MRT 2/23-24/26 (free): Trump to Visit Port of Corpus Christi Friday for Post SOTU Speech // AA, SWA Cancel MX Flights // Gov. Abbott orders DPS to Increase Security // US Rep. Tony Gonzales Won’t Resign

In partnership with

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

Subscribe to the daily email here

MONDAY 2/23/2026 - MONDAY 2/24/2026

Good Tuesday evening.
Thank you for reading as a FREE subscriber.

» You are receiving the PAID subscriber version today so you can see what you are missing. Become a PAID subscriber for $7/mo or $70/yr here.

A WORD FROM SENATOR PHIL GRAMM ABOUT MUST READ TEXAS

“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.

> Become a PAID subscriber for $5/mo or $50/yr here.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Grammer Land & Exploration Corp.

SPONSOR #2: Fisher Investments

What Will Your Retirement Look Like?

Planning for retirement raises many questions. Have you considered how much it will cost, and how you’ll generate the income you’ll need to pay for it? For many, these questions can feel overwhelming, but answering them is a crucial step forward for a comfortable future.

Start by understanding your goals, estimating your expenses and identifying potential income streams. The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income can help you navigate these essential questions. If you have $1,000,000 or more saved for retirement, download your free guide today to learn how to build a clear and effective retirement income plan. Discover ways to align your portfolio with your long-term goals, so you can reach the future you deserve.

Get The Guide

• TOP NEWS  

“Trump expected to visit Corpus Christi on Friday, days before Texas primary” Texas Tribune’s Patrick Svitek – President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas with days left before the state’s action-packed primary.

Trump is making plans to travel to Corpus Christi on Friday, according to a White House official and three other sources familiar with the trip, each of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity because it has not been made public yet.

Texas Republicans on Monday were already changing their campaign plans in anticipation of Trump’s visit, with Smithville state Rep. Stan Gerdes saying on X that he was rescheduling an event with Gov. Greg Abbott because Trump “is coming to Texas this Friday.”

The president’s visit could be heavy on political overtones. Trump has endorsed dozens of Republicans in their March 3 congressional and legislative primaries, while staying out of the biggest intraparty fight: the U.S. Senate race, where incumbent John Cornyn is struggling.

(TX TRIB)

» BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER: $7/mo

» BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER: $70/yr

“American Airlines, Southwest cancel flights to Mexico following killing of cartel leader” Dallas Morning News’s None – American Airlines, Southwest cancel flights to Mexico following killing of cartel leader North Texas’ hometown carriers Southwest Airlines and American Airlines canceled flights to parts of Mexico Sunday after the country’s army killed the leader of a powerful cartel during an operation to capture him.

“Southwest Airlines has canceled the four flights we had scheduled to fly into Puerto Vallarta today and the four turns back,” the company told The Dallas Morning News in an email.

“We will set up extra sections to support our Customers affected by today’s cancellations, once it is safe to do so. Nothing is more important to Southwest Airlines than the Safety of our customers and our employees,” the company said in the email.

Southwest is the dominant carrier at Dallas Love Field, where it operates 18 of the 20 gates.

(DMN)

“Former Texas Tech Supply Chain Professor Accused of Supplying Fentanyl” The Texan’s Kim Roberts – A Texas Tech University professor has been charged with “conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute fentanyl,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Daniel Taylor, an assistant professor of marketing and supply chain management, was charged on February 18 and remained in federal custody as of February 20 on a $25,000 bond for the charge, along with other holds for federal warrants, FOX4 reported.

(THE TEXAN)

• STATE GOVERNMENT  

“Texas Leadership Increases Security After Takeout of Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’, Cartel Violence Increases” The Texan’s Mary Elise O’Bar – Texas Leadership Increases Security After Takeout of Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’, Cartel Violence Increases Following the killing of a top drug lord in Mexico by that country’s military with American assistance and the retaliatory responses from various cartels there, Greg Abbott is both urging U.S. citizens in Mexico to shelter in place and is increasing Texas’ security operations.

