Matt Grant

INBOX: Camp Mystic sent this letter on 10/22 to TX House and Senate committees investigating the July 4 floods inviting lawmakers to visit, saying: "Our family will always be available as a resource" and touring the camp is the "best and only way to learn exactly what happened."

Can you tell the difference between a siren signaling a flood vs. a tornado alarm? Watch Martindale's recent back-to-back testing here to hear the difference: www.kxan.com/video/can-yo...

ICYMI: Some Central Texas counties don't have warning sirens nearly 2 months after Gov. Abbott signed a new law requiring them in 30 flood-prone areas. An Austin family, whose daughter was killed at Camp Mystic, says they could have saved lives; others warn of confusion.
www.kxan.com/investigatio...

Many Central Texas counties don’t have outdoor warning sirens two months after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new law requiring them in 30 flood-prone areas. NEW from @kxan.com’s @mattgrantkxan.bsky.social, Dalton Huey & Chris Nelson: bit.ly/3JkEINm #KXANinvestigates #txlege

New: Texas youth camps warned of closures over new safety laws; The father of an 8-year-old girl killed at Camp Mystic victim responded: “The financial burden they fear is nothing compared to the human cost my family has already paid.”
www.kxan.com/investigatio...

Camp Mystic's full statement:

"Cile Steward is one of the Heaven’s 27 children that is still missing,” Childress said. “Camp Mystic is planning to reopen with the body of one of these girls in the waters outside their camp. I’ll let you form your own opinions on what that means to you.”

NEW: The father of Camp Mystic counselor Chloe Childress, who was killed during the July 4 floods, says the families of the 27 victims were “not consulted” and “do not approve” of the camp’s decision to reopen. Camp Mystic says the decision is "informed by our faith."

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

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Central Texas National Weather Service office vacancies increase even after July 4 floods A key position in emergency coordination remains unfilled.

Thanks to @texasstandard.bsky.social for having me and Nick Bannin on to discuss our investigation into rising vacancies at the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service after the July 4 floods:

www.texasstandard.org/stories/cent...

IRE statement on Pentagon press freedom constraints - Investigative Reporters & Editors Investigative Reporters and Editors joins other journalism organizations in condemning the Pentagon's new press restrictions.

“Such restrictions threaten the ability of the press to hold powerful institutions accountable and to inform the public without censorship. IRE and its leadership stand firmly against this action and call for its immediate reversal.” Read the full statement from @ire.org: bit.ly/46PIRl7

ICYMI: Congressman @doggett.house.gov is pushing for answers as a KXAN investigation found vacancies at the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office have only increased since the deadly July 4 flooding. My latest with Nick Bannin:

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

On Monday, @doggett.house.gov pushed back, reiterating his request for NWS call/chat/shift logs & radar archives, saying: "Outreach can hardly be called successful if the intended recipient, like the Kerr County emergency manager, was not reached."
Read the letters: www.kxan.com/wp-content/u...

This week, the Commerce Dept., which oversees NOAA/NWS, said staffing was surged at the NWS Austin/San Antonio office , which was able to "successfully provide support services to local partners, including those in the emergency management community, during the disaster."

Eight days after asking NOAA why the warning coordination meteorologist position hasn't been filled, the position was listed on usajobs.gov
Federal officials say they're "carefully evaluating the need for additional personnel...as needed...."

NEW: Two months after deadly flooding killed at least 135 people, vacancies at the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office have increased -- from 6 in July to 7 now - including a key position unfilled since April 30. My latest with Nick Bannin:

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

IRE 50th Anniversary Gala raises record $1.5 million for journalism training - Investigative Reporters & Editors Investigative Reporters and Editors hosted a star-studded 50th Anniversary Gala in New York City on Sept. 15, raising more than $1.5 million.

“Together, we are ensuring a stronger future for investigative journalism and the vital role it plays in our society.” — My words on an unforgettable evening that raised a record amount of money for @ire.org! Thanks to everyone who had a hand in this historic event! MORE: bit.ly/4mpb1Iy #IREforAll

Congresswoman @juliejohnsontx.bsky.social statement on her landmark Texas patient protection law taking full effect — with very kind words for KXAN:

ICYMI: A patient protection law, sparked by a series of KXAN investigations, is “very close” to finally taking full effect — two years after it was passed, according to the Texas Medical Board.

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

'You've brought up some very pertinent deficiencies in the system that are getting rectified.'

A patient protection law, sparked by our investigation, is "very close" to finally taking full effect -- two years after it was first passed. Our "Still Practicing" update tomorrow:

"I don’t like that my daughter had to die for this to take place,” Callie McCown told me. “But I don’t ever want any other innocent child to die while they’re at summer camp because it should be the safest place they are."

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

Exclusive: An Austin family whose 8-year-old daughter, Linnie, was killed at Camp Mystic two months ago is speaking out in an exclusive interview. The McCown family says their daughter's death was "100 percent" preventable, praising new camp safety laws.

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

Exclusive: An Austin family whose 8-year-old daughter was killed at Camp Mystic shared their story with me moments after Gov. Abbott signed a slate of flood-related reforms into law. Watch what they had to say at 6 pm.

UT gets federal grant to study camp, flood evacuations AUSTIN (KXAN) — Why did some camps evacuate during the July 4 Hill Country flooding while others, like Camp Mystic, didn’t? That’s a question University of Texas at Austin researc…

NEW: UT Austin awarded $200K federal grant to look at why some places evacuated during the July 4 flooding. The lead researcher spoke exclusively with me about the project saying she expects "very influential findings that can save lives in the future."

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

New laws aimed at improving Texas’ troubled Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund are now in effect after our investigations uncovered turnover, backlogs and months-long delays for victims of violent crimes trying to get help.

www.kxan.com/investigatio...

Texas governor signs new voting maps pushed by Trump to gain five GOP seats in Congress in 2026 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed into law a new congressional voting map designed to help Republicans gain more seats in the 2026 midterm elections, delivering a win for President Donald Trump and his desire to hold on to a slim GOP majority in the U.S.

BREAKING: Texas governor signs into law redrawn voting map pushed by Trump that gives GOP five more winnable congressional seats.

YouTube video by thenightbeat KXAN News Hurricane Katrina Coverage - 4pm, 6pm, 10pm August 30, 2005

KXAN's Hurricane Katrina coverage from Aug. 30, 2005:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulsx...

Live updates: Active shooter at Minneapolis church and Catholic school Follow Minneapolis Police Department confirmed an active shooter allegedly opened fire at Annunciation Church on Wednesday morning.

BREAKING: Authorities are responding to reports of an active shooter at a Minneapolis church and Catholic school.

INBOX: Congressman Lloyd Doggett says he "will not seek reelection" if the courts uphold new voting maps.

INBOX: Camp Mystic statement on HB 1 passing the House.