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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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MONDAY || 3/31/2025
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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
“3 dead, more than 200 rescued in South Texas after severe storms cause flooding,” AP's Valerie Gonzalez and Texas Tribune's Berenice Garcia — “Drenching rain along the Texas-Mexico border let up Friday, but rescues were still ongoing a day after severe storms trapped residents in their homes, forced drivers to abandon their vehicles on flooded roads and shut down an airport.
Local officials also reported at least three people died from the rainstorm.
Hidalgo County officials said there was no immediate information on the three deaths, only that they involved law enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported one death involving U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents approached a vehicle suspected of being involved in human smuggling that was stopped at a flooded road in Edcouch. As the agents approached, the driver attempted to cross the flooded street, plunging the vehicle into a canal.
In Harlingen, officials said their city received a record-breaking 21.5 inches of rain this week, beating its all-time two-day total rainfall record set in 1912. The heaviest rainfall arrived on Thursday causing severe flooding that had authorities rescuing more than 200 residents, with another 200 people still waiting to be rescued.
"This of course has been a historic and challenging event for the city. But Harlingen is strong. We have faced adversity before and we will get through this together," Mayor Norma Sepulveda said at a Friday afternoon news conference.
In Alamo, the police and fire department responded to more than 100 water rescues, including people stranded in their vehicles and trapped in their homes, Fire Department Chief R.C. Flores said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
Officials estimated a couple hundred homes in Alamo were flooded by the heavy rainfall.
Flores said Alamo was one of many cities in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas that were flooded and had damage from Thursday's thunderstorms but that all were working to help their residents.
"I assure the public that we are assessing the situation on the hour, every hour. We're constantly going out, not just in our city," Flores said. "Just because the storm is over, it doesn't mean that the emergencies and the disaster is over. We are going to continue to work as long as we need to."
Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said his city was inundated with about 14 inches of rain, prompting 30 to 40 water rescues of stranded motorists and residents trapped in their homes by rising floodwaters.
"It's a historic rainstorm and it's affecting all the Valley, not just Weslaco. It's just so much water in a short period of time," Gonzalez told reporters at a news conference.
Television news footage from flooded communities in South Texas showed multiple waterlogged cars abandoned on streets on Thursday and drivers waiting on sidewalks for the floodwaters to recede.
Between 6 inches and 12 inches of rain fell in many parts of South Texas in the past 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service. In neighboring Cameron County, officials asked Gov. Greg Abbott to declare a disaster for the county after more than 17 inches of rain caused significant flooding.
"The rainfall amounts we received have been record-setting, and not in a good way. All county resources are being utilized right now, and we are assisting in all ways possible," Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the county's top elected official, said in a Facebook post.
Valley International Airport in Harlingen was closed on Friday and all flights were canceled due to area flooding.
"We are working tirelessly to reopen and focused on ensuring safety," airport officials said in a statement." Texas Tribune
TOP NEWS
“Are you registered to vote in Bexar County? If not, you have until April 3 if you want to vote in May 3 election” SAEN ($)
>> Please note: These deadlines are the same in every county in Texas. To register to vote, click here (Texas Secretary of State)
#TXLEGE
"Texas state senator sues to collect more than $25M in oil and gas royalties” SAEN ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
"Gov. Abbott directs Texas Rangers to investigate EPIC for ‘potential criminal activities’” DMN ($)
2026
“Midterm elections could mean a changing of the guard in Texas politics, sort of” DMN ($)
