Monday, June 29, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1928, the Democratic National Convention wrapped up in Houston, the first national party convention held in the South since the Civil War. It nominated New York Gov. Al Smith, the first Catholic candidate on a major-party ticket.

Our Trivia question today asks if you know the official state dish of Texas. (Hint: You might not order it on a 100-degree day.) Click the link to find out if you know, and then hit reply to nominate which dish you think it should be.

Today’s sponsor, Lemonade Pet Insurance, helps pet owners manage rising vet costs with affordable plans starting around $10/month and flexible coverage designed to protect both your pet’s health and your budget.

Court Halts Harris County Immigrant Fund

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday ordered Harris County to stop spending on a $1.3 million fund that pays for immigrants' legal defense in deportation cases.

The justices cited "serious doubt" about whether the county has the authority to run the program and noted that once the money is spent, it can't be recovered. Their order is not a final ruling.

Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued the county, called it "a major win for protecting taxpayer dollars," arguing the fund unlawfully hands public money to private groups.

Harris County, which created the fund in 2020, intends to keep defending it as a due-process measure. Three justices dissented from the pause.

Aggies, Longhorns Oppose College Sports Bill

Texas A&M and the University of Texas, longtime rivals, sent a joint statement to Republican Sen. Ted Cruz on Friday opposing his Protect College Sports Act as currently written.

The schools wrote that they appreciate Congress' effort but see "key issues with the bill as currently drafted." They said they can't support it in its present form but want to work with lawmakers and the SEC on changes.

Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, wrote the bipartisan bill with Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., to set national rules on athlete pay, a five-year eligibility limit, and one-time transfers. Cruz has called it the only way to bring order to college sports.

The bill cleared the Senate Commerce Committee on June 18 and now awaits a full floor vote. The Southeastern Conference, home to both Texas schools, opposes the bill as written, as does the Big Ten Conference.

Sisters Deliver Twins 13 Hours Apart

Two San Antonio sisters, each pregnant with twins, delivered their twin boys just 13 hours apart in March.

Darian Lowe and Rainy Jones, four years apart in age, found out they were expecting around the same time, then each learned she was carrying twins. They had hoped to raise children together, though not quite this close.

"We wanted kids around the same time, but we never thought that it would be 13 hours," the sisters said.

Both sisters had twin boys. The deliveries brought four new babies into the family in barely half a day.

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➤ Hill Country: Roughly 15 summer camps in the Kerrville and Hunt area have reopened for 2026 with stronger evacuation and flood-warning plans, almost a year after the July 4 floods that killed nearly 140 people. Camp Mystic, where 28 died, remains closed and is in bankruptcy. (See Details)

➤ Texas City: The search resumed Sunday for Nathan Lowery, 17, who went missing after his inflatable raft deflated and drifted from the Texas City Dike into Galveston Bay early Saturday. His 16-year-old brother was rescued by first responders. The empty raft was found about 15 miles away. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: A 15-year-old boy drowned Saturday at Lake Jacksonville after swimming out to retrieve a 5-year-old who had floated into deep water on an inflatable. Bystanders and a boater pulled him out and gave CPR, but he died at a hospital. The younger child was unharmed. (More)

➤ Austin: The family of Kirk Foyle, 64, has filed a $1 million gross-negligence lawsuit against Green Mesquite BBQ and nearby property owners after a decayed pecan tree fell on him on the Barton Springs Road patio May 19, killing him. The suit says the tree's condition was ignored. (See Details)

➤ Crockett: Three Houston men were jailed on organized-crime charges after a Flock camera flagged their vehicle in East Texas, tying them to a $40,000 robbery in Royse City. A Crockett officer's traffic stop turned up the cash, masks, and gloves. All three are held on $75,000 bonds. (More)

➤ Montgomery County: A firefighter was injured Thursday when a garbage truck's tire blew out as crews inspected the vehicle after a commercial fire, sending debris into the firefighter's leg and midsection. The firefighter was taken to a Conroe hospital in stable condition and is up and walking. (See Details)

➤ Hondo: The city issued a boil-water notice for parts of Hondo, west of San Antonio, after a water main break. Affected residents were told to boil water for drinking, cooking, and ice until further notice. (More)

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➤ Five-time World Cup champion Brazil faces Japan today in a Round of 32 matchup at NRG Stadium in Houston. Brazil advanced as the Group C winner, while Japan finished second in Group F. The winner moves on to the Round of 16. (See schedule)

➤ Special Olympics USA Games gold medalist Ashton Crocker received a hometown welcome in Midland on Saturday after helping Team Texas capture the Unified Basketball title with a 48-30 victory over Team Maryland in Minneapolis. (More)

➤ Four-star cornerback Montre Jackson, a Garland Lakeview standout ranked the nation's No. 27 cornerback, committed to the Longhorns over nearly 40 programs. He's the 10th player to pledge to Texas this June. (More)

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➤ The Bryan City Council unanimously approved a replacement tax-abatement agreement this week for the roughly $298 million data and research center at the RELLIS Campus, reviving a project that stalled when its original developer filed for bankruptcy last November. (See Details)

➤ An Elon Musk-connected company, WIT TECH LLC, bought more than 2,700 acres in Grimes County on May 27, including a Navasota River pump station. The purchases came a week before commissioners approved a 100% tax break for SpaceX's $119 billion Terafab chip plant. (See Details)

➤ The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced plans this week to build a roughly $300 million, 1 million-square-foot agricultural complex near Highway 288, south of NRG Park. The rodeo-funded campus, with a 5,000-seat arena, is set to open by 2029. (See Details)

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➤ A historical marker honoring the Longview Cannibals, a long-defunct East Texas baseball team, was unveiled Saturday at Longview's Stamper Park. The club, formed in 1883, got its name in 1895 after a sportswriter wrote that it "ate up" a visiting San Antonio team. (More)

➤ Four Texas scoop shops landed on Yelp's 50 Most Saved Ice Cream Shops for 2026: Richardson's Sweet Firefly (No. 28), Plano's Hi Sweetie (No. 31), Austin's Amy's Ice Creams (No. 32), and San Antonio's Lick Honest Ice Creams (No. 35). (See List)

➤ Local operators in the Bryan Amateur Radio Club joined enthusiasts across North America this weekend for the American Radio Relay League's annual Field Day, a 24-hour exercise in setting up off-grid stations and making as many contacts as possible. The event doubles as an emergency-communication practice. (See Details)

➤ Lemon Yellow Latin Bites, a Venezuelan restaurant in Tyler, is collecting supplies this weekend for survivors of the earthquakes that struck near Caracas last week. Staff with family in Venezuela are leading the drive at the Mosaic Way shop. Donors can also give through Samaritan's Purse, the UN, or UNICEF. (See Details)

➤ Cities across Texas are planning some of their biggest Independence Day celebrations yet in honor of America's 250th birthday, from fireworks and live music to food festivals. (See List)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A "perfect storm" of falling birth rates and high prices could shrink the U.S. auto market by 2040. (Listen Here)

➤ A mother's decision to leave her daughter behind after she forgot her passport has sparked a heated online debate. (Episode Available)

➤ The common habit of washing strawberries right after buying them is the main reason they spoil so fast. (Hear Details)