The Evening Brief: Sept. 16, 2013

New in The Texas Tribune

•    Abbott Distances Himself From Adviser's Tweet: "Attorney General Greg Abbott, the leading candidate for Texas governor, distanced himself from a controversial tweet by his top campaign adviser, who repeated a blogger's line that Democrat Wendy Davis was 'too stupid to be governor.'"

•    TribLive: Pauken on the Governor's Race: "At Monday's TribLive conversation, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Pauken talked about Greg Abbott, Wendy Davis and the contours of the 2014 race."

•    UT Scientists Measure Methane Emissions From Fracking: "University of Texas at Austin researchers have released new estimates of methane emissions from the production of natural gas wells. The data could affect regulations on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas."

•    Texas A&M Touts Record-Breaking Fundraising Year: "In the fiscal year that ended in September, Texas A&M University raised more than $740 million, officials announced over the weekend. That breaks the school's previous single-year fundraising record by more than $300 million."

Culled

•    Officials: Navy Yard shooter identified as Texas man (The Associated Press): "A former Navy man launched an attack Monday morning inside a building at the Washington Navy Yard, spraying gunfire on office workers in the cafeteria and in the hallway at the heavily secured installation, authorities said. Thirteen people were killed, including the gunman. … The FBI took charge of the investigation at the Navy Yard and identified the gunman killed in the attack as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis of Texas. He died after a running gunbattle with police, investigators said."

•    Rights groups seeking millions in redistricting fees (San Antonio Express-News): "Attorney General Greg Abbott's defense of a now-defunct 2011 redistricting plan could leave the state on the hook for a roughly $6 million legal tab to pay civil rights groups that sued to block the maps. … Civil rights groups are now contending that because the 2011 maps were never used and ultimately were altered by a court, they are entitled to be reimbursed for money spent fighting Abbott in the case. They've asked a federal judge to make the state pay $6.2 million for lawyers, outside experts and travel."

•    When Greg Abbott needs an airplane who does he call? The Koch brothers (The Dallas Morning News): "When Greg Abbott needed a little help flying around as his campaign for Texas governor gets underway, who did he call? The Koch brothers. Abbott’s latest campaign report shows that Koch Industries in Washington provided Abbott with the use of an airplane for $7,500 worth of travel."