The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - April 29, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, April 29th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Managing Editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Tuesday night saw the conclusion of a marathon day two of hearings on the Camp Mystic Flood Tragedy, which took the lives of 28 people in July 2025, during which parents of both deceased and surviving girls testified before members of the Texas legislature. Lawmakers on the Joint General Investigating Committee on the July 2025 flooding events first heard a lengthy testimony from investigator Casey Garrett on Monday, during which she laid out a detailed timeline of events on the weekend of July 4th, recounting what happened before and after the disaster for lawmakers and others listening.

Starting point is 00:00:57 On Tuesday, the owners of Camp Mystic, the Eastland family, whose patriarch Dick Eastland died while attempting to save campers on the morning of July 4th, testified and responded to probing from lawmakers for about six hours. They were still in attendance when testimony began from the families of girls who were killed or survived during the flooding, which lasted for most of Tuesday evening. One of the parents who spoke was the mother of the sole camper who remains missing 10 months after the flood. Next, although an education foundation has moved to drop a defamation lawsuit filed earlier this year in retaliation to a heated Republican primary election, State Representative Terry Leo Wilson has vowed to continue the legal fight in an appeals court

Starting point is 00:01:41 over what she said was an attempt to stifle her free speech. Leo Wilson told the Texan, quote, You cannot set precedent to let a 501c3, that's not supposed to be involved in politics at all by law, engage in lawfare, and then walk away. Earlier this year, the Barbers Hill Independent School District, Education Foundation sought a temporary restraining order against Leo Wilson in response to comments she made to the Texan in January regarding her primary opponent. Nathan Watkins, who serves as a director of the Education Foundation and his motivation for running against her. Leo Wilson said in January,

Starting point is 00:02:19 quote, I think based on what I have discovered between the ISD and the Education Foundation and his directorship that he is running to make legal what may be illegal. In other news, Michael Morris is no longer the Director of Transportation at the North Central Texas Council of Governments as of April 28th. According to the council's executive director Todd Little, Morris concluded his tenure after serving for 35 years in the Transportation Director role. Johnson County Commissioner Rick Bailey, the chair of the Regional Transportation Council, told the Fort Worth report on Wednesday that Morris had been terminated the day before, and that in his opinion, it was unwarranted. Bailey added that he and other members of the Regional Transportation Council will try to get

Starting point is 00:03:06 Morris reinstated. Also, 14 defendants from Texas and New Mexico were federally indicted for large-scale oil theft in the Permian Basin. The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas announced on April 22nd that the 14 conspirators were indicted for the alleged transport and theft of crude oil across the Texas-New Mexico border. The criminal activity allegedly took place in the Permian Basin, which is responsible for nearly 40% of all oil production in the U.S. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the defendants allegedly conspired to steal crude oil from the Permian Basin, quote, some of which was then stored on land that one of the conspirators leased from the United States government. Stolen crude oil was then sold to the other conspirator,

Starting point is 00:03:54 well below market value. Last but not least, the Tex Rail commuter rail extension into the medical district of Fort Worth is expected to break ground before the end of the year. Officials with Trinity Metro confirmed to the Fort Worth City Council during its work session this week that the public transportation provider for Tarrant County has secured the last of the needed funding, a total of $167 million, to begin the 2.1-mile extension with a new station located at Missile Toe Boulevard and Leslie Street, behind Baylor Scott and White Hospital. The rail extension is expected to open for operations in 29. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan.News and subscribe

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The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - April 29, 2026

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