The Brief: Fans Help Perry Survive on "Dancing With The Stars"

The Big Conversation 

Former Gov. Rick Perry will live to dance another day. 

Although he finished in last place in the first two weeks of "Dancing With The Stars" — earning a 20 out of 40 last week and a 22 on Monday — he received enough votes from fans to stay another week, ultimately sending actor Jake T. Austin and his partner Jenna Johnson packing. 

“Based on scores, Rick and Emma, they were the lowest. But I think that’s what this competition is about. I think it also doesn’t hurt that Rick has Emma, who’s pretty fantastic," Judge Julianne Hough said Tuesday, adding that who stays on the show depends on both the contestants' performances and what America wants. 

As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's John Gravois reports, many took to social media to express their shock that Perry made it past the first elimination round. However, since Perry announced that he was dancing to promote veterans' awareness, he's garnered a lot of support from big-name politicians, including U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. 

Trib Must Reads

Analysis: "Smitty," a Texas Lobbyist for the Small Fry, Retiring After 31 Years, by Ross Ramsey — Tom “Smitty” Smith, a colorful lobbyist and liberal activist who turned Public Citizen Texas into a strong voice on environmental, utility, consumer and ethics issues, is hanging up his spurs after 31 years.

DPS Changes in Wake of Sandra Bland Death in Dispute, by Alexa Ura — It is unclear whether the Texas Department of Public Safety will make any changes to its training policies following the announced settlement of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Sandra Bland. 

Is George H.W. Bush Voting For Hillary Clinton?, by Patrick Svitek — Is George H.W. Bush voting for Hillary Clinton? It's a question that has consumed the political world for the past 24 hours, raising the specter of a remarkable rejection of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. 

Amarillo Chips In $15 Million for Texas Tech's Veterinary School Plans, by Matthew Watkins — Officials in Amarillo on Tuesday agreed to chip in $15 million to help Texas Tech University open a new veterinary school in the city. 

Texas Agriculture Chief Won't Face Charges For "Jesus Shot" Trip, by Jim Malewitz —Travis County prosecutors say “criminal intent would be difficult to prove," so they're not pressing charges against Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller for controversial state-paid trips to a Mississippi rodeo and to receive a "Jesus Shot" in Oklahoma.

Judge Orders Texas to Rewrite Voter ID Education Materials, by Jim Malewitz — Texas must issue new press releases and other materials in its voter education campaign. That comes after the federal government and other plaintiffs accused state officials of misleading voters about identification requirements. 

Ray LaMontagne Cancels Show at UT-Austin Over Campus Carry Law, by Bobby Blanchard — In a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon, American singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne said he was canceling a scheduled show at the University of Texas at Austin because of concerns with Texas’ new campus carry law. 

Texas Sues Obama Administration Over New Overtime Rule, by Patrick Svitek — Texas is helping lead a lawsuit against President Barack Obama's administration over a new rule that makes millions of more workers eligible for overtime pay. 

McCaul, Stepping Up Criticism, Says Cruz "Broke His Word" on Trump, by Patrick Svitek — U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, stepped up his criticism Tuesday of congressional colleague Ted Cruz, saying he "broke his word" by declining to endorse presidential nominee Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention.  

The Day Ahead 

•    KLRU studios will screen an online film series focused on grassroots politics in America in a digital partnership between the PBS Election 2016 initiative and The Washington Post. Filmmakers Miguel Alvarez and Heather Courtney and series executive producers Louis Alvarez, Andy Kolker and Paul Stekler will screen their films, followed by a Q&A. The screening takes place at KLRU's Studio 6A on the UT-Austin campus with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The event is free but RSVPs are required. Click here for more information.

•    The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence will meet jointly with the House Committee on County Affairs during a morning hearing to review pretrial service and bonding practices throughout the state and examine factors considered in bail and pretrial confinement decisions.

•    The House Committee on Land and Resource Management meets to examine current regulatory authority available to municipalities and study current annexation policies in Texas. 

•    The House Natural Resources' subcommittee on special water districts will meet in Del Rio for an afternoon hearing to evaluate the status of legislation to encourage joint groundwater planning, and monitor ongoing legal developments concerning ownership access to groundwater and the impact of these developments on property rights and groundwater management.

Elsewhere

(Links below lead to outside websites; content might be behind paywall)

The Cruz challenge is taking shape, Houston Chronicle 

Suspended for sexual misconduct, retiring federal judge to get paid for life, San Antonio Express-News

Appeals court tosses UT regent’s lawsuit over admissions records, Austin American-Statesman 

DPS to review racial disparities in troopers’ stops, searches, Austin American-Statesman 

Small Texas school district may join STAAR lawsuit, The Dallas Morning News 

Report: Texas death penalty appeals process deeply flawed, Houston Chronicle 

Interim San Antonio lawmaker could lose ballot spot, San Antonio Express-News

Rice, Texas A&M lead Texas college grads in earnings potential, Houston Chronicle 

Here Are America’s Least (and Most) Popular Governors, Morning Consult 

Quote to Note

"I think what [Ted Cruz] did at the convention turned off a lot of people. I mean, he pledged to support [Trump]. He broke his word." 

— U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, on Ted Cruz declining to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump

Today in TribTalk

It's time for a showdown: convention of states vs. Texas independence — You can't walk into any city or town in Texas and throw a rock without hitting someone who thinks that Texas should reclaim its independence from the unelected bureaucrats in Washington, writes Daniel Miller of the Texas Nationalist Movement.

Trib Events for the Calendar

•   A Conversation with Pete Gallego, Candidate for Congressional District 23 on Sept. 22 at The Austin Club 

•   The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23-25 at the University of Texas at Austin

•   The Washington Post's Politics & Pints with Chris Cillizza: TTF Edition on Sept. 24 at Scholz Garten

•   TribFeast: A Dinner To Support Nonprofit Journalism on Sept. 24 at the University of Texas at Austin's Etter-Harbin Alumni Center

•   A Conversation with state Reps. Four Price and John Smithee on Oct. 4 at Amarillo College in Amarillo

•   The Texas Response To Zika on Oct. 18 at BCBSTX Headquarters in Richardson

•   A Conversation with state Reps. Andrew Murr and Jason Isaac on Nov. 14 at Schreiner University in Kerrville