The Evening Brief: Oct. 4, 2013

Culled

•    Wendy Davis says she’ll win 2014 race for governor (The Dallas Morning News): "State Sen. Wendy Davis on Friday said she would triumph in her quest to become Texas governor because voters wanted new leadership. And she dismissed the notion that she had little chance to win in a state that for nearly two decades has been dominated by Republican politics. 'I’ve been counted out before and I’ve always risen to a win,' Davis told The Dallas Morning News a day after officially entering the race for governor. 'I plan on doing it this time.'"

•    Lehmberg not indicted for jail conduct (Austin American-Statesman): "A Travis County grand jury has declined to indict District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg on any charges relating to her conduct in jail following her drunken driving arrest in April. The 12-member panel was tapped to determine whether Lehmberg violated any state laws as a result of how she acted in jail that night."

•    John Cornyn: Don’t politicize veterans’ memorials (Houston Chronicle): "Politics should not stop the country from honoring its veterans, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, declared Friday as he stood at the World War II memorial in Washington on the National Mall. 'There are no politics about this,' said Cornyn. 'This is about honoring our heroes. It shouldn’t be political.'"

•    Appeals court won't halt Texas voter law (Houston Chronicle): "A district judged erred by partially blocking the enforcement of new Texas voter registration laws while a lawsuit alleging that the laws suppress voting goes forward, a federal appeals court has ruled. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 opinion issued Thursday that there was not enough evidence to allow a preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of five registration law provisions."

•    32 Republicans Who Caused the Government Shutdown (The Atlantic): "Friday was the fourth day of the government shutdown, and there’s still no sign of an exit. What’s surprising about the ongoing fight is how a small group of members of Congress have managed to bring Washington to a halt."

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Ritter Retiring From Texas House: "After nearly 15 years in the Texas House, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, announced his retirement on Friday."

•    Spoiler Alert: Medina Switch Could Change Gubernatorial Math: "Republican Debra Medina says she has been encouraged to drop her bid for comptroller and to run instead for governor — as an independent. Why would someone ask her to do that?"

•    Tough Race Ahead for Senate Candidates After Davis Decision: "With Wendy Davis officially campaigning for governor, Republican and Democratic candidates in Fort Worth's Senate District 10 are preparing for what could be a tough race in a swing district. Some say the local presence of the Davis campaign could benefit the eventual Democratic candidate."

•    Embattled Cancer Center Chief Plans New Approach: "Ronald DePinho's first two years as president of MD Anderson Cancer Center have been marked by distractions and growing unease as much as by lofty aspirations. He said he has learned from his missteps and is making changes."

•    Texas Incentives Lure Video Game Companies: "Texas is ranked second in the nation in video game employment. And Texas' unusually generous incentive arrangements for video gaming companies are at least part of the reason."