The Evening Brief: July 6, 2012

Culled:

• Texas: Ted Cruz Internal Poll Shows Lead Over David Dewhurst (Roll Call): "Ted Cruz led Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst by 9 points in a recent internal poll conducted for the former Texas solicitor general’s campaign, a Cruz source has confirmed."

• Cruz's eyebrow-raising poll (Politico): "Texas Senate candidate Ted Cruz is claiming a 9-point lead in internal polling over his GOP primary opponent, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. … Dewhurst strategist Dave Carney shrugged at the top line numbers. 'It's not even close to what we have,' he said."

• George and Laura Bush wrap up Africa trip to promote cancer-fighting initiative (The Dallas Morning News): "Former president George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, are heading back to Dallas after a week-long stay in Africa to promote their cancer-fighting initiative, Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon."

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Dewhurst Surrogate and Cruz Exchange Unpleasantries After Forum: "A Republican candidate forum in Willis ended with an uncomfortable exchange between former state Solicitor General Ted Cruz and a former state senator acting as a surrogate for Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst."

• State Must Alert Parents in Person When Seeking Child Custody: "Texas' high court has ruled that state officials must personally notify parents when suing to deprive them of custody of their children."

• Soot is an Underrated Threat, Scientists Say: "Soot gets less attention in Texas than the big daddy of air pollution, ozone. But scientists say that it is a growing threat for Texans, and the Environmental Protection Agency is tightening standards."

• Codependent Candidates Use Others' Supporters: "If Tea Party and other activists show up for the primary runoffs to help a particular candidate, does that help other candidates of the same political stripe? Top-of-the-ballot candidates trying to stake a claim to their support could benefit — and benefit from — local and regional candidates in down-ballot races."