The Evening Brief: May 11, 2012

Culled:

• Justice Department to monitor some Texas elections (Los Angeles Times): "Justice Department officials have announced plans to monitor local elections Saturday in three areas of Texas to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Federal observers will monitor polling places in Dallas, Galveston and Jasper counties, according to a Justice Department statement released Friday."

• Dewhurst's documentary about his father focuses on D Day exploits (The Dallas Morning News): "Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, currently running a hotly-contested campaign for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison, has released a 9 1/2 minute excerpt from a documentary about his father, a highly decorated World War II pilot who flew dozens of missions over Europe. The short film, a sleek mixture of archival footage, interviews with veterans who knew him, and shots of Dewhurst and his brother Gene on location in France and England, traces their father's wartime exploits. The focus is on Utah Beach, the western flank of the Allied landing on June 6, 1944 — D Day — when his father was a lead pilot on the bombing runs against the Germans.

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Pro-Dewhurst Super PAC Releases TV Ad Targeting Cruz: "The Texas Conservatives Fund, an independent Super PAC supporting Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's bid for the U.S. Senate, released a new television ad Friday deriding characterizations of former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz as a conservative. 'Cruz, a conservative? You've got to be kidding?' an incredulous announcer says at the start of the ad. The 30-second-spot goes on to cite Cruz's work as an appellate lawyer for a Chinese tire company that was sued by an American businessman for intellectual property theft and donations to President Barack Obama made by the law firm that currently employs Cruz."

• Anita Perry Joining Ann Romney at Austin Fundraiser: "Their husbands were once bitter rivals, but Ann Romney and Anita Perry are joining forces next week to raise money for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The Texas first lady is Ann Romney’s special guest at a fundraiser Thursday at the Austin home of golfing legend Ben Crenshaw and his wife, Julie."

• Senator to Secretary of State: Tell Public Voter ID Law Isn’t in Effect: "A state senator on Friday asked the Texas secretary of state’s office to make it clear to the public that requirements mandated in the voter ID law will not be in effect for this month’s primary."

• Updated Interactive: Texas Budget Cuts Shrink State Government: With the state government tightening its belt, there are now 10,200 fewer state employees, according to an analysis of data collected by the state auditor’s office. This interactive shows how budget cuts have affected employment at state-funded entities from the second quarter of fiscal year 2011 to the second quarter of fiscal 2012.