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MRT (free): Measles Vaccinations Up TX as RFK Visits Gaines County // #TXLEGE Takes Aim at DART, Project Connect // Paxton #TXSEN Buzz Grows
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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MONDAY || 4/7/2025
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TOP NEWS
“Measles vaccinations have increased amid the Texas outbreak,” Houston Chronicle's Evan MacDonald — “More Texans have been receiving the measles vaccine amid the outbreak that began in the South Plains region, but experts believe that more shots must be given to contain the crisis that has sickened hundreds and killed two children in Texas.
More than 218,000 Texans got the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine during the first three months of 2025, according to data from the state’s Department of State Health Services. That total is about 16% higher than the number of Texans who received the shot during the same timeframe last year.
The most notable increase has been in the South Plains area, which has seen a 60% rise this year compared to the same period in 2024, according to the data. Vaccinations are also up 13% in the public health region that includes Houston.
Public health experts said the increases have been encouraging amid an outbreak that has grown to more than 500 cases in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. But vaccination rates in many Texas communities still fall short of the threshold of 95% vaccination coverage that is needed to achieve herd immunity, which prevents widespread outbreaks.
“It’s still a struggle,” Katherine Wells, the director of public health for the city of Lubbock, said of the efforts to improve vaccination rates. “It’s definitely following the news cycle. When there’s a local story about an exposure or sick kids, I think more people come to get vaccinated.”
Lubbock Public Health set up a drive-up MMR vaccine clinic to offer shots that is serving 20 to 30 people on an average day. Wells estimated that half the traffic to the clinic has been individuals who were recently exposed to the virus; the vaccine may provide some protection or lessen the severity of illness if it’s administered within 72 hours of an exposure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaccinating healthy individuals before they are exposed has been trickier, Wells said. Public health officials have been stressing that one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective at preventing an infection, and two doses are 97% effective.
The Immunization Partnership, a Houston-based nonprofit, has been working with school districts, day cares, pediatricians and public health clinics to improve vaccination rates in the South Plains region and elsewhere. Demand has not been high enough to contain the outbreak, said Terri Burke, the nonprofit’s executive director.
“I don't think we’re making the headway we ought to ought to be making,” she said." Houston Chronicle ($)
TOP NEWS
“RFK Jr. visits epicenter of Texas measles outbreak after death of second child who was infected” AP
“Self-driving semis are hitting Texas highways this month” AAS ($)
“Texas county that swung to Trump grapples with immigration crackdown after bakery is targeted” AP
#TXLEGE
"Texas Republicans take aim at public transit in two major cities” Texas Tribune
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“HISD federal bribery trial questions if COO's home design was kickback” Houston Chronicle ($)
2026
“GOP rift grows over Cornyn’s Senate seat as Trump pressured to take sides” CNN
“John Cornyn wants to mend fences with hard-right voters” DMN ($)
TEXANS IN DC
“Cruz says a trade war would cost jobs, spur prices and be terrible for Texas” Texas Tribune
BUSINESS NEWS
“Texas home insurance premiums up 27% over last three years, report says” DMN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> AAS: "Can a 'scrappy underdog' breathe new life into the long-suffering Texas Democratic Party?" AAS
> AAS: "'We fight for our community': Teachers, parents rally against vouchers, want more funding" AAS
> HOU CHRON: "I've had enough. Whitmire's bike lane hostility is forcing me out of Houston" HOU CHRON
> TPR: "NPR's health reporters catch you up on cuts to agencies and contract spending" TPR
> SAEN: "State Supreme Courts have become an electoral battleground. But some states choose a different path" SAEN
> TX TRIB: "Trump wants to dismantle the Education Department. That could hurt students with disabilities in Texas." TX TRIB
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Frisco officials approve more than $3.5 million in contracts for work across city" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> TX TRIB: "The Rio Grande Valley was once covered in forest. One man is trying to bring it back." TX TRIB
> DMN: "Despite short ramp-up, LHP Patrick Corbin feels ready to start for Texas Rangers" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Forecast of a week of rain adds to woes faced by victims of Myanmar quake, as death toll tops 3,500" HOU CHRON
> AP: "Judge again orders Trump administration to return man mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison" AP
> MRT: "US sees third measles-related death amid outbreaks" MRT
> SAEN: "BCSO asking for footage of woman leading up to her death on Northwest Side" SAEN
> HOU CHRON: "Second child dies of measles in West Texas, RFK Jr. plans trip to Texas" HOU CHRON
> FWST: "Two Texas 18-year-olds die in Oklahoma crash on way to Bible college, reports say" FWST
> AAS: "Second child dies of measles in West Texas outbreak" AAS
> DMN: "Brrr! Temperatures in North Texas to plunge overnight following days of rain" DMN
> FWST: "Freeze warning in place for North Texas for Monday – temperatures dipping to 28" FWST
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Sat
> NBA: LA Clippers 135, Dallas 104
> NHL: Pittsburgh 5, Dallas 3
> MLB: Minnesota 6, Houston 1
> MLB: Texas 6, Tampa 4
> MLS: Portland 0, Austin 0
> MLS: Dallas 1, Atlanta 1
> MLS: Houston 1, LA FC 0
Sun
> NBA: Portland 120, San Antonio 109
> NBA: Houston 106, Golden State 96
> NHL: Minnesota 3, Dallas 2
> MLB: Houston 9, Minnesota 7
> MLB: Texas 4, Tampa 3
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:50pm: NCAAM: #1 Houston vs. #1 Florida (San Antonio) (CBS)
> 8:40pm: MLB: Houston at Seattle
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Chicago
> 7pm: NHL: Vancouver at Dallas (ESPN+)
> 8:40pm: MLB: Houston at Seattle
> 9:30pm: NBA: San Antonio at LA Clippers
UH MEN'S BASKETBALL: "March Madness national championship: 3 keys for UH vs. Florida" Houston Chronicle ($)
TEXAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: "Defending national champion South Carolina returns to title game with 74-57 rout of Texas" AP ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Rangers off to AL-best start as timely hits mask sputtering offense" DMN ($)
TEXAS A&M MEN'S BASKETBALL: "What Bucky McMillan brings to Texas A&M basketball" AAS ($)
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Houston Rockets shut down Stephen Curry to beat Golden State" Houston Chronicle ($)
NORTH TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: "D-FW coach resigns after family said workout led to son’s hospital stay" DMN ($)
VALERO TEXAS OPEN: "Brian Harman handles the wind and cold at Texas Open for his first win since British Open" AP
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