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Trump, first lady mourn young lives lost in Texas floods, praise first responders during Kerrville roundtable

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Trump, first lady mourn young lives lost in Texas floods, praise first responders during Kerrville roundtable

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President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Kerrville, Texas, Friday, following massive floods in the region that have taken the lives of more than 120 people. 

The Trumps met with local officials and first responders who are navigating the aftermath of flash floods that devastated the Central Texas community, after the Guadalupe River surged more than 22 feet in just a matter of hours. 

Speaking at a roundtable with state, local and federal officials in Kerrville, Trump said: “I’ve never seen anything like this. This is a bad one.” 

He said he had just visited with the “incredible families” who have been “devastated.” 

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EX-BIDEN OFFICIAL SCOLDS TRUMP ON CLIMATE CHANGE AFTER TEXAS FLOODS

President Donald Trump speaks Friday during a roundtable with Texas officials following the devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas. (Pool/Fox News)

Trump thanked the first responders, adding that he and the first lady were there to “express the love and support and anguish of our entire nation.” 

“So all across the country, Americans’ hearts are shattered,” he said. “We’re filled with grief and devastation. It’s the loss of life, and unfortunately, they’re still looking.” 

“My administration’s doing everything in its power to help Texas,” he added. 

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He thanked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for his leadership, who in turn thanked the president for the administration’s quick response to the state’s disaster declaration, adding, “We’re going to rebuild this community.” 

Dr. Phil McGraw, who was also at the roundtable, spoke about grief and said, “MrPresident, there is a depth of root and caring here like you just can’t believe until you see it.” 

SAMARITAN’S PURSE VOLUNTEERS BRING FAITH AND SUPPLIES TO TEXANS IN NEED

Trump said two things had struck him: the “unity” of Texans and the “competence” of those responding to the disaster. 

“Everyone has just pulled together, it’s rare that you see this,” he said. 

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a roundtable led by President Donald Trump and other local, state and federal officials Friday in Kerrville, Texas, following the devastating floods there. (Pool/Fox News)

Trump referred to Camp Mystic, where more than two dozen girls, who the president referred to as “young angels,” were killed in the flood, as a “legendary camp that people would want to go to from all over the country.”

“They were there because they loved God,” he said. “And as we grieve this unthinkable tragedy, we take comfort in the knowledge that God is welcoming those little beautiful girls into his comforting arms in heaven.” 

The first lady showed a bracelet she was wearing that she said she received in honor of “all of the little girls that lost their lives” at the camp. “So, we are here to honor them and also to give the support, help.” 

Among those who died in the flooding were at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp founded nearly 100 years ago for girls. Meanwhile, more than 160 people are missing and unaccounted for in Kerr County, Texas, following the floods, according to officials. 

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DENNIS QUAID DEVASTATED BY CLOSE FAMILY CONNECTION TO TEXAS FLOODS

First lady Melania Trump speaks as President Donald Trump looks on during a roundtable Friday with Texas officials after the devastating floods in Kerrville, Texas. (Pool/Fox News)

The White House disclosed Monday that Trump would visit the flood site to witness the devastation. 

“I’ll be going down on Friday with the first lady, and we will be taking a trip,” Trump said Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting. “And we don’t want to get in anyone’s way, because, you know, it’s what happens. The president goes, and everyone’s around focused. I don’t want anyone to focus on us, but it’s possible they could have.” 

First lady Melania Trump, left, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump are briefed on flood damage in Kerrville, Texas, Friday. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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The Trump administration has faced scrutiny from Democrats for its response to the disaster, particularly for a new policy that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem approved in June, before the floods, that requires her to sign off on any department expenses, including disaster-related expenses, that are more than $100,000.

Noem reportedly waited more than 72 hours after the flooding started before she approved the deployment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue teams, according to CNN. 

Mangled home of Greg Adkins in Kerrville, Texas, July 9. Heavy rain caused flash flooding on July 4 across South Central Texas, leaving the area devastated. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Meanwhile, Noem dismissed the report’s credibility during a segment on “Fox & Friends” on Thursday, claiming the report was “fake news.” 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees FEMA, told Fox News Digital that the agency has “taken an all-hands-on-deck approach” in responding to the crisis, when asked about the CNN report. 

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“The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

Trump also defended his administration’s response and said at the White House during a Tuesday Cabinet meeting that “you had people there as fast as anybody’s ever seen.” 

