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MustReadTexas.com [ [link removed] ] – @MustReadTexas [ [link removed] ]
BY: @MattMackowiak [ [link removed] ]
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THURSDAY 1/22/2026 - FRIDAY 1/23/2026
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AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
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TOP NEWS
“An arctic storm is expected to blanket the state. Here’s what Texans can expect.” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Colleen DeGuzman – Texans are bracing for a harsh winter storm that’s expected to plunge the entire state into subfreezing temperatures starting Friday, bringing an arctic mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.
Frigid air is blowing in from northern Canada, and according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Kurt Van Speybroeck, it’s expected to reach the very southern tip of Texas by Sunday morning.
Texans from Wichita Falls west to Lubbock and Amarillo should be preparing for snowy weather late Friday. The cold air and precipitation is expected to move south Saturday, and by Sunday morning, residents in Brownsville should expect temperatures to dip below freezing. Every part of the state, from El Paso to the Houston region, will experience a hard freeze during the storm, Speybroeck said.
“By Sunday, the whole state will definitely be experiencing well-below normal temperatures and dangerous wind chills,” Speybroeck said.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
“Federal appeals court to rehear challenge against Texas’ immigration law” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Alejandro Serrano – Three years ago, Texas lawmakers passed a landmark law that would let state police arrest people suspected of having entered the country illegally by crossing the border.
Such authority has long been the sole responsibility of the federal government, but the state’s Republican leaders said Texas, which shares about 1,250 miles of border with Mexico, had a constitutional right to protect its sovereignty as the number of illegal border crossings hit record highs under the Biden administration.
But when a federal appeals court reheard oral arguments Thursday in a legal challenge seeking to stop Texas’ law from going into effect, the circumstances outside the courtroom were much different.
The number of people crossing the border has dwindled to a trickle during President Donald Trump’s first year back in the White House, setting record lows in a sharp reversal from the influx that inspired Texas’ law, known as Senate Bill 4. The new reality on the ground could complicate Texas’ legal argument that it has a constitutional right to defend itself against an invasion, like the one state lawmakers claimed was afoot when they enacted the law.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
“Federal court focuses on informant in appeal of Texas death row inmate’s conviction” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Ayden Runnels – The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday heard oral arguments once again on the conviction of Texas death row inmate Brittany Holberg, which was previously overturned by justices in March.
All 17 of the court’s judges listened to arguments and questioned attorneys for both Holberg and the state as they weighed the appeal. Much of the discussion and questions from the judges revolved around Vickie Kirkpatrick, who was Holberg’s cellmate before her trial.
Holberg was convicted of capital murder in 1998 for killing and robbing 80-year-old A.B. Towery, whom she stabbed 58 times and shoved an 11-inch piece of lamp post down his throat while he was still alive. Holberg is one of seven women on death row.
Kirkpatrick became the key witness during trial when she testified that Holberg told her she went to Towery’s home to rob him, enjoyed killing Towery and would do so again for drugs or money. Prosecutors did not disclose at trial, however, that Kirkpatrick had been working as a paid informant for the City of Amarillo on several other cases.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, brother of Rep. Henry Cuellar, indicted on federal fraud charges” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Eleanor Klibanoff – Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar appeared before a federal judge Thursday for allegedly using public funds to run a fraudulent for-profit disinfecting business during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.
The South Texas sheriff was indicted alongside his assistant chief in November. The charges, unsealed Thursday, accuse them of opening a private business, Disinfect Pro Master, in April 2020 and entering into agreements with local businesses and restaurants “despite having no employees or supplies of their own.”
The company secured a $500,000 contract to clean schools in Laredo, which they fulfilled using department staff and resources, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei of the Southern District of Texas said in a statement.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
“Texas counties, auto industry push back on proposed ID restrictions on car registration tied to immigration” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Alex Nguyen – The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is facing pushback to its proposed rule changes adding stricter photo identification requirements for vehicle registrations, which would prevent undocumented residents from legally owning vehicles.
The DMV on Wednesday heard public testimonies opposing the plan from around 35 people representing small businesses, industry groups, county tax assessor offices and advocacy organizations from across the state. The proposed changes would not just create more barriers for a broad swath of people to live and work in a car-dependent state, but also harm Texas businesses and road safety, they said.
