Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. Texas had already done something similar as a Republic in 1839.

Tesla Cybertrucks are equipped with a "Wade Mode," meant to allow them to drive through bodies of water. Jimmy Jack McDaniel decided to test the feature at Grapevine Lake. It did not go well. See the Around Texas section for details.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Amy Hess shared why researchers say two to three cups of coffee a day may quietly support one of the body’s hardest-working organs. Dietitians say growing evidence suggests coffee could help reduce inflammation and protect this vital organ from long-term damage. Listen here!

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on seven retirement income strategies for investors with $1 million or more. It’s a simple way to compare your options.

If you’re trying to be more thoughtful about the media you consume, social media probably isn’t the best place to get your news. Most platforms are designed to provoke reactions, not encourage perspective. That’s why some of us read The Pour Over. It delivers the news in a balanced, easy-to-read format while incorporating a Christian perspective that many readers appreciate.

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Trump Backs Paxton Over Cornyn

President Trump upended the Texas Republican Senate race Tuesday, endorsing Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn just one week before the May 26 runoff—a move that caught Cornyn off guard after months of uncertainty.

Trump praised Paxton on Truth Social as "a true MAGA Warrior," while criticizing Cornyn for being slow to back him during his 2024 presidential run. Senate GOP leaders, including Majority Leader John Thune, spent months urging the president to support Cornyn.

Some Senate Republicans vented frustration. "John Cornyn is an outstanding senator and deserved in my judgment the president's support. Obviously it's the president’s call but I’m disappointed that he did it," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).

The Texas race has already become the most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history, with both parties spending well over $100 million. The winner faces Democrat James Talarico in November.

CDC Ebola Ban Clouds World Cup

With the WHO declaring Ebola a global health emergency, the CDC has banned entry for non-U.S. citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan—putting Texas' two World Cup host cities in an unexpected bind.

The CDC's 30-day emergency order suspends entry for foreign nationals who visited those countries within the last 21 days—the maximum incubation period—and covers players, coaches, officials, and fans.

Congo's national team was slated to base in Houston and play a Group Stage match on June 17. Their participation is now in jeopardy, with organizers awaiting FIFA guidance.

Houston public health leaders are urging residents to prepare, not panic, stressing that the Ebola risk to the general population remains extremely low. Screening protocols are in place.

Wemby Goes Huge, Spurs Take Game 1

Victor Wembanyama dropped 41 points and 24 rebounds in a double-overtime thriller in Oklahoma City on Monday night, joining David Robinson to become the second Spurs player with over 40 points and 20 rebounds in the playoffs.

Wemby's performance ultimately helped stake the Spurs to a 122-115 Game 1 win over Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Finals, despite the Thunder forcing two overtime periods.

The series stays in Oklahoma City for Game 2 tonight at Paycom Center, before shifting to San Antonio for Games 3 and 4.

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➤ Statewide: The Pentagon has paused permits for 54 onshore wind projects in Texas—part of a 165-project nationwide hold—citing national security concerns, leaving billions in energy investment in limbo across West Texas and the Panhandle. (More)

➤ San Antonio: More than 10,000 Bexar County voters cast ballots on Day 1 of early voting for the May 26 primary runoff, with U.S. Senate, attorney general, and congressional seats on the ballot. Early voting runs through May 22. (More)

➤ Dallas: Former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and incumbent Rep. Julie Johnson continued their fierce campaigns in the 33rd Congressional District Democratic primary runoff. (More)

➤ Houston: Houston ISD will limit special education class sizes under a new model launching in the 2026-27 school year, part of a broader restructuring of services for more than 21,000 students with disabilities. (More)

➤ El Paso: El Paso ISD's latest quarterly report reveals an estimated $96 million funding gap driven by state funding shortfalls, as district officials weigh bond options to address capital needs. (More)

➤ Lake Grapevine: A driver intentionally steered a Tesla Cybertruck into Lake Grapevine to demonstrate the vehicle's "Wade Mode" wading capability, but the Cybertruck became disabled and took on water, police said, prompting the driver and a passenger to abandon it. (See Photos)

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➤ Texas took two of the SEC's five major baseball awards heading into the conference tournament. Outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. won Freshman of the Year, and outfielder Aiden Robbins took Newcomer of the Year. Texas A&M first baseman Gavin Grahovac earned Scholar-Athlete of the Year. (More)

➤ The Dallas Wings women's basketball team answered coach Jose Fernandez's public "selfishness" call-out with a dominant blowout of the Washington Mystics Monday night at College Park Center in Arlington. (More)

➤ The Texans and Cowboys are teaming up to host the first-ever girls flag football state championship at UNT on June 13-14, part of a broader push to get the sport sanctioned by the UIL. (More)

➤ Austin FC fired head coach Nico Estevez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell this week after a 3-6-5 start to the MLS season. (More)

➤ Houston is preparing to host seven FIFA World Cup matches this summer, with an estimated 500,000 visitors expected and downtown hotel bookings up 66% in June and 83% in July. (More)

Yesterday's Results: NBA | MLB | NCAAB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ H-E-B, based in San Antonio, was ranked No. 2 among Texas companies on Forbes' list of America's largest family-owned businesses. Enterprise Products Partners, based in Houston, was ranked first in Texas. (More)

➤ Central Texas home sales are trending upward, with Unlock MLS data showing year-over-year gains in both sales volume and median prices across the Austin metro. (More)

➤ Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is taking its Texas-style sausage to grocery shelves, with the Dallas-based chain's products now available in Kroger stores statewide. (More)

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➤ A stranded shrimp boat ran aground at Crystal Beach on the Bolivar Peninsula, quickly becoming an unlikely roadside attraction drawing beachgoers and photographers to the Gulf Coast shore. (See Photos)

➤ ABC's Grey's Anatomy is getting a Texas spinoff set at a rural hospital, with Shonda Rhimes returning as co-creator. The series is expected to debut in the 2026-27 TV season. (More)

➤ Dallas foodies have a packed Memorial Day weekend ahead, with back-to-back Texas BBQ and pickle-themed festivals plus Dallas Tiki Week, making it one of North Texas's busiest food weekends of the year. (More)

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