Good Morning! On this day in 1916, sociologist C. Wright Mills was born in Waco. He was an American sociologist who wrote extensively on class conflict theory.
If you’re visiting San Antonio, it’s hard to beat staying at the Crockett and Menger hotels, just steps from the Alamo. Now, they’re owned by the state. Is that a good idea? Let us know!
Later this afternoon, keep an eye on your inbox for a special story from our founder. It’s about his dad, Grandpa Jim, and the life-changing difference a simple pair of hearing aids made. We can’t wait to share this heartfelt message with you.
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Cult’s Houston Campus Raided
Federal authorities raided the Houston campus of Kingdom of God Global Church yesterday as agents in North Carolina and Florida arrested its two leaders, David Taylor, 53, and Michelle Brannon, 56. Seventeen people were removed from the former hotel.
The organization, which was previously known as Joshua Media Ministries International and is headquartered in Michigan, is accused of using forced labor to raise over $50 million in donations since 2014. The money was used to purchase luxury vehicles, jet skis, and lavish meals.
According to an indictment, followers were forced to live in call centers or “ministry houses,” where they were physically and psychologically abused. If they failed to meet fundraising goals, they were shamed, deprived of food and sleep, and threatened with divine judgment.
An employee at a nearby commercial appliance store said he had noticed red flags at the campus. “Just kind of weird stuff. Seeing people from the window, and whenever you noticed them back, they kind of look away or get away from the window.”
State Buys Historic Hotels
The Texas General Land Office purchased the historic Crockett and Menger hotels in San Antonio as part of its ongoing efforts to preserve the Alamo and enhance the visitor experience.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the properties were last assessed at a combined value of $55 million. The state acquired the hotels in partnership with the Alamo Trust and Ohio-based investment firm Rockbridge.
“By securing the footprint around the Alamo Complex for the State of Texas, we are protecting these hallowed grounds and enhancing one of our nation’s most sacred historical sites,” said Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
The Crockett Hotel, built in 1909, has 138 rooms, a coffee bar, and a tavern. The Menger Hotel, opened in 1859, has been visited by several U.S. presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, who recruited his Rough Riders at the hotel bar.
Texas Colleges Ranked
Several publications and websites recently released rankings of the nation’s best colleges, and many Texas schools earned top marks.
Forbes ranked schools on metrics like return on investment, graduation rates, and alumni success. Rice earned the No. 12 spot, followed by UT Austin (No. 46), Texas A&M (No. 61), Trinity University (No. 82), SMU (No. 103), the University of Houston (No. 107), TCU (No. 120), UT Dallas (No. 141), Texas Tech (No. 161), and Baylor (No. 188).
School review website Niche ordered the top four schools the same as the Forbes list, with TCU ranked fifth. It’s followed by SMU, Texas Tech, the University of Houston, UT Tyler, and Baylor, which the website ranked as the most conservative in the state.
The Princeton Review list doesn’t provide numerical rankings but highlights schools for their unique characteristics. TCU, for example, ranks No. 1 for having the “happiest students,” while Abilene Christian University has the best undergraduate game design program in the Southwest.
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➤ The NAACP has filed a legal challenge against the state’s recently approved congressional redistricting plan, claiming it was drawn with the intent to “dilute the voting strength of voters of color.” (More)
➤ U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) announced he will not run for reelection in the 9th Congressional District after it was redrawn to favor Republicans. Meanwhile, former GOP congresswoman Mayra Flores announced she would challenge U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzales (D-McAllen). (See Details)
➤ Austin: The Texas Senate approved legislation to ban lawmakers from fundraising during a special session, extending a prohibition that already applies to regular sessions. (More)
➤ Kerr County: More than 600 residents have signed a petition to drain Ingram Lake to clear debris from the July 4 flash floods. Some also expressed concern about Kerrville’s recent approval of increased health insurance costs for city employees. (More)
➤ Houston: The Astros are suing Harris County in an effort to remove Daikin Park from the property tax rolls, arguing the Texas tax code exempts “large-scale sports venues” from taxation. (See Details)
➤ The Seguin Economic Development Corporation has acquired 133 acres for the purpose of building the 12th Texas State Technical College campus. (More)
➤ Slocum: There have been over 14 black bear sightings across East Texas since July 15. Wildlife officials believe they’re all associated with a juvenile male traveling through the area. (See Photos)
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➤ Texas Rangers Cy Young candidate Nathan Eovaldi is out for the rest of the season after straining his rotator cuff. He accumulated an 11-3 record and a career-best 1.73 ERA through 22 starts this year. (More)
➤ Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton bought 150 acres of land in West Texas with his NIL earnings. He’s renting the land to hunters this fall. (More)
➤ The Dallas Mavericks renovated a basketball court in Dirk Nowitzki’s hometown of Würzburg, Germany, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his charitable foundation. (More)
➤ Yordan Alvarez returned to the Houston Astros’ lineup after missing 100 games this season. He went 0-2 and was walked twice in his first game back. (More)
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➤ Work has begun on a $255 million expansion of the Vinton Steel plant in El Paso. The project is expected to double the steel mill’s production capacity and create nearly 200 jobs. (More)
➤ The U.S. Department of Energyrecently selected Austin-based Aalo Atomics as one of 10 companies that will participate in its Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program. The company announced last week that it had secured $100 million in Series B funding. (More)
➤ Hawaiian Falls water parks in Mansfield, Roanoke, and Waco have been sold to the parent company of Orlando’s Ripley Entertainment, which operates over 100 attractions across nine countries. (More)
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➤ Texas is home to 11 of the top 100 high schools in the nation, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report. The School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas is the top-ranked school in the state and No. 9 in the U.S. (More)
➤ A Dallas mom has started selling backpack tags that reveal a parent’s contact information when tapped with a smartphone. She got the idea after her 4-year-old daughter couldn’t remember her phone number when she missed her drop off while riding the bus last week. (More)
➤ Klein ISD historians are trying to find the rightful owner of a 1964 class ring that has been in the possession of a Vietnamese family since 1982. (See Details)
➤ A Benbrook 2-year-old named Athena is one of five finalists for Toddler of the Year, a national fundraising competition for Toys for Tots. The winner will star in a national ad campaign. (More)
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Cult’s Houston Campus Raided
