MRT: Deer Park Fire Claims Process Opens // UATX Opens // SpaceX Attacks FAA // X Moves to Bastrop // TPWD Buys 630 Acres // All Eyes on Teare vs. Simons

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak

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TUESDAY || 9/24/24

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• TOP NEWS

“Rice University, UT-Austin top Texas schools in U.S. News list,” Dallas Morning News' Sarah Bahari — “Five Texas universities nabbed spots in the top 100 of U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of best national universities.

Most of the top Texas schools fell slightly in the oft-touted rankings that some higher education institutions blame for reinforcing the public's value on prestige in higher education. Private schools are better represented up high, and many public schools have jockeyed to improve their standings even as critics say the metrics don't fully portray a school's worth, especially for lower-income students.

This year, Rice University maintained its status as the highest-ranked university in Texas. The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Baylor University and Southern Methodist University also landed in the top 100.

A list that pulls out public universities from the rankings shows Texas lagging in its representation, given the state enrolls the second-largest number of post-secondary students in the country with 90 percent of those students attending public schools. UT-Austin and Texas A&M were once again the only two Texas institutions in the top 50 for public universities, although the University of Texas at Dallas and University of Houston stayed in the top 75.

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University of Houston saw major strides last year in President Renu Khator's mission to bring the school into the top 50, when it climbed 21 spots to number 70. The university dropped to No. 74 this year, a result of U.S. News changing its ranking methodology and removing metrics related to the success of first-generation students, UH officials said.

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Only five points separate UH from the top 50, and school leaders say they expect their rankings to rise if they raise six-year graduation rates from 65% to 70%. The university also ranked No. 36 among all national universities for social mobility." Houston Chronicle ($)

HOU CHRON: “Deer Park pipeline fire: How to file claim with Energy Transfer” Houston Chronicle ($)

HOUSTON LANDING: “Former FBI agent pleads guilty to pocketing cash he found while searching Houston-area homes” Houston Landing

AAS: “Why the University of Austin launched and how it hopes to serve higher education” AAS ($)

HOU CHRON: “Houston Ballet executive director Jim Nelson retiring after 40 years” Houston Chronicle ($)

SAEN: “Elon Musk's SpaceX slams FAA in letter to Ted Cruz and other lawmakers” SAEN ($)

DMN: “New Hong Kong flight headed to DFW Airport in 2025” DMN ($)

HOU CHRON: “Texas-based Firefly Aerospace handle NOAA launch for NASA” Houston Chronicle ($)

DMN: “Invitation Homes agrees to pay $48M settlement over 'illegal tactics'” DMN ($)

AAS: “Why is Elon Musk choosing this small Texas town as the landing spot for X headquarters” AAS ($)

DMN: “TPWD buys land next to Enchanted Rock state park for expansion" DMN ($)

HOU CHRON: “Gerald Goines trial: Closing arguments to begin in Harding Street case” Houston Chronicle ($)

SAEN: “10-year-old accused of making threat against Middle School in Kerrville” SAEN ($)

AAS: “Shooting threats at Lake Travis High School deemed not credible” AAS ($)

FW REPORT: “Tarrant becomes blueprint for property tax changes across Texas. Some experts are worried” FW Report

HOU LANDING: “Teare-Simons November race for district attorney could be Harris County's most competitive” Houston Landing

HOU CHRON: “Donald Trump is returning to Houston next week to raise money” Houston Chronicle ($)

TX TRIB: “In Texas visit, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff raises more than $1 million” Texas Tribune

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE   

> TX TRIB: "A South Texas region finally gets a children’s hospital, but many families still can’t find care" TX TRIB
> DMN: "AG Ken Paxton sues feds over endangered lizard in Texas oil country" DMN ($)
> DMN: "No new houses? Princeton temporarily bans residential development amid explosive growth" DMN
 > TX MONTHLY: "Southwest Airlines Faces a Decisive Fight Over Its Future" TX MONTHLY
 > HOU CHRON: "Best things to do in Houston, according to Jim "Mattress Mack" McInvale" Houston Chronicle ($)
 > FWST: "North Texas man tied to neo-Nazis accused of threatening district attorney in Tennessee" FWST ($)
> SA REPORT: "At San Antonio rally, Doug Emhoff and Texas Democrats decry Paxton’s voter fraud hunt" SA REPORT
 > HOU CHRON: "California sues Exxon, claiming oil giant deceived public on how much plastic can be recycled" HOU CHRON ($)
 > MY RGV: "Cards Against Humanity sues SpaceX over land in Cameron County" MY RGV
 > AAS: "Texas jury rejects counts against all but one 'Trump Train' defendant" AAS ($)
 > TPR: "Father in starvation death of San Antonio four-year-old heads to trial" TPR
 > THE TEXAN: "Abilene Christian University Approved for Research Nuclear Reactor Construction" THE TEXAN
 > EP TIMES: "Liger seized, bodies dumped as Mexico border cartel violence flares" EP TIMES
 > SAEN: "10 years in prison for West Campus High coach who had sex with teen" SAEN ($)
> SA REPORT: "How a 20-year lifespan disparity impacts communities in San Antonio and South Texas" SA REPORT
 > TX TRIB: "Latest effort to block school ratings cracks Texas districts’ once-united front" TX TRIB
 > FWST: "State House Republicans opposing current speaker rally behind Mansfield Rep. David Cook" FWST ($)
 > DMN: "Former East Texas police captain awarded $21 million for wrongful termination" DMN ($)
 > DMN: "Texas voter turnout for 2020 presidential election was 66.7% of registered voters" DMN ($)
 > HOU CHRON: "BP plans to sell U.S. wind farms, focusing Houston operations on oil and gas" HOU CHRON ($)
 > DMN: "Spending deal averts a possible federal shutdown, funds the government into December" DMN ($)

EXTRA POINTS   

Last night's Texas sports scores:
  > MLB: Mariners 6, Astros 1

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
  > 7:10pm: MLB: Mariners at Astros
  > 8:40pm: MLB: Rangers at Athletics

TEXAS RANGERS: "Rangers to place former MacArthur star Josh Jung on season-ending IL" SAEN ($)

SMU FOOTBALL: "SMU running back Jaylan Knighton out for season with knee injury" DMN ($)