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| Good Morning! As you revel in the onset of a fresh new year, please enjoy this special edition of The Feel Good Flyover Podcast as host, Amy Hess looks back at the most loved stories of 2025. If you missed yesterday’s episode, be sure to check out The Flyover Podcast: Year in Review, where Ayla Brown highlights the biggest news stories of 2025 and the moments that shaped the year.
  
Thanks for cruising with us,
The Flyover✈️ | | | | 
The Texas congressional delegation will look dramatically different next year as at least nine U.S. House members—six Republicans and three Democrats—are not running for reelection. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ | 
 | Friday, January 2, 2025 | | | Good Morning! On this day in 1886, sculptor Bonnie MacLeary was born in San Antonio. In 1924, her bronze work, Aspiration, was the first sculpture created by a Texan to be acquired by New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Texas Tech's successful college football season came to a sudden halt yesterday with a 23-0 loss to a dominant Oregon team at the Orange Bowl in the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff. Today's abbreviated edition highlights some of our readers' most memorable New Year's Eve celebrations. We wish all of our 375,000 readers a joyful 2026. Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is highlighting a simple way Amazon Prime shoppers can earn serious cash back and score a valuable Amazon bonus—just for getting approved, with no extra spending required.
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| | |  |  Texans Leaving Congress
The Texas congressional delegation will look dramatically different next year as at least nine U.S. House members—six Republicans and three Democrats—are not running for reelection. Texas Republicans also hope to increase their numbers from the current 25 members to 30 after redistricting created a more GOP-favorable map. Chip Roy (R-Austin) is running to replace Ken Paxton as attorney general, while Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) and Wesley Hunt (R-Houston) are running for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Cornyn. Democrats Marc Veasey (Fort Worth) and Lloyd Doggett (Austin) decided to retire from Congress after redistricting pitted them against other Democratic members. Veasey was first elected in 2012, while Doggett has served in Congress since 1995. Republicans retiring from Congress include House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington (Lubbock), former Navy SEAL Morgan Luttrell (Magnolia), former sheriff Troy Nehls (Richmond), and former anti-terrorism prosecutor Michael McCaul (Austin). | Contract Awarded to Restore Damaged Beach An $86 million contract has been awarded to a Houston company to restore Matagorda County's Sargent Beach, damaged by multiple storms in recent years, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Parts of the area have been closed since September. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office are providing funding for the project. Orion Government Services LLC will dredge more than a million cubic yards from the mouth of the Colorado River and deposit it along a 3.5-mile stretch of Sargent Beach, where a 2,600-foot concrete wall will be constructed at Mitchell's Cut. Sargent Beach has one of the highest erosion rates along the Texas coast—up to 23 feet a year in some areas. "The long overdue beach nourishment project, with the additional building of breakwaters, will help stabilize this important stretch of shoreline," said Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2027. | | | | | Flying together with our sponsor 
| |  | | Thanks to our readers who submitted their most memorable New Year's Eve memories. Here are some of our favorites. ➤ Lisa Stout (Spring): My most memorable New Year's Eve was last year. My daughter and two grandchildren came over to spend the night, and we played board games and UNO for hours. At midnight, we made toasts. (My grandson had apple juice.) He is looking forward to New Year's Eve this year and plans to stay up again. ➤ Suzanne & Sonny D. (Montgomery): We were married on New Year's Eve in 1965. We are celebrating our 60th anniversary this year while cruising the Bahamas. Ain't love grand! ➤ Sundy W. (Streetman): Our New Year's Eve fondue tradition began in 2002, when several families from our church volleyball group in Arlington gathered for a "Fundue" celebration. We start with cheese fondue in the kitchen, move to the dining room for oil and broth fondues with bite-sized meats and veggies, and end the night with chocolate and caramel fondue for lots of fun dippers. We watch the ball drop in NYC, and then we toast the new year at midnight Texas time. As our families grew, so did our spread of tables and fondue pots. Frequent trips to the breaker box and winding extension cords through the house to other circuits are always an issue. While many families have participated, three have kept coming for 24 years. Even COVID didn't stop us! ➤ Brenda (Ransom Canyon): My very favorite New Year's Eve was 2000. I had worked for a year to make sure my school's computers were Y2K compliant. And they were. What a relief! ➤ Jeff F. (Waxahachie): As newlyweds approaching our one-year anniversary in 1983, my wife and I traveled from San Diego—where I was stationed in the Navy—to Long Beach, California. After spending the night in a nice hotel, we got up early to visit the retired British ocean liner Queen Mary and the Spruce Goose aircraft, both on display. Although we were among the first visitors to arrive, we made the mistake of seeing the Queen Mary first. After walking around the ship for a couple of hours, we went to see the Spruce Goose. By the time we did, there were about 1,000 people in line ahead of us to see it. We never saw the Spruce Goose that day or any other day! Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Beat the bloat in 2026—finally eat without the regret, discomfort, or jeans that don't fit after lunch. MassZymes delivers 18 digestive enzymes that help break down proteins, fats, and carbs so your body actually uses what you eat instead of fighting it. No more sluggish afternoons or wondering why "healthy eating" still leaves you uncomfortable. Three months builds real consistency—so by spring, digestion just works. Get your 3-month supply at 30% off before it sells out. 👉 Start Your Meal-Time Ritual (30% Off)
Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️ | |  | | Do you think you'll be represented by a new congressperson next year?
