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MRT (free): Flood Victim Search Could Take 6 Months // FEMA Removed Buildings from Mystic’s Flood Map // Paxton Divorce Records Sealed // Cornyn Raises $3.9M in Q2
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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MONDAY || 7/14/2025
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AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
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CENTRAL TEXAS FLOODING NEWS
“Officials: Flood victims search may last 6 months; rebuild will take years,” San Antonio Express-News' Ricardo Delgado — “Meeting for the first time since the flooding, the Kerr County Commissioners Court received a briefing on the progress of the search operations and acknowledged the daunting cleanup and rebuilding process the county faces.
The Kerr County death toll from the Guadalupe River flooding is now at 106 — 70 adults and 36 children — and Gov. Greg Abbott said last week that as many as 161 people remain unaccounted for.
Crews have been searching for victims along the Guadalupe River since July 4, and state and local officials have repeatedly said the searches will continue until every missing person is found. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha told commissioners on Monday it could take six months. He said more than 2,200 people have been deployed to assist with the search.
With heavy rains falling and a flash flood warning issued for parts of Kerr County on Monday, county officials paused the search operations about mid-day. "Due to the incoming threatening weather, all volunteers should vacate the river area, and MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND for their safety," officials posted on the Kerr County Facebook page. "Only teams working under the direction of Kerr County Emergency Operations Center Unified Command are permitted in the response zone."
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said officials know how many people were missing from summer camps and how many county residents are missing. What's uncertain is the number of people who were in the area over the Fourth of July weekend and were swept away by the floods.
"We don't know how many came. We don't know where they are. We don't know how many we've lost," Kelly said.
Commissioner Don Harris, whose precinct includes the towns of Ingram and Hunt, said there are plans to drain Nimitz Lake and New Ingram Lake to “see what’s under there.” Nimitz Lake is in Kerrville and New Ingram Lake is in Ingram. Both were created by damming the Guadalupe River.
Asked Monday by commissioners what resources he'll need to keep the sheriff's office operating when state and federal agencies pull their personnel out of the county, Leith replied: "I truly don't know."
One of the key challenges for the county will be debris removal and disposal in the wake of the floods. Kelly said the state will pay for the “lion’s share” of debris removal in the county. He said the state and federal government “have our backs.”
“We're going to get through this, and it's going to be one process at a time,” Kelly said.
Commissioner Tom Jones said it will take the county “months, if not years” to recover from the effects of the flooding.
He said many residents have questions about the flood and recovery efforts, and asked for patience as the county works through the process.
“I know y'all need a lot of answers, and we can't give you all those answers from up here,” Jones said.
Commissioner Rich Paces said he’s received death threats and been cursed at by residents "for decisions that we never had a chance to make,” referring to previous commissioners courts deciding against moving ahead with installing a system of warning sirens along the Guadalupe River.
But Paces and other county officials said they are proud of the strength and community spirit many residents have shown throughout the disaster.
“Despite this tragedy, this event, we have seen the best of humanity,” Paces said. "We truly see God’s hand at work.”" SAEN ($)
CENTRAL TEXAS FLOOD NEWS
“FEMA removed dozens of Camp Mystic buildings from 100-year flood map before expansion, records show” AP
“Armies of Texas volunteers dig out, clean up, after fatal floods” AP
TOP NEWS
“Divorce between Ken and Angela Paxton will proceed outside public view, reports say” Texas Tribune
#TXLEGE
“As Texas Republicans prepare for mid-decade redistricting, cautionary tales loom from the past” Texas Tribune
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Attorney General Ken Paxton requests death row inmate Robert Roberson be executed Oct. 16” Texas Tribune
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Dallas estimates having 4,000 cops by 2029, despite City Council declining previous plan” DMN ($)
2026
“Exclusive: Cornyn beats Paxton by $1 million in Q2 Texas Senate fundraising” Axios
TEXANS IN DC
“U.S. House Democrats seek oversight hearing on federal handling of Texas flooding” DMN ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“SpaceX wins OK to build plant that creates liquid oxygen for rockets near South Texas beach” Texas Tribune
“Broadway Bank’s David Bohne retires as chief exec after 9 years at helm” SAEN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "Why Greg Abbott refuses to release his emails with Elon Musk" TX TRIB
> FWST: "Federal education funding freeze leaves millions in limbo for Fort Worth schools" FWST
> SAEN: "From tariffs to universities, Trump’s negotiating style is often less dealmaking and more coercion" SAEN
> TX TRIB: "Mental health programs could bear the brunt of $600M federal cuts to Texas schools" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Recovering from the floods will be a massive task. One Hill Country restaurant is focusing on the smaller picture." TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "Why developers are still building in Galveston despite cooling market" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "UPDATE: Evacuation order issued near San Saba River amid Hill Country rains" HOU CHRON
> SAEN: "Water rescues, evacuations in Hill Country as heavy rains cause new flooding" SAEN
> FWST: "5-year-old slept as apartment burned around him, Indiana officials say" FWST
> MRT: "Search for Texas flood victims to resume after pause due to heavy rains" MRT
> MRT: "Armies of Texas volunteers dig out, clean up, after fatal floods" MRT
> MRT: "Heavy rains in Texas pause search efforts for flood victims and damage homes elsewhere" MRT
> DMN: "Burleson family mourns loss of parents in Central Texas floods" DMN
> AAS: "Kerr County orders evacuations, suspends searches under new flooding threat" AAS
> EP TIMES: "Ford donates $1.25 million to Texas flood relief, launches recovery efforts" EP TIMES
> AAS: "Need a spa day? These are Texas' top 5 resort hotels in 2025, Travel+Leisure readers say" AAS
> SAEN: "Mourners from near and far contribute to Kerrville memorial for flood victims" SAEN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "What to know about MUDs, HOAs and other special districts" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> SAEN: "‘Whyness’ of tragedies like Hill Country flooding are rarely answered" SAEN
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports schedule:
Thurs
> MLB: Texas 11, Los Angeles (Angels) 4
Fri
> MLB: Texas 7, Houston 3
Sat
> MLB: Houston 5, Texas 4
> MLS: Austin 0, NE 0
> MLS: LA FC 2, Dallas 0
> MLS: Salt Lake 1, Houston 0
Sun
> WNBA: Indiana 102, Dallas 83
> MLB: Texas 5, Houston 1
Today's Texas sports schedule:
None.
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
None.
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys pre-training camp roster projection: Could Dallas keep only two QBs?" DMN ($)
HOUSTON ASTROS / TEXAS RANGERS: "Semien’s 250th career homer highlights Rangers’ 5-1 victory over AL West-leading Astros" AP
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Why the Astros went for a high school shortstop in first round of MLB draft" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Can Texas Rangers’ bats catch up to All-Star Jacob deGrom before it’s too late?" DMN ($)
TEXAS BASEBALL: "Texas baseball recruiting: Will commits turn pro after MLB draft?" AAS ($)
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: "Texas A&M football: DL Albert Regis could have his best year yet" AAS ($)
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL: "Texas Tech hoping big money and top transfers lead to unprecedented payback in football" AP
AUSTIN FC: "Austin and New England play to scoreless draw as Stuver stops eight shots, Ivacic four" AP
DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Cooper Flagg’s run in the NBA Summer League ending after 2 games, AP source say" AP
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