The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 9, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Wednesday July 9th and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lauschus and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, among the items Governor Greg Abbott placed on the call for the first special session of 2025 in his announcement on Wednesday afternoon are regulation of low-grade THC products, congressional redistricting, and following this week's disaster, appropriations for flash flooding warning systems. Abbott said, quote, There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country.

Starting point is 00:00:45 We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future. The issue that has seized everyone's attention is the tragic flash flooding across Texas, with the worst of the damage being in Kerrville, that has left over 100 people dead and more than 160 still missing. Facts on the ground and what led up to the disaster are still being determined as response teams continue to find bodies in the debris. But legislators have committed to some response during this special session set to begin on July 21st, floating ideas that include paying for warning sirens in Kerr County and ensuring

Starting point is 00:01:20 there are more working water level gauges on the Guadalupe River. Abbott calls for improved early warning systems, strengthening emergency communications, and further reforms on the issue. Next, at a Tuesday evening press conference in Hunt, Governor Greg Abbott confirmed 109 deaths from catastrophic flooding across central Texas. 94 in Kerr County alone, with 161 people still unaccounted for as rescue crews continue their search and recovery efforts, working around the clock. Abbott was joined by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burroughs.

Starting point is 00:01:55 Both state leaders spent the day on the ground and in the air, getting a feel for the scale of the disaster to help them coordinate immediate needs as well as prepare for the Texas Legislature's full response going forward. Abbott revealed that both chambers of the legislature could begin forming special committees as early as the end of the week, and said that he will place every area of potential response quote, from top to bottom, on the agenda to enable a full response by lawmakers. In other news, Randall County Republican Party Chairman Kelly Giles has been indicted by a grand jury on allegations of election fraud that occurred in 2023. According to the indictment, quote, while acting in his capacity as Randall County Republican

Starting point is 00:02:40 chair, Giles falsely certified on the Texas Secretary of State Candidate Filing System that his application and nominating petition were legally compliant for place on the 2024 Republican primary ballot for Randall County Republican Party chair. Giles faces a state felony charge for violating the Texas election code while acting in his capacity as an elected official. Republican Party of Texas Chairman Abraham George wrote in a statement that he was aware of the quote, serious allegations against Giles. Also, the 15th Court of Appeals has lifted the block on the Texas Education Agency

Starting point is 00:03:18 releasing its 2023-2024 public school A through F accountability ratings. Chief Justice Scott Brister authored the leading opinion, stating that, quote, the record here contains no evidence to support the district's claims that issuing A-F ratings for the 2024 school year, end quote, exceeds the authority of the TEA. The opinion states that the new ratings were originally not released due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that since then, a quote, shrinking group of school administrators and school attorneys have simply thwarted it from taking effect. Last but not least, the Fort Bend County Commissioner's Court voted to create a new citizens advisory committee and hire an outside law firm for the purpose of redrawing the county's voting and political districts on Tuesday after legal concerns emerged over the legality of maps adopted in 2021.

Starting point is 00:04:13 After a contentious discussion over several proposals to address the issues, the court voted three to two along partisan lines with the county's two Republican commissioners joining county judge KP George, who recently switched from the Democratic to the Republican party, to take the actions. Earlier this year, state representative Matt Morgan warned the court that the map in use violated Texas's requirements that election precincts include at least 100 voters but no more than 5,000 voters. Instead, at least 33 of the county's voting precincts exceeded the limit with one precinct drawn to include more than 18,000

Starting point is 00:04:51 registered voters. A few others had fewer than three voters. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 9, 2025

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