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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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.

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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FIND AFFORDABLE CARE

➤ 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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