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AUSTIN (ABC) — The measles outbreak in western Texas has hit 481 cases, with 59 newly identified infections confirmed over the last three days, according to new data published Friday.

Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Three of the cases are among people vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and seven cases are among those vaccinated with two doses.

At least 56 measles patients have been hospitalized so far, the DSHS said.

Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases, at 180, followed by children ages 4 and under, who account for 157 cases, according to the data.

Gaines County, which borders New Mexico, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 315 cases confirmed so far, DSHS data shows.

“We’re continuing to see a rise, and so it certainly does tell us that we’re not quite in a place yet where the outbreak has been contained,” Dr. Sapna Singh, chief medical officer for Texas Children’s Pediatrics in Houston, told ABC News in reference to the state data.

“What it does not tell us is how many undiagnosed cases we are potentially missing,” she continued. “I suspect that there are greater numbers of patients out there who have infections but may not be seeking out testing and or medical care for symptoms that may not require it.”

Singh said the low number of rare breakthrough cases show how effective the vaccine is, and that there are many reasons breakthrough cases might occur, including someone who has a condition that causes their immunity to wane over time.

“Even in those cases, we know that those patients are less likely to develop severe infection, they’re less likely to have complications, and they’re also much less likely to be the spreaders of the infection, and that is very important in terms of community protection and the protection of vulnerable people in the population,” she said.

It comes as the CDC has so far confirmed 607 measles cases in at least 21 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.

This is likely an undercount due to delays in states reporting cases to the federal health agency.

About 12% of measles patients in the U.S. have been hospitalized, mostly among those aged 19 and under, according to CDC data.

Among the nationally confirmed cases by the CDC, about 97% are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, the agency said.

Of those cases, 1% are among those who received just one dose of the MMR inoculation and 2% are among those who received the required two doses, according to the CDC.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective against measles.

“This is an unfortunate part of just declining vaccine rates, not just within the country, but internationally as well,” Singh said. “Many of these other cases that you’re seeing in isolated areas, not necessarily large outbreaks, are coming from international travel. … But it is certainly of concern to see the number reach this this high,”

Last year, just 285 cases were confirmed during the entirely of 2024, according to CDC data.

Singh says having more than double the cases in just the first three months of 2025, is “of significant concern” and said it’s important to educate people on the importance of vaccination.

“Our greatest defense against the infection is vaccination” she said. “Texas Children’s pediatrics, we are really encouraging families to come in speak with their pediatricians if they think their child needs a vaccine, if they think they are due for an additional dose or are unsure about their vaccine status. Your physician, your pediatrician, is going to be the best source for you to get your concerns and questions answered.”

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FRISCO (ABC) — A 17-year-old student charged with murder in the fatal stabbing of another student at a track meet allegedly confessed to the killing and officers say he told them he was protecting himself, according to the arrest report.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning at a Frisco Independent School District stadium during a track and field championship involving multiple schools in the district.

Austin Metcalf, 17, an 11th grader at Frisco Memorial High School, died after police said another student stabbed him during an altercation in the bleachers at the meet.

The suspect in the deadly stabbing — Karmelo Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School — has been charged with first-degree murder, police said.

One officer who responded to the scene said Anthony told him unprompted, without being asked any questions about the incident, “I was protecting myself,” according to the arrest report.

When the officer advised another responding officer that he had “the alleged suspect,” Anthony reportedly responded, “I’m not alleged, I did it,” according to the arrest report.

As he was walking toward the squad car, Anthony “was emotional,” reportedly saying unprompted, “He put his hands on me, I told him not to,” according to the arrest report. Once in the back seat, he also reportedly asked if Metcalf was “going to be OK,” according to the report.

Anthony “made another spontaneous statement” and reportedly asked an officer if what happened “could be considered self-defense,” according to the arrest report. Another officer reported that the suspect was “crying hysterically” while being walked away from the stadium, the report said.

Anthony is being held in the Collin County jail on $1 million bond, court records show. When reached for comment on Friday, his attorney told ABC News he had been on the case for only a few hours and needed to catch up.

Anthony’s father told ABC News on Thursday that they do not have a statement to make at this time.

The stabbing occurred under the Memorial High School tent in the stadium bleachers at approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the arrest report.

Responding officers say they spoke to multiple witnesses, including one who reported that the altercation began after Metcalf told Anthony to move out from under their team’s tent, according to the arrest report.

The witness reported that Anthony allegedly reached inside his bag and said, “Touch me and see what happens,” according to the arrest report.

According to a witness, Metcalf grabbed Anthony to move him, and Anthony allegedly pulled out what the witness described as a black knife and “stabbed Austin once in the chest and then ran away,” the arrest report stated.

An officer recovered a bloody knife in the bleachers, according to the report.

Metcalf was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:53 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the arrest report.

His twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, was also at the meet and spoke to officers at the scene. He said that after his brother told Anthony he had to leave the tent because he didn’t go to Memorial, the two “went back and forth and then Austin stood up and pushed the male to get him out of the tent,” according to the arrest report.

“I tried to whip around as fast as I could, but I didn’t see the stab,” Hunter Metcalf told Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA. “It was really senseless. I don’t know why a person would do that to someone, just over that little argument.”

The track meet has been postponed to Monday and will be held at a new location, WFAA reported. Frisco ISD will share more details on updated security measures with families, according to the station.

