Brown U. Suspect Freed, Ocean Liner Rescue Attempt, and Holiday Porch Pirate Tips

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, Confederate colonel and future Texas governor Sul Ross assumed command of a brigade formed from the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and 27th Texas Cavalry regiments, which thereafter became known as Ross's Brigade.

We enjoyed featuring some of our readers' most memorable Thanksgivings last month, and we're doing the same thing for Christmas. Reply to this email with a story about one of your favorite Yuletides of yore, and it could show up in an upcoming edition! (Be sure to include your first name and town.)

After being deployed for more than a year, Abiram and Brandon Lozoya of San Antonio surprised their mother during a recent shopping trip. Check out the heartwarming story here.

If you've ever wished you could take back control of your online privacy without jumping through a dozen technical hoops, today's sponsor, Incogni, offers a simpler path to a more anonymous digital life.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Son of A&M Rabbi Injured in Bondi Beach Attack

Among the victims of a Sunday terrorist attack that targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Australia's Bondi Beach are friends and relatives of the Jewish communities in San Antonio, Houston, and College Station.

The Jewish Federation of San Antonio told a local news outlet that the uncle of a local preschool teacher was among those killed in the attack. "It's even more important to gather together without fear, and not to let ourselves be intimidated," said Rabbi Chaim Block.

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky of The Shul of Bellaire said his friend and colleague, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, helped organize the event and was one of those killed in the shooting. "As far as I'm concerned, I don't waver, I don't cower, I don't retreat," said Rabbi Zaklikofsky.

Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff of College Station is traveling to Australia to be with his 20-year-old son, Leibel Lazaroff, who is in critical condition but expected to survive. "Whenever there's an attack, it's always personal, but this is a little more personal," Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff said.

His uncle, Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff of Chabad of Houston, shared his resolve with a local reporter at a menorah lighting in Sugar Land. "When we have people that are trying to extinguish the light of the Jewish people, we will just burn bigger and brighter," he said.

DPS Revokes Thousands of CDLs

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has revoked thousands of commercial driver's licenses after a federal audit uncovered "systemic" failures in how they were issued to drivers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Auditors found that nearly half the licenses examined did not comply with federal standards. Some licenses did not expire until years after the drivers' work visas did. The department also "erroneously" issued a regular CDL to the non-domiciled truck driver responsible for a deadly crash on I-35 in Austin earlier this year.

An October letter from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration warned the state could lose $182 million in federal funding if the problem was not resolved. DPS Director Freeman Martin said the agency would "immediately pause" issuing non-domiciled CDLs and learner permits while the agency reviews the program.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott said "public safety is the Governor's top priority, and we must ensure that truckers can navigate Texas roadways safely and efficiently."

Dyess AFB Prepares for B-21's Arrival

Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene is preparing for the arrival of the next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber with 24 ongoing construction projects totaling $1.6 billion.

Dyess was designated the third operating base for the new bomber last year, and the U.S. House version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act provides $120 million in federal funding for the installation—four times the amount allocated last year.

Contractors were given a look at the projects on tap to get the base ready for the bomber's arrival, a date for which has not been announced. Among those projects are upgraded runways and new maintenance and storage buildings.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Lubbock), the chair of the House Budget Committee, hailed the proposed federal funding as "the largest authorized investment in the history of Dyess Air Force Base—a testament to its enduring role in service to our country and the brave men and women who embody the best of West Texas."

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➤ Texans who made purchases from the Google Play Store between 2016 and 2023 could be eligible for part of a $700 million settlement reached after Texas and a handful of other states sued the tech giant over allegations it monopolized the Android app market. (More)

➤ Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing five TV manufacturers, accusing them of collecting data on Texans' viewing habits and selling it to advertising companies. The defendants include Sony, Samsung, LG, and Chinese manufacturers Hisense and TCL. (More)

➤ The Harris County Democratic Party approved a resolution to withhold future endorsements from Houston Mayor John Whitmire, citing his participation at a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Humble). (More)

➤ Dallas: The city council approved $10 million in federal relief funding to help 400 homeless residents find stable housing. A member who voted against the spending asked what the city would do when the funding expired, suggesting it was "FIFA cleanup money." (See Details)

➤ Bexar County: Federal agents arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs next to the ATMs of two San Antonio banks in September. A "home explosives lab" was found at Dustin Ammons' house on Friday, according to the Department of Justice. (More)

➤ Shelby County: Avian influenza was discovered in a commercial poultry flock last week, marking the first confirmation of the disease in a Texas commercial facility this year. Several bird deaths have been reported. (See Details)

