MRT 1/5-7/26 (free): NYC Exodus to DAL? // Uvalde Trial Drama // Abbott to Probe Childcare Fraud // TTU Sues TEA // Harris County Probed for Voter List

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

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MONDAY 1/5/2026 - WEDNESDAY 1/7/2026

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• TOP NEWS  

“Mayor Eric Johnson predicts a ‘flood’ of finance firms leaving NYC for Dallas” Dallas Morning News’s None – Mayor Eric Johnson is pitching Dallas as a rising alternative to New York City, arguing that some financial firms could consider relocating if policies pursued by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani make the city less attractive to employers.

Johnson, a former Democratic state lawmaker who joined the Republican Party in 2023, made the remarks to the New York Post, where he was bullish on Dallas’ recent growth in finance and argued the city is positioned to benefit if Mamdani follows through on his democratic socialist agenda.

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“What was already a trickle is going to turn into a flood of individuals and companies who have called New York home for a long time, moving to Dallas,” Johnson told the outlet in an article published Monday.

In recent months, Johnson has weighed in on New York City politics, at times branding Dallas the nation’s first “sanctuary city from socialism” in posts aimed at New Yorkers.

(DMN)

“Feds will start garnishing wages for thousands of Texans starting this week” via Fort Worth Star-Telegram – North Texans who’ve been struggling to keep up with their student loans could see a major change starting this month.

The Trump Administration is bringing back wage garnishments for borrowers in default, which means part of your paycheck can be taken before it reaches your hands. Garnishments were paused during the pandemic.

Texas has one of the largest student borrower populations in the country. According to Education Data Initiative, Texans owe about $131.9 billion in federal student loans, carried by roughly 3.9 million people.

With numbers this high, many families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area could see an impact once garnishments begin. Borrowers will get a notice before anything is withheld, but the timeline to respond is short.

How does the wage garnishment process work?

A federal student loan goes into default after nine months with no payment. Once that happens, the entire loan becomes due immediately, and the government has the legal right to ask your employer to withhold part of your paycheck.

(FWST)

“Texas Man Federally Charged After Allegedly Attempting to Provide Bomb Material, Cryptocurrency to ISIS” The Texan’s Mary Elise Cosgray – A Texas man was federally charged on international terrorism offenses due to his alleged involvement with attempting to provide bomb materials and financial assistance to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

John Michael Garza, Jr., a 21-year-old from Midlothian, was arrested on December 22 after a successful undercover operation by law enforcement. Garza brought explosive materials, in addition to other forms of assistance, to who he thought was an ISIS “brother,” but was instead an undercover agent.

(THE TEXAN)

“Uvalde trial takes dramatic turn as key witness changes testimony” via Texas Public Radio – The trial of a former Uvalde school district police officer accused of child endangerment in the Robb Elementary shooting took an unexpected turn Tuesday after testimony from a teacher prompted defense objections and halted proceedings for the day.

The shooting on May 24, 2022 killed 19 children and two teachers.

Stephanie Hale, a former teacher at the school, testified that she saw the gunman on the south side of the campus — the same area where former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales was located. Defense attorneys immediately objected, arguing Hale’s testimony differed from statements she gave to a Texas Ranger during a 2022 legislative investigation.

The jury was dismissed until Thursday while attorneys prepare arguments on motions related to the testimony. Judge Sid Harle is scheduled to hear those arguments Wednesday, without the jury present. The defense has raised the possibility of a mistrial.

(TPR)

• STATE GOVERNMENT

“Abbott to Lead Childcare Fraud Investigation in Texas Following Minnesota Reports” The Texan’s Meridith Dyer – In a January 5 letter to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Gov. Greg Abbott directed the state agencies to investigate potential childcare fraud in Texas.

“Recently, the Trump Administration and independent journalists have uncovered potential systematic fraud in subsidized child care systems in states like Minnesota,” said Abbott.

(THE TEXAN)