“Our girls are still dead”: Camp Mystic parents pushed for laws to protect kids at camp. But their pain remains.

Matthew Childress' 18-year-old daughter, Chloe, was a counselor at Camp Mystic and died in the July 4 Kerr County floods. In the wake of the tragedy, Matthew and his wife Wendie joined other parents to advocate for tighter camp safety regulations, culminating in recent bills signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. (Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune)

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Matthew Childress arrived at Matt’s El Rancho, an Austin restaurant, on Sept. 4 with mixed feelings of anticipation and grief. He greeted the other parents with hugs.