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HOUSTON – The Houston Chronicle reports that Meals on Wheels is bracing for the potential impacts of cuts to the agency that coordinates dispersal of federal funding to the nonprofit and similar organizations. The oldest and largest national organization that distributes meals to older adults and people with disabilities joins the growing list of programs and services affected by the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency’s federal funding cuts. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on March 27 that it would be reorganizing the Administration for Community Living, an agency that coordinates federal policy on aging and disability. About 40% of the administration’s staff received layoff notices this week. Meals on Wheels officials said the layoffs could cause disruption to the organization that serves more than 2 million people across the U.S. annually.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in March that it would be making a “dramatic restructuring” as part of federal funding cuts of the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, according to a release by the department. It announced that it would be reducing staff from several agencies and consolidate the 28 divisions within the department. Meals on Wheels said that the restructuring of the Administration for Community Living would “disrupt the coordination of vital services tailored to the unique needs of older adults,” according to a release the organization issued the same day. “Our main priority is ensuring that America’s seniors continue to receive the lifesaving meals, social connection and wellness checks they rely on through Meals on Wheels. That’s why the Older Americans Act – the primary source of federal funding for community-based Meals on Wheels providers – must be safeguarded. The growing senior population and need, coupled with rising costs and funding shortfalls, have stretched local providers far beyond capacity. “As is, 1 in 3 Meals on Wheels providers already has a waitlist. Any further disruption due to the HHS restructuring could cost more taxpayer dollars in the long run.”

AUSTIN – The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas Republicans are coming to the rescue of Tesla CEO Elon Musk at a time when Democratic protesters are targeting him and his electric car company for boycotts and protests. The Texas Senate passed legislation this week that would make it a third-degree felony if protesters cause any damage to an electric vehicle charging station like those at Tesla’s dealerships.

“With the increase in the destruction and vandalism of electric charging stations throughout the nation and also in Texas, we want to make it clear that that will not be tolerated in the state of Texas,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican and the legislation’s sponsor. A third-degree felony can result in a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in jail. Under Huffman’s measure, the penalty jumps to a first-degree felony if damage to electric charging stations is valued at over $300,000. A first-degree felony can result in up to 99 years in prison. “That’s a little scary,” state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said of the potential penalty.

McALLEN — A South Texas county will lose some authority over the beach near the SpaceX launch site if a bill approved by the state Senate Thursday becomes law.

Instead, the authority to close access to the beach would go to the proposed city of Starbase, which its residents will vote to incorporate in May.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Adam Hinojosa, would allow the future city of Starbase to oversee weekday closures of Boca Chica beach. Cameron County would retain authority over the beach closures on Friday afternoons and weekends.

Hinojosa said the intention is to streamline the process of closing the beach.

The bill does not increase the number of beach closures permitted. SpaceX is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration to close the beach up to 500 hours a year for operations plus 300 hours per year to address anomalies.

The bill requires 48-hour notice to the public prior to the closure of the beach. State law already prohibits the closure of the beach on certain holidays or days before and after some holidays.

“Given the substantial economic impact of Starbase and the national security role of SpaceX, it is critical to streamline administrative processes while maintaining local oversight,” Hinojosa, a Republican from Corpus Christi, said during an earlier hearing on the bill.

A companion bill from Hinojosa also cleared the Senate on Thursday. It would require unauthorized individuals to evacuate an FAA-designated hazard area when it is closed for launches, making it a Class B misdemeanor to remain in the area. Repeat offenses would be a Class A misdemeanor.

A coalition of local nonprofit organizations have sought to push back on SpaceX’s growing presence in the area, raising concerns over environmental effects and the public’s loss of access to the beach.

In response to the bill, those groups accused lawmakers of ceding more power to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

“These public officials supposed to represent us are showing that they are bought and paid for by Elon Musk and SpaceX,” a statement from Josette Angelique Hinojosa, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, said in part.

“Who will be the official that finally speaks up for the residents who can’t access Boca Chica Beach for swimming or fishing because of SpaceX?” she added. “We have sent letters to regulators and elected representatives, filed lawsuits, and spoken at public hearings, yet our voices go unheard.”

The Cameron County Commissioners Court also publicly opposed the bill, passing a resolution against it in late March.

County Judge Eddie Treviño said the commissioners tried to strike a balance of allowing SpaceX to be successful while also keeping in mind the impacts to the public.

“We think that having Cameron County continue to be the steward and the authority, with regard to the closures, should be continued and would be the most proper way going forward,” Treviño said at a commissioners meeting.

County Commissioner David Garza said what most upset him about the bill is that it would continue to leave it up to the county to close the beach on Friday afternoons and weekends.

“Why don’t they want to take responsibility in this law with Saturday and Sunday?” Garza said. “If you close on a Friday afternoon or a Saturday or Sunday, they want the county to get the blame for closing the beach?”

On Tuesday, Treviño reaffirmed his opposition to the bill to the Tribune and said he had met with Hinojosa, letting him know he would be opposed to the bill if it were to be filed.

Hinojosa said he hopes the bill will foster collaboration between the county and Starbase and allow the county to maintain authority over the beach when it is used most often.

SpaceX did respond to questions from the Tribune regarding the bill, though a representative of the company provided written testimony in support of the bill during last month’s committee hearing.

The only other voice of support for the bill during the hearing was a representative from KULR Technology Group, a company that in December inked a deal with SpaceX to launch a space battery into space, which was pointed out by state Sen. José Menendez during a Senate floor debate on the bill

“I’m just concerned that we’re streamlining a bill that seems to be only going to make the rules and regulations for one company and that would be SpaceX,” said Menendez, a Democrat from San Antonio.

Hinojosa, however, repeatedly sought to distinguish between SpaceX and the proposed city of Starbase which will likely be composed almost entirely of SpaceX employees.

“This is not yielding to a corporation, this is yielding to a municipality with elected officials,” Hinojosa said.

The bills must receive approval from the state House before going into effect. State Rep. Janie Lopez, a Republican from San Benito, filed a similar bill in the House that is pending at the House Committee for State Affairs.

Article originally published by The Texas Tribune. To read the originally published article, click here.