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BY: @MattMackowiak
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FRIDAY || 10/4/24
Good Friday afternoon.
Thank you for being a paid subscriber.
“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
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TOP NEWS
“'Strive for excellence': How a $70M restoration will return the UT Tower to its former glory,” Austin American-Statesman's Lily Kepner — “On the west clockface of the University of Texas Tower ― a treasured Longhorn landmark that was once the city's tallest building ― a cricket rests on the hand. Individual light bulbs create the clock face's glow, and mechanical technology that clicks every 30 seconds powers the hand forward.
The tower opened in 1937 to be the university's main building and library. Decorated with seals of the world's greatest universities and names of the Western world's renowned thinkers, the tower represents the tireless ambition that has propelled UT forward for a century. Steel bookshelves literally reinforce the building's structure, and the institution has still not reached the building's massive capacity for books.
View the iconic landmark from Interstate 35 or U.S. 290, the gold paint chipping off the clocks' edges, the bumpy observation desk, and the burnt-orange rust on the building's side and windows, can't be seen. But to passersby on the Forty Acres, the aged features can obscure the tower's most notable design elements and the excellence it represents to alums, students and UT leaders.
Now, after 87 years, university administrators have committed to undertaking the largest reinvestment in the landmark since it was built.
Starting in November, the tower will undergo a $70 million, multi-year restoration. The goal is for project to finish by August 2027, restoring the building to its "former glory," President Jay Hartzell said.
The scope of the project, initially added to the Capital Improvement Plan by University of Texas System regents in February, has narrowed to only focus on the building's exterior due to higher-than-anticipated costs. Renovations to the building itself are expected to cost $56,385,000 — about $10 million more than the expected cost. The initially planned interior renovations and grounds restoration to improve visitors' experience will be deferred until other funds are identified, Hartzell said, due to the intricate level of work required and associated expenses.
Regents in August approved the newly narrowed scope and officially authorized the previously agreed-upon $70 million for the project: $26 million from donations, $26 million from the Permanent University Fund Bond, and $18 million from the Available University Fund.
In an exclusive interview with the American-Statesman, Hartzell said the restoration will set the UT Tower up for long-term success. He described the iconic landmark as both a unifying symbol and “a beacon for what we want the university to be.”
“When you think about the boldness of a pretty young university in a pretty small town deciding to build a building taller than the state Capitol, to be a library that was going to hold more books than we owned, it was a sign in that time of audacity, ambition, strive for excellence,” Hartzell said. “The tower still has that same connotation to us — what is possible for a world class university.”
Today, the tower is the awaited backdrop for student graduation photos, a symbol that glows orange in moments of university celebration, the home of the familiar sounding Carillon’s bells and the president's office. The renovation was regents-initiated, Chairman Kevin Eltife said, and he thanked Hartzell for his vision and the university for raising funds.
The renovation will regild and paint the clocks, clean and restore of the exterior of the building to its original form, gild key decorative elements, clean masonry, replace the lighting (now often done manually) with LED lights, and waterproof the tower observation deck and the room with the instrument that controls the tower's 52 carillon bells." AAS ($)
“Dallas names Michael Igo as interim police chief,” Dallas Morning News' Kelli Smith — “The city of Dallas on Friday named Michael Igo as interim police chief, placing the top Dallas Police Department commander at the helm of a force of about 3,100 as it navigates recent challenges, including the departure of Chief Eddie García.
Igo, 58, who has served since February as one of García’s second in commands, will lead the Dallas Police Department starting Oct. 18, according to a city news release. In an email to officers obtained by The Dallas Morning News, Igo said he “will remain steadfast and unwavering” in keeping Dallas one of the safest large cities in the country, noting he’s served at every rank in his 33 years with Dallas police.
“Change is inevitable; however, change brings new opportunities that will lead to personal and professional growth,” Igo wrote. “As your Chief, I will hold each member of this Department accountable. In return, I will hold myself to an even higher standard. I will continue to wear this badge with pride each day — in the good times and bad.”
Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a news release that she’s confident Igo will provide continuity, highlighting his “experience, trust within the community and knowledge of the department.”
