Morning Roundup: Spring Eve edition

Good morning, Houston. If between the wind, the lukewarm weather and the clouds of pollen floating around, you've somehow managed to forget that it's the day before spring officially begins — well, consider yourself reminded. So how about we get straight to the news so you can start coming up with excuses now for blowing off work tomorrow?

>> Rodeo protesters call for federal help: The American GI Forum, one of the groups claiming that the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is excluding Hispanic heritage from this year's festivities, is trying to get the U.S. Justice Department involved in the controversy. The flap began when no traditional Tejano acts were invited to perform on the Rodeo's Go Tejano Day; protesters are asking for Hispanic representation on the Rodeo's executive board, more Rodeo scholarships for Hispanics, a part in selecting Rodeo entertainers, fair pay for Tejano artists and sensitivity training. Rodeo officials have said Hispanics do, in fact, serve on several committees and get a fair share of scholarships, and they've denied any prejudice against Hispanics at the annual event. As KTRK reports, it's not clear exactly what the Justice Department is expected to do, but the American GI Forum's Johnny Mata seems to look on bringing the feds in as a pleasant thing. "I think that by providing a setting and a format and with our expertise and the expertise of other organizations, I think that that can occur, where we extend a friendly gesture of bringing everybody to the table," he told Channel 13.

>> Mauldin: I couldn't keep myself from microwaving my baby: Joshua Mauldin, the man on trial for burning his 2-month-old baby girl in a Galveston hotel microwave last year, described his actions in a videotaped statement played in court yesterday, saying he "had no control" over his body as he beat and burned the child. The Chronicle reports that Mauldin, 20, described how he threw the girl from bed to bed in the hotel room, then punched her in the groin before placing her in the room's safe, the refrigerator and, finally, the microwave. "I could see what was going on, but I couldn't do anything about it," he said. "When I got control over my body, I freaked out." Mauldin — who has reported hearing voices that threaten to kill him if he doesn't do what they say — initially told police that the baby had been sunburned, then said she had been burned by scalding water he spilled on her before confessing to burning her in the oven. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to injury of a child and could face life in prison if convicted.

>> Today's weather: Turns out what they say about clouds and silver linings might just be true: Yesterday's storms have brought us perfect springtime weather for the end of the week. Think of today as a sort of transition, with partly cloudy skies, a high of 71 and a lot of wind followed by a chilly, clear night with temperatures in the mid-40s.

>> In brief: Harris County must beef up transportation, education, study says ... Local home sales fall, but prices rise ... Ashby high-rise developers pushing ahead with original plans ... Judge: Juvenile Justice Center needs more security