MRT (free): TX Population Hits 31M, But Growth Slows // Spurs Poll on Stadium $ Options // 3 Dallas City Manager Candidates Withdraw // Trump Targets Chip Roy

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak

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FRIDAY || 12/20/24

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• TOP NEWS

“Texas is now home to 31 million people even as population growth slows,” Texas Tribune's Joshua Fechter — “Texas’ population surpassed 31 million people within the last year as the state added more residents than any other place in the country, estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau show.

However, the number of people who moved from other parts of the country slowed.

Texas added 562,941 residents between July 2023 and July 2024, census estimates show — ahead of Florida and California. That growth brought the state’s total population to 31,290,831.

The state didn’t add residents as quickly as it did the previous year, but the rate of its population growth — 1.8% — was still the third-highest in the country behind Florida and the District of Columbia.

A major driver of that growth came from net international migration. Texas added 319,569 new residents from abroad, the most since the COVID-19 pandemic — but behind Florida and California, which saw the largest increases.

The census changed the way it counts refugees and migrants this year. However, it does not distinguish legal status in its estimates.

That growth mirrors gains seen across the nation. The United States added 3.3 million residents within the last year — 2.8 million of which came from other countries.

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Meanwhile, Texas saw fewer residents move from other states than it did during the COVID-19 pandemic — when the state attracted residents from places like California and New York in search of more affordable homes among other factors.

Texas still led the country in domestic migration, followed by North Carolina and South Carolina, adding 85,267 people from other states within the last year. California, New York and Illinois saw the largest population losses in the last year, but those states lost fewer residents than they did in previous years.

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Why domestic migration to Texas slowed isn’t clear, said Lloyd Potter, the state demographer, but it’s possible that many of the people most likely to move to Texas from other states have simply already done so. With domestic migration appearing to slow, Texas will likely rely on international migration to meet its labor needs as the state’s economy booms, he said.

“With a growing economy, we have a growing demand for labor,” Potter said. “And if we're seeing a decline in domestic migration, well that labor probably is going to need to come from immigrants.”" Texas Tribune

SAEN: “Hackers raid Texas Tech Health Sciences Center data, impacting 1.4M” SAEN ($)

SAEN: “Spurs poll on tax dollars for new arena, push for May election” SAEN ($)

HOU CHRON: “Texas Southern University to launch free tuition program” Houston Chronicle ($)

SAEN: “Paxton derails latest effort to hear testimony from Robert Roberson” SAEN ($)

DMN: “Who will lead the City of Dallas? Three city manager candidates withdraw from the running” DMN ($)

SAEN: “Code change lays groundwork for denser development on transit line” SAEN ($)

HOU CHRON: “Texas awaits new LNG boom with Trump in office” Houston Chronicle ($)

SAEN: “Tesla recalls 700,000 units for tire pressure monitoring issue” SAEN ($)

SAEN: “USAA to offer no-interest loans to members if government shuts down” SAEN ($)

SAEN: “Trump calls for U.S. Rep. Chip Roy to be primaried amid budget talks” SAEN ($)

DMN: “Dallas Democrat Jasmine Crockett wants more fight from Democrats” DMN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

