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MONDAY || 4/21/2025
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TOP NEWS
"Director of the embattled Texas Lottery Commission resigns as agency's controversy swirls,” Austin American-Statesman's John C. Moritz -- "The executive director of the embattled Texas Lottery Commission resigned his post Monday after a tumultuous one-year tenure leading the state's retail gambling enterprise, which brings in $2 billion annually to the state treasury.
The lottery officially announced [ [link removed] ] Ryan Mindell's departure without comment. Sergio Rey, the lottery’s chief financial officer, was named acting deputy executive director, while the state agency determines its selection process for a permanent replacement during the governing board's April 29 meeting.
Mindell, who previously served as the lottery's deputy director and operations director, leaves behind an agency under legislative scrutiny and investigations by the Texas Rangers [ [link removed] ] in the Department of Public Safety and the Texas Attorney General's Office. Both investigations concern how the agency handled the introduction of courier companies.
The high-profile resignation comes after the Texas House's unusual move to set the Lottery Commission's budget at zero for the two-year spending cycle that begins Sept. 1. Unless funding is restored during House and Senate budget negotiations, the lottery would likely be out of business at the end of August.
Mindell, whose annual salary according to the Texas Tribune's interactive salary database [ [link removed] ] was $225,584, took the helm at the 34-year-old state agency just a year ago after its previous director, Gary Grief, unexpectedly resigned. Mindell's initial months in charge were comparatively low key, but that changed when he appeared before the Senate Finance Committee in February, ostensibly to address questions about the lottery's budget request for the upcoming biennium.
Committee members, however, focused on a controversy involving the Lottery Commission's acceptance of third-party companies that sell game tickets through smartphone apps. The state law that established the lottery in 1991 expressly forbids buying and selling tickets using a telephone.
The senators' questioning became heated after noting that a few courier companies sold nearly $25 million in tickets to a single entity, which won an April 2023 Lotto Texas drawing with a $95 million advertised jackpot and a lump-sum value of around $60 million. The sales were made in person, but the companies were able to print millions of tickets over a short period of time.
Mindell appeared to struggle to answer the senators' questions about whether he should have suspected the bundled purchases may have involved money laundering. Similar fiery exchanges played out when Mindell later appeared before the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate State Affairs Committee.
State Sen. Paul Bettancourt, R-Houston, suggested that Mindell's contorted responses to lawmakers' questions should be grounds for his termination.
"Quite frankly, if I was on (the Lottery Commission's governing board), I would vote to fire you," Bettencourt told Mindell during the director's Feb. 24 testimony to the State Affairs Committee [ [link removed] ]." AAS [ [link removed] ] ($)
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TOP NEWS
"Texas keeps on growing: Lone Star State sees another month of record job growth” AAS [ [link removed] ] ($)
"Denton County commissioner wounded, husband killed in stabbing; grandson arrested" DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
"Gunman in racist attack at a Texas Walmart pleads guilty and families confront him in court" AP [ [link removed] ]
“What to know about Kevin Farrell, former Dallas bishop and acting head of the Vatican” DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
#TXLEGE
“Dan Patrick endorses Texas House’s voucher plan, clearing path to final approval” Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ]
"With the border quiet, Texas ponders spending another $6.5 billion on border security” Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ]
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Texas purchases a 1,100-acre swath of land, with intent to create a new state park” DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
2026
“The Jeff Roe Alamo” Puck News' Leigh Ann Caldwell — "All politics is personal for Donald Trump, and never more so than when it comes to Jeff Roe—the Republican mega-consultant whose once-massively successful political firm, Axiom Strategies, was effectively blacklisted by the president for, among many other things, having the temerity to work on Ron DeSantis’s money job 2024 campaign. After Trump’s triumph in the G.O.P. primary, Roe went radio silent for the remainder of the cycle to protect his clients. In a post-primary conversation with Puck, he acknowledged that it had been “a mistake to run against a four-time indicted former president who was pretty well-liked.”