“He is the right person at the right time for this assignment,” Tolbert said. “Chief Igo has been unwavering in his commitment to his service in uniform. He will continue the Dallas Police Department’s focus on safety, our number one priority.”
Police officials describe Igo as well-respected, professional and a leader who demands excellence. García told The News in a text that Igo would’ve been his pick as well, calling the selection “an excellent choice.”
Many police officials consider Igo the front-runner to become Dallas’ next chief — a position likely to be chosen by the next city manager. That’s somewhat complicated because Dallas has an interim city manager. The City Council has not stated a clear timeline for the hire.
Another complication for Igo’s selection is he’s married to Dallas police Major Monica Igo, and married officers are not allowed to be in the same unit. Igo told The News that his wife will work for City Hall under Dominique Artis, the former leader of Dallas Fire-Rescue who now serves as the city’s interim chief over public safety.
As DPD’s executive assistant chief, Igo has overseen each of the patrol divisions as well as training and recruiting. He has been with the department since 1992 and rose through the ranks quickly in García’s administration, first serving as a deputy chief over tactical operations such as SWAT, then overseeing patrol as an assistant chief.
He will now handle a $719 million budget and will likely face challenges after García leaves for Austin on Nov. 1 to work for former boss T.C. Broadnax." DMN ($)
“Supreme Court taking up case on Texas nuclear waste site,” via Blomberg wire — “The US Supreme Court will consider reviving a plan to store as much as 40,000 tons of highly radioactive waste at a temporary west Texas site, accepting a case that could be a turning point after decades of wrangling over spent fuel from the nation’s commercial reactors.
Agreeing to hear appeals from the Biden administration and the joint venture that would build and run the facility, the justices said they will review a federal appeals court ruling that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission lacked authority to issue a crucial license.
The above-ground site outside the town of Andrews in the Permian Basin oil field would be the first of its kind, designed to take waste from commercial reactors around the country until a long-running fight over a permanent storage location is resolved.
The plan has the backing of the nuclear power industry. It’s opposed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and a coalition of landowners and oil and gas operators who call the planned facility a public-health hazard.
In its appeal, the Biden administration said the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals upended more than 40 years of NRC practice by concluding the Atomic Energy Act didn’t authorize the license. The decision put the 5th Circuit, perhaps the country’s most conservative federal appeals court, in conflict with other appellate panels.
The ruling “disrupts the nuclear-power industry by categorically prohibiting the commission from approving offsite storage of spent fuel, despite the agency’s longstanding issuance of such licenses,” Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued. She also contends that Texas and other opponents lack the legal right to challenge the decision in court.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urged the justices not to hear the case. He said federal law expressly requires the nation’s nuclear waste to be stored at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, where efforts to build a facility have been scuttled by local opposition.
“Congress specified that the nation would dispose of its nuclear waste at a government-owned facility at Yucca Mountain,” Paxton argued. “By no means can the commission solve its Yucca Mountain problem by disregarding clear statutory language."" DMN ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“Texas oil companies targeted by Russian sanctions lawsuits,” San Antonio Express-News' James Orborne — “Two years after some of Texas’ largest oil companies withdrew from Russia because of U.S. sanctions over the country’s invasion of Ukraine, they and other U.S. corporations are under threat of Russian litigation claiming they are in breach of contract.
The legal claims are largely being heard behind closed doors by arbitration panels in Europe and Russia, keeping the proceedings confidential. But U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Texas Republican leading bipartisan legislation to block the Russian effort, said Texas oil companies were among those being targeted.
“I can’t name them directly, but there are several,” the Houston lawmaker said. “American companies should never be sued by Russian assets for complying with U.S. sanctions.”
The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Russian courts and foreign arbitration panels already have awarded close to $1 billion in damages to Russian firms, which are soon expected to try and force payment by suing companies in U.S. courts, said one lobbyist for the American companies.
