Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State speech is set for Tuesday morning at 10:30.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called a press conference for three hours later, to "Unveil Major Public Education Reforms."

Appropriations subcommittees got underway this week, with these representative in the middle chairs: Fred Brown, R-Bryan, Regulatory; John Davis, R-Houston, Health and Human Services; Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, Special Issues (performance reviews, employee compensation, and capital budget requirements); Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, General Government; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, Education; and Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, Criminal Justice.

Three new names on the masthead at the Department of Agriculture: Hector Gonzales is the agency's internal auditor; Bryan Black is assistant commissioner for communications, and former Rep. Gary Walker is interim assistant commissioner for governmental affairs (that's Austin talk, meaning he'll sweet-talk his former colleagues). Gonzales was most recently at the Texas Department of State Health Services. Black's been with the Burson-Marsteller PR firm in Dallas.

Gov. Rick Perry reappointed Albert Hawkins III as executive commissioner at Texas Health and Human Services. It's a two-year term — he's been in that job since 2003.

James Graham and Paula Mendoza were named to the Texas Ethics Commission by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Graham is an investment manager at Hunt Realty Corp. Mendoza owns a small business consulting firm in Houston.

Rep. Frank Corte Jr. of San Antonio, will head the House Republican Caucus, after out-polling Rep. Geanie Morrison of Victoria. Bill Callegari of Katy is vice chairman, Linda Harper Brown of Irving is treasurer, and Sid Miller of Stephenville is secretary.

Tim Mashburn, general counsel for the comptroller's office under Carole Keeton Strayhorn, signed on with DeCharme, McMillan & Associates, a tax consulting firm.

One we missed over the holidays: Cheri Huddleston joined the Hance Scarborough Wright law firm after 11 years with Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville. She'll do lobby work for the firm.

The campaign is over, but the store is still open. Kinky Friedman, the writer and musician and professional character who finished fourth in the race for governor, is still hawking t-shirts and books and stuff to people who signed up for news of his campaign.

Deaths: Sam Seale, former Jackson County Judge and longtime executive director of the Texas Association of Counties, after a long struggle with cancer. He was 73. He was a policeman, sheriff's deputy and FBI agent before turning to the family ranch and running for office. He joined TAC in 1986 and was named executive director a year later.