So it was somewhat baffling when Ken Paxton, the controversial right-wing Texas attorney general, hired Roe earlier this month to help launch his Senate primary campaign against John Cornyn, a four-term Republican incumbent. Paxton is a more vociferous Trump ally, and the president has offered kind words in return. But in hiring Roe, Paxton may have jeopardized Trump’s support in what is expected to be a nasty and personal primary, according to multiple people close to the White House. “This certainly has not strengthened Ken Paxton’s hand,” one of them told me. “Jeff Roe’s involvement will hurt Ken Paxton more than help him for numerous reasons,” said another.
The tension between Roe and Trump’s team has been growing for years, particularly with Trump’s 2024 campaign manager Chris LaCivita. Since reentering the White House, Trump’s political operation has encouraged Republicans to blacklist Roe and Axiom and has made it clear he will not have access to White House personnel. People close to the president argue that Roe is wasteful with donor money—his DeSantis super PAC spent a record $130 million—and prioritizes payments over party. Even now, more than a year after DeSantis dropped out, Trump is usually made aware when a candidate has hired Roe, a person close to the president told me. “That guy does surgery on candidates’ wallets,” Trump has said, complaining that Roe’s one-stop-shop, multiservice consultancy model is a racket. (The White House did not respond to a request for comment.)
Still, the Texas A.G. has his own history with Roe, whose firm helped Paxton during his previous campaigns, including a rough stretch in 2023 when he was impeached for bribery and abuse of office. (He was later acquitted by the Texas Senate.) His seemingly rushed announcement, which came earlier than party leaders expected, fueled speculation that Axiom had accelerated the timeline to secure the business. Axiom is also working for John Bash, who announced his candidacy for Paxton’s seat as attorney general on the same day that Paxton announced his run for Senate. (A representative of Axiom declined to comment on whether Bash is a client.)
Roe, for his part, has assured people that he received an indulgence from the White House to take the Paxton job because of Paxton’s relationship with chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to two people familiar with his comments. But a person close to the White House rebuffed the claim. It’s “a classic Jeff statement,” but it’s “not true,” this person said. “It’s a flat-out lie.” (A representative for Axiom denied that Roe has said any such thing.)
In any event, when Paxton went to the White House to notify the political team that he was going to challenge Cornyn, he didn’t bring any representatives from Axiom, as would be customary for a candidate in that situation. Perhaps that’s because Roe or other Axiom strategists wouldn’t have been let into the building, people close to the White House told me. “They wouldn’t even take the call,” one said.
So far, Roe’s engagement has not impacted Trump’s endorsement decisions, a person close to Axiom told me, noting that the firm represented 41 of the 51 candidates that the president endorsed last cycle. But the Trump decree has impacted Axiom’s business. In recent months, Axiom has laid off more than 10 percent of its staff—more than 30 people—and scrapped an employee stock option program that the firm had been working on. The Texas primary is sure to be bitter, personal, and expensive, costing up to $100 million, according to some estimates. If Paxton wins, a general election could cost double that. It would be a significant payday for Axiom either way. “They need that race,” one Republican said of Axiom.
Naturally, the firm is trying to handle its comeback as delicately as possible. Though a source told me Roe won’t be personally involved in Paxton’s race, others familiar with Axiom’s business say it’s impossible that Roe would not have a hand in such an important contest. Either way, the acknowledgment that Roe must distance himself from the race suggests that he remains somewhat toxic in Trump’s Washington. In an attempt to hedge his political bets, Paxton has started talking to other firms, two people familiar with the outreach said. But it’s hard to see another firm getting involved in the drama surrounding the Axiom/Paxton–Cornyn showdown to come.