Last week, the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation that would bar lawsuits from being filed in U.S. courts seeking compensation for losses sustained due to U.S. sanctions — similar to provisions already in place in Europe and the United Kingdom." SAEN ($)
“Tiger Woods, partners tee up Fort Worth area golf course, development,” Fort Worth Report's Bob Francis — “A development company led by business people with Fort Worth backgrounds, Tiger Woods and a professional golfer with TCU ties have come together to turn a 914-acre development in Parker County into a golf course surrounded by luxury homes.
Bluejack Ranch is the name of the project. It comes from Lantern Asset Management, which has partnered with Tiger Woods and his TGR Design group to design the course. J.J. Henry is a professional golfer who played at TCU. Lantern Asset Management is led by founder and CEO Andy Mitchell, who graduated from TCU with Henry. His wife, Kristen Mitchell, is a consultant to the company and also graduated from the school. Andy Mitchell gained some notoriety in 2018 when he helped finance the acquisition of The Weinstein Co., the movie company led by disgraced and now imprisoned Harvey Weinstein.
Expect Bluejack Ranch to be similar in concept to the Bluejack National private golf community, which the same group built north of Houston and opened in 2014. That project has won numerous plaudits and awards.
It was a trip to the area that sold Andy Mitchell and, perhaps more importantly, his wife, Kristen, on getting involved in the project.
“She said, ‘I could live here,’ and really that was all it took,” he said. “Now, here we are.”
Mitchell credits Henry with originally having the vision to build a championship caliber course on the site.
“I think it was five years ago, at an event at Bluejack National, and he asked me if I was interested in doing something like Bluejack near Fort Worth,” said Mitchell.
At the time, Mitchell had just purchased the assets from The Weinstein Co. “I was basically living in LA and traveling all over the world at the time,” he said.
But last year, after another group led by Fort Worth-based Escalante Golf saw plans fall through, Henry called Mitchell again.
“He was more persistent this time,” Mitchell said." FW Report
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Paxton has penned a letter seeking voter registration data to investigate noncitizen voting,” Dallas Express' Joe Edwards — “Attorney General Ken Paxton has formally requested that Secretary of State Jane Nelson provide records of registered voters lacking Texas-issued identification numbers.
This newest request from Paxton is part of an ongoing effort to identify and investigate potential noncitizen voters and other cases of voter fraud ahead of the upcoming election.
In his October 2 letter, Paxton highlighted concerns over Texas officials’ ability to verify the citizenship status of certain registered voters.
“Every election official in the State must join me in prioritizing this. Our State and our Country are counting on you to do everything possible to expedite transparency and accountability to secure our elections and make sure noncitizens do not illegally vote,” Paxton said in a press release.
Paxton’s request follows a previous appeal made on September 18, urging the Secretary of State to seek data from the federal government to confirm the citizenship status of voters whose eligibility remains unverified. However, Paxton expressed frustration that the Secretary of State’s office had not yet provided the necessary list for federal verification, citing excessive delays that could jeopardize the ability to remove illegal voters before the election.
“There is no time for delay. Texans cannot afford to lose another second waiting for their vote and their voice to be protected from illegal ballots,” Paxton added."" Dallas Express
>> The Texas Secretary of State's response here.
“Ken Paxton sues TikTok for violating new Texas social media law,” Texas Tribune's Pooja Salhotra — “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued TikTok on Thursday for sharing and selling minors’ personal information, violating a new state law that seeks to protect children who are active on social media, accusations that the company denied hours later.
The Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act prohibits social media companies from sharing or selling a minor’s personal information unless a parent or guardian approves. The law, which was passed by the Legislature last year and partially went into effect Sept. 1, also requires companies to create tools that let verified parents supervise their minor child’s account.
Paxton argues in the legal filing that TikTok, a short-form video app, has failed to comply with these requirements. Although TikTok has a “family pairing” feature that allows parents to link their account to their teen’s account and set controls, parents don’t have to verify their identity using a “commercially reasonable method,” as required by Texas law. The minor also has to consent to the pairing.
Paxton also argues that TikTok unlawfully shares and sells minors’ personal identifying information to third parties, including advertisers and search engines, and illegally displays targeted advertising to known minors.