Still, the disaster creates uncertainty about the future of FEMA, since Trump has called for massive reforms to the agency. 

WHITE HOUSE BLASTS SCHUMER, DEMOCRATS FOR ‘DEPRAVED LIE’ BLAMING TRUMP FOR TEXAS FLASH FLOOD

Search and rescue teams seen in Kerrville, Texas, July 9.  (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

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Trump said in June that he wanted to “wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it back to the state level.” 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the future of FEMA is an ongoing discussion, when asked whether the flood had prompted Trump to re-evaluate his position on overhauling FEMA. 

“The president wants to ensure American citizens always have what they need during times of need,” Leavitt told reporterson Monday. “Whether that assistance comes from states or the federal government, that’s a policy discussion that will continue. And the president has always said he wants states to do as much as they can, if not more.”

OBAMA BROS BALK AT FAR-LEFT SAYING TEXANS BROUGHT FLOOD DISASTER ON THEMSELVES BY SUPPORTING TRUMP

A raging Guadalupe River leaves fallen trees and debris in its wake, July 4, in Kerrville, Texas. (Eric Gay/The Associated Press)

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Meanwhile, Noem lauded FEMA’s efforts responding to the disaster during the Cabinet meeting, even as some lawmakers like Rep. Jared Moscowitz, D-Fla., have called for an investigation into reports of a delayed FEMA response. 

“FEMA has been deployed, and we’re cutting through the paperwork of the old FEMA, streamlining it much like your vision of how FEMA should operate,” Noem said. “It’s been a much better response to help these families get through this terrible situation.”

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Security guard fatally shot outside Houston restaurant after confrontation with suspect

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Security guard fatally shot outside Houston restaurant after confrontation with suspect

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A security guard was fatally shot outside a Houston restaurant Wednesday evening after a confrontation with another man, authorities said.

The shooting happened around 6:15 p.m. outside Connie’s Seafood Market Restaurant, the Houston Police Department said.

Police told reporters that the security guard, who was working for the restaurant, was standing in the parking lot when a fight broke out between him and another man, FOX26 Houston reported.

Police said the security guard was shot at least once. He was rushed to a hospital where he later died.

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OFF-DUTY DEPUTY SHOT AND KILLED WHILE WORKING SECURITY JOB IN TEXAS, SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGE

A security guard was fatally shot outside a Houston restaurant Wednesday evening after a confrontation with another man, authorities said. (Houston Police Department)

Authorities did not immediately release the name of the victim.

The suspect was last seen running away from the parking lot after the shooting.

The security guard was working for the restaurant at the time of the shooting. (Google Maps)

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BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTER CONFESSED IN VIDEOS TO PLANNING ATTACK FOR LONG TIME, SHOWED NO REMORSE: DOJ

No details about the suspect or the circumstances that led to the altercation have been released as of Thursday morning.

Houston police were reviewing surveillance footage as they search for the shooting suspect. (Mayra Beltran/Houston Chronicle, File)

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Officials said investigators were reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses to get a description of the suspect.

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Texas teachers’ union sues state over investigation into controversial Charlie Kirk posts

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Texas teachers’ union sues state over investigation into controversial Charlie Kirk posts

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The Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT) announced on Tuesday that it plans to sue the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over what it called “unlawful investigations” into school officials over social media posts made about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

In September, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath sent out a letter to state school superintendents announcing that he was launching investigations into school officials that he said “posted and/or shared reprehensible and inappropriate content on social media” regarding the Turning Point USA founder’s death.

“Such posts could constitute a violation of the Educators’ Code of Ethics and each instance will be thoroughly reviewed to determine whether sanctionable conduct has occurred and staff will investigate accordingly,” Morath wrote. “While the exercise of free speech is a fundamental right we are all blessed to share, it does not give carte blanche authority to celebrate or sow violence against those that share different beliefs and perspectives.”

TEXAS TECH STUDENT ARRESTED, EXPELLED AFTER VIDEO SHOWS HER ‘MOCKING’ CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL: OFFICIALS

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Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath issued a letter in September announcing investigations into teachers’ social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (fstop123/iStock via Getty Images Plus)

The lawsuit alleges that since the letter was issued, several Texas AFT members have been placed on administrative leave, reprimanded or terminated over their social media posts, which the organization claims is a First Amendment violation.