“This rule change also creates a contradictory outcome for the state of Texas,” said Tyler Simmons, a Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s board member.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
“North Texas school district cancels Islamic Games for alleged ties to group governor calls terroristic” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Fort Worth Report – Grapevine-Colleyville ISD officials “severed negotiations” with an Islamic group seeking to host an all-ages sporting tournament at a local high school, a district spokesperson confirmed to the Fort Worth Report on Tuesday.
The decision came after school administrators were “made aware” that one of the event’s sponsors, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, was designated a terrorist organization by Gov. Greg Abbott last year, GCISD spokesperson Nicole Lyons said in an email.
But organizers of the Islamic Games said CAIR “has never been, and is not presently, a sponsor, partner, affiliate or supporter” of the sports festival.
“We are deeply concerned that a sporting event for children is being targeted,” Salaudeen Nausrudeen, president of Islamic Games, said in an email to the Report. “It is our hope that better minds prevail.”
Islamic Games officials requested to use the Colleyville Heritage High School to host its Dallas chapter’s gaming event in May, Lyons said.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
2026
“Jasmine Crockett, James Talarico show different fighting styles in first debate of Senate Democratic primary” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Kayla Guo – U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico both pitched themselves as fighters Saturday during their first, and perhaps only, debate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, with Crockett framing herself as a “street fighter” and Talarico leaning into his record battling GOP proposals in the Texas House.
The two Democrats debated for an hour at the Texas AFL-CIO’s political convention in Georgetown ahead of the March 3 election. Early voting begins Feb. 17, just over three weeks out from Saturday.
Crockett, D-Dallas, and Talarico, D-Austin, are competing for their party’s nomination to take on the eventual Republican nominee in November, when Democrats hope that backlash to the Trump administration — and a GOP nominee damaged from a bruising primary battle — will help lift the party to its first statewide victory in over three decades. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the Republican incumbent, is fighting to defend his seat in a bitter primary against Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston.
Crockett has pitched her candidacy, defined by her reputation as a political brawler, as the one best positioned to expand the electorate, with a focus on juicing Democratic turnout and motivating low-propensity voters to show up at the polls. Talarico, meanwhile, has emphasized his Christian faith and a top-versus-bottom brand of economic populism, betting those tenets can win over disaffected Republican and independent voters while also engaging the Democratic base.
During the debate, Crockett emphasized her ability to tap into the “rawness of this moment” by taking the fight to Republicans outside Capitol Hill, such as in Minneapolis during the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown. She said this made her best positioned to motivate turnout and win in November.
“I am not just sitting in D.C.,” she said. “I am getting out into the streets. And right now, to be perfectly honest, if we’re going to win and keep our country, we’re going to need somebody who can file bills but also knows how to be a street fighter.”
Talarico, meanwhile, highlighted his experience as a middle school teacher and his record fighting “tooth and nail” in the Texas House, where he frequently went viral over clips of his exchanges with Republicans on proposals including private school vouchers and a mandate to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.
“The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior,” he said. “I have gone toe to toe with the billionaires who are trying to dismantle public education in this state.”
The two candidates aligned on most policy issues that came up Saturday, including raising taxes on billionaires, repealing President Donald Trump’s tariffs, banning the sale of offensive weapons to Israel and using congressional authority to check the Trump administration’s foreign policy in Venezuela, Greenland and Iran.
(Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ])
“Congressman Wesley Hunt draws scrutiny for missed votes amid campaign for U.S. Senate” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Olivia Borgula – U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt drew renewed criticism for his attendance record on Thursday after narrowly making it to Washington to clinch the GOP’s defeat of a resolution that would have blocked further military action in Venezuela.
It marked only the fourth time Hunt has cast a vote on the House floor this year, out of 48 votes held in the lower chamber since lawmakers resumed business earlier this month. The absences come as the Houston Republican is waging a primary challenge against U.S. Sen John Cornyn, who has seized on Hunt’s spotty voting record with a series of jabs on social media.
A Hunt spokesperson defended the absences, saying that no “bills, resolutions, or GOP priorities have been delayed or stopped because of Rep. Hunt’s priority of barnstorming Texas to retire John Cornyn.” On Friday, responding to what he described as “anyone clutching pearls about missed votes,” Hunt added on social media that he has been “crisscrossing Texas nonstop” on the campaign trail.
