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Federal meteorologists detail the science behind the flood that killed 28 at Camp Mystic
The National Weather Service released a comprehensive analysis Thursday of the atmospheric conditions that produced the July 4 disaster — data that now maps directly against testimony from this week’s wrongful death hearings
The Lead’s stories
KPUB breaks ground on new power plant in Colorado County
Joint venture with Sky Global Partners aims to stabilize utility costs for Kerrville customers by summer 2027
Kerrville’s long-awaited river center reaches 90% funding mark
The two-building campus will anchor Granger Macdonald Park, a one-acre riverfront parcel donated by Justin McDonald in honor of his father. That land gift and a $2.2 million allocation from Kerrville’s 2023 Quality of Life bond have helped lay the groundwork for a facility organizers say will be unlike anything the river has seen.
Camp Mystic hearing concludes with judge’s rebuke, strengthened preservation order and 2027 trial dates
For everyone in that courtroom, Wednesday marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of a long road ahead.
Seven takeaways from Day 2 of the Camp Mystic hearing
Defense attorney Mikal Watts established that when the camp went to sleep after taps at 10 p.m. on July 3, it was not raining at Camp Mystic.
A long day on the stand for Camp Mystic, here are takeaways from Monday’s hearing
Day 2 of the hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. The defense has not yet had the opportunity to present its case or cross-examine witnesses. Camp Mystic has maintained that the July 4 storm was an unprecedented event that could not have been anticipated, and that the camp’s actions during the crisis should be understood in that context.
Trump posts AI image of himself as Jesus, deletes it after backlash from allies
President attacked Pope Leo XIV hours earlier; conservative Christians among critics
Schreiner University delegation signs four partnership agreements during South Korea visit
The March 16-24 visit produced five-year student exchange agreements with Soongsil University in Seoul, Keimyung University in Daegu and Seoul Women’s University, and renewed a cooperative agreement with Hannam University in Daejeon that dates to 2014.
Kerr County VSO, regional aging agency team up to expand support for veterans, older adults
The Kerr County VSO has joined with the Alamo Area Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging to connect eligible residents with support covering utility bills, durable medical equipment, nutritional supplements, vision and hearing care, basic dental services and minor home modifications such as grab bars, handrails and wheelchair ramps.
Kerr County gas prices tick up; Texas diesel within pennies of all-time record
Texas regular unleaded, by comparison, remains well below its own record of $4.695, set June 15, 2022 — though at $3.844 statewide, prices are up nearly a dollar from a year ago and rising fast. Premium in Texas now averages $4.697, just two cents below its own all-time high.
Arts, outdoors events fill Kerr County calendar for week of April 6-12
The Cailloux Theater bookends the week with two marquee performances. Swan Lake arrives Thursday at 7 p.m., followed Sunday at 4 p.m. by Waterloo: A Celebration of ABBA. Tickets for both are available at caillouxperformingarts.com.
Peterson Health warns patients of Medicare catheter fraud scheme affecting local residents
At least four Kerr County residents have been affected by the scheme, according to Peterson Health. The hospital said it has no affiliation with the company under investigation and that patient care is not impacted.
Kerrville cuts ribbon on $45M Public Safety Complex, placing it ‘in service’
What makes Thursday’s opening remarkable is that for all three departments moving in, it marks the first time they have ever occupied a facility built for their actual purpose. T
Austin’s to-do list carries big implications for Kerr County — and a few surprises for New Mexico
The Texas House of Representatives has its homework assignment for the months ahead, and Kerr County is written into nearly every chapter of it.
Peterson Health ranked among top 20 rural hospitals in the nation
The Kerrville hospital will be formally recognized May 21 at NRHA’s Annual Rural Health Conference in San Diego.
Arts and Culture
Arts, outdoors events fill Kerr County calendar for week of April 6-12
The Cailloux Theater bookends the week with two marquee performances. Swan Lake arrives Thursday at 7 p.m., followed Sunday at 4 p.m. by Waterloo: A Celebration of ABBA. Tickets for both are available at caillouxperformingarts.com.
Pint and Plow puts on a party, community responds in kind
After a decade on the job, brewing beer and building community spirit, Pint and Plow owner Jeremy Walther decided he needed a party to give back and celebrate the Clay Street eatery and brewery’s status us a community destination.
Playhouse 2000 to stage hometown send-off performance of award-winning one-act before regional competition
The performance serves as a send-off ahead of the company’s trip to Carlsbad, New Mexico, where it will compete in the Southwest Theatre Conference — the regional competition of the American Association of Community Theatre.
The Lead Live Podcast
The Lead Live Podcast: Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 Episode
Kerr County is set to receive a significant boost to its infrastructure after securing a $14.7 million grant for “middle mile” broadband expansion, according to a recent broadcast summary of The Lead Live. The funding was one of several key local developments highlighted on the Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, episode of the show hosted by Louis Amestoy.
The Lead Live Podcast: Friday, Feb. 20, 2026
The Pot O’ Hot Festival, a soup-tasting competition, is scheduled for Feb. 28 at the Trailhead Beer Garden at Schreiner University. Walther noted the event is capped at 25 soup makers and is on pace to sell out its 300 tasting tickets.
The Lead Live Podcast: Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
Parks and Recreation Director Jay Brimhall reported that Guadalupe Park is undergoing a complete refresh, which includes fixing handrails damaged during the July flood.
