Minggu, 12 April 2026

Anti-Drone Lasers, Drug-Soaked Bibles, Historic Bridge Reopens

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1836, General Santa Anna’s army captured Thompson's Ferry on the Brazos River as Sam Houston's army retreated eastward toward San Jacinto. A monument was erected at the site in 1936.

From renewed confidence in Texas border airspace to the long-awaited reopening of the historic Rainbow Bridge, today’s lineup covers a little bit of everything across the state. Find these stories and more in The Roundup and Et Cetera.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, CEO Cole Strehlow unpacked the context and latest developments behind Tucker Carlson and President Trump’s public feud. This isn’t a minor disagreement, but a high-stakes clash between two of the most powerful voices in conservative media and politics. Cole breaks down what happened, what’s been said, and how it all unraveled. Listen here.

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Ribbon-Cutting Welcomes New State Park

Texas leaders held a ribbon-cutting on Friday for Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, marking the first new state park to open in North Texas in more than 25 years and one of the state’s largest recent outdoor expansions.

Gov. Greg Abbott joined other officials at the 4,871-acre site between Abilene and Dallas-Fort Worth. The park first opened to visitors on March 1 and drew more than 15,000 people in its first month, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The former ranchland includes more than 16 miles of trails, a 90-acre lake, campsites, picnic areas, and day-use areas. State officials said the opening is part of a broader push to expand park access as Texas grows. Recent state investments include the voter-approved Centennial Parks Conservation Fund for future park projects.

FAA Clears Border Anti-Drone Lasers

The FAA said on Friday that high-energy anti-drone lasers used near the Texas-Mexico border can be deployed safely without disrupting commercial flights. The agreement follows a federal safety review after laser use prompted temporary airspace closures near El Paso earlier this year.

The FAA said testing in New Mexico showed the systems do not pose added risk to passenger aircraft when proper safeguards are in place. The new agreement outlines procedures for future use, though officials did not release details.

The review followed two incidents in February that briefly halted flights in West Texas, including a shutdown at El Paso International Airport. Federal officials said the updated protocol is meant to address rising drone activity along the southern border while avoiding future travel disruptions.

Fort Worth Food Fest Adds New Flavor

The Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival expanded this weekend with new chef-driven events, including Saturday’s debut of Taste of Texas Row and a new Sunday finale called The Big Brunch. Organizers said the additions were expected to make this year’s four-day festival its biggest yet.

Taste of Texas Row brought together chefs from Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and smaller Texas towns for a statewide culinary showcase at Clearfork. The event featured Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard honorees, and top regional restaurateurs.

The festival wraps up today with The Big Brunch, a new closing event featuring coffee, quiche, doughnuts, and other favorites, as organizers highlight Fort Worth’s growing dining reputation.

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North Texas: Dallas Cowboys' Markquese Bell was arrested Friday on charges of marijuana possession and possession of a controlled substance, according to Collin County jail records. (More)

Lubbock: Layne’s Chicken Fingers plans to open a third location after filing permits to renovate a former Arby’s on Slide Road, with construction expected to begin in May. (More)

Leander: A woman was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after admitting she embezzled more than $1 million from an Austin school for children with special needs and separately underreported her income. (More)

Amarillo: Residents may face delays and confusion using the city’s new utility billing system as new account numbers take effect, but officials will waive late fees through May during the transition. (More)

Austin: Officials fired three IT employees, including the chief information security officer, as investigators examine allegations that staff simultaneously held jobs with both Austin and Dallas. (More)

Wichita Falls: A woman was sentenced to six years in prison after admitting she mailed drug-soaked Bibles and other materials to Texas inmates. (More)

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➤ No. 18 Texas A&M baseball took down No. 2 Texas 9-8 on Friday in front of a rowdy home crowd that blew bubbles and shouted chants throughout the game. (See Crowd)

➤ The Houston Astros placed star pitcher Cristian Javier and outfielder Jake Meyers on the injured list on Friday, a huge blow to a team that is already off to a less-than-ideal 6-8 start. (More)

➤ The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly a top trade-up candidate in the 2026 NFL Draft, per NFL insider Jordan Reid. (More)

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➤ The historic Rainbow Bridge reopened Saturday afternoon, months ahead of schedule, easing Southeast Texas traffic, restoring normal traffic flow in coordination with Veterans Memorial Bridge, and improving access for drivers, businesses, and deliveries. (More)

➤ Collin College will open a free student art exhibition today at its Plano Campus Art Gallery, showcasing top fine arts work with selected pieces on display through May 7. (More)

➤ Midland’s Atrionn “A.T.” Bowers is set to make his amateur MMA debut on April 18 at XKO Fight Night at the Horseshoe, giving hometown fans their first chance to see the rising fighter compete locally. (More)

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It’s okay: 33%
No way: 29%
Absolutely: 23%
Never had it: 15%

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Iran Leader Report, Swalwell Allegations, and IVF Breakthrough

Good Morning!

