MRT 9/3/25 (free) (sponsored by Pacaso): Property Tax Bill Appears Dead // THC Deal in the Works? // NYT on Paxton & Beto Shadowboxing // ConocoPhillips to Lay Off 25% of Workforce

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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

WEDNESDAY | 9/3/2025

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• TOP NEWS  

“1 dead after Amtrak train, vehicle collide near Round Rock,” Austin American-Statesman's Alex Driggars -- "​One person is dead after a passenger train collided with a vehicle Wednesday morning near Round Rock.

At about 10 a.m., an Amtrak train slammed into a Toyota 4Runner that was either stopped on the tracks or trying to cross them, according to Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Billy Ray. The driver of the SUV died in the crash, which the Williamson County Sheriff's Office said the occurred near the intersection of U.S. Highway 79 and County Road 110.

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An Amtrak police officer works at the scene of a fatal train crash in Hutto, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office said an Amtrak train slammed into a vehicle about 10 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 79 and County Road 110.

Details about what led to the collision were not immediately clear. Ray said the railroad crossing where the crash occurred is not protected and leads to private property.

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The train, which comprised two engines and six passenger cars, was carrying 71 passengers and crew members from San Antonio to Chicago, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said. There were no immediate reports of injuries to those aboard the train.

The investigation into the crash was ongoing late Wednesday, Ray said. Traffic was not impacted, according to the sheriff's office.

Wednesday's crash is at least the second fatal collision in as many years involving an Amtrak train in Williamson County. In May 2024, a 76-year old woman died after a train traveling along the same route collided with her SUV at McNeil Road and Interstate 35 in Round Rock, the American-Statesman reported at the time." AAS ($)

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• #TXLEGE  

“Proposal limiting Texas city, county property taxes loses steam” Texas Tribune

“Texas lawmakers working on last-minute deal to tighten restrictions on THC products” Texas Tribune

“Dan Patrick’s reelection plans lengthen odds for Texas casino gambling, sports betting” DMN ($)

• 2026  

“In Texas, a Senate Race Turns Brutal Before It’s Even Declared” NYT

• BUSINESS NEWS  

“ConocoPhillips says it will lay off up to 25% of its workforce, impacting thousands of jobs” AP

“Rackspace shakes up its top leadership amid lengthening string of quarterly losses” SAEN ($)

“New USAA CEO announces departures of several executives” SAEN ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE 

> DMN: "Lab-grown meat banned in Texas as of Sept. 1" DMN

> HOU CHRON: "GOP lawmakers roll back Texas voter registration change they helped pass" HOU CHRON

> THE TEXAN: "Texas School Districts Craft Policies on Library Book Approval, Children's Access Under New Law" THE TEXAN

> THE TEXAN: "Texas House and Senate Again at Loggerheads Over Property Tax Reform" THE TEXAN

> SAEN: "Texas’ vape ban is here; it's not just for THC. What it might mean for you." SAEN

> TX TRIB: "Texas suburbs resist new state law allowing more apartments" TX TRIB

> KXAN: "House refuses to accept watered-down property tax relief after Senate strips amendments" KXAN

> THE TEXAN: "New Texas Laws from 89th Session Face Legal Challenges" THE TEXAN

> HOU CHRON: "HISD union leader reassigned to 'home duty' for not following 'campus protocols'" HOU CHRON

> SAEN: "Tariffs, migration and cartels will top Rubio's talks in Mexico and Ecuador this week" SAEN

> TX TRIB: "Texas says it’s strict on oil field emissions. New data shows it’s not." TX TRIB

> DMN: "COVID-19 surges in Texas: What to know about new ‘Stratus’ variant" DMN

> SA REPORT: "San Antonio proposes new fines up to $2K for dumped animals" SA REPORT

> FWST: "Blind, deaf dog returned to shelter twice. Now, ‘little misfit’ gets 3rd chance" FWST

> FWST: "Rally planned to support Johnson County sheriff accused of sexual harassment" FWST

> HOU CHRON: "Alexis Cardenas's death inside Harris County Jail ruled homicide by ME" HOU CHRON

> FWST: "Ex-school bus driver sentenced to 60 years for child exploitation in North Texas" FWST

> DMN: "North Texas’ booming growth poses both promise and peril" DMN

> FWST: "North Texas Powerball player wins $150K as jackpot prize soars to $1.3 billion" FWST

> HOU CHRON: "Houston man charged with murder after boy killed playing ding dong ditch" HOU CHRON

> SAEN: "No evidence of ‘Rainey Street Ripper,’ Texas State study finds" SAEN

• EXTRA POINTS 

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> MLB: NYY 7, Houston 1
> MLB: Arizona 5, Texas 3

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 2:40pm: MLB: Texas at Arizona
> 7:10pm: MLB: NYY at Houston (Amazon Prime)

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:40pm: MLB: NYY at Houston
> 7:20pm: NFL: Dallas at Philadelphia (NBC)
> 9pm: WNBA: Dallas at Golden State

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Grisham’s grand slam powers Yankees to 7-1 win over Astros" AP

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Framber Valdez apologizes to César Salazar after hitting him with a pitch" AP

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Astros 3B Isaac Paredes runs and fields for first time since hamstring injury, unsure about return" AP

TEXAS RANGERS: "Marte hits 3-run homer in 7th and Diamondbacks stop Rangers’ 6-game win streak with 5-3 victory" AP

DALLAS COWBOYS: Cowlishaw: "After painting himself into a corner, Jerry Jones’ only escape was to trade Micah Parsons" DMN ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: "Texas football corner Wardell Mack arrested on DWI charge" AAS ($)

TCU FOOTBALL: "TCU already moving ahead after big opening win over Bill Belichick in his 1st college game" AP

DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Dallas Mavericks agree to contract extension with P.J. Washington" DMN ($)