The Evening Brief: Aug. 22, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    U.S. DOJ Again Seeks to Stop Texas Voter ID, Redistricting Maps: "The U.S. Department of Justice will once again seek to stop Texas’ voter ID law, this time in a lawsuit alleging the measure violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It will also challenge state redistricting maps."

•    UT System Regents Select Foster as New Chairman: "The University of Texas System regents concluded their annual August meeting by reshuffling the board's leadership, selecting Paul Foster, a businessman from El Paso, as their new chairman."

•    Pitts, House's Chief Budget Writer, Announces Retirement: "House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, announced Thursday he will not seek another term in the Texas House."

•    Missouri Secretary of State Asks Perry to Stay Away: "In a letter to Gov. Rick Perry, Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander has asked the governor to reconsider his visit to that state next week to recruit jobs and instead urge him to focus on creating jobs in Texas."

•    Cruz Doesn't Say Whether He Will Support a Perry Presidential Run: "After touring the Austin-based technology company National Instruments, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz declined to say whether he would support Rick Perry if the governor decides to run for president in 2016."

Culled

•    What the DOJ decision means for Texas’ congressional delegation (The Washington Post): "The Justice Department announced plans Thursday to challenge Republican-drawn redistricting plans in Texas, launching another round in a years-long legal fight over voting rights between the Obama administration and the Lone Star State. If anyone stands to benefit from this fight, it’s Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Tex.)."

•    David Dewhurst’s call to Allen police sure to be fodder for rivals’ political ads (The Dallas Morning News): "When David Dewhurst made the now-infamous phone call to the Allen Police Department to secure the release of a relative accused of shoplifting, he gave his political opponents the last piece of a trifecta."

•    Campbell challenger gets San Antonio support (San Antonio Express-News): "An ideological divide within the Texas Republican Party will likely be on full display as the Senate District 25 race unfolds. Tea party incumbent state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, is being challenged by at least one Republican, Mike Novak, a former Bexar County commissioner and one-time chairman of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, who says he represents a business-first faction of the GOP."