 Measles Outbreak Hits West Texas
A measles outbreak that grew to 762 confirmed cases and affected nearly two dozen counties in West Texas was identified in late January. Two children died from measles-related complications before the Texas Department of State Health Services declared the outbreak over in August. The first cases were confirmed in Gaines County, home to a large Mennonite population that has historically been averse to vaccination. The county reported 414 infections over the next several months. After the first fatality in late February, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. characterized the outbreak as "not unusual" and insisted vaccination is a personal choice as the CDC deployed teams to provide testing and administer MMR vaccines. During the outbreak, there were 99 hospitalizations and 511 confirmed cases in children under the age of 18. Cases were reported in more than three dozen counties throughout Texas, as well as in the neighboring states of New Mexico and Oklahoma. Proposed Muslim Community Investigated A proposed Muslim-centric community in Collin County was the subject of multiple investigations and lawsuits last year, several of which are ongoing. EPIC City, which rebranded as "The Meadow" in November, was announced in 2024 but attracted official scrutiny last February, when Abbott characterized the 1,000-home community with a mosque and K-12 school as a "no go zone" that "is not allowed in Texas." In the following months, the project was investigated by Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Texas Rangers, the Texas State Securities Board, the Texas Funeral Service Commission, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Department of Justice. While the DOJ dropped its civil rights probe, Paxton sued the developers for securities fraud. Amid the investigations, Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation that aims to ban Sharia law in Texas and designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations. School Choice Program Established After years of failed efforts, Texas Republicans approved legislation establishing a $1 billion school choice program that will provide funding for up to 100,000 students to attend private schools. In 2024, Gov. Greg Abbott campaigned aggressively for Texas House candidates who promised to support a school choice program, ousting several Republicans who opposed previous efforts. On May 3, Abbott signed legislation creating parent-directed education savings accounts. Despite more than $8 billion in new funding for Texas public schools, Democrats staunchly opposed the new program, claiming it would primarily benefit wealthy families, drain resources from public schools, and reduce accountability for student success. Students with disabilities are eligible for additional funding. If demand exceeds the initially allocated $1 billion, students from low-income families will receive priority. Applications for families interested in participating in the program will be accepted starting next month. Flash Floods Hit Hill Country, Central Texas In the early morning hours of Friday, July 4, torrential rain pounded the Texas Hill Country, producing flash floods that killed 119 people in Kerr County, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. The following day, flash floods claimed over a dozen more lives in and around Austin. Rain fell at a rate of up to four inches per hour in some areas, causing the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in just 45 minutes. Over the following days, reports of heroic rescues, harrowing survival stories, and profiles of the deceased and missing dominated headlines. Search and rescue operations continued for weeks. Celebrities, corporations, and relief organizations raised millions for victims of the disaster. Meanwhile, local officials were criticized for failing to issue evacuation orders, poor coordination, and inadequate disaster preparedness. During a special session, lawmakers approved a package of bills that provides grants for the installation of flood sirens, establishes protocols for weather alerts, mandates the relocation of cabins in a floodplain, and requires camps to submit annual emergency plans to the state. In November, several Camp Mystic families filed lawsuits against the camp, claiming gross negligence. Redistricting Passes After Quorum Break On July 9, Gov. Greg Abbott added congressional redistricting to the agenda for an upcoming special session, sparking a wave of similar efforts across the country as the GOP aims to retain control of the U.S. House during this year's midterm elections. The move followed a July 7 letter from the Department of Justice identifying four "coalition districts" deemed "unconstitutional racial gerrymanders." President Trump later indicated he wanted lawmakers to add five Republican-leaning congressional districts, potentially boosting the Texas GOP delegation from 25 to 30 seats. After the publication of a proposed map, over 50 Texas House Democrats left the state to deny Republicans a quorum, effectively preventing a vote. Speaker Dustin Burrows issued warrants and fined absent members $500 per day, while Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI to apprehend the lawmakers. The new map was signed into law on August 29 and immediately challenged in court. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a lower court ruling that had blocked the map from taking effect. | 
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