The Midday Brief: November 4, 2009

Your afternoon reading:

• “Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, and Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said Valley families need a “son of South Texas” working for them in Washington.” – Valley’s two state senators back Sharp for U.S. – Rio Grande Guardian

• “Voters looking at the financial information of candidates can get a better look at possible conflicts of interest and see how candidates about to manage a city’s finances managed their own.” – Texas Watchdog asks for the tax returns of Gene Locke and Annise Parker; voters deserve fully vetted Houston mayor – Texas Watchdog

• “Khristian Oliver, 32, convicted of the 1998 slaying during a burglary of Collins' home, was set to die Thursday evening. He would be the 20th inmate executed this year in Texas.” – Bible plays role in Texas execution case – Associated Press

• “‘I think I’m the only man of the people that’s in the race,’ Friedman told POLITICO in a podcast interview. But the road for Friedman remains a rough one." – Once More Into The Election Rodeo – Politico

• The vaccine has been in short supply nationwide. Texas has gotten about half the doses promised by federal health authorities." – No swine flu vaccine for Gitmo detainees, Texas senators demand – The Dallas Morning News

New in The Texas Tribune:

• “The small picture: A high school dropout will likely make poverty-level wages of about $14,500 yearly — about $7,000 less than a graduate with no college, a gap likely to remain or widen over time.” –Dropout problem drags Texas down – The Texas Tribune

• “El Paso Republican Rene Diaz invited us at The Texas Tribune this morning to join him on his "journey" as he runs for the Texas House.” – 2010: Another El Paso Republican to challenge Moody – The Texas Tribune