MRT 2/18/25 (free) (sponsored by No Scrubs): ERCOT: Grid Expected to Hold // Burrows Joins Abbott at School Choice Event in SA // Gov. Abbott Orders TEA Probe of Houston School // SWA to Cut 1,750 Workers

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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

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TUESDAY || 2/18/25

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• TOP NEWS

“ERCOT grid expected to hold ahead of freeze in Texas,” Houston Chronicle's Sam González Kelly — “The Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued a weather watch Monday for a possible freeze later this week as Gov. Greg Abbott warned Texans to prepare for what could be the "coldest weather event of the year."

ERCOT, which manages electricity for more than 90% of the state, said they expect the Texas grid to hold up to the freeze, though they anticipate high demand and "the potential for lower reserves."

The council's public forecasts indicate more than enough capacity to keep the power on through the week, with a gap of around 12,000 megawatts between supply and demand at their narrowest point Thursday morning. The threshold for a grid emergency, by contrast, is 2,500 megawatts.

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After mild weather in Houston on Monday, temperatures will start dropping on Tuesday, with the potential for strong storms around Southeast Texas. On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, temperatures in Houston are expected to plunge to their lowest levels of the week, with lows around 30 degrees.

Abbott held a press conference Monday to discuss extreme weather events around the state, including what he described as the likely "coldest weather event of the year." Though temperatures in the Houston area are expected to drop only a few degrees below freezing on Wednesday night, other parts of the state are in for much colder weather, with wind chills below zero in parts of North and Central Texas.

"There will be widespread freezing across the entire state with temperatures down to near zero degrees," Abbott said. "People need to be very cautious over the coming days as temperatures plummet, so make sure that you take care of yourself."" Houston Chronicle ($)

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• TOP NEWS

TX TRIB: “Freezing weather, wildfire and flood risk forecast across Texas” Texas Tribune

DMN: “Arctic cold front to bring wintry mix, dangerous bone-chilling weather to North Texas” DMN ($)

• STATE GOVERNMENT

AAS: “Gov. Abbott warns Texans to brace for extremely cold weather, but says power grid is ready” AAS ($)

TX TRIB: “Gov. Abbott orders TEA probe of Houston school for calling a student by chosen name and pronouns” Texas Tribune

• #TXLEGE

AAS: “Texas top officials predict lawmakers will pass school voucher bill: 'The votes are there'” AAS ($)

TX TRIB: “How a multi-year legal battle by allies of a billionaire megadonor set off this year’s explosive House Speaker race” Texas Tribune

• BUSINESS NEWS

DMN: “Southwest Airlines laying off 1,750 corporate workers in cost-saving effort” DMN ($)

BLOOMBERG WIRE: “Saks shutters Neiman Marcus' Dallas headquarters” Bloomberg wire

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

> DMN: "Greg Abbott urges caution but says power grid is ready for cold" DMN

> TX TRIB: "As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homes" TX TRIB

> DMN: "6-year-old girl killed in Far North Dallas hit-and-run, driver sought" DMN

> DMN: "Police: Hate speech materials thrown throughout Prosper subdivisions" DMN

> FWST: "Sold! New owners, new life for Parker County’s landmark 1950s-style burger drive-in" FWST

> TX TRIB: "This Texas school district invested in a pre-K center that’s specifically designed for younger students" TX TRIB

> AP: "‘Life-threatening cold’ hits parts of US following deadly weekend flooding" AP

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Arctic front expected to bring bitter cold, wintry mix to Dallas-Fort Worth" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> TPR: "'Not my Presidents Day' protesters gather at San Antonio City Hall" TPR

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "$2.5M community center planned for Atascocita Park in Humble" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> KXAN: "Several injured in crash on SH 71 in southeastern Travis County" KXAN

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Mattie Parker seeking 3rd term as Fort Worth Mayor" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> Community Impact Newspaper: "See January real estate numbers for Keller, Roanoke, Northeast Fort Worth" Community Impact Newspaper

> TX TRIB: "Who are the undocumented immigrants in Texas?" TX TRIB

> TX TRIB: "How a South Texas junior college embraced apprenticeships to ease a growing nursing shortage" TX TRIB

> DMN: "Mavs' Darrell Armstrong arrested, allegedly hit girlfriend with gun" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "'Friend of mine for life': Alex Bregman talks about leaving Astros, Jose Altuve" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "Extreme cold watch affecting North Texas from Tuesday to Thursday, according to the NWS" FWST

> FWST: "1 person died during a shooting in Arlington Sunday afternoon, police say" FWST

• EXTRA POINTS

Last weekend's Texas sports scores:
Fri
None.
Sat
> NCAAM: #6 Houston 62, #13 Arizona 58
> NCAAM: #8 Texas A&M 69, Arkansas 61
> NCAAM: #12 Texas Tech 93, Oklahoma State 55
> NCAAM: Texas 82, #15 Kentucky 78
> NCAAM: Wake Forest 77, SMU 66
> NCAAM: TCU 74, Arizona State 70
> NCAAM: Tulane 81, Rice 78
> NCAAM: Grand Canyon 82, UT-Arlington 75
> NCAAM: Lamar 65, East Texas A&M 55
> NCAAM: South Alabama 70, Texas State 65
> NCAAM: Stephen F. Austin 70, Northwestern State 68
> NCAAM: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 69, Incarnate Word 55
> NCAAM: Texas Southern 67, Grambling State 60
> NCAAM: UT-RGV 76, Houston Christian 52
> NCAAM: Southern 72, Prairie View A&M 60
> NCAAM: Tulsa 80, UTSA 76
> NCAAM: Tarleton State 67, Seattle 64
> NCAAM: Liberty 76, UTEP 69
> NCAAM: Sam Houston State 78, Kennesaw State 76
Sun
None.
Mon
> NCAAM: #19 Arizona 74, Baylor 67
> NCAAM: Lamar 75, Northwestern State 65
> NCAAM: Incarnate Word 66, UT-RGV 60
> NCAAM: Stephen F. Austin 76, East Texas A&M 74
> NCAAM: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 68, Houston Christian 62
> NCAAM: Southern 66, Texas Southern 57

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: NCAAM: #7 Texas A&M at #21 Mississippi State (SEC Network)
> 7pm: NCAAM: #9 Texas Tech at TCU (ESPN+)
> 8pm: NCAAM: #5 Houston at Arizona State (ESPN2)

TEXAS RANGERS: "How Texas Rangers fans can maximize their experience at spring training" DMN ($)

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros: Jose Altuve says winning, not position, matters most" Houston Chronicle ($)

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans 2025 mock draft: Whom will the team pick?" Houston Chronicle ($)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Mavericks' outlook without Luka Doncic gets a Magic 8 ball answer" DMN ($)

SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Parrott: "Keep the Spurs? Voters should support new arena" SAEN ($)

HOUSTON MEN'S BASKETBALL: "UH basketball: Cougars look to set longest Big 12 road win streak" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Texas vs Kentucky: Preview, prediction, how to watch SEC men's basketball game" AAS ($)

TEXAS A&M MEN'S BASKETBALL: "How Texas A&M basketball works to find an edge late in the SEC season" AAS ($)

TEXAS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: "Booker and No. 3 Texas rally from poor shooting start to beat No. 5 LSU 65-58" AP