MRT 8/21/25 (free): $40M Fund to Rebuild Hill Country Homes // 2026: Roy in for AG, Cain in for CD-9, Doggett, Lambert to Retire // Spurs Arena Passes 7-4

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

THURSDAY | 8/21/205

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• TOP NEWS  

“Hill Country nonprofit pledges $40 million to help rebuild flood victims’ homes,” Texas Tribune's Colleen DeGuzman -- "​A Hill Country nonprofit announced Thursday that it’s pledging $40 million to help rebuild homes in Kerr County, the grief-stricken community hit the hardest by the July 4 weekend flash floods that devastated neighborhoods, summer camps and RV parks.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has pledged the amount as the first step to its four-pronged recovery plan: rebuilding homes, supporting mental health, economic recovery, and reviving the area’s quality of life.

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Community Foundation CEO Austin Dickson said the organization is starting with housing efforts “because rebuilding a safe, stable place to call home is at the heart of recovery …. This is more than bricks and lumber.

“Whether it's a rebuilt house, a repaired RV or a safe temporary apartment, this fund will help families get home,” he later added.

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Dickson spoke alongside Gov. Greg Abbott and Hill Country leaders from a park in Kerrville — most of the 137 Central Texas flood victims died in Kerr County. The park is about a 30-minute drive from Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors died in the flood that struck in the early morning hours on July 4.

Tightening camp safety and securing relief funding are among the highest priorities of state lawmakers this special legislative session, Abbott said.

In Austin, the Texas House on Thursday passed six bills related to flood and disaster relief, including a proposal to set aside hundreds of millions of state dollars to fund recovery efforts.

While lawmakers are discussing flood relief and response at a statewide level, Dickson said local leaders are doing what they can to jump start the recovery process. The Community Foundation on Thursday also announced that it has created a local advisory council made up of community members who will “guide funding decisions.” It didn’t release the names of the members Thursday.

Hunt ISD Superintendent Luci Harmon said rebuilding homes will help students, whose first day of the school year was Wednesday, get back to some sense of normalcy.

“Our students thrive when their housing situation is under control — when they're in their homes and their homes are stable,” she said.

The Community Foundation has also allocated $1.6 million to covering short-term housing for flood victims through AirBnB’s nonprofit, AirBnB.org, so families have a place to stay while their houses get rebuilt." Texas Tribune

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• TOP NEWS

“UT institutions to lose faculty senates; presidents to set up advisory groups instead” AAS ($)

“Exclusive: UTHealth Houston lays off dozens during hiring freeze, citing ‘financial headwinds’” Hou Chron ($)

“University of Houston System board names Jack B. Moore as next chair” Hou Chron ($)

• 2026  

“U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, Paxton aide turned foe, to run for Texas attorney general” Texas Tribune

“Doggett won’t seek reelection to Congress if new district is upheld by courts, paving way for Casar” Texas Tribune

“New poll: Beto O’Rourke leads Colin Allred in hypothetical Texas Senate primary” DMN ($)

“GOP state Rep. Briscoe Cain files for redrawn 9th Congressional District” Texas Tribune

• #TXLEGE  

“Texas House passes slate of bills to address public safety following deadly flooding” DMN ($)

“Republican Stan Lambert of Abilene won’t seek reelection to Texas House” Texas Tribune

“Was the Texas House Democrats’ quorum break worth the effort?” DMN ($)

• LOCAL GOVERNMENT  

“City Council approves term sheet with Spurs, despite Mayor Jones' pleas for a pause” KENS 5

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“Southwest Airlines is talking overseas expansion with employees” DMN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> DMN: "Texas’ abortion ban has created a standard of fear, jeopardizing care for pregnant Texans" DMN

> TX TRIB: "Health insurance carriers request raising ACA premiums by more than 20% on average in Texas" TX TRIB

> DMN: "Parents of Camp Mystic girls beg lawmakers for change in Senate hearing" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "Texas redistricting bill passes House, setting up California showdown" HOU CHRON

> DMN: "Texas House approves partisan redistricting on congressional seats" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "Here are the safety laws Camp Mystic families are asking for" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "Texas democrat Chris Turner voices opposition to redistricting" FWST

> THE TEXAN: "Grieving Camp Mystic Parents Testify on Flood Disaster Before Texas Senate Committee" THE TEXAN

> THE TEXAN: "Trump-Favored Five-Seat GOP Gain Redistricting Map Passes Texas House" THE TEXAN

> KXAN: "Gov. Abbott adds quorum break penalties, Ivermectin access to special session call" KXAN

> KXAN: "Texas House gives final approval to redistricting map, setting stage for Senate vote" KXAN

> SAEN: "'Abuse of power': Community advocate arrested at Edgewood ISD board meeting" SAEN

> THE TEXAN: "Kerrville Proposes Eight Percent Disaster Recovery Tax Rate Increase" THE TEXAN

> TPR: "Bexar County approves policy to regulate employees' use of AI" TPR

> SA REPORT: "‘Who is going to benefit?’: Inside the economic analysis of a downtown Spurs arena" SA REPORT

> FWST: "Husband killed trying to break up brawl on night out with wife, Texas family says" FWST

• EXTRA POINTS 

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: Detroit 7, Houston 2
> MLB: Texas 6, Kansas City 3
> WNBA: Los Angeles 81, Dallas 80

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 1:10pm: MLB: Texas at Kansas City
> 6:35pm: MLB: Houston at Baltimore

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:05pm: MLB: Houston at Baltimore
> 7:05pm: MLB: Cleveland at Texas

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Dillon Dingler triples and doubles as Tigers sweep Astros with 7-2 win" AP

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Houston Astros signing veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel" Hou Chron ($)

TEXAS RANGERS: "Kyle Higashioka has a 3-run double in the 9th to help the Rangers beat the Royals 6-3" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: Watkins: "Cowboys still have important questions to answer at backup QB as preseason concludes" DMN ($)

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Seven takeaways from Texans-Lions practice: Offensive line struggles early, two receivers stand out" Hou Chron ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: Bohls: "Texas-sized expectations await Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. Why he is ready for the challenge" AAS ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: Golden: "Texas football is deep on several units, but not on offensive line" AAS ($)

SMU FOOTBALL: "No. 16 SMU prepares for encore after smashing ACC debut that included playoff spot" AP

DALLAS WINGS: "Paige Bueckers scores 44 points, sets WNBA rookie record in Dallas Wings’ loss" AP