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MRT (free): Houston Resident ID’d in NOLA Attack // Edwards Aquifer Nears Record Low // Bar Complaint Against 1st Asst AG Dismissed // DFW Home Sales Jump
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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THURSDAY || 1/2/25
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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 man identified as suspect in deadly New Orleans truck attack,” Texas Tribune's Jasper Scherer — “Federal authorities said a Texas man was behind the wheel of a pickup truck that plowed into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans’ French Quarter early Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more.
The FBI identified the suspect as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen and Army veteran who lived in north Houston, public records show. After ramming into the crowd, Jabbar crashed the truck and opened fire on police, injuring two officers before he was fatally shot by law enforcement, FBI officials said.
Inside Jabbar’s truck — a Ford pickup that “appears to have been rented” — was an Islamic State flag, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device, according to an FBI statement. The agency said it is investigating the slaughter as “an act of terrorism” and looking into how Jabbar gained possession of the vehicle. An FBI official said the agency believes Jabbar may have been working with accomplices, though none had been identified by Wednesday afternoon.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confirmed that Jabbar "has been living in the Houston area." In a statement, the FBI's Houston office said it was "conducting law enforcement activity" with the Harris County Sheriff's Office near the intersection of Hugh Road and Crescent Peak Drive, the north Houston intersection where Jabbar's most recent known address was located.
"This activity is related to this morning's New Orleans attack, but due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further information can be provided," the FBI statement read, noting that officials had secured the area and would be on site for several hours.
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the act was intentional. Jabbar sped down Bourbon Street “at a very fast pace” and was “trying to run over as many people as he could,” the police chief said, calling Jabbar “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”
The city was set to host the Sugar Bowl — a college football playoff quarterfinal matchup between Georgia and Notre Dame — later Wednesday evening. The game was postponed until Thursday.
Gov. Greg Abbott said he had been briefed by Texas Department of Public Safety officials and was working with law enforcement “at every level to ensure we know exactly what happened,” with “a special focus to ensure no one in Texas faces any safety threat.”" Texas Tribune
DMN: “Who is Shamsud-Din Jabbar? What prompted the New Orleans attack?” DMN ($)
HOU CHRON: Editorial: “Homelessness in US hit a record high. Is Texas a red state exception?” Houston Chronicle ($)
SAEN: “Edwards Aquifer to start 2025 near record low” SAEN ($)
TX TRIB: “Texas Supreme Court dismisses State Bar lawsuit against assistant attorney general” Texas Tribune
HOU CHRON: “Are Mayor Whitmire's Austin connections paying off for Houston?” Houston Chronicle ($)
HOU CHRON: Matt Poling guest column: “Close the loophole that allows Texans to abuse cannabis intoxicant” Houston Chronicle ($)
DMN: “Dallas metro saw largest home sales jump in recent years” DMN ($)
SAEN: “PEAK6 Investments moves global HQ to Austin from Chicago” SAEN ($)
HOU CHRON: “Texas losing clout in Congress just as Republicans take full control” Houston Chronicle ($)
DMN: “Ted Cruz will soon take over as Commerce Committee chair” DMN ($)
TX TRIB: “Texas congressman cleared in ethics investigation over campaign finance spending” Texas Tribune
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "Texas man identified as suspect in deadly New Orleans truck attack" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Mental health advocates ask Texas lawmakers to replace expiring COVID-19 relief funding" TX TRIB
> TPR: "FBI says New Orleans terrorist attack suspect is Texas man Shamsud-Din Jabbar" TPR
> TPR: "How does the Legislature work, and who is in the chamber? Here’s what you need to know for the next month." TPR
> DMN: "Criminal organizations recruit postal workers to infiltrate USPS." DMN
> TPR: "Ken Paxton’s deputy wins legal ethics lawsuit over 2020 election challenge" TPR
> DMN: "4 from Terrell TX killed in Mesquite crash New Year's Day" DMN
> TX TRIB: "SMU’s bid to split from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ rights heads to Texas Supreme Court" TX TRIB
> MY RGV: "Environmental group requests hearing over SpaceX deluge system" MY RGV
> DMN: "1 killed, 3 wounded in Red Bird shooting, Dallas police say" DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "School safety, special education among priorities for Pearland, Friendswood-area school districts" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> KXAN: "Texas officially does away with mandatory vehicle inspections" KXAN
> DMN: "What Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said about burglary of fiancee’s vehicle" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Donald Trump's energy pick wants you to love oil" HOU CHRON
> KXAN: "15 dead, dozens injured after car plows into crowd in New Orleans: ‘Horrific act of violence’" KXAN
> MY RGV: "AG rules Harlingen school district can withhold former super’s job evaluation" MY RGV
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Georgetown's senior population grows at slower rate than county between 2019-23" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> MY RGV: "First permanent public pickleball court opens in Brownsville" MY RGV
> DMN: "Nathan Hecht retires after long Texas Supreme Court career" DMN
> DMN: "Irving-based Vistra Is first utility to top S&P 500 since 2001" DMN
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Sun 12/29
> NFL: Philadelphia 41, Dallas 7
Mon 12/30
> NBA: Sacramento 110, Dallas 100
> NCAAM: #14 Houston 60, Oklahoma State 47
> NCAAM: Arizona 90, TCU 81
> NCAAM: Oral Roberts 92, Texas A&M-Texarkana 54
> NCAAM: UT-RGV 88, Dallas Christian 44
> NCAAM: #25 Baylor 81, Utah 56
> NCAAM: UCF 87, Texas Tech 83
> NCAAM: Lamar 82, UTSA 65
> NCAAM: North Texas 78, UAB 75
Tues 12/31
> NCAAF: LSU 44, Baylor 31
> NBA: San Antonio 122, LA Clippers 86
> NCAAM: Stephen F. Austin 62, Abilene Christian 57
> NHL: Dallas 4, Buffalo 2
Wed 1/1
> NCAAF: #5 Texas 39, #4 Arizona State 31 (2OT)
> NBA: Houston 110, Dallas 99
> NCAAM: Rice 70, Tulsa 64
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NCAAM: Texas State at Marshall (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NHL: Ottawa at Dallas (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: Sam Houston State at New Mexico State (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: Louisiana Tech at UTEP (ESPN+)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Five Cowboys named to NFC Pro Bowl team" DMN ($)
HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans: QB C.J. Stroud is coy about possible injuries" Houston Chronicle ($)
DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Mavs can't shake losing streak, injury bug as calendar flips to 2025" DMN ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: Golden: "How Quinn Ewers cemented his Texas football legend in comeback CFP win" AAS ($)
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