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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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THURSDAY || 6/19/2025
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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
“Former Texas state Sen. Kelly Hancock to become acting comptroller, run for permanent job,” Texas Tribune's Zach Despart and Alejandro Serrano – “Republican state Sen. Kelly Hancock launched his campaign for state comptroller Thursday shortly after taking a senior position at the comptroller’s office.
His appointment as chief clerk to Comptroller Glenn Hegar paves the way for Hanock, a North Richland Hills Republican, to become interim comptroller after Hegar leaves his office in June. And it gives Hancock an edge in a growing Republican primary race next year.
“Kelly is a great fit to serve as the chief financial officer of Texas,” Hegar said in a statement, who is stepping down to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. “As a long-serving member of the Texas Legislature, he helped shape sound financial policy and authored the state’s conservative spending cap legislation.”
Hegar added that Hancock is honest, trustworthy, and an “all-around good guy.”
Hancock, in a statement, cited his conservative bona fides on border security, noting he was one of the first Republican senators to call for ending in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants, which the state did earlier this month.
"For over a decade, I've fought for Texas taxpayers in the Legislature, cutting red tape, passing conservative budget reforms, and holding government accountable," Hancock said in his campaign announcement. "As Comptroller, I'll make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely, transparently, and responsibly.”
Hancock resigned from the Legislature on Wednesday. A quirk in state law prohibited Gov. Greg Abbott from directly appointing Hancock comptroller. Senators — even former ones — cannot be appointed to another position that requires Senate confirmation during their term.
The state comptroller is responsible for managing the state’s money. Among the job’s biggest tasks are collecting taxes, estimating state revenue, and awarding and managing state contracts.
Entering the primary season as the interim will almost certainly give Hancock a leg up in a race that’s already getting crowded. Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick and former state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, are already in the race, and Huffines has been raking in endorsements — including one from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Abbott was quick to endorse Hancock, in the process throwing an elbow at Huffines, who as a state senator lost his reelection bid to Democrat Nathan Johnson in 2018.
“I endorse Kelly Hancock because I want a candidate who will actually win the election, not someone who has already lost an election to a Democrat,” Abbott said in a statement.
Huffines also challenged Abbott in the 2022 Republican gubernatorial primary; Abbott drubbed him by 44 points.
Prior to serving in the Legislature, Hancock was a member of his local school board.
The state of Texas operates a $337 billion budget and rakes in more than a quarter trillion dollars of revenue from a variety of taxes, fees and assessments." Texas Tribune
TOP NEWS
“Threat prompts sudden shutdown of San Antonio's Jewish Community Center” SAEN ($)
“Erick makes landfall in southern Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane” AP
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Fort Bend County Judge KP George switches from Democrat to Republican amid money laundering charges” Hou Chron ($)
“Commissioner Grant Moody called to active duty in Marine Reserves amid Iran tensions” SAEN ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Texas ag boss Sid Miller calls crop-killing fungus a threat to food supply” SAEN ($)
TEXANS IN DC
“Ted Cruz interview with Tucker Carlson didn't go as planned” SAEN ($)
“John Cornyn leads Senate Republican probe of former President Joe Biden’s mental fitness” DMN ($)
“Dan Crenshaw pushes 'counter-insurgency' strategy against Mexican cartels” SAEN ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“SpaceX rocket being tested in Texas explodes, but no injuries reported” AP
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "Once again targeting higher ed, Texas lawmakers limited faculty influence, campus speech this session" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Amid Trump immigration crackdown, Texas reins in border spending and shifts focus to deportations" TX TRIB
> AAS: "U.S. Supreme Court ruling angers Texas parents of transgender children" AAS
> HOU CHRON: "Coin toss to decide tied Pasadena City Council race after runoff ends in deadlock" Hou Chron ($)
> THE TEXAN: "U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Child Gender Modification Ban" THE TEXAN
> TX TRIB: "American babies may get $1,000 each to invest because of Ted Cruz" TX TRIB
> THE TEXAN: "Democratic Fort Bend County Judge Announces Switch to Republican Party Amid Legal Woes" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "REDACTED #065: No Country for 'No Kings'" THE TEXAN
> SA REPORT: "San Antonio swears in younger, more partisan mayor and City Council" SA REPORT
> HOU CHRON: "Prolonged closure expected on I-45 after crash kills child Wednesday evening" HOU CHRON
> SAEN: "Ted Cruz spars with Tucker Carlson over Israel, Iran conflict" SAEN
> SAEN: "John Cornyn calls for criminal investigation into former Biden staffers" SAEN
> DMN: "Family of Arlington firefighter who died at Cancun resort gets 8-figure verdict" DMN
> FWST: "More than 280 firearms, drugs seized in law enforcement operation in Fort Worth" FWST
> FWST: "Fort Worth man on life support after shooting early Saturday dies in hospital" FWST
> MRT: "The US plans to open a fly factory in Texas as part of its fight against a flesh-eating parasite" MRT
> THE TEXAN: "SCOTUS Tosses Texas' Legal Challenge to NRC’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage License" THE TEXAN
> FWST: "What are machine gun conversion devices and why are they so dangerous?" FWST
> DMN: "House music fosters community at two Dallas businesses" DMN
> MRT: "Supreme Court clears the way for temporary nuclear waste storage in Texas and New Mexico" MRT
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports schedule:
> MLB: Kansas City 6, Texas 3
> MLB: Houston 11, Oakland 4
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 1:35pm: MLB: Kansas City at Texas
> 9:05pm: MLB: Houston at Oakland
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:35pm: WNBA: Dallas at Connecticut (ION)
> 1:35pm: MLB: Kansas City at Texas
> 9:05pm: MLB: Houston at Oakland
HOUSTON ASTROS: “Altuve, Caratini, Dubón homer, Astros have 20 hits in 11-4 win over Athletics" AP
ATLETICO DALLAS: "Garland inks first lease as $71 million Atletico Dallas soccer complex pushes forward" DMN ($)
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Coach Ime Udoka agrees to a contract extension with the Houston Rockets, AP source says" AP
DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Inside Cooper Flagg’s Dallas visit: An iconic steakhouse, a Mavericks workout and more" DMN ($)
DALLAS STARS: "Dallas Stars re-sign Matt Duchene to a 4-year, $18 million contract" AP
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