An operation conducted by the Mexican military on Sunday resulted in the death of the leader of the “Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación,” Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”

(THE TEXAN)

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“Hitchcock mayor arrested in Galveston County illegal gambling investigation” Houston Chronicle’s Jarrod Wardwell – Hitchcock Mayor Christopher Armacost was arrested Wednesday night as part of an illegal gambling operation that led to searches across 20 locations in Galveston County, Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said.

Armacost was arrested on suspicion of engaging in organized crime and was taken into custody from his home at 10 p.m., public records show.

Fullen’s office stated updates would be released later on Thursday.

“In addition to the gambling establishments, the City of Hitchcock was also included due to its regulatory responsibilities involving permitting, employee records and inspections related to these businesses,” stated a sheriff’s office news release about the operation.

Armacost also serves as the assistant superintendent of Hitchcock ISD. He and the district did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hitchcock city officials said they were “fully cooperating” with the sheriff’s office and organized crime task force, providing them with permitting records, inspection reports and personnel files. City officials were reviewing “all legal and administrative protocols” after Armacost’s arrest but would not comment further on the case.

(HOU CHRON)

• #TXLEGE  

“Patrick Asks to Block Camp Mystic’s License to Operate Until Further Investigation into July 2025 Flooding” The Texan’s Mary Elise O’Bar – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking that Camp Mystic, where 28 lives were taken during the July 4 flooding in Texas last year, not be granted a license for operation until further investigation and “corrective” action is taken.

Patrick wrote to Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford on Monday, expressing concern that the Kerrville-based camp had not yet properly acknowledged the over two dozen deaths which occurred there on Independence Day weekend, 2025.

(THE TEXAN)

• TEXANS IN DC  

“Texas Rep. Gonzales resists calls to resign over allegations of an affair with an ex-staffer” AP’s John Hanna and Juan Lozano – U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas resisted growing calls Tuesday from fellow congressional Republicans to resign over a report of an alleged affair with a former staffer who later died after she set herself on fire.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky joined Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Nancy Mace of South Carolina in demanding that Gonzales step down immediately. Gonzales is in a tough race in Texas’ Republican primary on March 3, facing a challenger he narrowly defeated in a 2024 GOP runoff.

He told reporters he will not resign. A resignation would leave Republicans with a 217-214 majority until March, when the first of three special elections to fill vacancies is set in Georgia.

“There will be opportunities for all of the details and facts to come out,” he said. “What you’ve seen is not all the facts.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would talk to Gonzales on Tuesday.

Johnson said Monday that the accusations against Gonzales “must be taken seriously,” but he added, “in every case like this, you have to allow the investigation to play out and all the facts to come out.”

“If the accusation of something is going to be the litmus for someone being able to continue to serve in the House, a lot of people would have to resign or be removed or expelled from Congress,” Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Mace announced that she has introduced a resolution to force the House Ethics Commission to publicly release its reports and records of allegations of sexual harassment against members of Congress.

Gonzales said in a social media post last week that he was being blackmailed and then suggested in another post Sunday that he is the target of “coordinated political attacks.”

His main primary opponent is Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and gun rights influencer who calls himself “the AK Guy” on YouTube, where his channel has nearly 4.2 million subscribers. Gonzales defeated Herrera by fewer than 400 votes in their 2024 runoff.

President Donald Trump had endorsed Gonzales for reelection in December.

(AP)

• TRUMP ADMINISTRATION  

“What to know about the Trump administration’s plan to ‘clean’ Texas voter rolls” Houston Chronicle’s Taylor Goldenstein – Election signs crowd an intersection near a polling place, in Austin, Texas, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.

The Trump administration announced last month that it planned to help more than two dozen states, including Texas, clean their voter rolls.

The process typically involves looking for ineligible voters and flagging them for removal.

