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

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**THURSDAY** || 1/2/25

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**Good Thursday morning.**
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We hope you had a _wonderful _holiday.

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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.

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"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.”

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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]([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: “**Who is Shamsud-Din Jabbar? What prompted the New Orleans attack?**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

HOU CHRON: Editorial: “**Homelessness in US hit a record high. Is Texas a red state exception?**” [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

SAEN: “**Edwards Aquifer to start 2025 near record low**” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

TX TRIB: **“Texas Supreme Court dismisses State Bar lawsuit against assistant attorney general**” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

HOU CHRON: “**Are Mayor Whitmire's Austin connections paying off for Houston?**” [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

HOU CHRON: Matt Poling guest column: “**Close the loophole that allows Texans to abuse cannabis intoxicant**” [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

DMN: “**Dallas metro saw largest home sales jump in recent years**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

SAEN: “**PEAK6 Investments moves global HQ to Austin from Chicago**” [SAEN]([link removed]) ($)

HOU CHRON: “**Texas losing clout in Congress just as Republicans take full control**” [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

DMN: “**Ted Cruz will soon take over as Commerce Committee chair**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

TX TRIB: “**Texas congressman cleared in ethics investigation over campaign finance spending**” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

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* **NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE**

> TX TRIB: "**Texas man identified as suspect in deadly New Orleans truck attack**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_
_ _> TX TRIB: "**Mental health advocates ask Texas lawmakers to replace expiring COVID-19 relief funding**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_
_ _> TPR: "**FBI says New Orleans terrorist attack suspect is Texas man Shamsud-Din Jabbar**" _[TPR]([link removed])_
_ _> TPR: "**How does the Legislature work, and who is in the chamber? Here’s what you need to know for the next month.**" _[TPR]([link removed])_
_ _> DMN: "**Criminal organizations recruit postal workers to infiltrate USPS.**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
> TPR: "**Ken Paxton’s deputy wins legal ethics lawsuit over 2020 election challenge**" _[TPR]([link removed])_
_ _> DMN: "**4 from Terrell TX killed in Mesquite crash New Year's Day**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
_ _> TX TRIB: "**SMU’s bid to split from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ+ rights heads to Texas Supreme Court**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_
> MY RGV: "**Environmental group requests hearing over SpaceX deluge system**" _[MY RGV]([link removed])_
_ _> DMN: "**1 killed, 3 wounded in Red Bird shooting, Dallas police say**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**School safety, special education among priorities for Pearland, Friendswood-area school districts**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_
> KXAN: "**Texas officially does away with mandatory vehicle inspections**" _[KXAN]([link removed])_
> DMN: "**What Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said about burglary of fiancee’s vehicle**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
_ _> HOU CHRON: "**Donald Trump's energy pick wants you to love oil**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_
_ _> KXAN: "**15 dead, dozens injured after car plows into crowd in New Orleans: ‘Horrific act of violence’**" _[KXAN]([link removed])_
_ _> MY RGV: "**AG rules Harlingen school district can withhold former super’s job evaluation**" _[MY RGV]([link removed])_
_ _> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**Georgetown's senior population grows at slower rate than county between 2019-23**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_
_ _> MY RGV: "**First permanent public pickleball court opens in Brownsville**" _[MY RGV]([link removed])_
_ _> DMN: "**Nathan Hecht retires after long Texas Supreme Court career**" _[DMN]([link removed])_
_ _> DMN: "**Irving-based Vistra Is first utility to top S&P 500 since 2001**" _[DMN]([link removed])_

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* **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]([link removed]) ($)

**HOUSTON TEXANS**: "Houston Texans: QB C.J. Stroud is coy about possible injuries" [Houston Chronicle]([link removed]) ($)

**DALLAS MAVERICKS**: "Mavs can't shake losing streak, injury bug as calendar flips to 2025" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**TEXAS FOOTBALL**: Golden: "How Quinn Ewers cemented his Texas football legend in comeback CFP win" [AAS]([link removed]) ($)

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