The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for June 23, 2011

New in the Tribune:

• "Advocates for a strip club tax that raises money for state services say their effort to change which programs benefit from the fee is dead. They say they couldn't get the support needed in the Senate to keep the measure — which would direct all revenue from the program to sexual assault victims, as opposed to sharing it with a low-income health insurance program — in a fiscal matters bill." — Updated: Advocates Say Change to Strip Club Fee is Dead, The Texas Tribune

Your afternoon reading:

• "Should Gov. Rick Perry of Texas enter the 2012 presidential race, he would enjoy a strange and remarkable escort — the irrepressible ghost of Cameron Todd Willingham."  — The Haunting of Rick Perry, New York Times

• "Earlier this week, Politico's Maggie Haberman wrote this: 'If Texas Gov. Rick Perry decides to run for president, his team is more than prepared for re-airing of unsubstantiated rumors, circulated on and off for years in the Lone Star State, about his personal life.'" — Rumor mill bigger in Washington; is Perry ready for it?, Austin American-Statesman

• "Unfortunately school districts and states are more tight-fisted about sharing information than they are about spending money. And too often budget cuts are based more on what's easiest for the adults in charge of the schools rather than the kids in them. So here are 5 things parents should know — or ask — about the spending decisions and how they will impact schools next fall." — Budget Cuts in the Classroom: What's on the School Chopping Block?, Time

• "The Obama administration will release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to offset oil supply disruptions in the Middle East, the Energy Department announced Thursday morning." — Obama administration taps Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Politico

• "Asked about whether he is still leaning toward running for the U.S. Senate next year or waiting until 2014 to seek the governorship, the Republican replied, 'I want to be where I can best serve the people of Texas.' He added: 'That decision I will be sharing with you in July.'" — Dewhurst says political plans won't be affected if Perry runs for president, Dallas Morning News