“I will continue to hold TikTok and other Big Tech companies accountable for exploiting Texas children and failing to prioritize minors’ online safety and privacy,” Paxton said in a statement. “Texas law requires social media companies to take steps to protect kids online and requires them to provide parents with tools to do the same. TikTok and other social media companies cannot ignore their duties under Texas law.”
A TikTok spokesperson denied Paxton's allegations, pointing to online information about how parents in certain states, including Texas, can contact TikTok to request that their teen's account is deleted. Parents are asked to verify their identify but submitting a photograph of themselves holding their government-issued ID. According to TikTok's privacy policies, the company does not sell personal information. And personal data is not shared "where restricted by applicable law."
"We strongly disagree with these allegations and, in fact, we offer robust safeguards for teens and parents, including family pairing, all of which are publicly available," TikTok spokesperson Jason Grosse wrote in a an emailed statement. "We stand by the protections we provide families."
Paxton’s lawsuit was filed in a federal district court in Galveston. The filing comes after a federal district court judge in August temporarily blocked part of the social media law from taking effect as a legal battle over the law’s constitutionality continues to play out." Texas Tribune
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“HPD starts Zero Tolerance Initiative downtown traffic violations,” Houston Chronicle's Tanya Babbar — “Houston Police Department Officer Robert Carlson drove up to the front of Four Seasons hotel in downtown Houston to issue a citation to the driver of a white truck Saturday, Sept. 21. His efforts were part of the beginning of a larger joint initiative between Mayor John Whitmire’s administration and the police department to crack down on traffic violations downtown from now until the end of the year.
The Downtown Zero Tolerance Initiative is composed of the Traffic Crimes Task force and the DWI task force, which is part of the traffic crimes. Victor Senties, a public information officer for the department, said units from the downtown division will also help with the initiative, which began on Sept. 20 and will happen periodically throughout the year.
The department did not specify the number of officers that will be directed toward the new traffic enforcement initiative, nor how often the extra presence will be seen downtown. Senties said he believes the initiative will not affect calls for services or response times because traffic enforcement task force is already stationed throughout the city on a daily basis.
According to data Whitmire sent to the Chronicle, the Friday the initiative started, the department issued 123 traffic stops, 22 moving citations and 122 non-moving citations. Officers also issued 22 warnings and towed seven vehicles.
Police Chief J. Noe Diaz said officers stayed in the area on Saturday until 2 a.m to perform increased surveillance for traffic violations." Houston Chronicle ($)
“HISD's proposed $4.4B school bond would add $8.9B in debt if passed,” Houston Chronicle's Megan Menchaca — “Houston ISD’s $4.4 billion school bond would add an estimated $8.9 billion in debt for the district over more than 30 years if approved by voters in November, according to the election order.
As required by state law, the HISD Board of Managers approved an order on Aug. 8 calling for the school bond election during the upcoming general election. The document includes the ballot language, proposed bond projects and the district’s annual, preliminary projected debt obligations through 2058 if either or both of the propositions in the bond measure pass.
The bond proposes allocating about $2 billion for rebuilding and renovating schools and $1.35 billion for lead abatement, security upgrades, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning improvements. It would also provide $1 billion to expand pre-K, build three new career and technical education centers and make technology upgrades without raising taxes.
It will be split into two propositions on the ballot that people can vote on separately. Proposition A would allocate $3.96 billion for school building renovations and expansions, including safety and security infrastructure, while Proposition B would allocate $440 million for technology equipment, systems and infrastructure.
Along with the listed cost on the ballot, the election order states that Proposition A will include more than $4.4 billion in estimated interest for the debt obligations, which would equal a combined cost of nearly $8.4 billion. Proposition B would add $89 million in interest payments in addition to the $440 million principal payment, with an estimated total cost of $529 million.
In total, if the bond passes, the principal costs of both measures would be about $4.4 billion, while the total estimated additional interest will be $4.5 billion.
