MRT 7/28/25 (free): #TXLEGE Cmtes to Visit Kerrville This Week // TX Redistricting to Spark ‘Brutal Fight’ Nationwide // Nat’l Dem Super PAC Plans $20M TV Blitz in TX over Redistricting

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

MONDAY | 7/28/2025

Good Monday afternoon.
Thank you for reading as a FREE subscriber.

» Become a PAID subscriber for $7/mo or $70/yr here and you will SAVE TIME and be BETTER INFORMED.

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.

> Read the most recent FREE subscriber email here.
> Become a PAID subscriber for $5/mo or $50/yr here.

• TOP NEWS  

“Texas lawmakers head to flood-ravaged Kerrville this week for special session,” Houston Chronicle's Jarrod Wardwell — “The Texas Legislature's special session will journey west to Kerrville this week, sending lawmakers to the seat of the most devastated county of the July 4 floods.

The two special committees weighing the legislative response to one of the deadliest flooding events in state history are expected to travel to the Hill Country this week and allow local residents to testify in Kerrville Thursday, the Chronicle previously reported. Their visit from Austin would come during the second week of the legislature's special session, which kicked off last Monday and will last until Aug. 19.

» BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER: $7/mo

Two people were still missing and 108 people were confirmed dead as of Monday morning in Kerr County as a result of the early-morning July 4 floods. The statewide death toll stood at 136.

The July 4 floods are one of the major subjects of the session, alongside a THC ban and a congressional redistricting plan. Gov. Greg Abbott has asked lawmakers to consider flooding-related legislation under four categories — flood warning systems, flood emergency communications, relief funding and disaster preparedness and recovery.

» BECOME A PAID SUBSCRIBER HERE: $70/yr

So far during the special session, Texas' emergency management chief has said Texas needed better coordination between state and local authorities during the July 4 flooding, and lawmakers have blasted Kerr County's river authority for cutting property taxes instead of modernizing its flood warning system.

Some of the proposed flood-related measures in the legislature include physical flood sirens, radar-based monitoring that delivers instant alerts, a disaster preparedness council, and legislation, which Abbott vetoed in 2019, allowing the public to sign up for local emergency alerts when they obtain or renew a driver’s license." Hou Chron ($)

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS HAVE ENDED: As of July 11, 2022, we have moved to a paywall for free subscribers. Free subscribers will only receive the top story in their morning email. Free subscribers will need to become paid subscribers to receive full story summaries.

• TOP NEWS

“Texas A&M System’s new leader hints faculty senates in state leaders’ crosshairs will stay” Texas Tribune

• #TXLEGE  

“Texas redistricting will spark brutal fight that could spread across nation” DMN ($)

• STATE GOVERNMENT  

“Texas buys land for new state parks that will be developed using $1 billion voter-approved fund” Texas Tribune

• 2026  

“Democrats Plan $20 Million Fund to Target Texas Republicans for Redistricting”  NYT

• TRUMP ADMINISTRATION  

“NASA workforce to shrink by about 20% as nearly 4,000 employees take buyouts” Hou Chron ($)

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“Tesla taps Samsung in $16.5B AI chip deal tied to new Austin-area facility” AAS ($)

“Houston’s Shipley Do-Nuts sold to private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners” Hou Chron ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> HOU CHRON: "'A preferred sect of religion:’ Houstonians react to Texas' new Ten Commandments school law" HOU CHRON

> EP TIMES: "Texas again trying to restrict the bathrooms transgender people can use" EP TIMES

> SA REPORT: "Texas AG Ken Paxton is handing more of his office’s work to costly private lawyers" SA REPORT

> DMN: "It’s a year of rapid change, except when it comes to Trump’s approval numbers, AP-NORC polling finds" DMN

> AAS: "How Texas billionaire Daniel Lubetzky is trying to bridge the political divide" AAS

> AAS: "Could a fresh face be Texas Democrats' best hope against the GOP?" AAS

> EP TIMES: "Trump’s 'one-two punch' targeting immigration courts will test Texas detention centers, experts warn" EP TIMES

> TPR: "Trump sets EU tariff at 15%, lower than his original threat, after meeting in Scotland" TPR

> TX TRIB: "The guerilla campaign to save a Texas prairie from "silent extinction"" TX TRIB

> MY RGV: "Sign designating military zone placed on boat ramp by Mission RV park" MY RGV

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Keller ISD board approves Dr. Cory Wilson as new superintendent" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> HOU CHRON: "2 volunteers die fighting Turkey wildfires, raising deaths to 17 since late June" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "2-year-old drowns at private pool near Hockley, northwest of Houston" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "McKinney man arrested after his wife was found dead during welfare check" FWST

> KXAN: "Doosan Robotics Accelerates Push to Become an AI Robot Solutions Leader" KXAN

> EP TIMES: "From Arizona to Fort Bliss, Make-A-Wish child lives tanker dream" EP TIMES

• EXTRA POINTS 

This weekend 's Texas sports scores:
Fri
> MLB: Texas 8, Atlanta 3
> MLB: Oakland 15, Houston 3
> MLS: NYC FC 4, Dallas 3
> MLS: LA Galaxy at Houston (PPD)
> WNBA: Golden State 86, Dallas 76
Sat
> MLS: Austin 4, DC 2
> MLB: Texas 6, Atlanta 5
> MLB: Oakland 5, Houston 1
Sun
> MLB: Oakland 7, Houston 1
> MLB: Texas 8, Atlanta 1
> WNBA: Las Vegas 106, Dallas 80

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7pm: WNBA: NY at Dallas (ESPN)
> 7:10pm: MLB: Washington at Houston
> 8:38pm: MLB: Texas at LAA

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:10pm: MLB: Washington at Houston
> 8:38pm: MLB: Texas at LAA

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Andujar, Langeliers homer in 1st, A’s beat Astros 7-1 to complete series sweep" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Rangers strike early, run winning streak to 6 with 8-1 victory over struggling Braves" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "5 things we learned about the Rangers this week: What’s behind Texas’ offensive awakening?" DMN ($)

TEXAS RANGERS: "Joc Pederson returns to Rangers lineup after missing 52 games with a broken hand" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys guard Rob Jones breaks bone in his neck and could miss months, he says" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys sign tight end Jake Ferguson to a 4-year, $52 million extension" AP

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Why Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is intent on delegating, deferring more to his assistants this season" Hou Chron ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Texas football: 4 things Longhorns must achieve to win title in 2025" AAS ($)

DALLAS WINGS: "Young scores 24 points, Loyd and Bell switch roles and Aces roll past Wings 106-80" AP