“Anytime you run for higher office, you miss votes. Period,” Hunt posted.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, held Thursday’s vote open for more than 20 minutes while the chamber awaited Hunt’s arrival, prompting shouts from Democrats on the House floor urging Johnson to close the vote.
Hunt’s 92% rate of missed votes this year has elevated his career mark to 20%, or missing one in five votes since he took office in 2023. Thursday’s vote was Hunt’s first since Jan. 7.
The median percentage of missed votes among current representatives is 2%, according to GovTrack [ [link removed] ], a nonprofit website that monitors congressional voting records. Rep. Chip Roy, an Austin Republican who is also running for statewide office in a four-way primary for attorney general, has not missed any votes this month. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, has missed two as she runs opposite Hunt in the Democratic Senate primary.
Cornyn, who has missed one vote this year, has repeatedly bashed Hunt on social media over his attendance, while his campaign has launched a website, whereswesleyhunt.com [ [link removed] ], to highlight the issue.
“Wesley Hunt is refusing to fight for Trump’s agenda by putting his selfish political ambitions before his responsibilities,” Cornyn campaign spokesperson Matt Mackowiak said in a statement. “He needs to do his job.”
In the primary, Hunt also faces Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has remained quiet on the issue.
(Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ])
“James Talarico unveils Spanish-language TV ad, signaling push for Latino support in Texas Senate bid” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Gabby Birenbaum – James Talarico on Wednesday announced a new Spanish-language ad buy, set to air on Univision in nearly a dozen of the state’s largest media markets, in what amounts to his first significant push to shore up support from Latino voters as he battles U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic nomination in Texas’ U.S. Senate race.
The Spanish-language ad, shared first with The Texas Tribune, focuses on Talarico’s defense of public education as a teacher and state legislator. It will air twice during Thursday’s international friendly soccer match between Mexico and Panama in 11 media markets across the state. Talarico’s campaign declined to disclose how much money was behind the ad buy.
Titled “¡Vale La Pena!”, or “Worth It!”, the ad describes Talarico’s work in the state House to raise teacher pay and combat private school vouchers. (TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
“New red-leaning congressional seat in North Texas draws wide-open GOP primary field” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Olivia Borgula – Last year’s redistricting has drawn a flurry of candidates campaigning for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District, a seat that will almost certainly go to a Republican under new boundaries that stretch from Dallas into red-leaning East Texas.
Of the nine Republicans vying for Rep. Julie Johnson’s seat in the crowded March primary, notable names include Ryan Binkley, a businessman and pastor who self-funded a long-shot presidential bid in 2024; Jace Yarbrough, an attorney, conservative activist and former state Senate candidate; Darrell Day, the district’s Republican nominee last cycle; and Paul Bondar, who ran for Oklahoma’s 4th District in 2024.
Johnson, a freshman Democrat from Farmers Branch, was drawn out of her seat last summer by Republicans in the Texas Legislature, who crafted a new congressional map designed to net up to five seats for the GOP in the 2026 midterms. With her once solidly blue district now virtually out of reach for Democrats, Johnson is running for a nearby seat that contains about a third of her current constituents.
The redrawn 32nd District stretches from the Dallas suburbs into rural East Texas.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
“Under new postal service guidance, Texans shouldn’t wait to send voter registrations or mail-in ballots” Texas Tribune’s [ [link removed] ] Natalia Contreras – Texans seeking to register to vote or cast a ballot by mail may not want to wait until the last minute, thanks to new guidance from the U.S. Postal Service.
The USPS last month advised that it may not postmark a piece of mail on the same day that it takes possession of it. Postmarks are applied once mail reaches a processing facility, it said, which may not be the same day it’s dropped in a mailbox, for example.
The new policy means that even if a voter drops their mail ballot in a box by Election Day, it could be rejected if it’s not postmarked on that day. A voter registration application also could miss being postmarked by the Feb. 2 deadline.
