The Evening Brief: April 27, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• In New TV Ads, Cruz, Dewhurst Lob the Latest Attacks: "A Super PAC supporting Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's U.S. Senate bid released a new TV ad today attacking two of his opponents. Former Texas solicitor general Ted Cruz's camp hit back with a radio ad criticizing Dewhurst."

The Dewhurst Super PAC ad:

The Cruz ad:

• Amazon, State Settle Sales Tax Fight: "Amazon.com will start collecting sales taxes from Texas customers and invest $200 million and create 2,500 jobs in the state over the next four years. In return, the state will drop its efforts to collect back taxes from the company."

• UTEP Gets Tentative Approval to Host Chavez-Lee Fight: "The University of Texas at El Paso may get to host a boxing match between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. of Mexico and Andy Lee of Ireland at Sun Bowl Stadium after all. University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa has given the go-ahead to Diana Natalicio, president of UTEP, to move forward with contract negotiations that would allow them to host the highly anticipated event on the school's campus."

• Solar Panels for Fort Bliss, Fort Hood? Why Not, Bases Say of Green Efforts: "Fort Bliss has launched a massive effort to cut its net energy and water usage and reduce waste as part of a focus on self-sufficiency. Fort Hood is also working to go greener, but high upfront costs pose challenges."

Culled:

• More Texas Republicans call for Dallas EPA official's dismissal after "crucify" comment (The Dallas Morning News): "Reps. Michael Burgess, Mike Conaway and Pete Olson of Texas have joined the GOP firing squad over a video in which an Environmental Protection Agency official says he would 'crucify' some oil and gas companies that break environmental rules to make an example of them."

• In the end, Hutchison votes for — and Cornyn against — Senate Violence Against Women Act reauthorization (Houston Chronicle): "After a battle of slightly different substitute bills, a version of the Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized with bipartisan support in the Senate on Thursday, 68-31. Texas Republican Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn both played a major role in the debate. Hutchison authored a Republican alternative to the bill, which passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee without Republican support, while Cornyn sponsored an amendment that would have addressed the rape kit backlog."