The administration will be using data shared by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who in December struck a deal with the U.S. Department of Justice to hand over the names, addresses and partial social security numbers of almost all of the 18.6 million Texans registered to vote.

No removals are happening right now. There is a federal law, the National Voter Registration Act, that prohibits any major changes to the voter rolls within 90 days of an election. Early voting is already underway in the March 3 primary and the runoff election is set for May 26.

The process will likely pick up over the summer heading into the November election, when Republicans are fighting to maintain control of Congress.

(HOU CHRON)

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“Xcel will replace high-risk power poles after attorney general sues over 2024 wildfires” Texas Tribune’s Carlos Nogueras Ramos, Alejandra Martinez – A Texas district court ordered Xcel, an electric utility with more than 200,000 customers in Texas, on Monday to replace poles within wildfire-prone areas it has identified as damaged, following an agreement between Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, and the utility.

In a news release, Paxton called the development a first step toward holding Xcel accountable for the 2024 wildfires that scorched through a million acres of the Texas Panhandle, killing scores of cattle and at least three people. Shortly after the devastation began, Xcel admitted the pole that sparked the fire was theirs.

“Xcel has made the right decision in working with my office and ultimately agreeing to take these critical first steps,” Paxton said in a statement.

(TX TRIB)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> TX TRIB: “Texts show Rep. Tony Gonzales asked for explicit photos from aide who later died by suicide“ TX TRIB

> TX TRIB: “Gov. Greg Abbott deploys DPS to “prevent spillover” of Mexican cartel violence“ TX TRIB

> TX TRIB: “The border wall is closing in on Big Bend, sparking opposition by locals“ TX TRIB

> TPR: “Gov. Greg Abbott deploys DPS to “prevent spillover” of Mexican cartel violence“ TPR

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “March primary early voting is underway in Hays County“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> THE TEXAN: “Patrick Asks to Block Camp Mystic’s License to Operate Until Further Investigation into July 2025 Flooding“ THE TEXAN

> TPR: “Trump administration praises Mexico after killing of cartel leader“ TPR

> TX TRIB: “Not all paths to college and career readiness pay off equally for Texas students, study finds“ TX TRIB

> TX TRIB: “Camp Mystic parents sue state, accusing Texas officials of failing to enforce evacuation plan requirement“ TX TRIB

> THE TEXAN: “Texas Leadership Increases Security After Takeout of Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’, Cartel Violence Increases“ THE TEXAN

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Alamo Colleges offers tuition-free transfer to Schreiner University“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Tom Thumb in Harvest Town Center sets March opening date“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Miracle League of Frisco celebrates 20 years with new field, national spotlight in 2026“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> THE TEXAN: “Austin High School Parent Files Complaint with Attorney General Over Male Student Using Girls’ Restroom“ THE TEXAN

> TPR: “How researchers learned the rules of an ancient Roman board game“ TPR

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “iWok now offering machine-cooked Asian cuisine in Katy“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Not going to SXSW? Here’s what you need to know“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> TPR: “FDA authorizes additional drugs to treat New World screwworm in pets“ TPR

> DMN: “Rangers’ Skip Schumaker has helpful perspective for Cody Freeman after unfortunate injury“ DMN

> DMN: “American Airlines, Southwest cancel flights to Mexico following killing of cartel leader“ DMN

> DMN: “3 Texas Rangers observations: Signs of life from Josh Jung, Evan Carter vs. lefties“ DMN

> DMN: “Jake Oettinger among 6 Dallas Stars to medal at 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy“ DMN

> DMN: “Review: Super-size video distractions at the Fort Worth Symphony gala“ DMN

> DMN: “Rangers’ Skip Schumaker has helpful perspective for Cody Freeman after unfortunate injury“ DMN

> DMN: “3 Texas Rangers observations: Signs of life from Josh Jung, Evan Carter vs. lefties“ DMN

> DMN: “Jake Oettinger among 6 Dallas Stars to medal at 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy“ DMN