(TX TRIB [ [link removed] ])
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: “Federal appeals court to rehear challenge against Texas’ immigration law“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Texas lieutenant governor primary: Who is running and what to know“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar, brother of Rep. Henry Cuellar, indicted on federal fraud charges“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “New red-leaning congressional seat in North Texas draws wide-open GOP primary field“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “How Texans can prepare for extreme weather“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Texas leads the nation in supplying new residents to other states“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “A small oil company polluted Midland’s water reserve. The cleanup has dragged on for years.“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “The EPA is easing pollution rules under Trump. Here’s how it’s affecting Texas.“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Under new postal service guidance, Texans shouldn’t wait to send voter registrations or mail-in ballots“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “James Talarico unveils Spanish-language TV ad, signaling push for Latino support in Texas Senate bid“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Texas counties, auto industry push back on proposed ID restrictions on car registration tied to immigration“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Texas governor primary: Who is running and what to know“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Gov. Abbott endorses Nate Sheets over Sid Miller for agriculture commissioner“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “North Texas school district cancels Islamic Games for alleged ties to group governor calls terroristic“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “How Texans can prepare for this weekend’s winter weather“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “An arctic storm is expected to blanket the state. Here’s what Texans can expect.“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “Federal court focuses on informant in appeal of Texas death row inmate’s conviction“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: “How to know the difference between a local power outage and rolling blackouts“ TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> THE TEXAN: “Grapevine-Colleyville ISD High School Receives Backlash for Hosting CAIR-Sponsored ‘Islamic Games’“ THE TEXAN [ [link removed] ]
> THE TEXAN: “Paxton Targets Cornyn in Attorney General Opinion on Constitutionality of DEI Laws“ THE TEXAN [ [link removed] ]
> HOU CHRON: “We haven’t endorsed a Democrat for county judge since 1974. Here’s why. | Opinion“ HOU CHRON [ [link removed] ]
> THE TEXAN: “Texas House District 98 Candidates Spar Over Gambling, Taxpayer Lobbying, Campaign Donors“ THE TEXAN [ [link removed] ]
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Council spots, use tax among ballot items in Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Trophy Club“ COMMUNITY IMPACT [ [link removed] ]
> SAEN: “A former MLB star is a frontrunner for TX-21. Critics say he’s buying a seat.“ SAEN [ [link removed] ]
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Q&A: Get to know the Democratic candidates running for Brazoria County judge ahead of the March primaries“ COMMUNITY IMPACT [ [link removed] ]
> EP TIMES: “Rep. James Talarico takes lead in Democratic Texas Senate primary poll“ EP TIMES [ [link removed] ]
> KXAN: “Border Report Live: Deported immigrants describe their time in ICE custody“ KXAN [ [link removed] ]
> THE TEXAN: “Paxton Targets Cornyn in Attorney General Opinion on Constitutionality of DEI Laws“ THE TEXAN [ [link removed] ]
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Wed
> NHL: Dallas at Columbus (ESPN+)
> NCAAM: Texas A&M 88, Mississippi St. 68
> NCAAM: Kentucky 85, Texas 80
> NCAAM: UNT 81, UTSA 62
Thurs
> NBA: Philadelphia 128, Houston 122 (OT)
> NBA: Dallas 123, Golden State 115
> NBA: San Antonio 126, Utah 109
> NHL: Columbus 1, Dallas 0
> NCAAM: Coastal Carolina 72, Texas St. 70
> NCAAM: UTEP 83, Florida Int’l 77
Fri
> NBA: Houston 111, Detroit 104
> NHL: Dallas 3, St. Louis 2
Sat
> NBA: LAL 116, Dallas 110
> NCAAM: #12 Texas Tech 90, #6 Houston 86
> NCAAM: Texas A&M 92, South Carolina 69
> NCAAM: SMU 83, Florida St. 80
> NCAAM: TCU 97, Baylor 90
> NCAAM: Temple 70, UTSA 64
> NCAAM: James Madison 82, Texas St. 57

Tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NBA: New Orleans at San Antonio
> 6pm: NHL: Dallas at Columbus (ESPN+)
Tomorrow’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: NBA: Memphis at Houston
TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS:
TEXAS TECH / HOUSTON MEN’S BASKETBALL: “JT Toppin and No. 12 Texas Tech keep proving toughness, this time against No. 6 Houston” AP [ [link removed] ]

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