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 | Monday, February 23, 2026 | | | Good Morning! On this day in 1861, Texans approved a referendum to secede from the Union by a vote of 46,153 to 14,747. Majorities opposed secession in 18 of the state's 122 counties reporting results. There have been several unconfirmed sightings of a jaguarundi over the past year, including one last week. The medium-sized cat hasn't been documented in Texas since 1986. Thanks to everyone who shared a story about funny or embarrassing miscommunications! One of our favorites was from Kathy, who ordered a cake with the message "Best Wishes" for a retiring coworker but ended up with one that said "Death Wishes" instead.
Got a good one? Hit reply to share it with us. Today's sponsor is Splash Spotless Cleaning Products, makers of a hands-free foam toilet cleaner that tackles stains and odors without scrubbing—just pour, let it foam, and flush.
Abilene ☁️ 63/33° | Amarillo ☁️ 60/30° | Austin ☁️ 62/38° | Brownsville ☁️ 70/48° | Corpus Christi ☁️ 63/50° | DFW ☁️ 57/34° | El Paso ☀️ 70/41° | Houston ☁️ 59/37° | Laredo ☁️ 70/44° | Lubbock ☁️ 60/29° | Midland ☁️ 61/33° | San Antonio ☁️ 66/40° | Tyler ☁️ 56/31° | Waco ☁️ 59/33°
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| | |  |  Four People Indicted for Wind Turbine Dumps
An investigation into thousands of discarded wind turbine blades in Nolan County led to felony indictments against four people last week. Earlier this month, the state sued Washington-based Global Fiberglass Solutions for illegal dumping at two facilities in and around Sweetwater. The out-of-state suspects are charged with illegal dumping and theft of property while engaging in organized criminal activity. Nolan County District Attorney Ricky Thompson joined several other officials Thursday to announce the charges, highlighting the proximity of one of the sites to a cemetery. "My dad is buried over there. Every time I would come to see my dad's grave, I had to drive by these wind blades. We look forward to prosecuting this case," he said. The discarded components have been stored at the facilities since at least 2022. The state is seeking their removal within 180 days and fines of up to $25,000 a day for each alleged violation. | Report Fuels Dallas City Hall Debate Repairs to Dallas City Hall could exceed $1 billion over 20 years, according to a Friday report from the city's economic development corporation. The fate of the 1978 structure designed by celebrated architect I. M. Pei has been the subject of intense debate in recent months. Advocates for relocating City Hall and razing the downtown site for new development—such as a new Dallas Mavericks arena—said the report bolsters their position. Preservationists, meanwhile, question the accuracy of the estimates and suggest those who drafted the report are biased toward relocation. More than 80 engineers and specialists spent over two weeks inside the building documenting their findings to generate the report, which identified $329 million in urgent repairs, including replacing the HVAC system and elevators, fixing structural damage to the roof and parking garage, and addressing leaks. The city council's Finance Committee is scheduled to review the report today, and its Economic Development Committee will hear public comments next Monday. The full city council will be briefed on the findings next Wednesday. | Defense Contractor Eyes Brownsville Saronic, an Austin-based defense contractor that manufactures autonomous vessels, is considering a major expansion to Brownsville. The startup is seeking a property tax abatement for a $3.2 billion shipyard on 4,387 acres owned by the Port of Brownsville, according to a public notice of a March 24 meeting during which Cameron County commissioners will consider the application. Since its founding in 2022, Saronic has raised enough funding to achieve a $4 billion valuation and opened facilities in San Diego and Franklin, Louisiana. In December, it landed a $392 million contract from the U.S. Navy. A Saronic spokesperson said the company's "nationwide search for a location to build Port Alpha remains active and ongoing." | | | Flying together with our sponsor 
The No. 1 Toilet Cleaning Hack I Wish I Knew Sooner Tired of scrubbing your toilet? Splash Foam Cleaner is the fast, hands-free way to keep your toilet fresh and spotless. Clean toilet rings, stains, and more without forceful scrubbing. Just pour, let it foam, and flush. No scrubbing. No mess. It removes stains, eliminates odors, and leaves your bathroom smelling clean. LEARN MORE | |  | | ➤ A federal judge temporarily blocked Houston ISD, Katy ISD, and Plano ISD from enforcing certain provisions of a new state law that bars schools from implementing DEI programs and restricts instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity. The ACLU of Texas and other organizations filed the lawsuit last August. (More) ➤ Attorney General Ken Paxton sued New York-based online retailer Lola Olivia over its marketing of chest binders for girls as young as nine, accusing the company of failing to disclose at least 28 health risks associated with using such products, which are advertised as "safe and effective" for children. (More) ➤ Robstown: The Nueces River Authority board approved a $500,000 contract for preliminary work on the proposed Harbor Island desalination plant. "We're going to need to get that engineering started if we're going to deliver water by December 2029," Executive Director John Byrum said. (More) ➤ Laredo: Bridge Number Two over the Rio Grande was shut down Saturday for the 128th Abrazo Ceremony, an annual tradition in which representatives from the U.S. and Mexico