Good Morning! On this day in 1861, John Robert Baylor declared himself governor of the Confederate Territory of Arizona in what is now Mesilla, New Mexico. Days earlier, he had secured the surrender of federal troops garrisoned at Fort Fillmore as commander of the Second Texas Mounted Rifles.
A recent U-Haul report shows that most new residents of the state’s largest metro areas are from one state. Check out today’s Roundup section for the details.
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Kerr County Hearing Gets Tense
Lawmakers visited Kerrville yesterday to hear from local officials and residents about last month’s devastating flash flood that killed at least 108 people along the Guadalupe River. Hundreds attended the hearing, which lasted well into the evening.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha acknowledged he was asleep before he learned a disaster was unfolding the morning of Friday, July 4.
William “Dub” Thomas, Kerr County’s emergency management coordinator, testified he was also asleep. The day before, he had missed two calls with the Texas Division of Emergency Management because he was out sick.
Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly was out of town at Lake Travis. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed his frustration about their initial absence. “Everyone was here that day working their ass off, and you were nowhere to be found,” he said.
In other testimony, first responders shared they could not effectively communicate with each other because they use different radio systems. Several officials and residents discussed the urgency of installing flood warning sirens.
Abbott Agenda Items Pass Senate
On Wednesday, senators gave initial approval to measures to prohibit local governments from hiring lobbyists (Senate Bill 12), authorize the attorney general to prosecute election crimes (Senate Bill 11), and ban THC-infused hemp products (Senate Bill 5).
State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) has filed legislation to ban the practice of “taxpayer-funded lobbying” several times in previous sessions, but it’s repeatedly met opposition in the House.
Senate Bill 11 aims to restore the attorney general’s authority to prosecute election crimes if a local district attorney declines to do so, a prerogative that was stripped by a state appeals court in 2021.
Senate Bill 5 is similar to legislation that Gov. Abbott vetoed in June, when he called for a special session to regulate consumable THC products. “Regulation is decriminalization, whether you admit it or not,” said the measure’s author, State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock).
Floridians Moving to Texas
A lot of Floridians are moving to the largest metro areas in Texas, according to a recent U-Haul report showing the origins of customers who get one-way rentals for travel to the country’s 35 largest metro areas.
Florida is the most common origin state for people moving to San Antonio, and it’s the second-most common origin state for new Dallas, Houston, and Austin residents.
Oklahoma and Louisiana are the No. 1 origin states for people moving to Dallas and Houston, respectively, whereas California is the most common origin state for people moving to Austin.
Eight states are among the 10 most common origin states for each of the state’s largest metros: Florida, California, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, and Tennessee.
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➤ Bailey County: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has withdrawn a 2023 plan to expand the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge by up to 700,000 acres through conservation easements. (See Details)
➤ Houston: The city council approved the purchase of up to 31 trash and recycling trucks for $12.4 million on Wednesday. Residents have expressed frustration about ongoing waste removal delays. (More)
➤ Dallas: Six passengers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after a metro rail train caught fire on Wednesday afternoon in a tunnel. Service was reduced for several routes yesterday. (More)
➤ Port Isabel: The 85th Texas International Fishing Tournament kicked off Wednesday and runs through this weekend. The event is expected to draw up to 4,000 visitors and generate around $300,000 for the local economy. (More)
➤ Cypress: Brian Fontenot, a 42-year-old executive for cryptocurrency company XUSD Blockchain Holdings, was arrested last week on dozens of charges related to his alleged role in a scheme that defrauded customers of more than $3 million. (See Details)
➤ Austin: A glass panel fell from a skyscraper under construction on Monday. It’s the fourth time in as many months that glass has fallen from the ATX Tower, a mixed-use high-rise that’s slated to be 55 stories when completed. (More)
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➤ The Houston Astros acquired shortstop Carlos Correa from the Minnesota Twins for Minor League pitcher Matt Mikulski. He’s expected to play third base to fill the gap left by Isaac Paredes, who is potentially out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. (More)
➤ The Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks for three Minor League pitchers, adding depth to the team’s strong starting rotation. (More)
➤ Baylor coach Dave Aranda announced that wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA this week. (More)
➤ Texas and Texas A&M football ticket prices both rank among the highest in the country, with most fans spending between $260 to $300 per game. (More)
➤ Waco’s Midway Little League team got to meet the Texas Rangers ahead of their Southwest Regional matchup last night. (More)
➤ The Dallas Cowboys training camp has been marred by multiple fights between players. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer made players run as punishment, and he threw rookie offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius out of practice. (More)
➤ AT&T is now dual listed on the NYSE and its newly formed Texas exchange, trading under the “T” ticker symbol. (More)
➤ A Massachusetts real estate company is acquiring 119 JCPenney properties from a trust established during the Plano-based company’s bankruptcy five years ago. The stores will continue to operate after the $947 million all-cash deal is finalized in September. (More)
➤ Dallas-based CyrusOne has signed a deal with Houston’s Calpine Energy—the nation’s largest producer of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources—to power its $1.2 billion data center under development in Bosque County. (See Details)
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➤ Houston traffic is the seventh-worst in the country, with an average weekday congestion time of 5 hours and 48 minutes. According to the ConsumerAffairs analysis, Dallas-Fort Worth is No. 14, and Austin is No. 15. (See Details)
➤ Former TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson gave his Pro Hall of Fame jacket to his alma mater. “Only a hundred-and-some men in the world got this gold jacket, and we are keeping it here right at TCU,” he said during a visit. (Watch Video)
➤ According to the 2025 Farmers’ Almanac Fall Forecast, Texans should expect a warmer-than-average September, increased odds for thunderstorms through mid-October, and a gradual transition to cooler temperatures in late October and November. (More)
➤ A giant Pacific octopus at the San Antonio Aquarium attacked a 6-year-old boy when he reached his hand into its tank, which the venue’s rules allow. The encounter left the boy with “extensive suction bruises” all over his arm. (See Photos)
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Kerr County Hearing Gets Tense
