From Must Read Texas <[email protected]>
Subject MRT 6/30/25 (free): MRT (free): Gromer Jeffers, Jr: 2026 Could Reshuffle TX Politics // Sen. Birdwell to Retire // Nov. 2025 Special Election Set for SD-9 // UNT, UNTHSC Name Sole Finalists for...
Date June 30, 2025 9:01 PM
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[MustReadTexas.com]([link removed]) – [@MustReadTexas]([link removed])
BY: [@MattMackowiak]([link removed])

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**MONDAY **|** **6/30/2025

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**Good Monday afternoon.**
_Thank you for reading as a FREE subscriber._

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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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**AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED**

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_Subscriptions are $5/mo, $50/yr or $199/lifetime here:_ __[ATXpulsepremium.com]([link removed])__.

> Read the most recent FREE subscriber email [here]([link removed]).
> Become a PAID subscriber for $5/mo or $50/yr [here.]([link removed])

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* **TOP NEWS**

“**UNT Dallas, UNTHSC name sole finalists for president,**” Dallas Morning News' **Talia Richman **– “UNT Dallas and the UNT Health Science Center will soon have new university leaders.

System Chancellor **Michael R. Williams** named sole finalists for the positions: **Warren von Eschenbach **was tapped to permanently take over the UNT Dallas school while **Kirk Calhoun **was picked for the Fort Worth-based Health Science Center.

Both were interim leaders before the University of North Texas System regents unanimously selected them as sole finalists during a special meeting.

“I am confident they will continue to serve with distinction — fostering academic excellence, driving innovation, and serving the students and communities entrusted to our care,” Williams [said in a Friday letter.]([link removed])

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Since April 2024, von Eschenbach has served as UNT Dallas’ interim president. He launched the university’s first Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning and pushed strategies to grow enrollment, officials said. He has more than a decade of experience in various university leadership roles.

He will succeed **Bob Mong**, who retired after leading the southern Dallas-area school for nine years. Mong joined the university after a long career in journalism that included serving as editor of _The Dallas Morning News._

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Calhoun has more than three decades of experience in medicine and higher education leadership. He’s held the interim role at the UNTHSC since January, following his retirement as president of the University of Texas at Tyler.

He began his tenure as the Fort Worth-based health science center was under scrutiny over a now-suspended program’s handling of unclaimed bodies.

An investigation by NBC News found the UNTHSC’s Willed Body Program routinely used bodies for research or training without consent or approval from surviving family members.

In January, the system’s regents accepted the resignation of former president **Sylvia Trent-Adams **by “mutual agreement.”" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE ENDED**_: As of July 11, 2022, we have moved to a paywall for free subscribers. Free subscribers will only receive the top story in their morning email. Free subscribers will need to become paid subscribers to receive full story summaries._

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* **#TXLEGE**

“**GOP state Sen. Brian Birdwell says he won’t seek reelection**” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

**Dave Lieber guest column**: “**The man behind Texas’ historic property tax reforms**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

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* **LOCAL GOVERNMENT**

“**Houston airports expect 1.5M passengers for soccer final, Fourth of July**” [Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)

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* **2025**

“**Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat**” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

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* **2026**

“**A hard-fought 2026 GOP primary could reshuffle Texas politics**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

“**Sen. John Cornyn looks to overcome Paxton primary challenge by embracing Trump**” [Texas Tribune]([link removed])

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* **BUSINESS NEWS**

“**Rick Perry’s Fermi America wants to build a giant nuclear, data center campus in Texas**” [Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)

“**Fort Worth approves tax breaks for Nvidia manufacturer to invest $687M**” [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

“**Tesla completes first driverless delivery to Austin resident**” [AAS]([link removed]) ($)

“**Supreme Court upholds record $14M penalty against Exxon for Baytown air pollution**” [Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)

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* **NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE**

> TX TRIB: "**Texas capital murder case attempts to severely punish abortion pill use by treating a fetus as a person**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_