meet to embrace. U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the keynote speaker, said ICE needs "a dramatic reform." (More) ➤ Panhandle: The 8 Ball Fire in Armstrong and Donley counties was 100% contained after burning 13,563 acres, while the Lavender Fire in Oldham and Potter counties was 100% contained after burning 18,423 acres. (More) ➤ Dallas County: Jurors were unable to agree on a verdict in the trial of Tren de Aragua member Carlos Zambrano Bolivar, who is accused of murdering a fellow gang member in August 2024. The case is the county's first prosecution of a member of the violent Venezuelan gang. (More) ➤ Beaumont: The remains of U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Frank Alfred Johnstone will be buried Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park after being positively identified last year. Johnstone's B-24 Liberator was shot down over Austria on Feb. 25, 1945. (More)
Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️ | |  | | ➤ No. 13 Texas Tech defeated Kansas State 100-72 on Saturday, while Texas A&M beat Oklahoma 75-71. TCU topped West Virginia 60-54, and Baylor edged Arizona State 73-68. (See Scores) ➤ Victor Wembanyama electrified the crowd with a windmill dunk early in the fourth quarter of the Spurs' 139-122 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. (See Highlight) ➤ Three fighters were taken to a local hospital for precautionary evaluations following UFC Houston on Saturday. Ramiz Brahimaj and Josiah Harrell were sent for CT scans, while Nora Cornolle suffered an apparent shoulder injury. (More) ➤ Texas Longhorns center fielder Aiden Robbins hit a single, double, triple, and home run during Saturday's 3-1 win over Michigan State. He's the first Texas player to hit for the cycle in 11 years. (More) Yesterday's Results: Olympics | NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA | NASCAR Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Elon Musk Sounds Alarm on China's Silver Ban "This is not good," Musk warned as China cut off 70% of global silver refining in January—right as demand exploded. Silver powers Tesla batteries, AI chips, and military tech. No substitute exists. Silver jumped 144% in 2025. In the 1970s, a similar crisis sent prices from $1.50 to $50—a 3,000% gain. Analysts say this shortage is worse. Early investors could see historic upside. 👉 Get The Free Silver Report & See How to Profit | |  | | ➤ Dallas led the nation with nearly 46,000 homes purchased by investors last year, according to a study by property analytics company Cotality. (More) ➤ A 2,600-acre data center has been proposed for Hood County, where commissioners recently declined to issue a moratorium on such projects. Some residents have expressed concern about the Comanche Circle Project, which would include multiple natural gas power plants and 45 buildings totaling more than 20 million square feet. (More) ➤ Meanwhile, a newly published map shows the locations and developers of more than two dozen data centers in Bexar County. (More) ➤ San Antonio's Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa will open its 2.2-acre Big Spring Lagoon on March 5. Florida's Crystal Lagoons and Dallas-based Woodbine Development Corporation collaborated on the three-year project. (More) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Discover a secret income fund reportedly tied to a major investor's strategy — accessible for under $15. Get exclusive research, timely recommendations and the full investment report from top strategists at The Oxford Club. Limited-time discount available — claim your savings and start exploring smarter ways to retire sooner! | | | Flying together with our sponsor Say Goodbye To Mold (No Scrubbing Needed) Say goodbye to stubborn stains and bad odors with Splash Spray Multipurpose Cleaner... with zero harsh chemicals or elbow grease. This powerful spray melts away grime, soap scum, and hard water stains right before your eyes. See why homeowners are calling it a total bathroom game-changer.. Spray, wait and wipe or rinse for sparkling clean showers, sinks & bathroom floors. LEARN MORE | |  | | ➤ Curt Donaldson, a former deputy constable in China Spring, has a cowboy hat with the signatures of Willie Nelson, Robert Duvall, and Billy Joe Shaver—a memento from his work as a bailiff during Shaver's 2010 trial for an aggravated assault charge he was acquitted of. (See Photo) ➤ Two critically endangered red-ruffed lemur pups were born on Valentine's Day at Tyler's Caldwell Zoo. (See Photos) ➤ Passengers aboard the Galveston-based Regal Princess cruise ship set a world record for the most margaritas purchased in 8 hours while docked in Cozumel last Tuesday. The 3,410 margaritas were made with Pantalones Organic Blanco Tequila, the brand founded by Texas-born actor Matthew McConaughey. (See Photo) ➤ A Corpus Christi photographer known online as Padre Island Madre has amassed more than 100,000 social media followers with her daily sunrise photos. (More) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Embarrassing Toenails? This breakthrough gadget is fixing them. Tired of thick, yellow, stubborn nail fungus that never seems to go away? FungaBeam's breakthrough laser technology blasts fungus at the source... fast, pain-free, and right from home. No creams. No pills. Just visibly clearer, healthier nails in weeks, not months. (LEARN MORE) | |  | | Do you own anything signed by a celebrity, famous athlete, or historical figure?
- Yes
- No
Yesterday's Results: Do you floss? - Every day: 35%
- Sometimes: 35%
- Never: 17%
- When I see the dentist: 13%
| |  | | What Texas-based company created the popular Big Mouth Billy Bass gag gift? Show me the answer | | |