The Lead Live Podcast: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 episode
The episode opened with breaking news that Center Point ISD had canceled all classes that morning due to a lack of running water at the school. This unforeseen issue allowed Center Point teacher and local yoga instructor Sara Cotton to join the broadcast as a last-minute guest.
The Lead Live Podcast: Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 episode
Leah Westra of the Hill Country Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse joined the show to discuss the “Rest and Reset” event, a free, two-hour session for 8th- through 12th-grade students on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Kroc Center.
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: 39th annual Hill Country Charity Ball draws community together at Sendera Springs
In the four decades since, the association has distributed more than $2.1 million to Kerr County nonprofits — an average of more than $50,000 per year — touching nearly every corner of community life, from youth athletics and literacy programs to habitat restoration, hospice care, and disaster response.
Photo gallery: Swan Lake at the Cailloux Theater
International Ballet Stars performed Swan Lake on Thursday night at the Cailloux Theater as part of a North American tour presented by Classical Arts Entertainment.
Photo gallery: Pint and Plow’s 10th Anniversary
After a decade on the job, brewing beer and building community spirit, Pint and Plow owner Jeremy Walther decided he needed a party to give back and celebrate the Clay Street eatery and brewery’s status us a community destination.
Photo gallery: No Kings Protest
More than 250 protesters opposed to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump gathered on Saturday morning at the Kerr County Courthouse for a “No Kings Protest.”
Photo gallery: Kerrville annual disc golf tournament
The city of Kerrville’s annual disc golf tournament was held on Saturday at Schreiner University’s disc golf course. The tournament attracted players of all ages to try their skills on the course.
Sports
Schreiner softball split doubleheader against visiting McMurry
Mendoza (7-8) was at her sharpest through the evening’s second game, holding the War Hawks to five hits and issuing just one walk. Her 88-pitch complete-game effort — 64 of which found the strike zone — gave the Mountaineers (12-24, 9-17 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) their first win of the series.
Lackey sparks Schreiner’s offense as Mountaineers correct course on the road in Arkansas
Kale Lackey, a Tivy grad, was the series’ most productive bat, going 6-for-16 with two home runs, two doubles and six RBI. Blake Juarez backed him in the opener with a 3-for-4 afternoon that included a home run, a double and three RBI.
Schreiner University men’s track program turns in solid early performances
The Schreiner University men’s track and field team put together a productive two-week stretch in late March, collecting several podium finishes and individual standout performances at the TLU Invite in Seguin and the Charles Austin Classic in San Marcos.
Stautz win singles title; two Lady Hawks doubles teams advance to state
Jane Stautz won the girls singles championship, going 5-0 on the day and defeating her opponent 8-6 in the finals.
Schreiner softball breaksthrough with series victory against visiting Ozarks
The two-of-three series victory gave the Mountaineers their most productive stretch in recent weeks and improved the program’s confidence heading into the back half of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule.
Obituaries
Mary Anne Haning: Oct. 15, 1930-April 15, 2026
Mary Anne found great joy in the simple blessings of life, especially time spent near the water.
Anita Kay Beasley: Dec. 20, 1947-April 15, 2026
She served proudly on the IISD School Board, she was also instrumental in founding the Ingram Little League. She was a proud member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas as well as Daughters of the Confederacy.
Maria Teresa Miranda Cabrera: June 17, 1962-April 11, 2026
Maria was a strong and devoted woman who touched the lives of many throughout her lifetime. Even during her illness, she remained selfless, always advocating for and caring for those around her.
Mitchell Menchaca: Dec. 19, 1986-April 7, 2026
Mitchell was deeply loved by his family and friends and will be remembered for the love and laughter he shared, the memories he created, and the lasting impact he had on everyone who knew him.
William Clark: Dec. 3, 1930-April 5, 2026
He was a member of several professional organizations, including ASME, API, Southern Gas Association, Midwest Gas Association, American Gas Association, and IGT.
Community voices
The Lead’s Editorial: A note to our readers about flood misinformation
The science is not ambiguous, and the math is not close. We know this not because we commissioned expert analysis or spent weeks on investigation, but because the basic research required to refute these claims is available to anyone willing to do it.
The Lead’s Editorial: Hughes cutting the ribbons is sign of the leadership we need in Kerr County
The party that lectures about Reagan’s 11th Commandment is actively working to defeat a three-term city council member with a documented record of delivering results — because she has the independence to govern rather than perform.
The Lead’s Editorial: Rich Paces and the law he keeps forgetting
The procedure is known. The requirement is known. The infrastructure to execute it exists. It simply wasn’t followed.
The Lead’s Editorial: For Precinct 1 Commissioner, the choice is clear — Brenda Hughes
Which is precisely why the Kerr County Republican Party apparatus — led by the increasingly inept Helen Herd and her attack dogs at We The People Liberty In Action — is desperate to stop her.
The Mission of The Kerr County Lead
Covering community news in the heart of the Hill Country.
Founded in 2021, The Kerr County Lead aims to provide high-quality journalism for Kerrville, Texas and the surrounding communities of the splendid Texas Hill Country. In the coming years, Texas faces exponential growth and the challenges of managing land, resources and water. At the same time, the Hill Country offers a robust quality of life and culture. With this mission, The Lead focuses its work on the stories that matter most to the readers in Kerr County.