- Yes
- No
- Don't know
- Don't care
Yesterday's Results: What was the most important news story in Texas last year? - Flash floods: 22%
- EPIC City: 16%
- School choice: 16%
- Redistricting: 16%
- Measles outbreak: 15%
- Other: 15%
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Pensacola gospel singer Keyla Richardson will return to TV on American Idol's Season 24 premiere on Jan. 26. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ |
| | Friday, January 2, 2026 | | | Good Morning! On this day in 1936, Florida's first theme park, Cypress Gardens, opened to visitors. The attraction was known for its nature displays, water ski shows, and amusement park thrill rides. Welcome to 2026! We hope you enjoyed our special New Year's Day edition yesterday. Today's edition is a little shorter, so our staff can spend time with family and friends. Today's sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is highlighting a simple way Amazon Prime shoppers can earn serious cash back and score a valuable Amazon bonus—just for getting approved, with no extra spending required.
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.
| | |  |  Lawmakers Reintroduce Rural Renaissance Plan
Florida lawmakers are poised to give a major boost to the state's rural communities. When the full state Senate convenes for the 2026 legislative session on Jan. 13, it will consider a proposal dubbed the rural renaissance bill. The legislation was reintroduced by Sen. Corey Simon, a Republican from District 3 in the Panhandle, and is sponsored by Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula. The measure cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee on Dec. 10. The bill focuses on enhancing key services in rural areas, including healthcare, education, transportation, and local economies. If approved, the bill would help doctors establish practices in small towns, provide student loan relief for rural educators, and fund new roads and infrastructure projects throughout Florida. | Pensacola Singer on American Idol Pensacola gospel singer Keyla Richardson will return to TV on American Idol's Season 24 premiere on Jan. 26. Richardson was spotted on Pensacola Beach in early December filming for the upcoming season. The results of how far Richardson made it on the singing competition show won't be known until the show airs. "I got to sing in front of @carrieunderwood, @lukebryan, and @lionelrichie, such an amazing honor," Richardson captioned in a photo of herself on Instagram, while posing in front of the famed IDOL sign in Los Angeles. Richardson has been performing in Pensacola churches since the age of 5, and has already found success as a musician. You can watch an interview with Richardson on Good Day Sacramento here. | | | | | Flying together with our sponsor
| |  | | ➤ The National Science Foundation awarded the University of North Florida $1.3 million to create a Dungeons & Dragons-style tabletop role-playing game called Adventures with Emmy. The game's name pays homage to German mathematician Emmy Noether. (More) ➤ Dick Pope Sr., the founder of the first commercial theme park, is considered the father of Florida tourism. (More) ➤ Four Florida communities built hurricane-proof homes to weather the strongest hurricanes. (See Photos) ➤ Chowhound listed the best diner in every U.S. state, naming Chug's Diner in Miami as the best in Florida. (See List) ➤ Legoland and Disney theme parks in Orlando were included on a list of new roller coasters opening in 2026. (See List) Flying together with our sponsor ➤ Beat the bloat in 2026—finally eat without the regret, discomfort, or jeans that don't fit after lunch. MassZymes delivers 18 digestive enzymes that help break down proteins, fats, and carbs so your body actually uses what you eat instead of fighting it. No more sluggish afternoons or wondering why "healthy eating" still leaves you uncomfortable. Three months builds real consistency—so by spring, digestion just works. Get your 3-month supply at 30% off before it sells out. 👉 Start Your Meal-Time Ritual (30% Off)
Enjoy reading Flyover Florida? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️ | |  | | Did you make any New Year's resolutions?
- Yes
- No
Thursday's Results: Which of these stories was the most important of 2025? - Immigration: 24%
- Property Taxes: 22%
- Astronauts Rescued: 18%
- FSU Shooting: 18%
- Executions: 18%
| |  | | What Florida city along the Indian River lagoon began as a military supply depot?
Show me the answer | | | 
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