The Evening Brief: Oct. 8, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

•   Texplainer: What Happens if UT Loses the Fisher Case?: "The University of Texas at Austin's use of race as a factor in some admissions decisions is being challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court this week. What will happen to the admissions process if UT loses the case?"

•   Education: The Other Infrastructure Problem: "The state's biggest education deficit is in its fastest-growing population. If that persists, Hispanics will have problems operating at full potential in the Texas of the future. That’s trouble for them, trouble for future employers looking for help and trouble for the next generation of well-trained, working taxpayers who will have to carry that group."

Culled:

•   Julian Castro joins Obama to raise funds, energize Latino supporters in California (Houston Chronicle): "San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro hit the road this weekend to join President Barack Obama at a funding-raising stop in Los Angeles in a final-stretch drive for money and Latino support. … Castro joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and a list of celebrities that included George Clooney and musical performances."

•   Pflugerville ISD to offer benefits for domestic partners (Austin American-Statesman): "The Pflugerville school district will be the first in Central Texas — and probably the first in the state — to offer insurance benefits to same-sex and heterosexual domestic partners."

•   Churches defy tax law, talk politics (Houston Chronicle): "It is the fifth year Encourager has participated in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an annual protest of federal tax law that limits some political speech by religious leaders. Alliance Defending Freedom, the group organizing the event, said nationwide about 1,000 pastors from almost 30 denominations signed up to preach about politics, including about 65 in the Houston area. The list of local participants was dominated by evangelicals, primarily Baptist and Latino congregations."

•   Parkland hospital adds Rick Perry aide as a new VP (The Dallas Morning News): "Parkland Memorial Hospital has hired a high-level aide to Gov. Rick Perry as its government relations vice president, three months before the 2013 legislative session begins. Katherine L. Yoder, 36, a Perry health-care policy and budget adviser, replaces the Dallas hospital’s longtime top lobbyist, Jennifer Cutrer. Parkland said in a written statement late last week that Cutrer had retired, but it did not elaborate."