Gov. Rick Perry named five members — Arthur “Art” Eisenberg of North Richland Hills, Sheree Hughes-Stamm of Spring, Harvey Kessler of Southlake, Robert "Bobby" Lerma of Brownsville and Ashraf Mozayani of Houston — to the Texas Forensic Science Commission. They will serve terms to expire Sept. 1, 2016, with the exception of Lerma whose term expires Sept. 1, 2015.

Donna King of Leander was appointed judge of the 26th Judicial District Court in Williamson County by Perry for a term to expire at the 2016 general election.

Aimee Bertrand leaves the post of Director of Community Engagement and Media for the Houston Apartment Association to join the Harris County Office of Legislative Relations as Legislative Coordinator.

Former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Robert Gates endorsed GOP challenger Will Hurd in the CD-23 contest. It is Gates' first and only endorsement of the election cycle.

The Alliance of Independent Pharmacists of Texas endorsed Republican Sid Miller for agriculture commissioner and state Rep. J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville, for re-election.

Deaths: Starke Taylor, 92, cotton merchant and past president of the Texas Cotton Association who was elected Dallas mayor in 1983 in his first appearance on a political ballot. He served two terms.