According to the election order, HISD would have a debt service of approximately $2 billion through 2043, independent of the bond election results. The two bond propositions, if passed, would add more than $8.9 billion in debt through 2058 — increasing HISD’s total debt service to more than $10.9 billion, according to district estimates." Houston Chronicle ($)
2024
“Colin Allred narrows gap in Texas Senate race, but can he win?” Texas Tribune's Matthew Choi — “Democrats are closing the gap in their uphill campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, with polls showing improvement for Democratic U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and national Democrats’ spending in the race a month ahead of Election Day.
For the first time this race, Allred pulled ahead of Cruz in a statewide poll last month, and he continues to poll within a margin of error with Cruz. National Democrats announced Texas would be included in a multi-million-dollar ad buy last week. Allred is consistently outraising Cruz, bringing in more than $1 million in a day twice in the third quarter.
Allred has also built a bipartisan coalition, securing the support of both his party’s left-wing bigwigs and prominent Republicans who have soured on Cruz. This week, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both encouraged voters in Texas to turnout for Allred. Former U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who both were on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, have endorsed Allred.
Independent race ratings groups have taken notice. Cook Political Report shifted its rating for the race from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” on Tuesday. Inside Elections shifted its rating from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican” last week.
“Allred’s unique coalition of voters, the resources and work of his campaign, and Cruz’s weaknesses all put the Texas Senate race in play,” Allred campaign manager Paige Hutchinson wrote in a memo Tuesday. “There is more work to do as we continue sharing Allred’s message, mobilizing our supporters and reminding voters what they don’t like about Cruz – but the Allred campaign is entering the final weeks of the race in the strongest possible position to secure victory.”" Texas Tribune
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX MONTHLY: "Why Are National Progressives Campaigning in Texas?" TX MONTHLY
> DMN: "Why Grand Prairie guns keep turning up at crime scenes in Mexico" DMN
> DMN: "Monday is the deadline to register to vote in Texas for the November 2024 elections" DMN
> DMN: "AG Ken Paxton accuses TikTok of violating Texas’ parental consent law" DMN
> FWST: "Police search Brite Divinity office on TCU campus, arrest professor in child porn case" FWST
> TPR: "Texas gets $5.7 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects" TPR
> HOU CHRON: "10 people charged for distributing opioids to Houston-area 'pill-mills'" HOU CHRON
> TPR: "Statewide report on 2023 deadly domestic violence details Bexar County cases" TPR
> TPR: "U.S. citizens accounted among those accused of smuggling migrants" TPR
> SAEN: "5 years later, no answers in Anaqua Springs Ranch slayings" SAEN
> MRT: "DOJ allocates $172M to Texas for mental health and law enforcement" MRT
> TPR: "Residents whose homes were raided want answers; Border cities see less crime than other cities; most Texans killed by intimate partners were shot" TPR
> HOU CHRON: "Longshoremen at Port of Houston to return to work following temporary deal" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Ex-Brite Divinity School professor facing child porn charges in Tarrant County" DMN
> SAEN: "Report: Mass deportations would cost billions, shrink GDP" SAEN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "What the Federal Reserve interest rate cut could mean for the Greater Houston area" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> SA REPORT: "Helping businesses become sustainability champions boosts San Antonio’s economy" SA REPORT
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NCAAF: Texas St. 38, Troy 17
> NCAAF: Sam Houston St. 41, UTEP 21
This weekend's Texas sports schedule:
Fri
> 6:30pm: NCAAF: Houston at TCU (ESPN)
> 8pm: NCAAF: Sam Houston St. at UTEP (CBS Sports)
Sat
> 11am: NCAAF: #9 Missouri at #25 Texas A&M (ABC)
> 6:30pm: NCAAF: Baylor at #16 Iowa State (Fox)
> 7:30pm: MLS: Houston at St. Louis
> 9:30pm: MLS: Austin FC at LA
> 10pm: NCAAF: Texas Tech at Arizona (Fox)
Sun
> 6pm: MLS: Dallas at Portland
> 6pm: NCAAF: Texas St. at Troy (ESPN2)
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Alex Bregman's next team: Where Astros free agent could land" Houston Chronicle ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Steady Steelers are anti-Cowboys in almost every way, which could prove pivotal on Sunday" DMN ($)
HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans: Joe Mixon misses another practice" Houston Chronicle ($)
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