Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride, which calls itself "the world's largest chicken company," filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing massive losses the company blamed on "high feed-ingredient costs, an oversupply of chicken, weak market pricing and softening demand." That's making an appearance here because the controlling owner has been a major financier of Texas conservatives.

Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, and his wife, Patty Pilgrim, have given $2.7 million to state candidates in Texas since 2000. Bo Pilgrim got kind of famous when, in 1989, he passed out $10,000 checks to state senators — on the Senate floor — during a special session on workers' compensation laws. It was legal, but most of the recipients gave the money back when they saw the resulting headlines. He and his spouse are among the most generous givers to Republicans and, occasionally, to Democrats running for the Legislature and statewide offices. We ran their numbers at the Texas Ethics Commission for this decade. Here's a glance:

In 2000, they gave $194,500.

In 2001, $128,500.

In 2002, $822,209.

In 2003, $230,000.

In 2004, $338,295.

In 2005, $344,286.

In 2006, $317,327.

In 2007, $178,000.

And in 2008, the incomplete total is $166,179.

Want it by biggest recipients of the decade? Here's that list:

Gov. Rick Perry: $532,370

Attorney General Greg Abbott: $359,238

Comptroller Susan Combs: $296,786

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst: $240,220

Republican Party of Texas: $170,000

Then-Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn: $160,220

Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht, accused of accepting a discount on legal services that amounted to an improper gift, was ordered to pay $29,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission. Hecht spoke on behalf of Harriet Miers when she was nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished him for it. He successfully defended himself against that, but the discount on his legal fees generated a complaint from a watchdog group, Texas Watch. That complaint led to this fine. He can appeal the ruling; he hasn't decided what he'll do.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed Solomon "Sol" Casseb III of San Antonio to the 288th District Court. He's a private practice attorney and will replace Lori Massey, who retired.

Carmen Fenton, who's been handling press for U.S. Rep. John Carter, moves to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association as director of public affairs.

Casey Haney, who was Sen. Kyle Janek's chief of staff, moved two blocks north to the Public Utility Commission as director of government relations. Damon Withrow, now out here in the private sector, had been in that post.

Add Michelle Apodaca and Denise Rose to the lobby team at the Texas Hospital Association. Apodaca had been at the Brown McCarroll law firm; Rose was previously at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

Tossed: That odd set of Willacy County indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, and two state judges. Up next: A motion for sanctions against Willacy County DA Juan Angel Guerra, who sought the indictments in the first place. A judge told Guerra he'd violated the state's code of criminal procedure by pursuing cases in which he was both a victim and witness.

Recovering: Former First Lady Barbara Bush, from surgery on a perforated ulcer.