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MRT (free): TX Measles Cases Top 500 // $100M Lotto Winner Sues Over $7.5M Payment // Hegar Breaks Ground on A&M Child Center in SA // HISD to Move to Pay for Performance
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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TUESDAY || 4/8/2025
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TOP NEWS
“Texas measles outbreak tops 500 cases, including multiple at a day care in Lubbock,” AP's Jamie Stengle — “A day care facility in a Texas county that’s part of the measles outbreak has multiple cases, including children too young to be fully vaccinated, public health officials say.
West Texas is in the middle of a still-growing measles outbreak with 505 cases reported on Tuesday. The state expanded the number of counties in the outbreak area this week to 10. The highly contagious virus began to spread in late January and health officials say it has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico.
Three people who were unvaccinated have died from measles-related illnesses this year, including two elementary school-aged children in Texas. The second child died Thursday at a Lubbock hospital, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the funeral in Seminole, the epicenter of the outbreak.
As of Friday, there were seven cases at a day care where one young child who was infectious gave it to two other children before it spread to other classrooms, Lubbock Public Health director Katherine Wells said.
“Measles is so contagious I won’t be surprised if it enters other facilities,” Wells said.
There are more than 200 children at the day care, Wells said, and most have had least one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which is first recommended between 12 and 15 months old and a second shot between 4 and 6 years old.
“We do have some children that have only received one dose that are now infected,” she said.
The public health department is recommending that any child with only one vaccine get their second dose early, and changed its recommendation for kids in Lubbock County to get the first vaccine dose at 6 months old instead of 1. A child who is unvaccinated and attends the day care must stay home for 21 days since their last exposure, Wells said.
Case count and hospitalization numbers in Texas have climbed steadily since the outbreak began, and spiked by 81 cases from March 28 to April 4.
On Tuesday, the state added another 24 cases to its count and two additional counties, Borden and Randall. One more person was hospitalized since Friday, with 57 total.
Gaines County, where the virus has been spreading through a close-knit Mennonite community, has the majority of cases, with 328 on Tuesday. Neighboring Terry County is second with 46, followed by Lubbock County with 36.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met with Texas officials Monday to determine how many people it would send to West Texas to assist with the outbreak response, spokesman Jason McDonald said Monday. He expected a small team to arrive later this week, followed by a bigger group on the ground next week.
The CDC said its first team was in the region from early March to April 1, withdrawing on-the-ground support days before a second child died in the outbreak." AP
TOP NEWS
“$7.5M Lotto Texas winner files suit, saying he should have won $100M” Houston Chronicle ($)
“Hegar, new A&M chancellor, breaks ground on top-notch child center” SAEN ($)
#TXLEGE
Jason Villalba guest column: "Here’s why Dan Patrick is the most powerful man in Texas politics” DMN ($)
"Texas Senate OKs bill to give SpaceX more control of Boca Chica Beach” SAEN ($)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“HISD will pay teachers based on performance, not experience in 2026-27” Houston Chronicle ($)
“Dallas slated to lose $8.6 million due to error in calculating permit fees” DMN ($)
2026
“Texas governor calls November election for vacant US House seat as Democrats criticize timing” AP
“National Democrats to target GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s South Texas district in 2026” Texas Tribune
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that." TX TRIB
> DMN: "Manipulated video of Coppell ISD ‘political fodder’ in ‘school choice’ fight, filing says" DMN
> DMN: "THC and Texas: 5 things to know about state leaders’ push to ban it" DMN
> TX TRIB: "As DOGE rips through the federal government, Texans wonder what it means for them" TX TRIB
> AAS: "HBCU students in Texas march to State Capitol to advocate for more funding, see photos" AAS
> KXAN: "Future of THC up in the air at Texas Capitol as store owners call for regulation over bans" KXAN
> HOU CHRON: "How a Trump order dismantled Houston’s $100M-a-year refugee aid effort" HOU CHRON
> THE TEXAN: "San Antonio Funds Abortion Travel, Attorney General Sues" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Travis County Judge Awards Paxton Whistleblowers $6.67 Million Judgment in Revived Lawsuit" THE TEXAN
> HOU CHRON: "Does CenterPoint's proposal make ratepayers 'whole' for unused generators?" HOU CHRON
> AAS: "Texas proposals would open more options for college accreditation. Here's why some oppose." AAS
> TPR: "As global markets fall, Trump says he will not pause tariffs" TPR
> TPR: "Columnist Thomas Friedman discusses impact of Trump's tariffs on global economy" TPR
> KXAN: "‘Serious tradeoffs’: Austin considering I-35 covers versus other city needs" KXAN
> SA REPORT: "‘South Beach Project’ lays plans to bring 1,000 Defense Health Agency employees to Fort Sam" SA REPORT
> THE TEXAN: "Sen. Ted Cruz Letter Probes 'Future of Privacy Forum' Over AI Regulation Advocacy" THE TEXAN
> KXAN: "Medical exceptions for abortion addressed in Texas House Committee" KXAN
> KXAN: "Gov. Abbott announces special election for Sylvester Turner’s seat" KXAN
> DMN: "JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warns of ‘significant’ risks from tariffs, applauds Texas" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Bribery trial: Was this ex-HISD official's home remodel a kickback?" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Texas home insurance premiums up 27% over last three years, report says. Here’s why" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Texans big board: 19 players to target at positions of need in NFL draft" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Family of Frisco teen arrested in fatal track meet stabbing calls for patience, prayers" DMN
> FWST: "Driver dies, woman and 3 kids injured in Parker County car crash, Texas DPS says" FWST
> DMN: "Will tariffs impact Texas gas prices?" DMN
> DMN: "Texas measles outbreak could last 12 months, experts say, risking U.S. elimination status" DMN
> FWST: "Fort Worth police investigate after dead body found near train tracks Sunday" FWST
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
> NCAAM: #1 Florida 65, #1 Houston 63
> MLB: Seattle 4, Houston 3
> MLB: Chicago 7, Texas 0
Tonight'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
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 1:20pm: MLB: Texas at Chicago
> 3:10pm: MLB: Houston at Seattle
> 6:30pm: NBA: LA Lakers at Dallas (ESPN)
> 9pm: NBA: San Antonio at Golden State
> 9:30pm: NBA: Houston at LA Clippers
UH MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Houston Cougars suffer another heartbreak in quest for first title" Houston Chronicle ($)
TEXAS A&M MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Bucky McMillan will 'have to get to work immediately' as he takes over Texas A&M basketball" AP
DALLAS MAVERICKS: Cowlishaw: "Luka's back, and his stunning trade has become tragic disaster for Mavs" DMN ($)
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Former pitcher Octavio Dotel dies in Dominican nightclub collapse" Houston Chronicle ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Rangers off to AL-best start as timely hits mask sputtering offense" DMN ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Texas Rangers see significant rise in TV ratings with RSN" DMN ($)
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