MRT 8/15-16/25 (free): Beto’s PAC Gave $1M+ to TX Dems // Camp Mystic Families Seek Sweeping Reforms // TEA to Take Over 5 ISDs? // Emerson Poll: Cornyn-Paxton Race Tightens

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

FRIDAY | 8/15/205 & SATURDAY | 8/16/205

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• TOP NEWS  

“Beto O’Rourke PAC donated more than $1 million to Democrats during redistricting battle,” Texas Tribune's Colleen DeGuzman -- "Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke announced on Saturday that his political group, Powered by People, donated more than $1 million to Texas Democrats during a special session in which they walked out to deny Republicans the quorum they needed to pass new congressional maps.

In the announcement, O’Rourke said that “more than 55,000 donations” poured in from people across the country since the start of the first special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. The money from his political group benefited the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, the Texas House Democratic Caucus, and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

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Abbott’s first special session, which ended Friday, didn’t have a quorum for the past two weeks because most of the House’s 62 Democrats left the state to prevent proposed redistricting aimed at securing more GOP seats in Congress. He immediately called a second special session.

Last week, a Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, temporarily blocking Powered by People from fundraising for Democrats or financially supporting the quorum break.

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Paxton on Tuesday argued in a motion that O’Rourke had violated the temporary injunction. He asked the judge to imprison O’Rourke for the duration of the lawsuit, and to fine the Democrat $500 for each alleged violation of the injunction.

O’Rourke filed his own lawsuit against Paxton earlier this month after being sued by the attorney general. He’s asking a judge to block Paxton’s investigation into Powered by People and alleges that he engaged in a “fishing expedition, constitutional rights be damned.”

In 2021, when Democrats broke quorum and left the state to prevent a bill that sought to tighten voting rules, which eventually became law, Powered by People donated around $600,000 to help pay for their expenses, including lodging, travel, and meals. That was before the House passed new rules in 2023 imposing a $500-per-day fine on lawmakers who leave the state during sessions and said they aren’t allowed to use campaign funds to pay the penalties." Texas Tribune

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• #TXLEGE  

“Camp Mystic families seek sweeping reforms, camp safety laws in special session” Hou Chron ($)

• STATE GOVERNMENT  

“Five Texas school districts at risk of a state takeover after ratings’ release” Texas Tribune

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“Clashing with Council: Inside Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ rocky first two months at City Hall” SAEN ($)

Ron Nirenberg & Nelson Wolff guest column: “City Council should seize the moment with a generational investment in downtown” SAEN ($)

“Travis County officials admit communication flaws but stand by Central Texas flood response” AAS ($)

Editorial: “Travis County officials admit communication flaws but stand by Central Texas flood response” DMN ($)

• 2026  

“Poll: Paxton-Cornyn US Senate race tightens. What's driving the change?” AAS ($)

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“Southwest, city head to court in fight over airport gates” SAEN ($)

“Kendra Scott back at the helm of namesake company after CEO, two others resign” AAS ($)

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> TX TRIB: "Kratom poisoning calls climb in Texas as the state fails to enforce ban on synthetic version" TX TRIB

> HOU CHRON: "Why some Texas schools are slashing budgets, even with historic $8.5B infusion" HOU CHRON

> TX TRIB: "Poll finds Cornyn, Paxton in dead heat in Texas’ Senate GOP primary" TX TRIB

> TX TRIB: "Riding political wins, a once-restrained Gov. Greg Abbott is increasingly steamrolling foes" TX TRIB

> DMN: "Texas House Democrats release demands for ending quorum break, returning to Capitol" DMN

> THE TEXAN: "Judge Drops Two Charges Against Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, Wife" THE TEXAN

> KXAN: "House Democrats announce they will conditionally return for second special session" KXAN

> THE TEXAN: "Texas House Public Health Committee Hears Public Testimony on Hemp-Derived THC Ban" THE TEXAN

> THE TEXAN: "Texas Senate Passes Human Trafficking Victims Affirmative Defense Amid House Quorum Bust" THE TEXAN

> FWST: "Meet the 3 finalists for Fort Worth police chief at a public forum tonight" FWST

> MRT: "TCEQ commissioner says she wants to get new oversight right" MRT

> SAEN: "City splits Public Works after years of lagging city-run projects" SAEN

> MRT: "Judge dismisses 2 counts against US Rep. Cuellar of Texas, moves bribery trial to next year" MRT

> THE TEXAN: "The 40: Dogfighting Over Districts, Trump's True Crime, and the GOP's Cost" THE TEXAN

> TPR: "San Antonio budget proposal of $4B funds new departments and reduces some services" TPR

> SA REPORT: "San Antonio's $4B budget calls for cuts to staff, park programs" SA REPORT

> THE TEXAN: "Harris County Considers $2.7 Billion Budget as Hidalgo Spars with Fellow Democrats" THE TEXAN

> KXAN: "Austin signs off on $6B+ budget, triggering property tax rate election" KXAN

> SA REPORT: "San Antonio considers increasing parking ticket fees, alarm permits" SA REPORT

> KXAN: "Lawmakers will start with a clean slate if Democrats fail to return Friday, governor calls for second special session" KXAN

> MY RGV: "Former Edinburg councilmember admits to ‘pay-to-win’ bribery scheme" MY RGV

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Fort Bend County approves redistricting criteria, will accept plan recommendations" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> DMN: "Fossil Group’s new CEO driving a turnaround as stock soars over 20%" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "Texas flood risk from tropical disturbance: Here's the timeline" HOU CHRON

> HOU CHRON: "New Heights cafe Caffvino brings together coffee, wine and family tradition" HOU CHRON

> KXAN: "Fiancée of murdered transgender woman speaks about her loved one’s life" KXAN

> FWST: "Birth of extremely rare ‘blue-eyed’ species in Brazil marks a first in history" FWST

> TPR: "These 2025 Cliburn performances helped Aristo Sham win gold" TPR

• EXTRA POINTS 

Recent Texas sports scores:
Thurs
None.
Fri
> MLB: Toronto 6, Texas 5
> MLB: Baltimore 7, Houston 0
> WNBA: LA 97, Dallas 96
Sat
> MLB: Toronto 14, Texas 2
> MLB: Houston 5, Baltimore 4 (12)
> MLS: Austin 1, Dallas 1

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 12:37pm: MLB: Texas at Toronto
> 1:10pm: MLB: Baltimore at Houston
> 3:30pm: WNBA: Dallas at Las Vegas (ABC)
> 8pm: MLS: Houston at Vancouver (Apple TV)

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:40pm: MLB: Houston at Detroit
> 7:40pm: MLB: Texas at Kansas City

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Urìas beats throw to 1st to help the Astros outlast the Orioles, 5-4 in 12 innings" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Myles Straw stars as the AL-leading Blue Jays pound the slumping Rangers 14-2" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Happy homecomings for QB Cooper Rush, rookie K Tyler Loop in Ravens’ 31-13 win over Cowboys" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Dallas Cowboys have more questions than answers with one preseason game left" DMN ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Texas football: Colin Simmons ready to rush at school sacks record" AAS ($)

AUSTIN FC / DALLAS FC: "Owen Wolff’s second-half goal helps Austin up unbeaten streak to six in 1-1 draw with Dallas" AP

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "By acting like a 'jerk,' Steve Sarkisian helped Texas football prep for Ohio State" AAS ($)