Computers are now scoring Texas students’ STAAR essays. The automated scoring engines — quietly rolled out in December — were “shown to be as accurate as human scorers.” TEA officials did not provide information showing this result to @dallasnews: https://t.co/7TP5RBWdvg

ICYMI: Texas AG @KenPaxtonTX will be in a Harris County district court Friday for a pre-trial hearing in his long-pending securities fraud case. Here's a preview: https://t.co/yao39aNI1O (I'm staying in Houston for the weekend and will accept any restaurant recommendations)

Great to have him back!

GOP Rising Star and China Watchdog Mike Gallagher to Quit Congress

The @TexasGOP Executive Committee votes to censure House Speaker @DadePhelan, R-Beaumont, by a vote of 55-4-4 4 no and 4 abstained

Big 12 men’s hoops, writes my ex-⁦@courierjournal⁩ colleague ⁦@ByPatForde⁩, ‘is serving up bruises & road losses across 3 different time zones … There are howling fans and sassy pep bands and thumping sound systems creating feral atmospheres.’

Expecting to see big numbers in the 8-days-out campaign finance reports later this month. #txlege

Nikki Haley plans Dallas rally ahead of Texas GOP presidential primary

BREAKING: The @tamusystem board of regents voted to END its contract with the Qatar Foundation, winding down the campus in the Middle East after 20 years. #txlege Story TK.

.@GaryVanDeaver direct-to-camera TV ad: "Last year I stopped a bill that would have handed out school vouchers — your tax dollars — to illegal immigrants." #HD1 #txlege

In #SB4 lawsuit filing, TX says it has the constitutional right (Art. 1, Sec. 10, Cla. 3) to repel an invasion The judge in this case is David Ezra. When TX used the invasion argument last year in border buoys case, Ezra outright rejected it and called it "breathtaking" #txlege

.@justinaholland’s camp is up with a 30-second comparison TV spot in #HD33, half positive on him and half negative on @KatrinaPierson. #txlege

TUCM has been airing this anti-Burrows, pro-@CowanforTexas ad in the district:

In race for TX House seat being vacated by @FourPriceTX, Caroline Fairly, daughter of Amarillo businessman and GOP major donor Alex Fairly, is toeing the Abbott line on #Vouchers/#schoolchoice. Two rivals are less gung-ho. #txlege #txed https://t.co/NBBHmVT7WJ via @expressnews

New: The FBI arrested a Tennessee man, saying he threatened to shoot migrants at the U.S-Mexico border & told an undercover agent "we are being invaded" His arrest came as Texas is clashing with the U.S. over state policies designed to deter illegal entry https://t.co/nTidpn3vnQ

Top primary target @RogersForTexas is up on TV attacking challenger @olcott4texas, and it's a creative one #HD60 #txlege

Looks like @NikkiHaley will swing through Texas next week, including a Thursday (Feb. 15) rally in Dallas. More details to come.

Paxton spokesperson Nick Maddux responds: "I didn’t know Ken Paxton was on the ballot in HD-21. It’s a bizarre and desperate ad. When you are running ads like this two weeks before early vote, it’s a clear sign the Speaker’s reelection is in trouble." #HD21 #txlege

.@DadePhelan goes direct-to-camera about @KenPaxtonTX in a new reelection campaign ad, running on TV and digital. "If Paxton will break an oath to his wife and God, why would he tell Trump — or you — the truth?" #HD21 #txlege

In this corner, Texas ex-Gov #RickPerry, set to endorse Southlake Mayor John Huffman today in #GOPprimary for #USHouse seat of retiring Rep #MichaelBurgess. In that corner, #DonaldTrump, Perry’s ex-boss, backing Brandon Gill, @ByJosephMorton writes #txcong