> TX TRIB: "Texas regulators shelve an electricity market reform proposal they say does too little to shore up grid" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Texas’ citrus industry — once an agricultural powerhouse — is on the brink of disaster" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "U.S. House members want answers on Texas’ decision to not review maternal deaths after near-total abortion ban" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Texas’ latest effort to deter migrants is a billboard campaign in Mexico, Central America" TX TRIB
> AP: "Testimony of Texas man whose execution was halted in shaken baby case is challenged again" AP
> TX MONTHLY: "Federal Regulators Were Trying to Rein in Texas Polluters. Then They Lost Documents Crucial to Their Efforts." TX MONTHLY
> TX TRIB: "Donald Trump hopes a Republican challenges U.S. Rep. Chip Roy over debt ceiling opposition" TX TRIB
> AP: "2 killed, 3 injured when freight train derails in small West Texas city after collision" AP
> TX TRIB: "Cartels turn to social media to lure Americans into human smuggling as Texas enforces stricter laws" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "CenterPoint generators could go to San Antonio, lowering Houston bills" HOU CHRON
> TX TRIB: "Texas House panel may never hear Robert Roberson’s testimony after new legal move" TX TRIB
> FWST: "U.S. attorney for North Texas to resign in January, office says" FWST
> FWST: "Detention officer says she forgives teens who beat her while escaping North Texas jail" FWST
> FWST: "Warrants detail case against Tarrant County mom arrested on 9 medical child abuse charges" FWST
> DMN: "Two ministries are parting ways with Daystar Television Network amid abuse allegations" DMN
> FWST: "American Airlines settles discrimination lawsuit involving 3 Black men removed from plane" FWST
> DMN: "How could plans for new Mavericks arena affect downtown Dallas?" DMN
> FWST: "Cold case: Man arrested 33 years later in sexual assault of child, Plano police say" FWST
> HOU CHRON: "Tony Buzbee sued by Jane Doe in New York, claims he gave her venereal disease" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Could the future of downtown Dallas retail be brighter?" DMN

• EXTRA POINTS

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NBA: Houston 133, New Orleans 113
> NBA: San Antonio 133, Atlanta 126
> NBA: LA Clippers 118, Dallas 95
> NCAAF: Sam Houston State 31, Georgia Southern 26
> NCAAM: Texas 98, New Orleans 62
> NCAAM: UNT-Dallas 69, Rice 68
> NCAAM: UTSA 117, Southwest Adventist 58
> NCAAM: Incarnate Word 101, Schreiner 57

This weekend's Texas sports schedule:
Fri
> 1pm: NCAAM: Houston Christian at #12 Texas A&M (SEC)
> 6:30pm: NCAAM: Texas Wesleyan at Stephen F. Austin (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NHL: NY Rangers at Dallas
> 7pm: NCAAM: Appalachian State at North Texas (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: Jackson State at UTEP (ESPN+)
Sat
> 11am: NCAAM: SMU at Boston College (CW)
> 12pm: NFL: Houston at Chiefs (NBC)
> 12pm: NCAAM: Sam Houston State at Pittsburgh (ACC)
> 12pm: NCAAM: Lamar at Texas Tech (ESPN+)
> 12pm: NCAAM: Sam Houston State at Pittsburgh (ACC)
> 1pm: NCAAM: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at #15 Houston (CBS Sports Network)
> 1pm: NCAAM: UT-Arlington at Liberty (ESPN+)
> 2pm: NCAAM: East Texas A&M at South Florida (ESPN+)
> 2pm: NCAAM: College of Biblical Studies at UT-RGV (ESPN+)
> 3pm: NCAAF: #3 Texas vs. #12 Clemson (TNT)
> 3pm: NCAAM: Texas Southern at Abilene Christian (ESPN+)
> 4pm: NCAAM: Howard Payne at Tarleton State (ESPN+)
> 2:30pm: NCAAM: Georgia Southern at Texas State (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NBA: LA Clippers at Dallas
> 7pm: NBA: Portland at San Antonio
Sun
> 1pm: NCAAM: Montana State at TCU (ESPN+)
> 2pm: NCAAM: Houston Christian at North Texas (ESPN+)
> 2pm: NCAAM: Prairie View A&M at Rice (ESPN+)
> 5pm: NBA: Houston at Toronto
> 7:20pm: NFL: Tampa Bay at Dallas (NBC)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Five things Texas football must do to beat Clemson, advance in College Football Playoff" AAS ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: Bohls: "UT football: How Longhorns can beat Clemson in CFP" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: Sherrington: "Texas-Clemson CFP game pits Longhorns vs. transferless Dabo Swinney" DMN ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys-Bucs predictions: Can Dallas' defense stop Baker Mayfield?" DMN ($)

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs to undergo bone graft surgery" DMN ($)

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros: Team in advanced talks with Christian Walker" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS RANGERS: "Texas Rangers agree to deal with lefty reliever Hoby Milner" DMN

DALLAS WINGS: "Dallas Wings will play crucial role in efforts to revitalize downtown" DMN ($)