Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1898, Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders made their famous charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba. The volunteer cavalry had been raised and drilled in San Antonio, and many of its troopers were Texas cowboys and Rangers.

An item in Et Cetera features one Habitat for Humanity group that has built 1,500 homes in Texas over the last 50 years. Have you ever worked on a Habitat house? If so, hit reply to tell us about it.

Your home address, phone number, and even family connections may be easier to find online than you think. Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Incogni, on how to help remove your personal information from hundreds of websites.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached, through special offers from today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Trump Calls for Lower Gas Prices

President Donald Trump is pressing oil companies and gasoline retailers to cut prices faster, urging retailers on Monday to target $2.50 a gallon as oil prices have dipped below $70 a barrel.

"DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE!" he wrote on Truth Social, accusing sellers of gouging and ordering a Justice Department probe into Big Oil.

Last week, Chevron's finance chief said the major oil companies are "doing everything we can," but warned that there is a lag before falling crude prices reach the pump.

Texas drivers are paying less than most Americans, with the statewide average at $3.29 a gallon, down nine cents from a week earlier, versus $3.84 nationally, according to AAA.

Texas Republicans Blast Supreme Court Ruling

Texas Republicans sharply criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision Tuesday upholding birthright citizenship and rejecting President Trump's order to end it for children of illegal immigrants.

Governor Greg Abbott called automatic citizenship "a powerful magnet for illegal immigration," and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy called the ruling "insane."

Sen. John Cornyn pointed to his bill targeting "birth tourism" by countries like China and Russia as a possible next step.

Texas has one of the nation's largest illegal immigrant populations. The Migration Policy Institute estimates Trump's order would have affected millions of Texans.

Texas Democrats welcomed the outcome, with the Asian American Democrats of Texas calling citizenship "not a political bargaining chip." Trump urged Congress to limit citizenship by legislation.

San Marcos Data Center Ban Faces Challenge

San Marcos became the first Texas city to ban data centers, with its city council voting 4-3 on June 16 to bar the facilities from every zoning district.

Council members cited the strain data centers put on local water and power as Texas races to become the nation's top data-center market. No projects are proposed within the city, but at least two are planned in surrounding Hays County.

Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt said he will challenge the ban, arguing it violates state limits on local moratoriums. "They should not use zoning to ban anything everywhere in the city, because that's not lawful," he said.

San Marcos' state senator, Judith Zaffirini, a Democrat, said the council acted "decisively and appropriately," and officials in other Texas cities say they are watching the case closely.

Flying together with our sponsor

If you spend a good amount on Amazon, do not ignore this.

This card could put $100s back every year and gives you the chance to earn cash back on the purchases you already make. You could get approved extremely fast and unlock a massive welcome bonus instantly.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

➤ Statewide: A new poll shows the 2026 U.S. Senate race essentially tied, with Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton each near 47% among likely voters. (More)

➤ Statewide: A 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding mail-ballot grace periods leaves Texas' law intact but has revived debate over the state's deadline. Texas counts mail ballots received by 5 p.m. the day after Election Day. Only about 4% of Texans voted by mail in 2024. (See Details)

➤ McAllen: Sister Leticia "Letty" Ugboaja, a nun and registered nurse, was detained by ICE on Sunday as she walked to Mass in her habit near the border. She was released hours later after U.S. Reps. Monica De La Cruz and Henry Cuellar pressed federal officials. (More)

➤ Dallas: Facing a roughly $30 million budget shortfall, the city will require non-uniform General Fund employees to take three unpaid furlough days. Police, fire, and 911 staff are exempt. Councilman Adam Bazaldua said cutting workers' pay should be the last resort. (See Details)

➤ San Antonio: U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and two colleagues demanded an investigation into the death of Air Force trainee Keon McDaniel, who died June 16, linking it to a flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base that Castro says has reached 284 cases. (More)

➤ El Paso: A federal jury convicted Joseph Lavar Davis, 47, a former soldier turned Army contractor, of stealing more than 200 pallets of Meals-Ready-to-Eat, worth about $1.12 million, from Fort Bliss. Prosecutors said he used false requests and rented trucks to haul the rations for resale. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Starting July 1, a new state law replaces the patchwork of city food truck permits with a single statewide license from the Department of State Health Services. Most operators will save money and can work anywhere, though some stationary vendors may pay more, and cities lose some oversight. (See Details)

Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ Texas A&M named Leroy Burrell—formerly of Houston and Auburn—as their new head track and field coach. Burrell ran the fastest 200-meter race in the world at the time (wind-assisted) in College Station at the Southwest Conference championships in 1990. (See Video)

➤ NBA Free Agency kicked off yesterday, which saw the Spurs retain forward Julian Champagnie on a team-friendly deal, Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet opt-in to his $25 million player option, and several other moves. (See Deals)

➤ Former Sam Houston basketball player Kashie Natt, the reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an extra year of eligibility after transferring to Oklahoma State. (More)

➤ The iconic Baylor Line tradition, where freshmen in gold jerseys rush the field before home football games, will be featured in EA Sports’ College Football 27 video game. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Give your smile the care it deserves with this innovative toothbrush by Great Gums designed to clean along the gumline where plaque loves to hide. Featuring gentle yet effective bristles, it helps support healthier gums, fresher breath, and a cleaner-feeling mouth—making every brushing session more effective and comfortable. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Attorney General Ken Paxton, along with other state attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice, secured antitrust settlements with three national egg producers— Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman's Egg Ranch—accused of coordinating bids to inflate prices. The companies will donate more than 53 million eggs to food banks across 17 states and appoint compliance officers. (See Details)

➤ Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091 voted to authorize a strike against the Austin transit agency, escalating stalled contract talks with Keolis, the French firm that runs CapMetro's buses. Union President Brent Payne has cited pay, training, and staffing as issues. (More)

➤ Laredo is on alert after a calf on a ranch in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, tested positive for New World screwworm, the closest the flesh-eating parasite has come to the city. The U.S. has logged 27 cases north of the border, including four in Terrell County. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ These cooling, bacteria-fighting sheets might be the last ones you ever buy. Say goodbye to stale, sweaty sheets. These silver-infused Miracle Made sheets stay cooler, fresher, and prevent up to 99.7% of bacteria growth—like a fresh hotel bed every night. Learn More

Flying together with our sponsor

If you spend a good amount on Amazon, this card could easily put $100s back in your pocket every year.

Even better, you could get approved extremely fast — and if you are, you’ll receive an insanely valuable welcome bonus deposited straight into your Amazon account for immediate use. No hoops or extra spending. Get approved, and the bonus is yours. If you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, this card could help you earn meaningful cash back from purchases you’re already making. This offer won’t last forever, and for Prime members, it’s basically a no-brainer.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

➤ After Jordan's national team bowed out of the 2026 World Cup, King Abdullah II and the squad stopped by Khashoka, a Jordanian restaurant in Richardson, on Sunday. (More)

➤ Capt. Chris Patterson, a 28-year veteran of Plano Fire-Rescue's wildland station, was vacationing in Cabo San Lucas when he spotted a brush fire and jumped in to help using buckets and sand from an arroyo until crews arrived. The man he helped turned out to be a retired Mexican firefighter. (Read Story)

➤ Fred's Texas Cafe in Fort Worth has partnered with the nonprofit Stone's Throw Farm to employ young adults with learning differences after they age out of school programs. The farm was founded by the family of Jackson Stone, who now works at the cafe. (Read Story)

➤ Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio and the Guadalupe Valley marked 50 years by completing its 1,500th home. Now building 50-plus houses a year, it aims to raise a home in just 50 hours with 1,800 volunteers this July. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Kills Mosquitoes fast, so you can finally sit outside. NovaVolt Solar covers up to 1 Acre. and continues to zap flying pests while you
relax. No sprays, no refills, no reapplying, no going inside early. Learn More

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:

➤ These six science-backed tricks are supposed to help fussy children finally eat their vegetables. (Hear Details)

➤ The pope is pleading with a breakaway traditionalist group to abandon what he calls a sin of extreme gravity. (Hear Story)

➤ Experts have a clear pick for the best long-term investment, but Americans keep choosing something else entirely. (Listen Now)