Thursday, April 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1895, blues singer and guitarist Bowdie Glen “Mance” Lipscomb was born near Navasota. He worked as a tenant farmer until 1956 and signed with a recording label in 1960, participating in the folk-song revival of that era. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2010, and a statue of him was unveiled at Navasota's Mance Lipscomb Park in 2011.

Texas is in the middle of a data center boom, and thanks to a 2013 law, at least 121 of them are projected to receive total tax breaks of more than $1.3 billion this year. Get the details in today's Business section.

Twenty-one months ago, Tucker Carlson told America that President Trump surviving an assassination attempt was "divine intervention." Today, he's calling Trump's latest post "vile on every level." Trump's response? "I like dealing with smart people, not fools." This isn't a subtle disagreement. This is open warfare between two of the most influential voices in conservative media and politics. In today's Flyover Podcast, CEO Cole Strehlow walks through exactly what happened, what they've said, and how we got here. Listen here.

Later today, keep an eye out for a message from our partner, Frontieras, exploring how new technology is reshaping domestic energy by transforming coal into high-value fuels, an approach that’s gaining traction quickly.

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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.

Texas Rangers Investigate Camp Mystic Complaints

The Texas Rangers have partnered with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to investigate complaints against Camp Mystic staff alleging neglect during last summer's flash floods that killed 27 campers and counselors at the organization's Guadalupe River site in Kerr County.

The revelation prompted Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to renew his call for the agency to deny Camp Mystic an operating license until the criminal and legislative investigations into the disaster are completed. The organization has applied to renew its license to operate a nearby site that wasn't affected by the flooding.

"With many questions remaining unanswered surrounding the deaths of 27 young girls, parents and Texans deserve to have all issues resolved prior to Camp Mystic and/or their operators being allowed to welcome children back into their care this summer," Patrick wrote to DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford.

Camp Mystic's attorney, Mikal Watts, welcomed the development, calling the Texas Rangers "an independent, honorable investigatory body." Several lawsuits against Camp Mystic are pending.

Hemp Industry Sues State

The Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and several Texas-based hemp dispensaries and manufacturers are suing the state over new regulations that dramatically increase licensing fees and effectively ban smokable hemp products.

The new rules, which went into effect March 31, were imposed in accordance with an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott after he vetoed an outright ban on hemp-derived THC products last year. The lawsuit claims the state agencies that crafted the regulations overstepped their constitutional authority.

Licensing fees have been increased from $258 to $10,000 per facility for manufacturers and from $155 to $5,000 for retailers. THC concentration, which is limited to 0.3%, is now determined by including THCA, a compound that becomes psychoactive THC when ignited. The revision effectively bans smokable hemp products.

"An administrative agency may not substitute its own policy judgment for the outcome produced by the constitutional lawmaking process," the lawsuit states. Representatives for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Department of State Health Services declined to comment on the litigation.

Taylor Sheridan Making Alamo Film

Taylor Sheridan, the Fort Worth-raised producer known for Yellowstone and Landman, will produce a film about the Battle of the Alamo for the new Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, which is slated to open in spring 2028.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the announcement in a Tuesday social media post, saying "there was only one screenwriter, film producer, and director in the world to make this film for the Alamo Museum—Taylor Sheridan," whom he described as "a native Texan who knows and loves our state and its history."

"The Alamo is the very bedrock Texas was founded upon. To chronicle the sacrifice made by the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the Alamo is an honor I eagerly accept," Sheridan said in a statement.

Spanning nearly 160,000 square feet, the new visitor center and museum will feature event spaces, a cafe, a rooftop terrace, a gift shop, and a 4D theater offering an "unparalleled multisensory journey through history." Casting details for the upcoming film have not yet been announced.

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➤ Austin: The State Board of Education heard hours of testimony on proposed changes to the Social Studies curriculum for public school students on Tuesday, including a list of required reading that includes several passages from the Bible. (More)

➤ Dallas: The Mavericks sent an invite-only survey to select fans requesting input on their preferred location for a new arena: Downtown Dallas, North Dallas, or a regional suburban location. Meanwhile, the city has asked for public feedback on the future of City Hall. (More)

➤ Houston: The city council approved an ordinance that prohibits police from detaining a suspect for the purpose of facilitating a transfer to ICE. The new policy supersedes one approved last month that provides a 30-minute window for ICE to take custody of a suspect who is illegally residing in the country. (More)

➤ San Antonio: More than 18,000 people participated in a survey about potentially renaming César E. Chávez Boulevard following recent allegations that the late union leader sexually abused girls and the co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America, Dolores Huerta. Sixty-four percent of respondents support returning the street's name to Durango Boulevard. (More)

➤ Austin: Residents of the city's upscale Mueller neighborhood claim a duck was run over by an autonomous vehicle operated by Avride. "It's a human thing to stop for animals, not a robot thing," said local Alex Benbow. "I'm mad. It's a little sad. It could have been avoided." (More)

➤ Fort Bend County: Brittanye Morris, the top vote-getter in last month's Democratic primary for Precinct 4 County Commissioner, has been disqualified from the runoff after a judge found she doesn't satisfy the residency requirement. Meanwhile, a candidate for mayor of Carrollton was convicted of election fraud in 2020. (See Details)

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➤ The Texans acquired linebacker Marte Mapu from the Patriots in a late-round pick swap. A third-round pick in 2023, Mapu appeared in 44 games for New England over three seasons. (More)

➤ Astros ace Hunter Brown has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right shoulder strain and won't throw for at least two to three weeks. He has a 0.84 ERA and 17 strikeouts in two starts this season. (More)

➤ Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg threw down a ferocious dunk over Clippers big man Brook Lopez, eliciting gasps from the opposing crowd in L.A. (See Highlight)

➤ Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama avoided a major injury after suffering a rib contusion against Philadelphia. He still needs to play in one of San Antonio's final three games to remain eligible for postseason awards. (More)

➤ Texas Tech was ranked No. 1 in the latest college softball poll, displacing the Texas Longhorns for the top spot. (More)

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➤ Data centers are projected to receive sales tax breaks of more than $1.3 billion this year, according to the Texas Comptroller's office. "These new numbers are extremely concerning, and I will say they're unsustainable," said State Sen. Joan Huffman, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance. (See Details)

➤ World-renowned Bavarian beer hall and brewery Hofbräuhaus is opening its first Texas location in Addison later this year. Addison is home to one of the state's largest Oktoberfests. (More)

➤ The Container Store is being acquired by Utah-based Bed Bath & Beyond for $150 million following the Coppell-based retailer's emergence from bankruptcy last year. The deal "brings not only more than 100 trophy locations, but also a culture and operating discipline that aligns with the standards we are building," said Bed Bath & Beyond CEO Marcus Lemonis. (More)

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➤ The Artemis II crew has requested that a lunar crater be named Carroll in honor of astronaut Reid Wiseman's late wife, who worked as a school nurse for many years in Friendswood. "No matter how far we travel, the ones we love stay with us," NASA said in a statement announcing the proposal. (More)

➤ A cat missing for five years was reunited with her owner after staff at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter scanned her microchip. "It still doesn't feel real—I'm still in shock," said KitKat’s owner. (More)

➤ Olivia Joseph, a kindergarten teacher at Hutto ISD's Howard Norman Elementary School, received the $25,000 Milken Educator Award. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath presented the award during a Tuesday ceremony, describing Joseph's teaching style as resembling that of "a master jazz musician." (More)

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