MRT: AG Paxton Alleges Insulin Conspiracy // Abbott Sends Resources for Helene Cleanup // DPD Budget Adds Only 2% for Sworn Officers // Astros Eliminated

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak

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THURSDAY || 10/2/24

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• TOP NEWS

“West Texas geyser spews oil-laced water near Toyah and Interstate 20,” Houston Chronicle's Amanda Drane — “A tower of salty water that appears to be laced with oil is shooting roughly 100 feet into the sky just West of Toyah in Reeves County, an area of West Texas plagued by a recent rash of earthquakes linked to wastewater injection.

It was unclear where the water was coming from Wednesday. A Texas Railroad Commission map showed there was a dry hole in the area of the geyser. The Commission, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, could not be immediately reached.

The commission has been working to limit wastewater injection in the area where the geyser was reported. In December, it told operators that it plans to suspend permits allowing the injection of wastewater deep underground, after staff determined that deep injection was “likely contributing to recent seismic activity."

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Reeves County Emergency Management and representatives from Kinder Morgan were on scene at the geyser just off of Interstate 20 Wednesday afternoon. The smell of oil and rotten eggs — a telltale sign of poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas — wafted through the area. A first responder said he measured 250 parts per million of the gas.

Kinder Morgan said in a statement that its staff investigated and determined the geyser was unrelated to their pipeline operations in the area.

Oil and gas attorney Sarah Stogner and well control specialist Hawk Dunlap, working for Antina Ranch, were also onsite Wednesday after hearing reports of the geyser. The pair have become first responders of sorts themselves as the area is affected by so-called “zombie” wells,  or wells that should be plugged but are bursting back to life with toxic water.

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Reeves County Emergency Manager Jerry Bullard declined to comment about the geyser, saying the county has little incentive to shout it from the rooftops when such things occur because most of the county budget comes from taxes paid by the oil and gas industry." Houston Chronicle ($)

AAS: “Delta Airlines commits to investment in Texas with 5 new routes” AAS ($)

DMN: “Texas lawsuit alleges conspiracy to inflate price of insulin” DMN ($)

HOU CHRON: “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sends resources for Hurricane Helene cleanup” Houston Chronicle ($)

DALLAS EXPRESS: “Dallas Police Department's new budget increased by 10% but sworn officers will only increase by 2%” Dallas Express

HOUSTON LANDING: “Houston has a 'negative' credit outlook. Will it push leaders to raise property taxes?” Houston Landing

HOU CHRON: “Donald Trump stops in Houston on Texas fundraising swing” Houston Chronicle ($)

HOU CHRON: “Colin Allred says striking dockworkers should share in profits” Houston Chronicle ($)

DMN: John Cornyn guest column: “America's next commander in chief must unapologetically support Israel” DMN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE   

> TX TRIB: "Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texas’ 2024 election" TX TRIB
 > TX MONTHLY: "A Rare Disease Causes a Mother’s Body to Attack Her Unborn Child. Now a Texas Doctor Has Found a Drug to Stop It." TX MONTHLY
 > DMN: "Why are state agencies ignoring court orders obtained by transgender Texans?" DMN
 > DMN: "Prosecutors: Trump ‘resorted to crimes’ after losing 2020 election in failed bid to cling to power" DMN
 > TPR: "Report: 'Staffing crisis' in Texas prisons makes staff, inmates and public less safe" TPR
 > TPR: "Statewide report on 2023 deadly domestic violence details Bexar County cases" TPR
 > COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Deadline approaches to apply for federal assistance for Hurricane Beryl losses" COMMUNITY IMPACT
 > CCCT: "Largest carbon capture project in the U.S. could be in West Texas." CCCT
 > THE TEXAN: "Democratic Federal, State, and Local Texas Officials Urge DOJ to Monitor Upcoming Election" THE TEXAN
 > THE TEXAN: "Texas Maternal Mortality Data Shows Most of Increase Came Before Dobbs, Contrary Tim Walz Claim" THE TEXAN
 > AAS: "Experts: Rash of school threats taxes resources, sparks concern" AAS
 > VALLEY CENTRAL: "BISD receives $30M in Title 1 funding" VALLEY CENTRAL
 > HOU CHRON: "Donald Trump stops in Houston on Texas fundraising swing" HOU CHRON
 > WACO TRIB: "$17M food hub in East Waco to expand nonprofit's regional reach" WACO TRIB
 > COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Children’s Health, UT Southwestern break ground on $5B Dallas campus" COMMUNITY IMPACT
 > MY RGV: "Man claiming to be Mexican government official found with 55 pounds of cocaine" MY RGV
 > MY RGV: "Former Progreso school board president pleads guilty to drug trafficking" MY RGV
 > TX TRIB: "Bernie Sanders tells Texas progressives to back Harris, says Allred win would “make all the difference”" TX TRIB
 > TX TRIB: "Texas prison system’s staffing crisis and outdated technology endanger guards and inmates" TX TRIB
 > TX TRIB: "The largest carbon capture project in the U.S. could be in West Texas. Do residents want it?" TX TRIB
 > TPR: "Report: 'Staffing crisis' in Texas prisons makes staff, inmates and public less safe" TPR
 > FWST: "Mother of woman who died in Tarrant County jail brings daughter’s ashes to commissioners" FWST

• EXTRA POINTS   

Last night's Texas sports scores:
  > MLB: Tigers 5, Astros 2 (2-0)
  > MLS: Houston 2, New England 1
  > MLS: Austin 1, Portland 0
  > MLS: San Jose 3, Dallas 3

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
  > 6pm: NCAAF: Texas St. at Troy (ESPN2)
  > 8pm: NCAAF: Sam Houston St. at UTEP (CBS Sports)

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Alex Bregman's next team: Where Astros free agent could land" Houston Chronicle ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Steady Steelers are anti-Cowboys in almost every way, which could prove pivotal on Sunday" DMN ($)

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans: Joe Mixon misses another practice" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Could Texas build package for Arch Manning when Quinn Ewers returns? What Steve Sarkisian said" AAS ($)

TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: "No. 9 Missouri looks to improve to 5-0 in visit to No. 25 Texas A&M" AP