Rains Interrupt Flood Recovery Efforts

Heavy rains and flash flood warnings temporarily interrupted recovery efforts in Kerr County and Central Texas yesterday. The number of reported deaths from the disaster has reached 129, with scores still missing. 

Yesterday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem dismissed as “absolutely false” claims that a new policy requiring her personal approval of large contracts at FEMA hampered its response to the floods, insisting the agency had deployed resources “an hour or two after the flooding.”

FEMA reportedly granted several appeals from Camp Mystic to exclude dozens of its buildings from the agency’s 100-year flood map since 2011. In the last decade, Kerr County officials opted against using $10.2 million in federal funds to install flood warning sirens, and local authorities were unsuccessful in securing a loan for them.

More than $30 million has been raised for flood victims. On Saturday, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr. announced that those impacted by the disaster could find support at the new website KerrTogether.com.

Austin Firefighters Accuse Chief of Denying Aid

The Austin Firefighters Association approved a vote of no confidence against Austin Fire Department Chief Joel Baker last week over allegations that he denied critical assistance to Kerr County prior to the deadly flooding on July 4.

The resolution, backed by 93% of members, accuses Baker of refusing requests for aid on July 2 and 3, citing a standing order to deny deployments to save money. Baker has said he didn’t receive the requests until July 4, when he approved a separate request for three rescue swimmers.

Baker insists the department “absolutely” did everything it could to help with search and rescue operations in Kerr County while ensuring it had “sufficient resources in our own community,” noting 14 first responders helped with local search efforts in the days following the flash flooding.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and city manager T.C. Broadnax condemned the vote and issued statements of support for Baker. Watson chastised AFA President Bob Nicks for “politicizing this horrible loss,” but Nicks argued the the vote of no confidence “isn’t about politics, it’s about accountability.”

Groups Step Up to Help Displaced Pets

The devastating floods in Kerr County and Central Texas displaced hundreds of pets. Many organizations are stepping up to help them find new homes or reunite them with their owners.

Best Friends Animal Society and Wings of Rescue have airlifted around 250 pets from local shelters to make room for those displaced by the flooding. Austin Pets Alive! and Kerrville Pets Alive! have together rescued around 400 pets from the affected areas.

Some pets were able to fend for themselves. A nine-year-old Labrador found her way back home two days after the flash floods, and another family’s dog survived the catastrophe by hiding in a washing machine.

Meanwhile, a group of Camp Mystic moms created a Facebook group to return the stuffed animals left behind by survivors and those who were lost.

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➤ San Antonio: Robert Herrera, 52, was arrested after threatening to kill President Trump ahead of his visit to Kerr County on Friday. “I won’t miss,” he commented in response to a local news outlet’s social media post. (More)

➤ Leander: Residents in the unincorporated Sandy Creek community, which is split between Travis and Williamson counties, are now receiving flood recovery assistance after more than a week of volunteer-led efforts. (See Details)

➤ El Paso: Democratic U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar was denied entry to a local ICE detention center last week after giving officials a 24-hour notice. The Department of Homeland Security stated that a 7-day notice is required. (More)

➤ South Padre Island: Eric Cespedes, a 38-year-old Border Patrol agent from San Benito, died Friday while rescuing his children from a rip current. “He was a protector both in uniform and at home,” said Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. (More)

➤ Parker County: Pamela Jean Stanley, 63, has been indicted for allegedly conspiring to send her ex-husband fentanyl-laced chocolates following his recent engagement. (See Details)

➤ Kemah: Trump Burger is now MAGA Burger after the restaurant’s landlord, Archie Patterson, barred the former operator from the premises for allegedly failing to reimburse him for $39,164 in taxes, repairs, and utilities. (More)

➤ Corpus Christi: The new Harbor Bridge’s shared-use path opened Friday morning for pedestrians and cyclists. (More)

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➤ Houston Astros shortstop Zack Short got this walk-off base hit in the 11th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Saturday. (Watch Video)

➤ Dallas Mavericks rookie star Cooper Flagg scored 31 points in the team’s 76-67 Summer League loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. (More)

➤ A preseason ranking of the NFL’s 32 offensive lines has the Houston Texans in dead last, thanks in part to the departures of veterans Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Wimbledon | PGA | LPGA | Indy | NASCAR

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➤ Cedar Park’s Firefly Aerospace has filed for an initial public offering with $176.9 million in cash and $173.6 million in debt. The company says it has $1.1 billion worth of backlogged launch orders and spacecraft contracts. (More)

➤ Intel is laying off 110 employees at its Austin office amid a 15-20% global workforce reduction. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Austin-based Indeed is cutting 1,300 jobs—mostly in the U.S.—as the company aims to streamline its business and elevate the role of artificial intelligence. (More)

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➤ UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers demonstrated how lipid nanoparticles can be used in gene therapy to treat genetically engineered mice with a disease called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, with promise for treatment in humans. (See Details)

➤ Aleksander and Liliana Lindale journey 1,400 miles from their home in Canada to Lindale every year for their anniversary. (More)

➤ In addition to George Strait, country music artist Robert Earl Keen and Tejano star Shelly Lares are holding benefit concerts to raise money for the victims of the July 4 flash floods. (More)

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