Texas: Cruz will vote for Trump. “After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided … I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump,” said US Sen. Ted Cruz (R), a former bitter rival of The Donald for the GOP top spot. Despite earlier polls showing a potentially tight race in Texas, the state would probably go for Trump without Cruz’s support, but the move should smooth Cruz’s relations with the state GOP ……. North Carolina: Pittenger rants, then recants. US Rep. Robert Pittenger (R), in an interview with BBC, said of the Charlotte protesters, “They hate white people because white people are successful and they’re not.” He later apologized, citing “the context.” ……. Louisiana: Boustany faces sex scandal allegations. “Murder in the Bayou,” a new book by Ethan Brown, cites anonymous sources who said that US Rep. Charles Boustany (R), a major US Senate candidate this year, had consorted with three prostitutes who were among the eight found murdered between 2005 and 2009. The book also alleges that a Boustany field aide ran a motel where all eight women entertained their clients. Boustany has denied the allegations and his wife called the charges “false,” said NOLA.com. He also denied any knowledge of his aide’s motel connection …….