Texas
Parents urge Texas committee to block Camp Mystic reopening after July 4 flood
AUSTIN, Texas — Grief and anger from last year’s deadly July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic filled the Texas Capitol on Tuesday night, as parents urged state lawmakers to keep the camp from reopening and to deny renewal of its license.
The parents spoke during the second day of an investigative hearing before the General Investigative Committee, offering their perspectives on the future of Camp Mystic. The Eastland family, which runs the camp, was seated nearby.
“A daycare, with 27 dead children, and this evidence already on record, would have already been closed,” said Bolton Walters, a parent of a victim camper.
CiCi Steward, the mother of a missing Camp Mystic camper, told lawmakers, “No camp will be safe for any child as long as the Eastlands are associated with it.”
Parents recounted the trauma of the flooding that killed 27 campers and counselors. Malorie Lytal, a parent of a victim camper, described what happened to her child: “As her cabin filled with flood waters, she was left to fend for herself, and washed miles downriver to die the most horrific, gruesome death.”
RELATED| Lawmakers press Camp Mystic directors on attempt to reopen Cypress Lake location in May
KEYE DVR_WINDOW
Steward called on the state not to renew the camp’s license.
“Camp Mystics’ license should not be renewed. If a child dies in a Texas camp this summer, it will not be because we lack the information to prevent it,” she said. “Those lies of safety, preparedness, and readiness cause the greatest mass casualty event involving children in the history of the state.”
Camp Mystic is hoping to reopen on May 30 at their Cypress location.
Last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services found 22 deficiencies in the emergency plan camp leaders submitted. The findings included gaps in the camp’s flood evacuation procedures and failure to submit a required floodplain map to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said camps need emergency plans that are formalized and coordinated with local authorities.
“It’s got to be written. It’s got to be trained. It’s got to be exercised. It’s got to be funded. It’s not a one-and-done. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey,” Kidd said.
Even with plans to reopen at the Cypress location, parents remained skeptical that the camp could operate safely under its current leadership. Julie Marshall, a parent of a victim camper, said, “The Eastland’s prayers didn’t save the girls that night. I worry the Eastland’s prayers going forward are not an appropriate safety plan.”
At the end of the hearing, Texas DSHS said they are actively implementing legislation for youth camp safety, and will not be approving any camp’s licenses if they do not have an acceptable emergency management plan.
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday he has secured a settlement of bankruptcy claims against genetic testing company 23andMe stemming from a 2023 data breach that exposed personal information, including some genetic ancestry data, of 6.9 million customers worldwide.
Paxton’s office said the settlement includes $150 million for a multistate coalition of 42 states. But because of limited funds in 23andMe’s bankruptcy estate and competing claims, the states’ recovery will be $18 million paid immediately, with Texas receiving $1,266,860.
23andMe disclosed in October 2023 that attackers had accessed accounts affecting 6.9 million consumers. Some of the information was later posted for sale on the dark web, according to Paxton’s office, which said the company learned of the breach months after the data became publicly available. The office said 23andMe initially denied a breach and later blamed consumers’ account settings and password practices.
Paxton joined a multistate investigation that concluded 23andMe used unreasonable security practices and failed to implement adequate safeguards against hacking, the office said.
23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2025. Paxton’s office said the settlement incorporates privacy and cybersecurity requirements, including enhanced security standards, comprehensive risk assessments and creation of an independent advisory board, along with enforcement of state privacy laws and continued consumer data deletion rights.
“Companies that collect and profit from Texans’ most personal information have a legal duty to protect it,” Paxton said in a statement.
The company also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in the bankruptcy case for affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by Feb. 17, 2026, Paxton’s office said.
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2025 season with more expectations than any team has had to deal with in recent memory.
Many among the media were ready to crown the team and quarterback Arch Manning before they even played one game. Of course, those unrealistic expectations were never met, even though the team finished with a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl win over the Michigan Wolverines.
2026 is heading in the same direction for the Longhorns. Many believe head coach Steve Sarkisian has the most talented team in the country. But in order to fix the issues from this past season, the Longhorns needed to fix one issue that has cost them in the past.
Changing The Narrative
One of the biggest issues the Longhorns had last season was the play of the offensive line. It was apparent in the first game of the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes that Manning didn’t have the pocket time needed to make big plays.
This offseason, Coach Sarkisian went out and found two massive transfer portal additions that should completely change the narrative on this offensive line.
It starts with potential starting right tackle Melvin Siani. Siani has spent time with the Temple Owls and last season with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
The Longhorns are set at left tackle with Trevor Goosby, who could play himself into being a top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If the team can get competent play from Siani, the offense will be able to open up the playbook, and the world may finally see Manning at his college peak.
The Longhorns also went out and found a potential fix at left guard for the 2026 season. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers transfer Laurence Seymore could be another strong patch for the holes in the offensive line.
After spending the first two seasons of his college career with the Miami Hurricanes, Seymore made stops with the Akron Zips and the Hilltoppers.
Of course, the one concern with Seymore is wondering if he can compete at the SEC level coming from the C-USA.
This season for the Longhorns starts and stops with the play of Manning. Coach Sarkisian and the rest of this coaching staff understood that protecting their quarterback was the most important goal when building the 2026 roster.
The Longhorns are going to be leaning on veteran talent to protect their quarterback, and it may very well be the best decision they made this offseason.
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
-
Cleveland, OH6 minutes agoCleveland Advances Housing Manufacturing Strategy with MMY US Selection and Historic Tax Credit Award for Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Building
-
Austin, TX12 minutes agoAustin Pets Alive! activates emergency response to assist shelters affected by flooding
-
Alabama18 minutes agoGovernor Ivey Taps Glenda Allred as New Tourism Director, Announces Lee Sentell’s Retirement –
-
Alaska24 minutes agoAlaska university gets funding for critical minerals center
-
Arizona30 minutes agoWATCH: Officers crack down on drivers running red lights in Arizona
-
Arkansas36 minutes agoRock City Margarita & Arkansas Beer Festivals: An Interview with Organizer Reed Llewellyn
-
California42 minutes agoCalifornia DMV orders 11,000 drivers to retake exams due to suspected cheating
-
Colorado48 minutes agoCPW implements voluntary fishing closures on stretches of the Rio Grande
