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Screwworm returns to Texas as Kerrville’s revamped federal lab opens for the fight
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm in a calf in Zavala County, the first case in the United States and the first in Texas since the pest began pushing north out of Central America in 2023.
The Lead’s stories
Texas airports rank among most stressful for families with kids, national study finds
A report by iSharing, a family location-tracking app, examined 30 major U.S. airports across nine factors and assigned each a composite stress score from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse conditions for families traveling with children.
A roughly 500-home subdivision near the Sports Complex faces a key vote Thursday
The plat lays the development out in six phases, building from the Interstate 10 frontage south toward Holdsworth Drive and around the city-owned baseball fields.
Kerrville family seeks a wheelchair-accessible van for 13-year-old Kaydin as she returns home
Kaydin’s ordeal began Jan. 31, when she tested positive for the flu, according to her mother, Amanda Valdez. The next day, the family says, she was diagnosed with a streptococcal pneumonia infection and went into septic shock with multiple organ failure.
Arcadia Live marks 100 years with a full summer of music, films and bingo
On Friday, June 5, Hunter Hicks & the West Bound Hearts take the stage from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Hicks has landed several song placements on the “Landman” soundtrack and recently passed 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
The week ahead: Folk fest winds down, summer camps gear up and Shakespeare takes the park
But the festival is far from the only thing going. Summer programming is kicking into gear across town — art camps at the Color of Clay, MOWA, HCAF and KACC are opening registration, and Schreiner University’s slate of tennis, robotics and volleyball camps starts filling up next week.
KerrKonnect volunteer drivers pass 350,000-mile mark — and still have a waitlist of 150
The milestone ride was given by Cynthia Wallace, a volunteer driver since January 2023 who has logged more than 350 rides.
Ingram Warrior Homes receives three-year grant from Adam R. Scripps Foundation
The grant will fund supplies and help pay for an additional instructor to assist with on-campus home builds.
Sign up now: Lead Live’s Fifth Annual Nonprofit Week set for Aug. 17-21
Nearly 30 Kerr County nonprofits have already claimed spots across the five-day broadcast.
Texas Board of Nursing limits Mary Liz Eastland’s license, bars patient care
The action represents a modification from an earlier disciplinary proceeding. Eastland’s license had previously been suspended May 19, 2026.
Lambert consolidates Uecker, Baroody voters to crush Hughes in Precinct 1 runoff
Lambert defeated Hughes 1,358 to 769 — 63.84% to 36.16% — in unofficial results released after 1 a.m. Wednesday following a hand count of Election Day ballots at the Kerr County Elections Administration.
Paxton routs Cornyn in Texas Republican Senate runoff; far-right candidates sweep statewide races
Paxton’s margin widened as the night went on, suggesting broad enthusiasm among the Republican primary electorate rather than a narrow base of committed supporters.
BREAKING NEWS: Storm bearing down on Comfort until 9 p.m.
Take shelter immediately if you are in or near Comfort, Center Point, Camp Verde or Cypress Creek.
Lambert leads Hughes in Precinct 1 commissioner runoff; Moose ahead in court-at-law race
Lambert led Hughes 900 to 556 — 61.81% to 38.19% — in absentee and early voting. Moose led Ferguson 2,651 to 2,109 — 55.69% to 44.31% — in the same ballot categories. Kerr County counted its in-person ballots by hand Tuesday night, and those results had not been released as of this report.
Storms moving through Kerrville now; wind gusts up to 50 mph possible
Hazards include wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny-size hail. Forecasters also warn that torrential rainfall is occurring with the storms and could cause localized flooding.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch now in effect for Kerr County until 9 p.m.
Kerr County now faces a dual threat: severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds this afternoon and evening, followed by heavy rainfall overnight that forecasters warn could cause life-threatening flooding.
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/
Arts and Culture
Six Flags Fiesta Texas unveils Werewolf Gorge, set to open in 2027
Built by Vekoma, Werewolf Gorge will run 4,120 feet and last about 2 minutes, 36 seconds, with four launches, a 40-foot drop, an 85-foot elevation change and speeds reaching 45 mph, according to the park.
Arcadia Live marks 100 years with a full summer of music, films and bingo
On Friday, June 5, Hunter Hicks & the West Bound Hearts take the stage from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Hicks has landed several song placements on the “Landman” soundtrack and recently passed 100,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
Theresa Britt launches first Fredericksburg Summer Music Institute, June 23-27
Violinist Theresa Britt will realize a goal she set when she moved to Fredericksburg in 2010 as she hosts the inaugural Fredericksburg Summer Music Institute, a week of free concerts and classes, June 23-27.
2026 Kerrville Folk Festival
Sunday, June 7: Full Circle to the Festival’s End
The festival’s final evening brings together intimate folk traditions, innovative genre-defying sounds and arena-ready heartland rock.
Career Milestones and Musical Evolution highlight the final Saturday at Quiet Valley Ranch
The evening honors veteran artistry while embracing fresh voices exploring the boundaries of traditional forms.
A night of gene-defying music on final Friday of Folk Festival
The evening moves from intimate songwriter craft through indie-rock sensibilities to the high-energy punk-country fusion that defines modern Americana’s edge.
