Morning Roundup: History, discovered edition

Good morning, Houston. Sure, you've heard a lot about Alamo defender Davy Crockett — but have you ever read his final letter? Soon you'll be able to see it in person: The Texas Historical Commission has bought the letter, which was discovered in a file folder last month, for $550,000. Crockett wrote the letter to his children Jan. 9, 1836, shortly after he arrived in Texas and less than two months before he died in the Battle of the Alamo. "I must say as to what I have seen of Texas it is the garden spot of the world the best land and the best prospect for health I ever saw is here and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here." Crockett wrote (oddly enough, he didn't use any punctuation). The letter's seller was Ray Simpson of Houston, whose family discovered the document; THC Chairman John Nau III said it's not clear where the letter will end up, but he said it will be placed on display for everyone to see. "This is truly a state treasure," Gov. Rick Perry said of the letter.

>> Lost load closes North Freeway: If you were anywhere near the North Freeway near Woodland Heights at rush hour Tuesday afternoon, chances are that we don't need to tell you about the freeway closure — but the good news is that you can stop cursing: After all-night repairs, the freeway has re-opened. KHOU reports that the closure happened after a southbound truck hauling a huge piece of oilfield equipment tried to pass under the Cottage Street overpass around 5 p.m. The combined truck and load were taller than the maximum 14-foot-6-inch clearance under the bridge; the load crashed into the edge of the bridge and fell to the roadway, damaging bridge supports and knocking a 2-foot-deep crater in the pavement of the freeway. Crews did a quick repair job on the pavement and welded temporary supports in place on the bridge, allowing the freeway to re-open around midnight; according to KTRK, it's not clear yet if more extensive repairs will be needed.

>> Excitement in Slade trial: Things heated up Tuesday in the trial of former TSU President Priscilla Slade as Oliver Brown, a member of the "TSU Three," testified and Slade's attorney tried to discredit him. Brown was one of three members of TSU's student government who filed suit against university administrators; Mike DeGuerin, Slade's attorney, suggested Brown was only out for money. "How much money do you expect to make in the lawsuit?" DeGuerin asked Brown. "I wouldn't try to make something up to get money, I swear to God," Brown replied. "My only attention was to bring attention to the problems on campus." According to the Chronicle, Brown later made references to former TSU CFO Quintin Wiggins, who was convicted in May for helping misdirect university funds into Slade's personal accounts — information jurors weren't supposed to hear — and DeGuerin called for a mistrial. "Denied, denied, the court has denied it," state District Judge Brock Thomas told him. The trial will resume Friday.

>> Today's weather: Look for what's getting to be a typical late-summer day: an afternoon high in the upper 80s, with a 50 percent chance of rain. Tonight, the rain chance will stick around until 1 a.m. or so as temperatures fall into the upper 70s.

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