The Midday Brief: June 28, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"No surprise here: Texas elected officials are elated at this morning's Supreme Court decision that makes gun ownership a national rights." — Texans applaud Supreme Court gun rights decision, Texas on the Potomac

"The Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling today, siding with a challenge to the city of Chicago's tough gun control law, underscores the stakes at Elena Kagan's confirmation hearing that starts this afternoon. It also vindicates the legal and political stance of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who has worked with Montana's Democratic senator, Jon Tester, to fight gun restrictions." — Supreme Court gun ruling vindicates Hutchison stance, Trail Blazers

"Federal officials have fined Texas $3.96 million for errors in issuing food stamp benefits, according to a letter sent to House Speaker Joe Straus." — Texas fined $3.96 million over food stamp errors, Postcards

"BP's mounting costs for capping and cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico spill have reached $2.65 billion, it said Monday, but the oil giant denied reports out of Russia that CEO Tony Hayward is resigning." — BP spends $2.65B on oil spill, denies CEO quitting, The Associated Press

New in The Texas Tribune:

"Seventeen years ago, Texas turned on its last nuclear reactor, about 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth. In another decade, several more reactors could get built here — if events in Washington go the power companies' way." — Texas Mulls More Nuclear Reactors

"A quiet ideological battle is being waged yard to yard in affluent neighborhoods of San Antonio. It began with one side declaring "No socialism" in white letters on a black background. Some didn't like that message, so they changed it to read 'No selfishness.'" — Battling Signs in Affluent San Antonio Neighborhoods

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, isn't the only Texas congressman making headlines in Washington. Citing a 'retired F.B.I. agent' as his source, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, said on the floor of Congress last week that terror cells are plotting to breed future terrorists inside the United States." — HuTube: Texas Congressman Warns of Terrorist Babies