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[MustReadTexas.com]([link removed]) – [@MustReadTexas]([link removed])
BY: [@MattMackowiak]([link removed])

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**THURSDAY** || 12/19/24

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**Good Thursday afternoon.**
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_“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)_

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* **TOP NEWS**

“**Texas population growth leads nation in 2024,**” Houston Chronicle's **Sam González Kelly **— “Texas led the nation in population growth again in 2024, according to new data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, marking at least the 14th year in a row that Texas has added more residents than any other state in the country.

Texas added over 560,000 residents in 2024, according to the bureau's latest** **population estimates. That's nearly 100,000 more than second-place Florida, and more than twice as many new residents as California, which was third in population growth.

The Lone Star State is now home to over 31 million residents, a nearly 2% increase from 2023 and over 7% jump since 2020. Only Idaho and Florida have grown at higher rates since 2020, census data shows.

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Texas State Demographer **Lloyd Potter** said that Texas' relative affordability, coupled with its growing economy and the job opportunities that come with it, have made the state a destination for over a decade.

"Relative to other states, Texas is still affordable," Potter said. "We don't have income tax, so those factors — the jobs that we have, the affordability and the overall quality of life in Texas — make it an attractive place for people to move to."

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Texas' continued surge comes amid a year of remarkable population growth across the entire country, which the Census Bureau said was driven by an increase in international migration. The 1% growth nationwide marks the fastest annual population growth since 2001.

The Census Bureau also, for the first time, [included refugees in its count of immigrants in the U.S]([link removed])., though only at a national level. Immigrants accounted for about 84% of the 3.3 million new people in the U.S. in 2024, the bureau said. It was not immediately clear how many of those 2.8 million people were considered refugees, but part of the spike comes from improved methodology within the bureau to track net migration, the agency said." [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

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**FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE ENDED**_: As of July 11, 2022, we have moved to a paywall for free subscribers. Free subscribers will only receive the top story in their morning email. Free subscribers will need to become paid subscribers to receive full story summaries._

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DMN: “**Texas launches billboard campaign in Mexico, Central America to warn migrants**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

TX TRIB: “**As landowners resist, Texas' border wall is fragmented and built in remote areas**” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

SAEN: “**Judge limits contact for Brad Simpson and some of his kids**” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

HOU CHRON: “**Dan Patrick says border wall sale that sparked GOP firestorm halted**” [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

TX TRIB: “**Gov. Greg Abbott announces more than $500 million in public safety grants**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

HOU LANDING: “**Houston, Harris County allocate all $1.5 billion in American Rescue Plan funding by deadline**” [Houston Landing]([link removed])

SA REPORT: “**San Antonio council approves City Manager Erik Walsh's 23% raise**” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

DMN: **Robert Allen & Lisa Atherton guest column: **“**New Bell defense contract was a joint effort**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

REUTERS: “**FAA clears Southwest Airlines of safety lapses**” [Reuters]([link removed])

SAEN: “**Lawsuit seeks to stop SpaceX from discharging wastewater in Texas**” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

SAEN: “**USAA Federal Savings Bank must correct 'range of deficiencies'**” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

FW REPORT: “**JPS dedicates first completed project in $2.1B expansion plan to Tarrant commissioner**” [FW Report]([link removed])

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* **NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE**

> TX TRIB: "**Rep. Michael McCaul calls Tulsi Gabbard a “baffling” pick to lead intelligence community**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_
> AP: "**Former Uvalde schools police chief who asked for charges to be dropped returns to court**" [_AP_]([link removed])
_ _> TX TRIB: "**South Texas groups sue TCEQ for temporarily allowing SpaceX to discharge industrial water without a permit**" [_TX TRIB_]([link removed])
_ _> DMN: "**Texas officials demand Biden stop selling border wall parts**" [_DMN_]([link removed])
_ _> TX TRIB: "**Texas Republicans want voters to provide proof of citizenship. Arizona’s law holds lessons.**" [_TX TRIB_]([link removed])
_ _> TX MONTHLY: "**They Protect Rich and Famous Texans. They Say They’ve Never Been More in Demand.**" [_TX MONTHLY_]([link removed])
_ _> HOU CHRON: "**Maps: Who owns the most land in Texas — and where**" [_HOU CHRON_]([link removed])
_ _> HOU CHRON: "**NRG Park faces $2 billion in maintenance costs. Who's going to pay for it?**" [_HOU CHRON_]([link removed])
_ _> MY RGV: "**New Texas border strategy expected from Gov. Greg Abbott in Eagle Pass on Thursday**" _[MY RGV]([link removed])_
_ _> DMN: "**Mystery drones spotted near North Texas military facilities**" [_DMN_]([link removed])
_ _> DMN: "**Man gets 28 years in prison in death of ex-OU football player**" [_DMN_]([link removed])
_ _> HOU CHRON: "**Tony Buzbee accuses Jay-Z's Roc Nation of paying clients to sue his law firm**" [_HOU CHRON_]([link removed])
_ _> HOU CHRON: "**These are five key drivers to a robust Houston economy in 2025**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
_ _> MY RGV.com: "**Man accused in fatal downtown McAllen shooting misses court after new arrest**" [_MyRGV_]([link removed])
_ _> Community Impact Newspaper: "**Harris County officials look to increase voter turnout numbers**" [_Community Impact Newspaper_]([link removed])_ _
> TX TRIB: "**A school voucher program in Texas is more likely than ever. Can lawmakers craft a bill they agree on?**" [_TX TRIB_]([link removed])

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* **EXTRA POINTS**

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NHL: Toronto 5, **Dallas** 3
> NCAAM: #15 **Houston** 78, Toledo 49
> NCAAM: **Texas A&M-Corpus Christi **117, Southwestern Adventist 63
> NCAAM: **East Texas A&M **68, **Abilene Christian** 67
> NCAAM: **UT-RGV** 78, Southern Utah 73
> NCAAM: **North Texas** 83, Mississippi State 42
> NCAAM: Oklahoma State 66, **Tarleton State** 61
> NCAAM: **UT-Arlington **80, Evansville 54

Today/tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 11:15am: NCAAM: **UNT-Dallas** at **Rice** (ESPN+)
> 12pm: NCAAM: Southwest Adventist at **UTSA** (ESPN+)
> 5pm: NCAAM: Schreiner at **Incarnate Word** (ESPN+)
> 6pm: NCAAF: Georgia Southern at **Sam Houston State **(ESPN2)
> 7pm: NBA: New Orleans at **Houston**
> 7pm: NBA: Atlanta at **San Antonio**
> 7pm: NCAAM: New Orleans at **Texas** (SEC Network)
> 7:30pm: NBA: LA Clippers at **Dallas**

**TEXAS FOOTBALL**: "Texas and Clemson meet for the first time in the College Football Playoff" [AP]([link removed])

**TEXAS FOOTBALL**: "Step inside AD Chris Del Conte's office, and see why Texas is back" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**TEXAS FOOTBALL**: "Quinn Ewers should lead Texas, but Arch Manning could spur offense" DMN ($)

**SMU FOOTBALL**: "Dallas loves a winner, but is the city embracing SMU as its team?" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**DALLAS MAVERICKS**: "Mavericks hire Rick Welts, Hall of Fame NBA executive, as president and CEO" [DMN]([link removed])

**MLB / AUSTIN**: "Tampa Bay Rays could move to Austin due to stadium woes"** **[My SA]([link removed])

**TEXAS BASEBALL**: "Texas baseball: 2025 schedule features SEC showdowns, showcase appearances" [AAS]([link removed]) ($)

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