congress puts off movie piracy bill, The Associated Press

• "Houston Mayor Annise Parker today joined mayors from Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, Boston and Tacoma, Wash., to endorse equality for same-sex married couples as part of a bipartisan drive by 78 mayors within the U.S. Conference of Mayors." — Houston Mayor Annise Parker endorses national drive for marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples, Houston Chronicle

• "With the GOP field narrowing, Mitt Romney scooped up three more endorsements Friday, this time from Texans in the U.S. House." — 3 more Texans in Congress endorse Romney: Granger, Conaway and Olson, The Dallas Morning News