The Texas Senate primary, after all, promises to be costly in more ways than one. Trump has called both Paxton and Cornyn “friends of mine,” and commented that the field isn’t set. That’s kept the door open for a number of candidates who are seriously considering a run, including Rep. Wesley Hunt, a military veteran who represents the Houston suburbs. (A supporter of Hunt said that he is “the solution to a really big problem in Texas” because of the Paxton-Cornyn-Roe kerfuffle. But many Republicans say that it’s hard to see how he has a path if both Cornyn and Paxton stay in the race.)
So far, Roe’s engagement has not impacted Trump’s endorsement decisions, a person close to Axiom told me, noting that the firm represented 41 of the 51 candidates that the president endorsed last cycle. But the Trump decree has impacted Axiom’s business. In recent months, Axiom has laid off more than 10 percent of its staff—more than 30 people—and scrapped an employee stock option program that the firm had been working on. The Texas primary is sure to be bitter, personal, and expensive, costing up to $100 million, according to some estimates. If Paxton wins, a general election could cost double that. It would be a significant payday for Axiom either way. “They need that race,” one Republican said of Axiom.
Naturally, the firm is trying to handle its comeback as delicately as possible. Though a source told me Roe won’t be personally involved in Paxton’s race, others familiar with Axiom’s business say it’s impossible that Roe would not have a hand in such an important contest. Either way, the acknowledgment that Roe must distance himself from the race suggests that he remains somewhat toxic in Trump’s Washington. In an attempt to hedge his political bets, Paxton has started talking to other firms, two people familiar with the outreach said. But it’s hard to see another firm getting involved in the drama surrounding the Axiom/Paxton–Cornyn showdown to come.
The Texas Senate primary, after all, promises to be costly in more ways than one. Trump has called both Paxton and Cornyn “friends of mine,” and commented that the field isn’t set. That’s kept the door open for a number of candidates who are seriously considering a run, including Rep. Wesley Hunt, a military veteran who represents the Houston suburbs. (A supporter of Hunt said that he is “the solution to a really big problem in Texas” because of the Paxton-Cornyn-Roe kerfuffle. But many Republicans say that it’s hard to see how he has a path if both Cornyn and Paxton stay in the race.)
Trump’s endorsement would obviously be crucial here. Paxton, despite his impeachment, has proved to be uncompromising as the state’s top cop, and an aggressive defender of conservative policies on the border and school vouchers. Indeed, he is more natural fit for a Trump endorsement than Cornyn, a mild-mannered deal-maker who’s worked hard to build a relationship with Trump. But the involvement of Roe is a real complexifier. “I think hiring Axiom exponentially increases the odds that the president not only stays neutral, but perhaps endorses somebody else in the race,” one Republican strategist told me. A representative of Axiom called the chatter “consultant fever dreams.”
The primary race is expected to get ugly, in part, because the candidates can’t stand each other. Paxton dislikes Cornyn so much that forcing him out of his seat might just be satisfaction enough. Likewise, I’m told that Cornyn’s primary motivation for seeking a fifth term is his loathing of Paxton, a man he can’t countenance as his successor. It’s a race that few people want, or think is necessary.
None of this is deterring Roe, who is more interested in saving his business than in saving a G.O.P. majority in the Senate. And according to the Republican operatives I spoke to, that’s the essence of what’s fueling anger toward him. Paxton and his red-meat brand of politics can beat Cornyn in a primary—a poll leaked in early April, in fact, showed Paxton ahead of Cornyn by 25 points in the primary. But Republican Senate leadership worries that he’ll have a hard time winning the general election. There’s a second part to that same poll, conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, that hasn’t been reported until now. It showed Paxton polling basically even (or within the margin of error) against a generic Democrat, according to three people who have seen the poll—not great for a Republican in Texas.
The domino effect on fundraising and the Senate map could be devastating if Republican donors and political committees have to spend enormous sums to defend Texas, a state that should be a shoo-in. “Every dollar that we might have to spend in Texas, that’s one dollar we’re having to take out of Georgia or Michigan,” one Senate Republican operative said. Another operative, albeit hyperbolically, compared it to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand before World War I: an unnecessary event that had a long tail of consequences.
