The Evening Brief: April 30, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• EPA's Armendariz Resigns Days After "Crucify" Comment Surfaces: "The resignation of Al Armendariz, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for the Southwest region, was met with regret by environmental groups and relief in the oil and gas industry."

• Planned Parenthood Must Stay in Women's Health Program — for Now: "A district judge has ordered the state to maintain the Medicaid Women's Health Program as is until further notice, meaning Planned Parenthood affiliates cannot be excluded from the program starting Tuesday as planned."

• Endorsing Today With an Eye Toward Tomorrow: "Endorsements aren't always — or even usually — about the person being endorsed. In a season where statewide officials are busy praising legislators, it's worth noting that many of those statewide officials will be on the ballot again in two years, seeking help from the people they're endorsing now."

Culled:

• Leppert Up With Multi-Million Dollar Ad Blitz (National Journal): "Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is launching a major television ad blitz in the month leading up to the May 29 Senate primary in an effort to catapult himself into a runoff for the GOP nomination. Leppert's campaign will spend close to $2 million running spots on broadcast stations across Texas in May, according to a source close to the Leppert campaign."

• James touts 'converts' from rivals as he unveils his steering committee (The Dallas Morning News): "Republican Senate underdog Craig James says he's peeling support from his rivals. In a release Monday, the former ESPN broadcaster highlighted a former Ted Cruz supporter who says he 'made a mistake' and a Dallas social conservative who backed an unidentified opponent but now says she's for James, citing his 'boldness in his faith.'"

• Ron, Rand Paul plan tea party rally in Austin (Austin American-Statesman): "Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul will hold a Sunday afternoon tea party rally on the south steps of the Texas Capitol with his son, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. The rally, announced this morning by Paul’s presidential campaign, will be sponsored by the Tea Party Express, a national organization active in electoral politics, supporting past campaigns by Rand Paul, Sarah Palin, U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and other conservative candidates."

• Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum will attend Texas GOP state convention in Fort Worth (Fort Worth Star-Telegram): "Top Texas Republicans are announcing that former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum — who suspended his campaign for the White House a few weeks ago — will be one of the featured speakers at the 2012 Texas GOP convention Gala Banquet in Fort Worth."