The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for Feb. 8, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "News that Gov. Rick Perry will ask the Legislature today to indefinitely suspend funding for the Texas Historical Commission as part of a sweeping budget-reduction was raising eyebrows among lawmakers." — Historical Commission cut: Payback or good government?, Postcards

• "State prison officials are considering a budget-cutting plan to lay off more than 1,000 workers , close three drug treatment centers including one in Burnet and reduce the number of meals fed to prisoners on weekends." — Prison agency proposes 1,000 layoffs, less drug treatment, fewer convict meals, Austin American-Statesman

• "Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold, a former radio disc jockey who defeated Democratic Rep. Solomon Ortiz by just 799 votes, has already openly speculated that he could be a one-term wonder. Farenthold, a long-shot winner in November, is well aware that Democrats believe he will be swept out of office in 2012 when Hispanic turnout in this border district is expected to spike during the presidential election." — Top 10: House races are heating up, Politico

• "The Texas Workforce Commission is issuing up to $3 billion in bonds and raising 2011 taxes for employers to replenish the state's ailing unemployment trust fund." — Texas is raising taxes for employers, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Gov. Rick Perry just wrapped up his sixth State of the State speech, where he addressed a joint session of the Texas House and Senate, and sold the state's fiscal troubles as an opportunity to make government more efficient." — LiveBlog: Perry's State of the State

• "Gov. Rick Perry had the ultimate guest to further his border security message at today's State of the State: the young woman whose husband was apparently murdered by a band of Mexican pirates wielding assault rifles on Texas' Falcon Lake." — Hartley: Washington Should Help Solve Husband's Murder

• "Basically, Texas has its own grid to avoid dealing with — you guessed it — the feds. But grid independence has been violated a few times over the years — not even counting Mexico's help during last week's blackouts." — Texplainer: Why Does Texas Have Its Own Power Grid?