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- MRT 2/14/25 (free) (sponsored by TX Flyover): Measles Outbreak is State’s Largest in 30 Years // New TX Film Incentives? // AG Paxton Announces Probe of DeepSeek // Dell, xAI Near $B Deal
MRT 2/14/25 (free) (sponsored by TX Flyover): Measles Outbreak is State’s Largest in 30 Years // New TX Film Incentives? // AG Paxton Announces Probe of DeepSeek // Dell, xAI Near $B Deal
Here's What You Need to Know in Texas Today.
Matt Mackowiak
February 14, 2025
FRIDAY || 2/14/25
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FRIDAY || 2/14/25
Good Friday evening.
Thank you for reading as a FREE subscriber.
» Become a PAID subscriber here for $7/mo or $70/yr and SAVE TIME and be BETTER INFORMED.
“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
Are you one of the 100,000+ subscribers to ATX Pulse, a newsletter that delivers EVERYTHING you NEED TO KNOW about Austin?
Subscriptions are $5/mo, $50/yr or $199/lifetime here: ATXpulsepremium.com.
TOP NEWS
“Measles outbreak is Texas' largest in 30 years,” Dallas Morning News' Emily Brindley — “The ongoing measles outbreak in Texas’ South Plains region is now the largest the state has seen in more than three decades.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported on Friday there are now 48 identified measles cases, largely among children. The case count includes 13 hospitalizations.
The vast majority of the cases are from residents of Gaines County about 350 miles west of Dallas, where the outbreak appears to have originated. But there are now additional cases identified in the nearby counties of Lynn, Terry and Yoakum.
Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the state health department, said the outbreak appears to have originated in a Mennonite community in Gaines County. The Mennonite church is not widely opposed to vaccination. Mennonite leaders have talked publicly about their COVID vaccinations, for instance, and numerous leaders did not support religious exemptions for COVID vaccines.
All of the confirmed cases are among people who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown, according to the state health department.
Measles is so contagious that during an outbreak “it’s very hard to keep it from spreading in a community that has low vaccination rates,” Anton said.
The case count now surpasses the number of cases seen in a 2013 outbreak. In that outbreak, a person returned from a trip to Asia with the disease, and the cases spread through a Tarrant County megachurch. In total, Texas saw 27 measles cases in 2013, which was the highest yearly count in the state in two decades.
The South Plains outbreak already has a higher case count than the state saw in all of 2013. Anton said the case count in the ongoing outbreak may still increase as more cases are identified in the coming days and weeks.
The state health department is urging Texans to get their measles vaccination if they have not already.
The two-dose vaccine regimen offers about 97% protection against the highly contagious virus. People who are not vaccinated are highly likely to contract the virus if they are exposed to it.
Measles is one of the most contagious viruses. The virus can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left — meaning that unvaccinated people in particular can catch the illness even without being in the same room as an infected person." DMN ($)
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#TXLEGE
“Texas is poised to become a film haven — but not without a fight” Texas Tribune
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces investigation into Chinese AI company DeepSeek” AAS ($)
“Texas Supreme Court dismisses state bar’s lawsuit against Ken Paxton for challenging 2020 presidential election” Texas Tribune
2025
“John Courage jumps back into San Antonio mayor's race” SAEN ($)
TEXANS IN DC
“Chip Roy blames DA after 7 San Antonio police officers shot” SAEN ($)
BUSINESS NEWS
“Round Rock-based Dell reportedly close to $5 billion deal with Elon Musk's AI startup xAI” AAS ($)
“Volaris to launch two new Mexican flights from San Antonio in July” SAEN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "New York doctor ordered to stop providing abortion pills to Texans" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Domestic violence is up in Texas. Survivors and supporters hope lawmakers will take action." TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "Texas’ energy demand may exceed supply in 2026, but experts caution against panic" TX TRIB
> DMN: "ERCOT’s worst-case projections show potential power deficit" DMN
> AP: "Texas judge fines New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a woman near Dallas" AP
