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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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TUESDAY || 8/19/2025
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P.S. Some personal news: Amy and I are expecting our first child -- a boy!
“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
“Texas House set to vote on redistricting maps Wednesday,” Dallas Morning News' Philip Jankowski -- "The Texas House is set to vote on congressional redistricting Wednesday, setting up a political fight over a plan that could be critical for Republicans to hold on to a majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
The House is rushing to approve the plan after enough Democrats returned to the Capitol to restore a constitutionally required quorum. Work had been halted since Aug. 4 in the chamber after more than 50 House Democrats left the state to block a vote on the bill.
The redistricting plan, which advanced out of a committee late Tuesday, reshapes urban districts in North Texas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. Several districts that have heavily favored Democrats would be transformed into districts expected to vote for Republicans by wide margins.
In North Texas, the plan aimed at Democratic U.S. House Reps. Marc Veasey and Julie Johnson. Veasey was moved out of his district while Johnson’s district was stretched to include a wide swath of northeast Texas, turning it from a safe Democratic district to one that would have voted for President Donald Trump by 41 percentage points.
House lawmakers redrawing the maps are led by Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi. Hunter’s latest iteration of the map made public Monday makes further alterations to the Houston area.
There, Republicans are set to gain one seat in Congress by transforming the district represented by Democrat Rep. Al Green from an urban southern Houston district that favored former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election by 44 percentage points to a district that combines shards of eastern Houston with a swath of rural east Texas that stretches 60 miles to the north and east.
The new district would have voted for Trump over Harris by nearly 20 percentage points. Compared to a previous draft plan, it pushes what was the most drastic change in the partisan makeup of a district even further to the right.
Trump has called for Texas to flip five seats to the GOP. If Democrats gain control of the U.S. House, it would likely kneecap his ability to enact his agenda in the final two years of his term. Congressional Democrats would also gain the ability to launch investigations into his administration or possibly impeach Trump again.
On Tuesday, Trump praised the redistricting effort on social media, thanking Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock.
“It is wonderful to see Republicans everywhere standing up to Save our Country. It is one of the most popular initiatives I have ever supported. Republicans love watching us fight for a Great Cause. Please pass this Map, ASAP,” Trump said." DMN ($)
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TOP NEWS
“Measles outbreak is over, Texas health officials say” CNN
“Do state talks signal new hope for S.A. to Austin commuter rail?” SAEN ($)
“Houston to get rare August cold front that could trigger flooding rainfall” Hou Chron ($)
“Texas judge scraps decision listing lesser prairie chicken as threatened” SAEN ($)
#TXLEGE
“Texas Democrat spends night in Legislature protesting police shadowing in redistricting battle” AP
“Texas Senate fast tracks THC ban, flood prep and bathroom restrictions for transgender people” Texas Tribune
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Appeals court overturns order that stripped some protections from pregnant Texas state workers” AP
“Texas prison agency names senior official as its next chief” Texas Tribune
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“No employee benefit cuts, but Harris County targets departments for reductions amid $48M budget deficit” Hou Chron ($)
“Mayor Jones ramps up public pressure to delay Spurs arena deal” SAEN ($)
2026
“Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick launches campaign for reelection” DMN ($)
“Feds demand Ken Paxton's Senate campaign explain more than 100 potentially illegal contributions” SA Current
BUSINESS NEWS
“Next Starship launch from South Texas as soon as Aug. 24, SpaceX says” SAEN ($)
“Irving-based Nexstar to buy rival Tegna for $3.54 billion in big local-TV deal” Reuters
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "Confusion reigns as Texas colleges scramble to comply with ban on in-state tuition for undocumented students" TX TRIB
> DMN: "Texas House Democrat Nicole Collier confined to chamber after refusing DPS escort" DMN
> THE TEXAN: "Texas House Makes Quorum After Two Weeks Upon Democrats' Return to State" THE TEXAN
> DMN: "Dallas’ new inspector general is not an attorney, violating voter-approved requirement" DMN
> DMN: "Civil rights leader condemns John Wiley Price’s ‘pattern of control and disrespect’" DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "3 Bastrop-area stories: Free mental health program, jail expansion and more" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> SA REPORT: "If Trump's redistricting succeeds, Moody could run for Congress" SA REPORT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "2 contested elections to be held for The Woodlands Township board Nov. 4" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> FWST: "Fort Worth Democrat confined to the Texas Capitol after quorum break" FWST
> THE TEXAN: "Texas Lawmakers File Legislation Reforming Contract Policing in Harris County" THE TEXAN
> SA REPORT: "Council to vote on Spurs arena term sheet — or ‘strategic pause’" SA REPORT
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Plano officials discuss higher property tax rate, FY 2025-26 budget updates" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> SAEN: "Spurs arena showdown: San Antonio council to vote on term sheet this week" SAEN
> THE TEXAN: "New Texas Congressional Map Substitute Adding Five GOP Seats Passes House Committee" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Texas House Democrats Return to Austin After Extended Quorum Break" THE TEXAN
> THE TEXAN: "Austin Property Owner Files Suit Over November Election Tax Increase Ballot Language" THE TEXAN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Bexar County proposes $1B operating budget for FY 2025-26" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> DMN: "Texas measles outbreak is officially over, state health officials say" DMN
> FWST: "Here’s how Texans can protect their personal information from online scammers" FWST
> DMN: "Frisco man who police say shot at teens doing TikTok ding, dong, ditch challenge arrested" DMN
> FWST: "Driver is shot and crashes car into light pole in east Fort Worth, police say" FWST
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Detroit 10, Houston 0
> MLB: Kansas City 4, Texas 3
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 5:40pm: MLB: Houston at Detroit
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Kansas City
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 12:10pm: MLB: Houston at Detroit
> 6:40pm: MLB: Texas at Kansas City
> 9pm: WNBA: Dallas at Los Angeles
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Jack Flaherty’s strong start, 4 homers lead Tigers to 10-0 rout of Astros" AP
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros plan to start Lance McCullers Jr. against Baltimore on Friday" Hou Chron ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "Royals get homers from Yastrzemski, Pasquantino and Garcia in 4-3 win over Rangers" AP
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Netflix cameras gone, Jerry Jones pulls back Cowboys’ curtain in exclusive interview" DMN ($)
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Texas Rangers to skip Jacob deGrom’s next start due to shoulder ‘fatigue’" DMN ($)
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "It’s Manning’s season to shine: The Texas Longhorns are No. 1 behind prodigy QB" AP
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL: "No. 19 Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed determined to prove he’s more than just a runner" AP
TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Texas Tech transfer running back Quinten Joyner sustains season-ending knee injury" AP
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