News • 3 min read July 13, 2025

Texas News Roundup (7/13/25)

Tech’s contract conundrum: Coach Joey McGuire predicts players like Terrance Carter Jr. and Howard Sampson may reject multi-year deals to keep draft and portal options open — find out why.

Texas’s repeated disaster neglect: Despite flash floods that killed more than 120 people and recurring power blackouts, Governor Abbott and state lawmakers have shot down funding for sirens and other resilience measures, leaving residents exposed — find out why they keep punting on preparedness.

Rebuilding against the odds: A 94-year-old grandmother and her family are determined to restore their Hill Country home after Fourth of July floods destroyed it, even without flood insurance and amid rising climate risks — find out how they plan to rebuild.

Hollywood stars woo Texas Legislature: A-list actors led by Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey fronted the “True to Texas” video campaign that helped Gov. Abbott sign a $300 million biennial film-incentive law kicking in Sept. 1 — find out how.

Multifamily conversion unlocked: SB 840, signed in June, goes into effect on September 1, 2025, allowing major Texas cities to repurpose underused offices, retail and warehouses into multifamily housing by right — find out what it means.

Paint conservation on Texas Coast: William Sarradet sits down with Galveston conservator Jhonny Langer to explore the techniques and history behind Gulf Coast paint restoration — find out what goes into preserving Galveston’s painted heritage.

Library nonfiction collection expanded: Marathon Public Library has been awarded a 2025 Texas Book Festival grant to add more than 100 new nonfiction titles to its shelves in the newly expanded facility — learn what this means for readers.

SpaceX gas plant approved: Cameron County has greenlit a 20-structure liquid oxygen and nitrogen facility just 280 feet from Boca Chica Beach dunes, imposing strict restoration rules amid local pushback — find out how the project could reshape the coast.

Healthiest Texas Roadhouse Picks: A nutritionist ranks four lean, protein-packed steaks to order and four high-fat crowd-pleasers you should skip — find out.

Whispering Pines #1 Again: Whispering Pines Golf Club, the only Deep East Texas course in Golf Digest’s top 40, has once again been named the state’s best, showcasing piney woods, lakes, and fully redesigned greens — find out why.