The Evening Brief: April 23, 2012

Culled:

• Study shows Mexican immigration at net zero; as many people returning home as entering U.S. (Houston Chronicle): "Immigration from Mexico has reached a net zero, with as many Mexicans moving back to Mexico as are entering the United States, according to the Pew Research Center’s Jeffrey Passel, a highly regarded demographer who used data from both countries. The report released Wednesday cited several possible reasons, including, 'the weakened U.S. job and housing construction markets, heightened border enforcement, a rise in deportations, the growing dangers associated with illegal border crossings, the long-term decline in Mexico’s birth rates and changing economic conditions in Mexico.'"

• Mocked in movie, former ed board member compares criticism to "pre-Holocaust Germany" (Fort Worth Star-Telegram): "Mocked in a new documentary about Texas textbooks and the Texas State Board of Education, former board member Cynthia Dunbar accused critics of the controversial board of 'discrimination' against religious views like in 'pre-Holocaust Germany.' In a panel discussion Sunday night after the Texas premiere of The Revisionaries, a new documentary on how the social conservative board majority has influenced American science and history textbooks, Dunbar said board members who opposed teaching 'weaknesses' of evolution theory were committing 'viewpoint discrimination.'"

• Ron Paul not quitting (Politico): "Ron Paul said Monday he has no plans to end his campaign and is staying in the race since 'maybe somebody will stumble' on the way to the convention. Paul told CNBC’s 'Squawk Box' that even if Mitt Romney secures the delegates needed for the nomination, he would likely continue his campaign 'in a modified way.'"

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Leppert Derides Opponents as "Empty Suits" in New Ad: "In his latest television ad, U.S. Senate candidate Tom Leppert dismisses his Republican opponents as 'empty suits' and compares them all to President Obama."

• A Healing Presence at the State Capitol Since 1992: "When state employees have headaches, or when children on school trips to the Capitol fall down, they visit Tim Flynn, who has served as the Capitol's nurse since 1992, through the administrations of Ann Richards, George W. Bush and Rick Perry."

• Making the Trip From the Bench to the Grass Roots: "How do you get state judges to go to a weekday afternoon reception in rural West Texas? It depends on who else is there — and what it could mean for their re-election bids. Many judges must stand for election in Texas, and the same voters who want them on the ballot don’t pay much attention to them once they’re there. The support of a powerful few goes a very long way."