Gov. Greg Abbott announced the appointment of 10 student regents and a student representative to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for terms expiring on May 31, 2016. Those appointees are Megan Piehler (Midwestern State University), Ryan Brown-Moreno (Stephen F. Austin University), Alvaro “Gabe” Pereira (Texas A&M University System), Dominique Calhoun (Texas Southern University), Spencer Copeland (Texas State University System), Victoria Messer (Texas Tech University System), Neftali Gomez (Texas Woman's University), Garrett Hughey (University of Houston System), Courtny Haning (University of North Texas System), Justin Drake (University of Texas System) and Christina Delgado (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board).

Businessman Dwayne Stovall announced a challenge Wednesday against U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, saying the first-term congressman hasn’t fought enough against Washington. Stovall came in third in last year's GOP primary contest for U.S. Senate won by the incumbent John Cornyn.

Babin, meanwhile, endorsed GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz this week, making the congressman the fifth member of Texas' congressional delegation to back Cruz.

Heath City Councilman Justin Holland announced on Thursday that he is running for the HD-33 seat being left vacant by Scott Turner.

State Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, announced Tuesday that he’ll run for a fourth term. He said that he's running "not because of what we’ve advanced since I joined the Senate, I seek re-election due to the challenges that remain.”

State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo, said he’ll run for re-election in HD-42, asking his constituents for “their vote, their input, their ideas, their concerns and their prayers.”

State Rep. Tony Dale, R-Cedar Park, announced Tuesday that he's seek re-election to the Williamson County-based HD-136. He told supporters that he worked to pass a budget this session that “addresses education and transportation funding and delivers nearly $4 billion in tax relief.”

Mineola Republican Bryan Hughes, who's running for the SD-1 seat being vacated by Kevin Eltife, rolled out an endorsement Monday from Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

Bill King, a businessman who’s running for Houston mayor, nabbed endorsements this week from Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel as well as from state Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, and former state Rep. Al Luna.

Former General Land Office General Counsel Bill Warnick has hired on with the Kemp Smith law firm where he joins their public law practice. Warnick was GLO general counsel from 2003-15 and prior to that he was a member of the School Land Board.

Disclosure: Stephen F. Austin University, the Texas A&M University System and the Texas State University System are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.