The Evening Brief: Aug. 3, 2012

Culled:

•   Dewhurst reflects on campaign, looks forward (San Antonio Express-News): "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst — talking to reporters for the first time since his loss to Ted Cruz for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate — said he’d do things differently in his campaign given the chance but didn’t specify what. … 'There were decisions made in my campaign that going forward, I will do different.'"

•   Dewhurst spent ‘a little less than’ $20 million of personal funds on losing Senate bid (The Dallas Morning News): "Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Friday he hasn’t recently repaid himself any of the money he loaned his losing Senate campaign. Asked what his net contribution of personal funds to the effort was, after some repayments last fall, Dewhurst replied, 'A little less than 20 [million dollars], unfortunately.'"

•   Texas' high school graduation rate reaches a record high (Houston Chronicle): "Texas graduated a record number of students from high school last year, according to data released Friday by the Texas Education Agency."

New in The Texas Tribune:

•   Feds Announce Details on Deferred Action: "Immigrants brought to the country illegally by their parents will likely not face prosecution or other repercussions — and neither will their families — if they apply for a new federal program that allows them to avoid deportation, federal officials said Friday."

•   Advocates: Texas Shouldn't Execute Mentally Retarded Man: "Lawyers for Marvin Wilson, who was sentenced to death for a 1992 murder in Beaumont, have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that his scheduled execution on Tuesday would be unconstitutional."

•   Regents Approve Putting Health Science Center Under A&M University: "The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today approved moving the administration of the system's Health Science Center to Texas A&M University."

•   Report: TWIA Improves Claims Processes: "After years of controversy and legal wrangling, a bit of good news today for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association in a report from the State Auditor's Office. It said the insurer's claims process is improving."

•   Out-of-State Stars Made Their Mark in Senate Race: "The GOP U.S. Senate race between former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst turned into a political tug-of-war between national conservative stars backing Cruz and Texas Republican leaders for Dewhurst."