> TX TRIB: "Texas House committee assignments extend power of experienced GOP leaders" TX TRIB
> DMN: "Texas judge fines New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Senate passes new property tax cuts — here’s what Texas homeowners could save" HOU CHRON
> AP: "Texas executes man for 2004 double killing in a dispute with his strip club manager" AP
> DMN: "Rep. Andy Hopper files bill to abolish the Texas Education Agency" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Texas has a plan to expand family leave. Few employers are signing up" HOU CHRON
> TX TRIB: "Texas migrant shelters are nearly empty after Trump’s actions effectively shut the border" TX TRIB
> TX TRIB: "U.S. claims migrants held at Guantanamo are “worst of the worst.” Their families say otherwise." TX TRIB
> DMN: "The NYSE just made ‘Y’all Street' more crowded in Dallas. But here’s how Texas can benefit" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "NASA discovers new asteroid that could hit Earth in 2032. What to know." HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Katy-based Igloo recalls over 1 million coolers for reported finger amputations" HOU CHRON
> AP: "Including people without legal status in census has had little impact on House seats, study finds" AP
> DMN: "Black history now: DeSoto mayor elevate city for future generations" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Houston teen charged in connection with fatal shooting of 16-year-old girl" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Robert Wilonsky rejoins News staff as editorial columnist" DMN
> DMN: "Mavs will be relying on this to salvage season and controversial Doncic-Davis deal" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "A Texan is taking over the USDA as it targets food stamp funding" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Houston's best and worst elementary schools, according to Children at Risk" HOU CHRON
> TPR: "Texas health department cancels immunization conference amid CDC gag order" TPR
> TPR: "Bail organizations, immigrants targeted as Texas lawmakers consider bail reform legislation" TPR
> TPR: "Majority of Texas school districts aren’t in compliance with armed security requirement" TPR
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports score:
> NBA: Dallas 118, Miami 113
> NBA: Golden State 105, Houston 95
> NCAAM: UTEP 77, Florida International 63
> NCAAM: Abilene Christian 75, Seattle 59
> NCAAM: Grand Canyon 64, Tarleton State 60
> NCAAM: Texas State 72, Louisiana Monroe 60
> NCAAM: Sam Houston State 66, Jacksonville 61
> NCAAM: UT-Arlington 82, California Baptist 79
This weekend's Texas sports schedule:
Fri
None.
Sat
> 11am: NCAAM: Arkansas at #8 Texas A&M (ESPN)
> 11am: NCAAM: Rice at Tulane (ESPN+)
> 1pm: NCAAM: #6 Houston at #13 Arizona (ESPN)
> 2pm: NCAAM: #12 Texas Tech at Oklahoma State (ESPN+)
> 2pm: NCAAM: Grand Canyon at UT Arlington (ESPN+)
> 2:15pm: NCAAM: Lamar at East Texas A&M (ESPN+)
> 3pm: NCAAM: Texas State at South Alabama (ESPN+)
> 3:30pm: NCAAM: Stephen F. Austin at Northwestern State (ESPN+)
> 3:30pm: NCAAM: Incarnate Word at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (ESPN+)
> 4:30pm: NCAAM: Texas Southern at Grambling State (SWAC)
> 4:30pm: NCAAM: Houston Christian at UT-RGV (ESPN+)
> 5pm: NCAAM: Prairie View A&M at Southern (SWAC)
> 5pm: NCAAM: Wake Forest at SMU (ESPN+)
> 5pm: NCAAM: UTSA at Tulsa (ESPNU)
> 7pm: NCAAM: #15 Kentucky at Texas (ESPN)
> 7pm: NCAAM: TCU at Arizona State (ESPN+)
> 7pm: NCAAM: Seattle at Tarleton State (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: Liberty at UTEP (ESPN+)
Sun
None.
DALLAS COWBOYS: "Can Jerry Jones, Cowboys afford both Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons?" DMN ($)
HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans says Tank Dell on 'right track'" Houston Chronicle ($)
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Curry scores 27 points to lead the Warriors to a 105-98 win over the Rockets" AP
DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Dante Exum scores 27 points to lead undermanned, undersized Mavericks past Heat, 118-113" AP
DALLAS MAVERICKS: Cowlishaw: "Mavs will be relying on this to salvage season and controversial Doncic-Davis deal" DMN ($)
TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Texas vs Kentucky: Preview, prediction, how to watch SEC men's basketball game" AAS ($)
TEXAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: "No. 3 Texas extends winning streak to 9 games with 67-49 victory over No. 8 Kentucky" AP
HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros: Lance McCullers Jr. eyes rotation spot, not bullpen" Houston Chronicle ($)
TEXAS RANGERS: "5 Rangers with a little extra on the line at 2025 spring training" DMN ($)