The Midday Brief: June 29, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

"Texas officials this morning began deploying an array of disaster relief and recovery resources into South Texas as Tropical Storm Alex — expected to soon become the first named hurricane of the season — continued a track toward a Gulf Coast strike." — State begins hurricane deployment, Austin American-Statesman

"Election lawyer Buck Wood, who often helps Democratic candidates, said Monday that the Green Party leaders who certify the ballot could be susceptible to criminal charges if the Supreme Court agrees … that the money that got the Greens onto the ballot was an illegal corporate contribution." — Are Green Party leaders at risk of indictment?, First Reading

"Oil giant BP PLC is floating a financial lifeline to the owners, operators and suppliers of the gas stations around America that bear its name and have been struggling because of boycotts prompted by the Gulf spill." — BP giving financial help to stations, The Associated Press

"Services for former Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr., a legendary Texas rancher who died Sunday, will be held Thursday in his West Texas hometown of Uvalde with burial in a cemetery on his sprawling ranch." — Briscoe services set Thursday, Postcards

New in The Texas Tribune:

"The Libertarian Party's gubernatorial candidate talked to the Tribune on Friday about why more Texans should be armed, why same-sex unions should be allowed and her admittedly slim chances of dethroning Gov. Rick Perry." — Katherine Youngblood Glass: The TT Interview

"The fallout over the BP oil leak has Texas Democrats at odds over deep sea drilling: Environmentalists have called for a permanent ban, but the party’s candidate for governor, Bill White, opposes the idea." — Will Bill White's Stance on Oil Drilling Hurt Him?