➤ Austin: The University of Texas is soliciting bids for a new 6,000-seat arena for its volleyball team. The Longhorns currently play most of their home games in the 4,000-seat Gregory Gymnasium. (More)

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➤ The Houston Cougars dropped one spot to No. 8 in this week's AP men's college basketball poll, while Texas Tech dropped three spots to No. 19. (See Poll)

➤ Former Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL on Sunday during the Green Bay Packers' game against the Denver Broncos. He's expected to miss the rest of the season. (More)

➤ The San Antonio Spurs take on the New York Knicks tonight in the NBA Cup Final. (More)

➤ Kevin Durant reunited with one of his UT classmates at a Houston Rockets game after seeing her during warmups in a shirt with a picture of them together. (More)

➤ Rangers pitcher Merrill Kelly signed a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend. Kelly played 10 games with the Rangers after he was acquired from the Diamondbacks ahead of last season's trade deadline. (More)

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➤ Houston-based Chevron submitted the largest bid—$18.59 million—in the first of several auctions for drilling leases in the Gulf. Federal legislation passed this summer authorized the lease of 80 million acres for drilling operations. (More)

➤ The parent company of the fledgling Texas Stock Exchange has raised $270 million in capital after a new round of funding led by Goldman Sachs and Bank of America. The TXSE is expected to begin trading next year. (See Details)

➤ McGrath Real Estate Partners of Houston is developing a 4,500-home community in Mont Belvieu. The 1,500-acre development will include a lake, parks, a town center, and 30 miles of trails. (More)

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➤ Thomas Conner became the oldest person at age 67 to fly in a wingsuit when he jumped out of a plane at Skydive Spaceland San Marcos in August. Conner is an Air Force veteran who has made over 470 lifetime jumps. (More)

➤ Austin is the No. 1 U.S. metro for wealth growth among millennials, according to a report by estate planning firm Trust & Will. (More)

➤ The Dallas Cowboys have invested $300 million in upgrading AT&T Stadium ahead of next summer's World Cup. The team has contracted with a farm in Colorado to grow a natural grass turf, which will be shipped to Arlington in refrigerated trucks in June. (See Details)

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Ayla Brown has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ A "person of interest" arrested in the Brown University shooting has been released from custody. (Listen Now)

➤ New York City officials are trying to save a 1950s ocean liner from being sunk off the coast of Florida. (Hear Details)

➤ Find out how to protect your package deliveries this holiday season, as theft is on the rise. (Listen Now)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

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NC Student Injured at Brown, an AI Leg, and a Grinch Arrest

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1870, the new Cape Hatteras Lighthouse's first-order Fresnel lens was lit to mark the dangerous Diamond Shoals. Completed that year, it stood 208 feet tall—making it the tallest lighthouse in the world at the time—and it remains the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States.

Speaking of Diamond Shoals, try your luck at today's Trivia question to find out why it's so dangerous.

Today's edition focuses not only on the arctic weather but also on cold-stunned trout and turtles. Learn more in Around North Carolina and Et Cetera.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Durham Student Injured in Brown Shooting

Kendall Turner, a Durham Academy graduate from the class of 2025, was among nine people injured in a mass shooting at Brown University's Barus and Holley engineering building in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday. Two others died in the incident.

Seven other Durham Academy alumni at Brown are safe.

Turner, who attended Durham Academy from pre-kindergarten before briefly transferring for one semester to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, underwent surgery and is in critical but stable condition. Her parents are with her.

A man in his mid-20s from Wisconsin, who was identified as a person of interest and detained Sunday in connection with the shooting, was later released without charges as authorities continue investigating the incident.

Arctic Front Paralyzes NC, Cancels RDU Flights

An arctic front plunged North Carolina into its coldest weather since December 2022 on Monday, with morning lows dipping into the teens across much of the state.

The Raleigh-Durham area recorded temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees, while Charlotte hit 18 degrees. In Western North Carolina, wind chills fell below zero in the mountains and to single digits in the foothills.

The bitter cold prompted widespread disruptions, including two-hour school delays in Avery, Ashe, Watauga, Columbus, and Bladen counties due to dangerously low temperatures and safety concerns for students waiting at bus stops. A gradual warm-up is forecast midweek, but residents are urged to protect pipes, pets, and vulnerable populations from hypothermia risks.

Meanwhile, winter weather in the Northeast delivered heavy snow and triggered 52 flight cancellations and 140 delays at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in the past 24 hours.

Top Court Declines Sunday Hunting Case

The North Carolina Supreme Court declined to review a challenge to the state's Sunday hunting restrictions on Friday, leaving in place a unanimous Court of Appeals ruling in April that upheld the laws.

