Happy July, y’all 🌞

We have about two more weeks of World Cup action in the metroplex—the tournament’s semifinals will be the last event on July 14. I hope you’ve been able to experience some of the fun watch parties and community events, but if not, you still have time. 

Let’s look at some of the coolest snaps from the DFW FIFA experience so far. 

You won’t see an email from me on Friday, as our newsroom will be enjoying a long holiday weekend, but I’ll be back in your inboxes bright and early on Monday. 

PS: Our summer fundraising drive has ended, and we can’t thank you enough for your support. If you’re interested in giving, you can still do so here.

Dateline’s Lester Holt spoke with eight mothers who lost their daughters in the devastating Camp Mystic flood. (Photo courtesy of NBC Universal)

By Sam Cohen

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Central Texas floods that claimed the lives of at least 139 people, Dateline’s Lester Holt spoke with eight mothers who lost their daughters at Camp Mystic for an exclusive special titled “After the Flood.” The special, which aired Friday, June 26, examined how the mothers are grappling with their grief in the aftermath of this unthinkable tragedy.

Patricia Bellows, whose daughter Margaret died during the July 4 flood, explained to Holt that the families “never received a debrief” from the Eastlands, who own the camp.

Jennie Getten lost her daughter Ellen and said the pain has been compounded by the fact that the Eastlands “never called us.”

Trying to comprehend their losses is an insurmountable task made even more complicated by the fact that the mothers still have so many questions about what happened that day. Nearly one year later, they aren’t any closer to receiving answers.

📖 Required reading: Starting in 2030, public school students will be required to read over a dozen Bible verses and stories after the GOP-controlled State Board of Education voted to approve a new mandatory literary works list last week. Learn more here.

🚫 Scary stuff: Many pregnant Texas residents say they’re afraid of dying after four young women lost their lives in the state when they were unable to access medically necessary abortions. Read the full story.

📺 Fact-checking Ken Paxton: As this Dallas Observer writer wrote: “This will likely come as a shock to you, but the Texas attorney general might not have been totally honest in his TV commercial.” See the fact-checking breakdown here.

Here are some things to do around the metroplex this weekend: 

💫 Lone Stars and Stripes Fireworks Festival 

Friday, 3 p.m.-10 p.m. (Grand Prairie)

💫 Keller Lights

Friday, 6-10 p.m. (Keller)

💫 July 3rd All American Fireworks and Festival

Friday, 5-10 p.m. (Roanoke)

💫 Fort Worth’s Fourth 

Saturday, 5-10 p.m. (Fort Worth)

💫 Klyde Warren Park’s Independence Day Celebration

Saturday, 7-9:30 p.m. (Dallas)

💫 All American 4th

Saturday, 6-10 p.m. (Plano)

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Joi Louviere with reporting by Sam Cohen, Katie Serrano, and Bonnie Fuller and editing by Crystal Niforos.

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