“Somewhere and somehow, our state’s leaders lost their way,” Texas AFT President Zeph Capo said in a statement. “A few well-placed Texas politicians and bureaucrats think it is good for their careers to trample on educators’ free speech rights. They decided scoring a few cheap points was worth the unfair discipline, the doxxing, and the death threats targeted at Texas teachers. Meanwhile, educators and their families are afraid that they’ll lose everything: their livelihoods, their reputations, and their very purpose for being, which is to impart critical thinking.”

GREG ABBOTT MAKES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TURNING POINT USA IN TEXAS

National AFT President Randi Weingarten also released a statement condemning the TEA.

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Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, released a statement condemning the Texas Education Agency for the letter. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“Sadly, Texas officials, unlike their colleagues in Utah, decided to exploit the tragedy of Mr. Kirk’s senseless murder, rather than deescalate,” Weingarten said. “Their actions are a transparent effort to smear and shame educators, divide our communities, and deny our kids opportunities to learn and thrive. They are a state-sponsored attack on teachers because of what they thought were private comments to friends and family. And even if we think some of this speech is noxious, defending one’s right to speak is the essence of our democracy.”

She added, “You don’t lose your constitutional rights when you decide to become a teacher—the Constitution, for it to have any meaning at all, has to work for all Americans, not just some.”

PROFESSOR FIGHTING DISMISSAL FOR CALLING CHARLIE KIRK A ‘NAZI’ HANDED LEGAL WIN, FUELING FREE SPEECH DEBATE

The AFT is seeking a permanent injunction of the TEA policy and investigations. The TEA declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

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School officials across the country have been fired or reprimanded for appearing to celebrate Charlie Kirk’s assassination. (Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images)

In the weeks following Kirk’s assassination, several public school teachers across the nation were reprimanded or fired after going viral with controversial social media posts that appeared to celebrate his death.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott previously announced that more than 100 teachers in the state would have their teaching certifications suspended after investigators found they had called for or encouraged violence following Kirk’s assassination.

Fox News’ Kristine Parks contributed to this report.

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Former MLB great Mark Teixeira makes stance on Minnesota ICE shooting clear

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Former MLB great Mark Teixeira makes stance on Minnesota ICE shooting clear

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The Minnesota ICE shooting that resulted in the death of Renee Good has drawn strong reactions everywhere.

According to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Good was operating a vehicle that agents ordered her to exit. Good, according to Noem, refused and “attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle.”

After Vice President JD Vance delivered a strong statement defending ICE agents for their work, the White House posted a graphic with a portion of Vance’s plea and the caption, “STAND WITH ICE.”

 

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Texas Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Ameriquest Field Aug. 7, 2005, in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports )

Former MLB All-Star Mark Teixeira, who launched his campaign for Texas’ 21st Congressional District in August as a Republican to “help defend President Trump’s America First agenda,” voiced his support.

“I stand with ICE,” the former Texas Ranger, Atlanta Brave, Los Angeles Angel and New York Yankee wrote on X.

Teixeira’s announcement followed Rep. Chip Roy’s decision not to seek re-election and run for Texas attorney general. Roy, who represents the district, made the announcement in a campaign video shared on X last year. His video centered on preserving the Lone Star State’s legacy of “liberty, freedom and self-determination.”

Former New York Yankee Mark Teixeira throws out the first pitch before a game between the Minnesota Twins and the Yankees in the 2019 ALDS at Yankee Stadium.  (Brad Penner/USA Today Sports)

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US PATENT OFFICE DENIES A’S TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS FOR ‘LAS VEGAS ATHLETICS’

Noem called the incident “domestic terrorism.”

“An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot to protect himself and the people around him,” she said.

Federal authorities said Good tried to run over ICE agents who were part of a 2,000-member team sent to the Twin Cities to round up and deport undocumented immigrant criminals.

Teixeira, 45, played 14 seasons in the majors. He debuted with the Rangers in 2003 but is perhaps best known for being an MVP candidate and World Series champion with the Yankees, the final stop of his career.

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New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira hits an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum May 22, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (Kelley L Cox/USA Today Sports)

One of the best hitters in the game, Teixeira was a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and finished his career with a .269 batting average and 409 home runs. He was a five-time Gold Glove winner and was a member of the Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship team. 

The congressional race is set for November 2026, with a primary scheduled for March.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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