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Kerr County remains under flood watch as forecasters warn of dangerous rain threat through Thursday
National Weather Service station data show rain has continued through the day Tuesday, with a combined total of roughly 4.8 inches recorded between Monday evening and early Tuesday afternoon.
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Symphony of the Hills Fourth of July Performance
The Lead’s stories
Kerr County sees 4+ inches of rain overnight, but flooding remains minor so far
The rain fell as a flash flood warning was in effect Monday night for central Kerr County, and comes as a broader flood watch remains in place for Kerr County and 20 other South Central Texas counties through 7 p.m. Thursday.
Flash flood warning issued for Kerr County as heavy rain triggers ‘considerable’ damage threat
Locations expected to see flash flooding include Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, Vanderpool, Waltonia, Kerrville-Schreiner Park and Lost Maples State Natural Area.
Forecasters warn of ‘significant’ flood threat as moderate rainfall risk repeats for third straight day
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office said a morning weather balloon launch out of Del Rio measured 2.28 inches of precipitable water — moisture available in the atmosphere — which exceeded the daily record for the date.
Flood watch issued for Kerr County, much of South Central Texas through Thursday
The watch takes effect at 9 p.m. Monday and runs through Thursday evening. It covers Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Llano, Maverick, Medina, Real, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Williamson and Zavala counties.
Nearly 100 ways to get out this week in Kerr County
The Lead counted roughly 94 listed happenings across the seven days, and that’s before factoring in the events that pop up last-minute on Facebook.
Frost Bank opens first Kerrville branch, leans on organic growth and old ties
Kevin Thompson, Frost’s Boerne market president and lead for Hill Country expansion, and Kyle Ogera, a representative at the new Kerrville financial center, joined The Lead Live on Wednesday to discuss the branch, which sits at Clay and Main streets.
OLH principal breaks down ESA rollout, July 15 deadline looms for local families
“A voucher can only be used for tuition, whereas these educational savings accounts can be used for any school-related expenses as long as it’s been approved,” Collins said. “So uniforms, textbooks, lunches, things like that.”
Texas health insurance costs rank middle of the pack nationally. Kerr County’s numbers tell a rougher story
That “average” ranking is cold comfort, though, given what’s already happened to Texas premiums and what’s coming. The state absorbed one of the steepest rate increases in the country for 2026 — a weighted average hike of nearly 35% — as enhanced federal subsidies that had been in place since 2021 expired at the end of 2025.
How the ROAD to Housing Act could affect Kerr County’s affordability crisis
Because Congress remained in session and Trump neither signed nor vetoed it within the constitutional 10-day window, the bill became law automatically.
What to know about the parasite outbreak causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea across the U.S.
Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, is a seasonal problem every summer. This year it’s much worse than usual in parts of the Midwest, and the federal government’s own case count doesn’t come close to reflecting it.
Californians who survived wildfires now help Kerrville tell its flood story
Andrew Sweet, Zacharie Sergenian and Analisa Sanchez discussed the project Friday on The Lead Live, hosted by Louis Amestoy and Libbie Horton from the Peterson Health Digital Studio at Pint & Plow Brewing Co.
Kerrville Christmas Lighting Corp. expands Merry on the Square, kicks off Christmas in July push
The Second Annual Merry on the Square is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, starting at 4 p.m. around the Kerr County Courthouse and running through the Annual Holiday Lighted Parade and Courthouse Lighting Ceremony.
Academy Sports + Outdoors sets August opening for River Hills Mall store
Academy Sports + Outdoors plans to open its first Kerrville store in August, the Katy-based retailer announced Monday, finalizing a plan the City Council set in motion last year.
Kerrville’s superintendent carries “Tivy Fight” to the National Cathedral
“Those school buses became lifelines of comfort, reassurance and hope,” Ringo said, describing drivers, coaches, teachers and staff who didn’t wait to be asked twice.
The Year: The Flood’s Impact on Kerr County
The Lead’s Special Report
The monster in the canyon: What the storm actually was — and what was never asked
Nine months after the flood, federal meteorologists tell the full story. In 15 hours of legislative testimony this week, none of it came up.
At 12:56 a.m. on July 4, 2025, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Austin sent a message through its professional communications platform: “Some cell mergers about to take place in central Kerr County. This will be an area to watch for potential flash flooding.”
Eighteen minutes later, a flash flood warning went out to cell phones across the Hunt area — the ninth such warning issued for the Guadalupe River corridor since 2020. The previous eight had all expired without a mass casualty event.
