Texas: Hurd a new GOP star? Freshman US Rep. Will Hurd (R), one of only two African Americans in the House Republican Caucus, is either an important symbol of diversity or a “one-term wonder,” says the Washington Post in a four-column wide story. Hurd, 37, a former CIA operative, got elected last year in a 70% Latino district in what the Post called “a perfect political storm” of a GOP wave and a set of issues, such as border security and foreign policy, that fit his background. Next year, however, he is at the top of the Democrats’ target list. Stay tuned ……. Alabama: Shelby holding Federal Reserve hearings. US Sen. Richard Shelby (R), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, will be holding hearings on ways to reform the Fed. Shelby, reports the Washington Post. However, unlike US Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), he does not favor auditing the financial institution: “I don’t want Congress setting monetary policy,” said Shelby ……. Mississippi: Special election set to fill US House vacancy. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) has scheduled the election to fill the vacancy in the 1st District (Tupelo, etc.) for May 12. If no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will be held on June 2. The qualifying deadline is March 27 …….