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BY: @MattMackowiak [ [link removed] ]
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MONDAY || 7/21/2025
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P.S. Some personal news: Amy and I are expecting [ [link removed] ] 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
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TOP NEWS
“Number missing from Hill Country floods down to 3,” Texas Tribune's Ayden Runnels — “More than two weeks after catastrophic July Fourth floods along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, authorities reported Saturday that nearly all of the people who had remained on the list of missing persons have been verified as safe.
As recently as Monday, rescuers were still trying to find an estimated 101 people. But by Saturday, the official count of people missing had been lowered to three.
The officials did not give an update to the total number of people who died because of the floods. On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott said the statewide death toll was 135.
In a press release, the city of Kerrville wrote that many of the people missing had been located "through extensive follow-up work among state and local agencies."
“This remarkable progress reflects countless hours of coordinated search and rescue operations, careful investigative work, and an unwavering commitment to bringing clarity and hope to families during an unimaginably difficult time,” City Manager Dalton Rice said.
Still, officials said that local, state, national and international search teams are continuing to conduct recovery operations.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said during a commissioners court meeting Monday that the search for missing people could take up to six months, but setting a time estimate is also difficult.
“How long is it going to take? I mean, who knows?” Leitha said.
Abbott said Monday most of those still considered missing were people who did not check into hotels or campsites. Abbott said many of those people were added to the list of people who haven’t been located after friends and family reported them missing.
“Those who are missing on this list, most of them, were more difficult to identify because there was no record of them logging in anywhere,” Abbott said.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s top official, said during a county commissioners court meeting earlier Monday that local officials don’t know the exact number of how many visitors who traveled to the Guadalupe for the holiday weekend had been caught in the flood.
“We don’t know how many of them there are,” Kelly said. “Don’t be discouraged when you hear that number, we’re doing the very best we can, but it is an unknown at this point.”
On Saturday, Kelly said he was grateful for the rescuers who have worked tirelessly over the past two weeks.
"To every member of law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency management, and supporting agencies — thank you,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said. “Your dedication, professionalism, and compassion have brought comfort and answers to so many."
Recovery teams have been thoroughly scouring large debris piles [ [link removed] ] for any people who were swept into the Guadalupe after it swelled in the pre-dawn hours July 4 following heavy rain. Those efforts were been hindered further by continued rain and flooding in areas already impacted by the initial floods, pausing searches [ [link removed] ] across the Hill Country." Texas Tribune [ [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.
TOP NEWS
“John Zerwas sole finalist for UT System chancellor; Jim Davis lone candidate for UT-Austin president” Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ]
#TXLEGE
“Flooding tops agenda at Texas Legislature special session” DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
“Texas GOP lawmakers lead summer sprint to redraw US House maps and address deadly floods” AP [ [link removed] ]
“State Rep. Josey Garcia's husband charged with drug and weapons offenses” SAEN [ [link removed] ] ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Texas Attorney General’s Office tells Bexar to ‘phase out’ court system” SAEN [ [link removed] ] ($)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Austin firefighters sound alarm over proposed staffing reduction” Hou Chron [ [link removed] ] ($)
“Austin firefighters sound alarm over proposed staffing reduction” AAS [ [link removed] ] ($)
2026
“GOP Army veteran announces challenge to Democrat Vicente Gonzalez in South Texas congressional district” Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ]
BUSINESS NEWS
“Chevron gets go ahead for $53B Hess deal, and access to one of the biggest oil finds this decade” AP [ [link removed] ]
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "The Texas Legislature is back for a special session. Here’s what we’re watching." TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "What the 'big, beautiful bill' means for health coverage, hospitals and Medicaid in Texas" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> AAS: "When power picks the people: How redistricting in Texas works" AAS [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Who's running for HISD school board trustee? Here's a list of candidates." HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> AAS: "Travis County secures federal flood aid, expands local disaster order" AAS [ [link removed] ]
> TPR: "San Antonio braces for possible move of Army North and Army South away from JBSA Fort Sam Houston" TPR [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: "Better testing, less vaccine messaging among lessons learned from historic Texas measles outbreak" TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: "Eastbound lanes of I-10 reopened after pedestrian was killed in crash near East Loop" HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "UIL discusses playoff format, possibility of adding Class 7A at THSCA coaching school" DMN [ [link removed] ]
> SAEN: "Texas man arrested after newborn grandchild found in Walmart trash can" SAEN [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "2 arrested after speeding car crashes, hits 3 people near Fort Worth bus stop" DMN [ [link removed] ]
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports schedule:
Fri
> MLB: Texas 2, Detroit 0
> MLB: Seattle 6, Houston 1
Sat
> MLB: Detroit at Texas
> MLS: Dallas 3, St. Louis 0
> MLS: Philadelphia 1, Houston 1
> MLB: Houston at Seattle
Sun
> MLB: Texas 4, Detroit 1
> MLB: Seattle 7, Houston 6
Today's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: Oakland at Texas
> 8:40pm: MLB: Houston at Arizona
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: Detroit at Texas
> 8:40pm: MLB: Houston at Arizona
> 9pm: WNBA: Dallas at Seattle
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Jerry Jones says he’ll remain as Cowboys GM and ‘nothing new’ in Micah Parsons contract talks" AP [ [link removed] ]
HOUSTON TEXANS: "As Houston Texans begin camp, projecting which players will make the team and which won't" Hou Chron [ [link removed] ] ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Derrek Cooper, 5-star RB, commits to Texas football, Steve Sarkisian" AAS [ [link removed] ] ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Texas Rangers put reliever Chris Martin on IL and bring 3B Josh Jung back" AP [ [link removed] ]
TEXAS RANGERS: "How Chris Martin’s extended absence impacts the Texas Rangers’ trade deadline plans" DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: "Chris Paul returns to Clippers for what’s expected to be his 21st and final NBA season" AP [ [link removed] ]
MLS ALL STAR GAME: "MLS All-Star Game: Austin FC's Estévez, Stuver relishing opportunity" AAS [ [link removed] ] ($)

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