By 4:03 a.m., NWS had upgraded that warning to a Flash Flood Emergency — the most urgent alert the agency can issue. Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Dub Thomas was home sick that night. Whether anyone else in Kerr County’s emergency structure was actively monitoring professional NWS channels during those critical hours remains unknown. Read more: https://kerrcountylead.com/the-monster-in-the-canyon-what-the-storm-actually-was-and-what-was-never-asked/
The Lead’s Special Sections
Arts and Culture
Nearly 100 ways to get out this week in Kerr County
The Lead counted roughly 94 listed happenings across the seven days, and that’s before factoring in the events that pop up last-minute on Facebook.
What’s coming up at Arcadia Live for the rest of July
Arcadia Live has a full slate on tap for the back half of July, mixing free family matinees, trivia and bingo nights, and two screenings tied to the one-year mark of last year’s flood.
Museum of Western Art to host public reading of Declaration of Independence Wednesday
Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with the program starting at 4:45 p.m. with an introduction from the Daughters of the American Revolution. The reading itself begins at 5 p.m. sharp in the museum’s main gallery.
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: The 2026 Down Home Parade in Center Point
The Center Point community gathered in force on Saturday for the annual Down Home Parade
Photo gallery: The Lead’s Fourth on the River photos since 2022
Since 2022, The Kerr County Lead has covered Fourth on the River from the crowd at Louise Hays Park — the bands, the fireworks, the kids splashing in the Guadalupe, the whole town turning out for the Hill Country’s biggest Independence Day party.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Bluebell Bike Parade
Riders of all ages decorated their bikes before setting off on the charming neighborhood parade route, adding a lighthearted, family-friendly moment to the holiday.
Photo gallery: Symphony of the Hills’ “Stars, Stripes and Spirit” concert
Conductor Dr. Eugene Dowdy said the free concert was meant to honor both the tragedy and the community’s resilience, and before the performance, the public viewed nine original paintings from artist Robert R. “Bobby” Cahill’s “Freedom” series, tracing the history of the American flag since 1776.
Photo gallery: The 2026 Fourth on the River
The free, all-ages celebration featured a full day of live music — including Los Juanos, Jamie Lin Wilson, Junior Brown and William Beckmann, several of whom were booked for last year’s canceled show.
Sports
Meet the Edwards siblings, Kerr County’s homeschool track and field powerhouse
Now it’s on to Iowa, where three Edwards kids will take the runway at Drake University with a Junior Olympics medal, and a little Hill Country pride, on the line.
Enchanted Rock opens rugged new Backcountry Area to hikers July 7
The roughly 640-acre expansion, tucked behind the park’s iconic granite dome, has been years in the making as part of the state’s Centennial Parks initiative. Monday’s opening marks the first phase of public access — and it’s not for the casual visitor.
Pat Holmes, AFL All-Star who later called Kerrville home, dies at 85
Durable as well as decorated, he started every game of his first five seasons and never missed a game in seven years with the Oilers, appearing in all 98 and starting 96.
Obituaries
Joseph W. Allen: July 31, 1929-July 9, 2026
Throughout his life, Joe was deeply involved in his community. He served as a Boy Scout troop leader, served on the Ingram City Council, and hauled equipment for the Ingram Tom Moore High School Band.
Gail Ann Schmitt: Feb. 9, 1945-July 10, 2026
She also served on the school council at Notre Dame Catholic School and volunteered with Meals on Wheels through the Dietert Center, generously sharing her time and talents.
Birgit Woodrum: Oct. 26, 1940-July 6, 2026
Throughout her career, she worked for Sears, Alpine Lodge Restaurant, The Inn of the Hills, State Aire, and Peterson Health.
Joseph Samuel “Joe” Bubnich: May 21, 1935-July 1, 2026
Throughout his life he received many awards and decorations on the state and federal level; including a letter of honorable service from the U.S. president.
James “Jim” Behling: Aug. 30, 1946-July 5, 2026
Jim “Papa Bear” will be remembered for his generous heart, contagious encouragement, and lifelong commitment to helping others discover their purpose in Jesus Christ.
Community voices
Wayne Uecker: So, God made a small-town Texas business owner
In this Paul Harvey-inspired piece, Kerrville resident Wayne Uecker praises the small business owners of Kerr County.
Editorial: A year later, the hardest comment to hear
So when “nobody told us” gets said out loud, a year on, it lands as a heavy sigh for everyone who has spent that year telling. The nonprofits that stood up relief funds within the week. The case managers. The volunteers.
Commentary: How a trip to Ingram helped bond, unite the San Antonio Spurs to greatness
That trip was initiated by Spurs ownership and management, but it was executed by head coach Mitch Johnson, who made trips to Kerr County in the days immediately after the flood. Johnson saw the devastation firsthand through his volunteer efforts; he connected with the community, especially Ingram Tom Moore football coach and athletic director Tate DeMasco.
They came for Brenda Hughes. Here’s what they used — and what the truth is.
This has been an extraordinary campaign. Not because of anything Hughes has done, but because of what has been done to her.
Recent photos by The Kerr County Lead.
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.