Plaintiff Tim Oates had argued that limits under the statute, including a ban on Sunday migratory bird hunting and a restriction on hunting between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., violate a voter-approved 2018 constitutional amendment supporting "the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife."

Lower courts used a basic legal standard and concluded that the restrictions were reasonable because they support wildlife management, public safety, and a balance between hunters' and non-hunters' interests.

The decision preserves partial Sunday hunting allowed since 2017, while maintaining prohibitions intended to protect religious observances and shared land access.

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Becoming truly anonymous online is hard—but it's not impossible. Experts say there are several steps you can take:

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➤ Buy a burner phone instead of a smartphone

➤ Use a secure email service instead of Gmail or Yahoo

➤ Delete your social media accounts and associated data

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➤ Durham County: Crime dropped 4% from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 in the county's top eight crimes—murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson—compared to the same period in 2024. (More)

➤ Stanfield: Sycamore Brewing co-owner Justin Brigham, 44, faces charges of statutory rape, burglary, and indecent liberties with a child after allegedly meeting a 13-year-old girl online and breaking into her Stanly County home. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Four male suspects, including three adults and a juvenile, were arrested near Northlake Mall Sunday for attempting to steal cars while armed with guns and theft tools. All four face conspiracy charges. (More)

➤ Buncombe County: Officials have selected new polling sites for the 2026 elections to replace locations that were damaged or made unavailable by Hurricane Helene. (See Locations)

➤ NC Coast: The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is urging the public to report sightings of cold-stunned speckled trout in coastal waters to monitor potential events that could trigger temporary harvest closures. (More)

➤ NC State: Researchers unveiled a prototype motorized prosthetic leg combining mechanical assistance with artificial intelligence that allowed Dr. Brendan Driscoll, researcher and amputee, to "feel" more natural motion. They're also working to integrate neuro-signals for thought-driven control. (More)

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➤ Men's Basketball AP Poll: Duke remained ranked No. 3 in this week's poll, while UNC climbed two spots to No. 12 in the country. (See Poll)

➤ NC State fell to Washington 3-2 in overtime last night in its first-ever NCAA men's soccer championship appearance. (More)

➤ Four Charlotte-area high schools won football state championships this weekend, including Crest High School's 31-14 victory over Hunt to capture the 5A state title. (More)

➤ Seventeen women's basketball superstars gathered in Durham this weekend for a three-day Team USA training camp on Duke's campus. The list of attendees included Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. (More)

➤ UNC women's basketball fell to No. 22 Louisville 76-66 in overtime on Sunday in their ACC opener. (More)

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➤ The RDU Airport Authority presented concepts for a recreation and wellness development near Lake Crabtree, featuring whitewater rafting, trails, and lodging. (See Concept Map)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets are partnering with Honeywell to deploy advanced artificial intelligence building automation at the renovated Spectrum Center and upcoming Novant Health Performance Center, aimed at enhancing security, energy efficiency, air quality, and fan experience. (More)

➤ Multiple North Carolina bars, restaurants, and grocery chains—including Lowes Foods, Publix, and Food Lion—are dropping Sycamore Brewing products following the arrest of co-owner Justin Brigham on statutory rape and related charges involving a 13 year old. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Ten weird little hacks Costco shoppers should know. Do you shop at Costco? Then you know the thrill of saving money. But you might be missing other smart ways to stretch your dollars. Check out our list of genius money hacks—almost as good as that $1.50 hot dog! (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Remove the target on your back

Scammers don't need to hack you—they just buy your info.

Your name, phone number, and address are currently on dozens of public websites, making you an easy target for phishing, fake calls, and financial fraud.

No data, no scam.

Protect yourself today—save 55% with code FLYOVER.

➤ At age 90, retired neurosurgeon Dr. David L. Kelly Jr. finally received his UNC-Chapel Hill undergraduate degree in chemistry, 70 years after being one course short in 1955. (More)

➤ The Gastonia Police Department's annual Shop with a Cop event gave 28 families from low-income households a pancake breakfast with Santa, a motorcade to Target, and $250 per child for holiday shopping. The Grinch was also arrested on an outstanding warrant for trespassing. (See Photo)

➤ The Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is treating 32 cold-stunned sea turtles rescued from dangerously cold Outer Banks waters. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ This method has been vetted by scientists from the University College Cork. Their studies, made on 674 women dealing with deep wrinkles, dark spots, and saggy skin, clearly showed how, by simply doing this for 10 seconds in the mirror, they dramatically improved their appearance in less than a few weeks. This odd method is so effective that scientists have deemed it to be 10 times better than retinol, but with none of the side effects. 10X Better Than Retinol (With None Of The Side Effects!)