|
MRT (free): Flood Death Toll Nears 120 // Employment Aid Now Available in Kerr County // Abbott Orders Expanded Special Session Call // TEA to Release 2024 A-F Grades
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
|
| |||||||||||||||
 |
MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
Subscribe to the daily email here
WEDNESDAY || 7/9/2025
Good Wednesday evening.
Thank you for reading as a FREE subscriber.
» Become a PAID subscriber here for $7/mo or $70/yr and SAVE TIME and be BETTER INFORMED.
P.S. Some personal news: Amy and I are expecting our first child!
“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)
AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
Are you one of the 100,000+ subscribers to ATX Pulse, a newsletter that delivers EVERYTHING you NEED TO KNOW about Austin?
 |
Subscriptions are $5/mo, $50/yr or $199/lifetime here: ATXpulsepremium.com.
> Read the most recent FREE subscriber email here.
> Become a PAID subscriber for $5/mo or $50/yr here.
CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODING NEWS
“Texas flood death toll nears 120 as searchers scour debris for the missing,” Dallas Morning News' Alex Nguyen, Matt Kyle, Karen Brooks Harper and the Associated Press — “Nearly a week after heavy rain and flooding hit the Texas Hill Country, the search continued Wednesday for an untold number of missing people.
Officials warned that the full extent of the catastrophe had yet to be revealed and unaccounted victims could still be found amid the massive piles of debris in the area that stretch for miles. The National Weather Service once again issued a flood advisory for parts of the hard-hit region, including western Kerr County until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Kerr County officials said at a news conference that at least 95 people have been found dead in Kerr County, pushing the death toll to nearly 120 people across Texas.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said of the dead, 59 are adults and 36 are children. Fourteen adults and 13 children remain unidentified, he said.
Five campers and one counselor from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp that draws attendees from North Texas, remain missing as of Wednesday, according to the sheriff.
On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott also announced the agenda items for the July 21 special legislative session. The first four focus on flood warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding for Hill Country floods as well as natural disaster preparation and recovery.
“There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country,” he said in a news release. “We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future.”
In addition, the governor ordered Texas flags across the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims and families who suffered an “unimaginable loss,” after previously declaring a statewide Day of Prayer for Sunday.
Flags are expected to be returned to full-staff at sunrise on Monday, July 14, 2025.
Across the state, at least 119 people have died as of Wednesday. In addition to the 95 found dead in Kerr County, at least eight died in Kendall County, seven in Travis County, five in Burnett County, three in Williamson County and one in Tom Greene County.
Over 2,000 people have participated in search efforts, Leitha said, though officials said Tuesday that no live rescues have taken place since Friday.
Abbott said officials have been seeking more information about those who were in the state’s Hill Country during the Fourth of July holiday but did not register at a camp or a hotel and may have been in the area without sharing their whereabouts with others.
Crews in airboats, helicopters and on horseback along with hundreds of volunteers are part of one of the largest search operations in Texas history.
“We have to find every single person who’s missing,” Abbott said in a Tuesday news release, “and that’s job No. 1.”
At least 161 people were still missing in Kerr County alone as of Tuesday, according to Abbott.
Many more could be unaccounted for, as out-of-towners visited the region for their Fourth of July holiday weekend. The governor urged anyone who believes a loved one could be missing due to the flood to call 830-258-1111 or report it online at [email protected].