> TX TRIB: "**Texas lawmakers have gotten used to state budget surpluses. That era may be ending.**" _[TX TRIB]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: "**CIA chief told lawmakers Iran nuclear program set back years with strikes on metal conversion site**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> AAS: "**THC dustup shows how Abbott-Patrick dynamic has shifted to governor's favor**" _[AAS]([link removed])_

> SA REPORT: "**Gov. Greg Abbott, AG Ken Paxton do not have to release Uvalde or Jan. 6 emails, Texas Supreme Court rules**" _[SA REPORT]([link removed])_

> SAEN: "**A call to San Antonio to ensure deadly flooding never happens again**" _[SAEN]([link removed])_

> FWST: "**DPS says truck driver who caused deadly crash on I-20 in Terrell fell asleep**" _[FWST]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**Keller ISD plans for $150K surplus for 2025-26 school year budget**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: "**Here's what pay raises Houston-area teachers will receive from the state**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> HOU CHRON: "**Tropical Storms Barry and Flossie form off Mexico's southeast and southwest coasts**" _[HOU CHRON]([link removed])_

> AAS: "**Why are skies hazy in Texas? More Saharan dust rolling in this week. See air quality map**" _[AAS]([link removed])_

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "**Transportation updates: 7 road projects underway in The Woodlands area**" _[COMMUNITY IMPACT]([link removed])_

> FWST: "**Fort Worth’s South Main Village hosts Trinity Pride Fest for first time**" _[FWST]([link removed])_

> SAEN: "**Alert: Weather forecasters say Tropical Storm Barry has formed off Mexico's east coast**" _[SAEN]([link removed])_

> FWST: "**DFW airport expansion: 8 stories on new terminals and construction**" _[FWST]([link removed])_

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* **EXTRA POINTS**

Recent Texas sports schedule:
Thurs
> MLB: at **Houston **2, Philadelphia 1
Fri
> WNBA: Indiana 94, **Dallas** 86
> MLB: Seattle 7, **Texas **6
> MLB: **Houston **7, Chicago 4
Sat
> MLB: Chicago 12,** Houston** 3
> MLB: **Texas **3, Seattle 2
> MLS: Seattle 2, **Austin **0
> MLS: San Diego 3, **Dallas** 2
> MLS: **Houston** 1, St. Louis 0
> WNBA: **Dallas** 79, Washington 71
Sun
> MLB: Seattle 6, **Texas **4
> MLB: **Houston** 2, Chicago 0

Today's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: Baltimore at **Texas**

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: Baltimore at **Texas**
> 7:40pm: MLB: **Houston** at Colorado

**DALLAS COWBOYS**: "Netflix releases trailer for Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones docuseries ‘America’s Team’" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**HOUSTON ASTROS**: “Jose Altuve homers and Framber Valdez tosses six shutout innings in Astros’ 2-0 win over Cubs" [AP]([link removed])

**HOUSTON ASTROS**: “Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña has a rib fracture and is headed to the injured list" [AP]([link removed])

**TEXAS RANGERS**: "Mitch Garver and Mariners beat Rangers in 12 as all 3 games of series go extra innings" [AP]([link removed])

**HOUSTON ROCKETS**: "Rockets lock up another piece of their future in Jabari Smith Jr." [Hou Chron]([link removed]) ($)

**DALLAS STARS**: "Dallas Stars closing in on hiring Glen Gulutzan as new head coach" [DMN]([link removed])

**TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL**: "Texas A&M football: 3 transfer portal adds that could breakout in 2025" [AAS]([link removed]) ($)

**TEXAS STATE ATHLETICS**: "Rebuilding Pac-12 gets its needed 8th football school with addition of Texas State" [AP]([link removed])

**DALLAS MAVERICKS**: "D’Angelo Russell expected to reach two-year deal with Dallas Mavericks" [DMN]([link removed]) ($)

**DALLAS WINGS**: "Aces acquire NaLyssa Smith from the Wings for first-round pick in 2027"_ _[AP]([link removed])


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