> DMN: “Review: Super-size video distractions at the Fort Worth Symphony gala“ DMN

> HOU CHRON: “What to know about the Trump administration’s plan to ‘clean’ Texas voter rolls“ HOU CHRON

> DMN: “UT System limits how professors can teach ‘controversial topics’ in the classroom“ DMN

> HOU CHRON: “When does early voting end in Texas? What to know about primary voting days.“ HOU CHRON

> TPR: “Rural areas brace for Medicaid cuts, but also influx of temporary funding“ TPR

> SA REPORT: “‘Wave election’ signs send alarms through congressional primaries“ SA REPORT

> MRT: “University of Texas regents approve limits on teaching “unnecessarily controversial subjects”“ MRT

> EP TIMES: “Abbott gets Riley Gaines endorsement, Hinojosa campaigns affordability“ EP TIMES

> EP TIMES: “Talarico raises $2.5M after ‘censored’ Stephen Colbert appearance“ EP TIMES

> THE TEXAN: “DART Cities Working on Funding and Governance Resolution, Might Not Leave Transit Network“ THE TEXAN

> MRT: “Texas’ Senate primary race between Crockett and Talarico ramps up after pulled Colbert interview“ MRT

> THE TEXAN: “Congressman Tony Gonzales Denies Staffer Affair Amid Husband’s Allegations, Released Text Messages“ THE TEXAN

> MRT: “Texas congressman claims he’s being ‘blackmailed’ over alleged affair with staffer who later died“ MRT

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Q&A: Meet the 2 Democratic candidates running for Texas House District 76“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> KXAN: “Questions abound after University of Texas regents vote to limit ‘controversial topics’ from courses“ KXAN

> SAEN: “FCC chairman says the agency is investigating ABC’s ‘The View’ over equal time rule“ SAEN

> MY RGV: “Court overturns McAllen Anti-Corruption Act after mayor’s friend sues“ MY RGV

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: “Taylor Rehmet sworn in as north Tarrant County’s first Democratic senator in decades“ COMMUNITY IMPACT

> KXAN: “Rainbows, paintings removed from some Austin crosswalks after state, federal orders“ KXAN

> THE TEXAN: “Tarrant County Candidates Compete for Open Texas House Seat Vacated by Tinderholt“ THE TEXAN

• EXTRA POINTS 

Recent Texas sports scores:
Mon
> NBA: San Antonio 114, Detroit 103
> NBA: Houston 125, Utah 105
> NCAAM: New Orleans 77, Stephen F. Austin 73
> NCAAM: #8 Kansas 69, #2 Houston 56

Tonight’s Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: NCAAM: Cincinnati at #13 Texas Tech (ESPN2)
> 7:30pm: NBA: Dallas at Brooklyn
> 9pm: NCAAM: #4 Arizona at Baylor (ESPN2)
> 9pm: NCAAM: Arizona St. at TCU (CBS Sports Network)

Tomorrow’s Texas sports schedule:
> 6pm: #7 Florida at Texas (ESPN2)
> 6:30pm: NBA: San Antonio at Toronto
> 7pm: NBA: Sacramento at Houston
> 7pm: North Texas at Charlotte (ESPN+)
> 8pm: South Florida at Rice (ESPN+)
> 8pm: East Carolina at UTSA (ESPN+)
> 9pm: Texas A&M at #20 Arkansas (ESPN2)
> 9pm: SMU at Cal (ACCN)

• TEXAS SPORTS HEADLINES / LINKS:

DALLAS COWBOYS: “Cowboys say they are leaning toward using franchise tag on receiver George Pickens” AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: “Would George Pickens report to Dallas Cowboys’ offseason program under the franchise tag?” DMN

DALLAS COWBOYS: “With Javonte Williams secured, Cowboys’ focus shifts toward new Brandon Aubrey deal” DMN

KEVIN DURANT: “Kevin Durant says he wants to play for US men’s basketball team at 2028 Olympics in LA” AP