“Texas Democrats choose Kendall Scudder as next leader" Fox 7 Austin
“Christian Menefee threatens legal action against Gov. Greg Abbott if special election continues to stall” Houston Chronicle ($)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Dallas HERO threatens new lawsuit if city doesn’t hire hundreds of cops by May 30” DMN ($)
“Former Houston ISD board president testifies that she accepted $17K in bribes at Walmart parking lot” Houston Chronicle ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“Rocket acquires Coppell-based mortgage company Mr. Cooper in deal valued at $9.4B” DMN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> KXAN: "Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatens special session if THC ban, bail reform not passed" KXAN
> DMN: "Trump says he’s considering ways to serve a third term as president" DMN
> DMN: "Trump’s immigration crackdown brings throng of protesters to Dallas" DMN
> AAS: "Why Democrat Greg Casar did a town hall in Chip Roy's GOP district" AAS
> SA REPORT: "Should Texas lawmakers ban cell phones in classrooms?" SA REPORT
> THE TEXAN: "'Signalgate,' Cornyn and Paxton's Primary Drama, RFK's Protein Politics: SMSS Ep. 14" THE TEXAN
> HOU CHRON: "Houston group wants to recall Mayor John Whitmire. Here's what to know" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "A resignation, worker protests and DOGE: What to know about USPS" HOU CHRON
> EP TIMES: "'Tesla Takedown' protest in El Paso joins Elon Musk backlash nationwide" EP TIMES
> FWST: "Two dead after woman trying to help crash victim is hit on highway, Texas cops say" FWST
> HOU CHRON: "Houston is in the Final Four. How much are tickets for the games in San Antonio?" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Five months of cruises out of Galveston canceled by Princess Cruises" HOU CHRON
> TPR: "Selena lives on: New generation of Latinas embrace Queen of Tejano music 30 years after her death" TPR
> KXAN: "Texas man sues deputies who shot him while on the phone with dispatchers" KXAN
> FWST: "Dive teams find body of missing man whose kayak capsized at Benbrook Lake" FWST
> TPR: "Los Inocentes — Three generations come together to honor Cesar Chavez with music and activism" TPR
> EP TIMES: "Who killed Selena? Convicted killer Yolanda Saldívar denied parole, find out why" EP TIMES
> HOU CHRON: "Sewing: Readers react to Riverside Terrace's untold segregation story" HOU CHRON
> MY RGV: "What to know about Cesar Chavez Day" MY RGV
> FWST: "Boater stranded for a day after crash is rescued thanks to passing chopper, NV cops say" FWST
> FWST: "Fort Worth Mega Millions player wins $5 million, just misses $20 million jackpot" FWST
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Flower Mound's Gibson-Grant Log House to be designated as historic landmark" COMMUNITY IMPACT
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Sat
> NCAAM: #1 Florida 84, #3 Texas Tech 79
> NCAAW: #1 Texas 67, #4 Tennessee 59
> NCAAW: #2 TCU 71, #3 Notre Dame 62
> MLB: Texas 4, Boston 3
> MLB: Houston 2, NY Mets 1
> NBA: Boston 121, San Antonio 111
> NHL: Dallas 5, Seattle 1
> MLS: Dallas 2, Kansas City 1
Sun
> NCAAM: #1 Houston 69, #23 Tennessee 50
> MLB: Texas 3, Boston 2
> NBA: Golden State 148, San Antonio 106
> NBA: Houston 148, Phoenix 109
> MLS: Austin 1, St. Louis 0
> MLS: Portland 3, Houston 1
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NCAAW: #2 TCU vs. #1 Texas (Birmingham) (ESPN)
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Cincinnati
> 7:30pm: Brooklyn at Dallas
> 9pm: Houston at LA Lakers (TNT)
> 9pm: NHL: Dallas at Seattle
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Cincinnati
> 7pm: NBA: Orlando at San Antonio
> 7:10pm: MLB: San Francisco at Houston
TEXAS / TCU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: "Battle for Texas: Former Big-12 foes TCU, Texas ready for Elite Eight showdown at women’s tourney" AP
HOUSTON MEN'S BASKETBALL: "No. 1 Houston heads to the Final Four after holding No. 2 Tennessee to just 15 first-half points" Yahoo News
TEXAS TECH MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Walter Clayton Jr. rallies Florida into Final Four with 84-79 March Madness win over Texas Tech" AP
DALLAS STARS: "Dallas Stars clinch spot in Stanley Cup playoffs for fourth straight season" DMN ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Texas Rangers place 3B Josh Jung on 10-day IL with neck spasms" AP
TEXAS SWIMMING: "Texas Tech prepares for No. 1 seed Florida in the Elite 8 following March Madness comeback" AP
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