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Christopher Lyon 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:

➤ Iran’s missing leader lost a leg and suffered disfiguring wounds, according to a new report. (Hear More)

➤ Eric Swalwell faces explosive allegations as one lawmaker moves to kick him out of Congress. (Listen Now)

➤ This common cancer drug could double IVF success rates and change fertility treatment forever. (Podcast Available)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

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Police Build Autism Awareness, New Businesses, and NC State Honors Koch

SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis began two days of cabinet meetings in Greensboro with Generals Joseph E. Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard to determine if they should unite the remaining Confederate forces or authorize Johnston to negotiate peace with the Union.

See how NC State's campus reacted when fellow Wolfpacker Christina Koch became the first woman to travel around the moon—in today's Et Cetera section. 🚀

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Beach Music Performer Killed in I-95 Crash

Howard Winstead Jr., a member of the well-known Band of Oz, was killed early Saturday morning when his minivan struck a fuel tanker on I-95 near Dunn in Harnett County.

Winstead was returning home to Concord after a Friday night performance in Lexington, South Carolina, when the crash occurred around 2:16 a.m. He was also a former member of The Fantastic Shakers and The Blackwater Band.

Northbound lanes were closed for several hours before reopening around 5:47 a.m. The crash remains under investigation.

Pilot Airlifted After Plane Crash

A single-engine plane failed to gain altitude after takeoff at Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport on Friday and crashed in a field just past the runway, trapping one of the two pilots in the wreckage.

Crews freed the trapped pilot within five minutes. He was flown by medical helicopter to Atrium Health Main in Charlotte with a head injury and is awake and alert. The second pilot was uninjured.

The N.C. State Highway Patrol, FAA and NTSB are investigating.

Police Share Breakfast with Autism Community

The Raleigh Police Department hosted a breakfast on Friday with autistic residents and their families during Autism Awareness Month, part of a growing effort to build trust and improve how officers interact with the community.

RPD Chief Rico Boyce also distributed "Occupant with Autism" bumper stickers to families in attendance—an idea he brought back from Florida—so officers know to adjust their approach during traffic stops.

Over half of RPD's officers have already received autism awareness training, with the rest set to complete it this fall. About 1 in 31 children in the U.S. has autism, according to the CDC.

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➤ Statewide: Eight new businesses are opening across North Carolina this week, from a cigar lounge with an indoor golf simulator in Concord to a taproom nearing its debut in Boone. (More)

➤ Durham: Officials advanced the long-delayed Villages of Hayti project, clearing construction for an $85 million redevelopment that will deliver more than 250 affordable housing units and honor the neighborhood’s historic legacy. (More)

➤ Lake Wylie: Emergency crews responded after a person jumped from Buster Boyd Bridge into Lake Wylie, where a boater rescued the person before authorities arrived and EMS began treatment. (More)

➤ Durham: Police are investigating two Friday night break-ins that targeted at least 16 vehicles, stole cash and credit cards, and involved a previously reported stolen car later recovered unoccupied. (More)

➤ Triangle: Schools reported seven lockdowns across five campuses this week after repeated bomb and gun threats, reflecting a rise in school safety incidents despite most threats proving not credible. (More)

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➤ Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball showed some of his signature flashy play on Friday, passing up an open fast-break layup to instead run beyond the arc and drain a three-pointer during the Hornets' 118-100 loss to the Detroit Pistons. (Watch Video)

➤ German 7-footer Antonio Dorn announced his intention to transfer to Wake Forest men’s basketball on Friday. The 22-year-old played sparingly for Virginia Tech last season. (More)

➤ NC State baseball continued its hot streak with a huge 10-4 series-opening win over Duke, the team’s fifth straight victory. (More)

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➤ NC State students erupted in celebration on Friday when Artemis II splashed down in the Pacific, making alumna Christina Koch the first woman to travel around the moon. (More)

➤ Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith was back in his hometown of Wilmington on Saturday for a Kentucky Derby-style charity event benefiting his family foundation and a local reading academy. (More)

➤ A wildlife rescue group in Wilmington is asking boaters to help find a critically injured brown pelican swept into the Intracoastal Waterway near Masonboro Island. (More)

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