But with no survivors found since Friday, the total death toll across the Hill Country and Central Texas is likely to rise much higher than the 109 fatalities that Abbott announced Tuesday." DMN ($)
CENTRAL TEXAS FLOOD NEWS
“Kerrville mayor says he wasn’t aware of state resources that Gov. Abbott said were in place ahead of flooding” Texas Tribune
“Weather warnings gave officials a 3 hour, 21 minute window to save lives in Kerr County. What happened then remains unclear” Texas Tribune
“Disaster unemployment aid now available for Kerr County workers affected by July 4 flooding” Hou Chron ($)
“Focus on first responders’ mental health grows as death toll rises in flood-ravaged Texas” AP
TOP NEWS
“Gov. Abbott orders special session on Hill Country flooding, redistricting, THC and unfinished GOP priorities” Texas Tribune
“FBI arrests 11th suspect related to attack at North Texas ICE detention center” DMN ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Texas Education Agency to release schools’ 2024 performance ratings after court ruling” Texas Tribune
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Hill Country county will fight judge's ruling that killed $440M road bond” SAEN ($)
2025
“Letitia Plummer's bid for county judge opens up her seat on Houston City Council. Who's running?” Hou Chron ($)
2026
“Lone FEC Republican to stay and block weaponization by Democrats” Wash Examiner
“Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says she could win a primary ahead of decision on reelection bid” Hou Chron ($)
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
“Congress delivers $10B to NASA with 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' saving Houston-led program from Trump cuts” Hou Chron ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“Moody Center developer indicted in bid rigging on UT arena deal” AAS ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "Randall County GOP chair charged with felony election fraud" TX TRIB
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Hill Country Flooding Prompts Legislative Response Ahead of Special Session" THE TEXAN
> FWST: "How difficult is building a nuclear weapon? Experts weigh in after Iran strikes" FWST
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Ethics Commission Finds Evidence Fort Bend County Democrat Violated Election Code" THE TEXAN
> DMN: "Pastors who endorse political candidates shouldn’t lose tax-exempt status, IRS says" DMN
> DMN: "College of Constructive Hell-Raising: Dallas activists learn how to make a difference" DMN
> TX TRIB: "“Disasters are a human choice”: Texas counties have little power to stop building in flood-prone areas" TX TRIB
> AAS: "Broadnax, Watson condemn Austin firefighters union president, stand by chief" AAS
> FWST: "15-year-old landscaper opens fire on co-workers at lunch, killing 2, TX cops say" FWST
> AAS: "Houston doctor fired after MAGA comments about Texas flood victims: 'What they voted for'" AAS
> TX TRIB: "These graphics show the scope of Texas’ Hill Country floods" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Weather warnings gave officials a 3 hour, 21 minute window to save lives in Kerr County. What happened then remains unclear." TX TRIB
> FWST: "Incident at Alvarado ICE facility was ‘a planned ambush,’ investigators say" FWST
> TX TRIB: "As Guadalupe River flows calm, evidence of its destructive force remains" TX TRIB
> FWST: "Fort Worth firefighters rescue people from flooding in San Angelo" FWST
> AAS: "Live: As many as 161 people could still be missing in floods, Abbott says" AAS
> THE TEXAN: "Abbott: Texas Flood Disaster Death Toll Climbs to 109, 161 Remain Missing" THE TEXAN
> SA REPORT: "Texas officials say more than 160 people still missing from floods that killed more than 100 others" SA REPORT
> AAS: "Volunteers, emergency crew from Mexico assist in search efforts after Texas floods" AAS
> DMN: "New owners pivot McKinney apartment complex to include affordable units" DMN
> MRT: "OPD Officer Bailey Martin dies in Texas Hill Country flooding" MRT
> FWST: "Fort Worth country singer mourns family members lost in deadly Texas flood" FWST
> FWST: "Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office asks for help to find missing 15-year-old girl" FWST
> AAS: "Why did the Guadalupe River flood so fast? What to know about Texas' 'Flash Flood Alley'" AAS
> AAS: "H-E-B distributing recovery kits to Texas flood victims. Here's where to find aid sites" AAS
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports schedule:
> MLB: Cleveland 10, Houston 6
> MLB: Texas 13, Los Angeles (Angels) 1
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: WNBA: Dallas at Chicago
> 7:10pm: MLB: Cleveland at Houston
> 8:38pm: MLB: Texas at Los Angeles (Angels)
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 8:38pm: MLB: Texas at Los Angeles (Angels)
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes added to American League All-Star roster'" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS BASEBALL: “MLB Draft: Three players withdraw name, return to Texas next season" AAS ($)
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: "Texas A&M: Football sells out season tickets, uptick in VB sales" AAS ($)
UH FOOTBALL: "UH quarterback Conner Weigman is out of sight but not out of mind for Cougars at Big 12 media days" Hou Chron ($)
DALLAS WINGS: "Paige Bueckers is matching the hype, and then some, as the No. 1 pick for the Wings" AP
| ||||||||||
