Good Morning! On this day in 1898, doctors in Laredo diagnosed the first case of smallpox in what would become a local epidemic of more than 100 cases. In the following months, state officials and the Texas Rangers quarantined and forcibly vaccinated residents, leading to a deadly riot that was quelled by federal troops.
We mistakenly reported the wrong date for when University of North Texas classes will be canceled in the lead-up to the home game against the University of South Florida. Classes will be canceled next Friday, Oct. 10. We apologize for the error!
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Paxton Orders Halt to Tax Hikes in 4 Cities
Attorney General Ken Paxton has demanded that four Texas cities—Odessa, La Marque, Tom Bean, and Whitesboro—stop their planned tax hikes and has launched an investigation into whether the increases break new state laws.
In a statement, Paxton alleged that the cities are not in compliance with auditing requirements, which are a prerequisite to raising property taxes, according to Senate Bill 1851, signed into law this summer.
Paxton’s office sent letters to the four cities, ordering a pause on tax increases until investigations can take place, claiming audit reports either were submitted late or not at all.
La Marque officials released a statement Thursday saying they are “fully cooperating” with the attorney general’s office. The city says it is in a dire financial situation, with enough cash to cover only about two weeks of operations.
Robert Morris Pleads Guilty to Child Abuse
Gateway Church founder Robert Morris pleaded guilty on Thursday to sexually abusing a child. He received a 10-year sentence with six months in jail and probation for the remainder of the sentence.
Cindy Clemishire publicly accused Morris of abuse in 2024, leading to his resignation from the megachurch after admitting to a “moral failure” with a “young lady.”
The abuse took place over four years in the 1980s when Morris, as a traveling evangelist, would stay at the Clemishire home in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation into Morris after the public accusation last year.
Two Texas Suburbs Among Most Desirable in U.S.
Boerne and Wylie are among the top 10 most desirable suburbs in the country, according to a new study from moveBuddha.
Based on move-inbound-to-outbound ratio data, Boerne, outside San Antonio, was the most desirable suburb in Texas and No. 4 overall, with a 2.55 ratio. Dallas suburb Wylie nabbed the No. 7 spot nationally, with a 2.38 ratio.
The list highlights the desirability of suburbs orbiting mid-sized metro areas, which accounted for six of the top 10 spots. You can see the full list here.
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➤ Dallas: Fortune 500 company Texas Instruments has announced it will lay off 163 of its North Texas employees in December, and another 20 in April, according to a Friday filing. (More)
➤ Johnson County: Sheriff Adam King, who was arrested by his own deputies in August, saw a third charge added Thursday for allegedly lying before a grand jury. King pleaded not guilty to all charges. (See Details)
➤ Texas City: A planned “Major League of Leisure” sports-themed resort, with investment from Sports Illustrated, will no longer be developed, according to a report confirming the project was abandoned in late 2024. (More)
➤ Statewide: The Texas Department of Insurance has drafted new rules to allow independent, third-party appraisals when carriers and policyholders disagree on the cost of insured goods. (See Details)
➤ Grand Prairie: Elizabeth Wolf pleaded guilty to attempting to drown a three-year-old Palestinian-American girl in May 2024 in a Euless apartment complex pool, receiving a five-year sentence for the attack. (More)
➤ Van Horn: Blue Origin has revealed the next six space-tourist passengers to launch from Texas. The crew includes Dr. Clint Kelly III, on his second Blue Origin mission and famed author of a book on penguins. (See Crew)
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➤ College football todayfeatures multiple marquee matchups for the Lone Star State: No. 9 Texas takes on Florida, No. 6 Texas A&M will play Mississippi State, and No. 11 Texas Tech matches up with Houston. (See Full Schedule)
➤ Texas A&M soccer beat Texas 1-0 this week, bringing the all-time series record to 22-7-2 in favor of the Aggies. (More)
➤ The Dallas Cowboys’ injury list is 11 deep for their matchup against the Jets, including the possibility that starting linemen Tyler Guyton and Tyler Smith might not suit up for the game. (More)
➤ The University of Houston’s golf team finished second at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic. This is the first time they’ve won two top-2 finishes to begin a season since the 1984-85 national championship team. (More)
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➤ “Dire wolves” Romulus and Remus, a pair of gene-edited gray wolves birthed through Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences’ genetic engineering, celebrated their first birthday this week and are thriving on a 2,000-acre preserve. (See Photos)
➤ A court order will allow energy company CenterPoint to fly a drone over entrepreneur Kevin Lewis’ property and intercept his mail in an attempt to make him pay a $58,000 default judgment. Lewis claims he was never served for the alleged damages that resulted in the judgment. (More)
➤ St. John’s School in Houston was named the fifth-best private K-12 school in the country and the only top-five school not in the New York City area. Houston-area The John Cooper School and The Village School also made the list at No. 14 and No. 15, respectively. (See List)
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Have you ever owned a vehicle that takes diesel gas?
