New Texas laws, Harvey updates, Donald Trump Jr.'s UNT speaking fee: Your Friday morning news roundup

September 01,  2017 By Tara Bryant Good morning! Here is a look at the top headlines as we start the day. 🌞 Weather: [Mostly sunny and warm](. High: 90 degrees. 🔎 Prefer the online view? [It's here.]( Houston firefighters gather for a briefing before going on a door-to-door survey of a neighborhood that was hit by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey in Houston on Thursday. The first responders are checking homes for any emergency needs of residents. (LM Otero/The Associated Press) HARVEY Houston searches door-to-door for Harvey victims as Beaumont runs out of water [Firefighters began searching door-to-door for victims]( — dead or alive — Thursday in Houston. But even as flooding receded there, rescues continued in Beaumont, where thousands were without drinking water. The storm's effects could be felt as far as North Texas, where [worries about fuel shortages]( created long lines at gas stations. But [officials said there wasn't a serious problem](. A run on the pumps caused some stations to run out of gas after a partial pipeline shutdown. But supplies should return to normal in a few days. Harvey's confirmed death toll rose to 39 on Thursday. Among those found was the body of 61-year-old Clementine Thomas who died Wednesday when her car was swept away in floodwaters about 60 miles northeast of Beaumont, Newton County Sheriff Billy Rowles said. But even in places where the water has dropped, dangers remain. A chemical plant near Houston was rocked by explosions early Thursday after it lost power. Analysis: Why Hurricane Harvey has [a drastically lower death toll than Katrina](. Watch: These videos [show the damage and heroism]( after Hurricane Harvey. For updates: [Follow our live blog for the latest information]( on the storm and its devastation. Recovery efforts: Here’s a list of [resources for those who need help and those who want to help](. SPECIAL OFFER For a limited time, newsletter readers can enjoy unlimited digital access to DallasNews.com for only $2.99 a week. [Sign up today]( and stay informed about the latest news that's important to you. Texas state Capitol building in Austin. (Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer) texas legislature The right to bear swords, and 9 other new Texas laws that go into effect today State lawmakers passed a raft of bills during the regular legislative session this spring, and Gov. Greg Abbott signed many of the measures into law. The new regulations range from the high-profile and contentious to the more obscure, such as a measure allowing Texans to openly carry swords in public. Judges have blocked two of the more contentious laws that were to go into effect Friday — the [ban on so-called sanctuary cities]( and a [ban on a second-trimester abortion procedure](. [Here's a list of some of the new laws, most of which take effect Friday](, and the two laws that judges blocked. In Washington: The U.S. Supreme Court has [ordered Texas to hold off on partially redrawing statehouse maps]( before next year's elections. Texas Legislature: Parker Republican [Jodie Laubenberg won't seek re-election to Texas House](, she announced Thursday. Drive safely: What you need to know about [Texas' texting and driving ban that starts Friday](. (Agence France-Presse/Saul Loeb) Donald jr. in denton Donald Trump Jr. set to earn $100,000 for speech at UNT event [Donald Trump Jr. will be paid $100,000]( for his speech Oct. 24 as part of the University of North Texas' Kuehne Speaker Series. [The North Texas Daily obtained contracts]( between the school and Trump. According to the documents, Trump — executive vice president of the Trump Organization — will give a 30-minute speech followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session, to which he will be provided the questions in advance. His speaking fee is nonrefundable. Although the Denton university hasn't finalized a contract for the event's venue, Trump's contract indicates it will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Higher education: A [UT-Arlington flood expert helped keep Houston hospitals safe]( during Harvey's onslaught. Advertisement (Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer) Photo of the Morning Sarah Dill and her husband, Josh Dill, console each other outside their Kingwood home as [demolition and cleaning take place Thursday during recovery efforts]( after flooding from Harvey. Josh and Sarah Dill were at home when floodwaters entered their home with their two children, Brian, 4, and Rebekah, 2, forcing them to evacuate into an inflatable boat. When Josh tried to close the front door on the way out, the door slammed on his hand and broke it. Sarah, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, had to get a radiation treatment on the day recovery efforts were taking place in her house. Around The Site Quick links - Gas interference? Will the gas shortage in the Dallas area [affect high school football games](? - Editorial: Don't let the failure of a few DISD trustees [keep you from helping Dallas schools](. - Goodbye, mate: The Dallas Zoo is [closing its Australia exhibit]( as preparations ramp up for the multi-million dollar Southern Gateway expansion along Interstate 35E. - Technology: A Dallas jury awarded [a local company $10.1 million]( today in a jury trial over who invented the motion detection technology used in the Nintendo Wii. Students crowd the halls on the first day of classes Monday at Grand Prairie High School. (Lawrence Jenkins/Special Contributor) Finally... The first bell has already rung, and students and teachers are finding their groove in the classroom. While they settle into their new routines, some instructors can't help but notice how different the classrooms that they lead are from the ones they sat in as students. Lunches, recess, teaching styles — all of it has changed. Teachers from Dan D. Rogers Elementary [shared memories from their own school days]( as they worked to prepare their northeast Dallas campus ahead of Monday's start. Advertisement 👋 That's all for this morning! For up-to-the-minute news and analysis, check out [DallasNews.com](. 💖 Share the love! If you like this newsletter, please forward this email to a friend and [check out our other newsletters here](. 📧 Do you have feedback? Send your thoughts, questions, praise and corrections to [newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com](mailto:newsletter-feedback@dallasnews.com?subject=). 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