Photo gallery: Andy Frasco and The U.N. on the second Saturday of Kerrville Folk Festival
The Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter took to the stage at 10 p.m. and was nonstop for an hour, including a crowd surfing moment and dancing with a little girl who wandered onto the stage.
Photo gallery: The Eastpointers close out the second Friday of Kerrville Folk Festival
The Canadian and Celtic-inspired duo the Eastsiders took to the stage Friday night and immediately brought the crowd to their feet.
Photo gallery: Brandy Clark brings Kerrville Folk Festival audience to its feet
During a well-received set, Brandy Clark singled out the Kerrverts at the Kerrville Folk Festival on Friday night.
Photo gallery: Chasity Brown at the Kerrville Folk Festival
Brown was the second act on Friday night during the second weekend of the Kerrville Folk Festival. She pulls from blues, gospel and Americana and a voice that tends to command a room.
McMurtry, Mon Rovîa headline weekend two’s closing night at Quiet Valley Ranch
Mon Rovîa closes the weekend at 10 p.m. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, adopted by American missionaries during the country’s civil war, and raised across Florida, Montana and the Bahamas before settling in Chattanooga, Tenn., Mon Rovîa built his following through ukulele-centered folk storytelling that has accumulated more than 500 million TikTok views.
Kerrville Folk Festival Weekend Three Lineup
| Times | Friday, June 5 | Saturday, June 6 | Sunday, June 7 |
| 7 p.m. | Anthony Da Costa | Rebecca Loebe | Raina Rose |
| 8 p.m. | Cactus Lee | Trout Fishing in America | The Point. |
| 9 p.m. | Lilly Hiatt | Jon Muq | Andrew Leahey |
| 10 p.m. | Vandoliers | West Texas Exiles |
Photo galleries
Photo gallery: Night to Unite shows the past, present and future of Cailloux Theater
The performing arts group hosted Night to Unite, which showcased the center’s past, present and future.
Photo gallery: Andy Frasco and The U.N. on the second Saturday of Kerrville Folk Festival
The Los Angeles-based singer and songwriter took to the stage at 10 p.m. and was nonstop for an hour, including a crowd surfing moment and dancing with a little girl who wandered onto the stage.
Photo gallery: The Eastpointers close out the second Friday of Kerrville Folk Festival
The Canadian and Celtic-inspired duo the Eastsiders took to the stage Friday night and immediately brought the crowd to their feet.
Photo gallery: Brandy Clark brings Kerrville Folk Festival audience to its feet
During a well-received set, Brandy Clark singled out the Kerrverts at the Kerrville Folk Festival on Friday night.
Photo gallery: Chasity Brown at the Kerrville Folk Festival
Brown was the second act on Friday night during the second weekend of the Kerrville Folk Festival. She pulls from blues, gospel and Americana and a voice that tends to command a room.
Sports
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.
Tivy product Rhodes nearly steals one for Oklahoma State in Tuscaloosa regional opener
He worked the final 6⅓ innings, striking out six and allowing three runs on four hits — a workmanlike effort that kept Oklahoma State within striking distance until the final out.
Two Tivy grads are in college baseball’s postseason this week
Coleson Abel, a senior right-hander at UT Tyler, and Aiden Cline, a sophomore pitcher at Kansas, represent the Hill Country on opposite ends of the college baseball landscape as their respective teams chase national championships.
Schreiner University looking for its next football PA announcer
The university is searching for a public address announcer to help set the tone on game days, and no prior PA experience is required. The job calls for strong communication skills and comfort in front of a microphone.
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.
Obituaries
Shaleah Lynn Hill: Feb. 5, 1963-May 29, 2026
Shaleah dedicated much of her life to serving others. As a Licensed Vocational Nurse, EMT, and volunteer first responder with the Hunt Fire Department, she cared for countless people with compassion, skill, and a servant’s heart.
Melissa Charleen Owens Juenke: Nov. 22, 1966-May 22, 2026
She was smart, steady, thoughtful, and strong, but she was also tender, funny, joyful, and full of life. She carried herself with grace and had a quiet way of making even ordinary moments feel special.
Mary Ann Zimmerhanzel: Feb. 27, 1944-May 29, 2026
At home, she expressed her love through food, famously preparing incredible meals and baked goods that brought her family together.
Reyna Aguirre: Aug. 7, 1965-May 29, 2026
Her greatest joy was spending time with those she loved, whether camping, fishing, or gathering around the table. An exceptional cook, she was known for her delicious potato salad, and Joel especially looked forward to her famous chicken tetrazzini.
Marion Lee Redmon: Oct. 21, 1929-May 14, 2026
A man of many talents, Marion was known as “Mr. Fix It” because there was truly nothing he could not repair.
Community voices
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.
Op-ed: It’s time to get involved in your party, reminders for voting
And do not think your vote doesn’t matter! If you voted in the Primary, it is incumbent upon you to have your voice heard. If you did not vote in EITHER primary, you can vote in the Republican primary runoff.
The Lead’s Editorial: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY
The good works of the Hill Country Charity Ball is highlighted, but it’s all downhill from there.
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.