Plus, Paxton is already having trouble raising money, multiple Republicans say. Donors (and Trump) bailed him out during his impeachment because they believed his role as attorney general would protect conservative causes in one of the most important judicial jurisdictions. But few party leaders are excited by the prospect of funding a primary challenge that will only balloon in cost if they have to expend enormous sums to save red Texas." Puck News [ [link removed] ] ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> KXAN: "Will Sunday be the last 4/20 in Texas?" KXAN [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Trump's new COVID website pushes Ted Cruz's views on pandemic" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "China warns countries against making trade deals with the US unfavorable to Beijing" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> AAS: "Cecile Richards unsettled the Texas House four months after her death. Here's why." AAS [ [link removed] ]
> KXAN: "DWI-related bills working way through legislative session" KXAN [ [link removed] ]
> TPR: "Two states want to remove candy and soda from the list of SNAP benefits" TPR [ [link removed] ]
> AAS: "As Texas weighs banning consumable hemp containing THC, Austin shop sees 'stock buying'" AAS [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "15 years after deadly Deepwater Horizon spill, are lessons fading from memory?" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Lamar CISD removes lesson on Virginia due to bare breast on state seal" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Galveston, Jamaica Beach police say cocaine is washing ashore after boat raid" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> SAEN: "Border agents seize almost $9M of meth inside vegetable shipment" SAEN [ [link removed] ]
> MRT: "Texas court hearing on Walmart mass shooting sets stage for plea to avoid the death penalty" MRT [ [link removed] ]
> TPR: "Bird flu now spreading through wild mammals, Texas Parks and Wildlife confirms" TPR [ [link removed] ]
> SAEN: "Some items have no sales tax next weekend. Here's what won't be taxed." SAEN [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Police investigate shooting on subway platform that led to Harvard students sheltering in place" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Where to get a passport without scheduling an appointment in Harris County" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> AAS: "'I turned into the devil': Moises Mendoza, a 'sadistic' killer, set for Texas execution" AAS [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "1 dead, 1 injured in South Dallas shooting early Sunday morning" DMN [ [link removed] ]
> SAEN: "Man, 21, in critical condition after being shot while riding in vehicle" SAEN [ [link removed] ]
> MRT: "Tornado-producing storm deals deadly weather to Oklahoma and Texas" MRT [ [link removed] ]
> MY RGV: "Teen gets 30 years for fatal Cameron Park shooting" MY RGV [ [link removed] ]
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
Thurs
> MLB: Texas 5, LA Angels 3
Fri
> MLB: LA Angels 3, Texas 0
> MLB: Houston 6, San Diego 4
> NBA: Memphis 120, Dallas 106
Sat
> NHL: Colorado 5, Dallas 1
> MLB: Houston 3, San Diego 2
> MLB: Texas 4, Los Angeles 3
> MLS: Houston 2, Colorado 2
> MLS: Minnesota 0, Dallas 0
> MLS: Austin 1, LA Galaxy 0
Sun
> NBA: Golden State 95, Houston 85
> MLB: San Diego 3, Houston 2
> MLB: Los Angeles 1, Texas 0
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:10pm: MLB: Toronto at Houston
> 8:30pm: NHL: Colorado at Dallas (ESPN)
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:10pm: MLB: Toronto at Houston
> 9:05pm: MLB: Texas at Oakland
DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Firings, 'cheerleader energy' and lost trust: What really led to the Luka Doncic trade" ESPN [ [link removed] ]
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Houston Rockets will need more from star Jalen Green in series vs. Warriors. 'I got to be better'" Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Will Rockets play Steven Adams, Jabari Smith more against Warriors after Game 1 performance?" Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "García hits 2-run homer in 9th to lift Rangers past Dodgers, denying Roki Sasaki 1st win" AP [ [link removed] ]
HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a new offensive coordinator and new power'" Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)

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