Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, Union gunboats blockading the Texas coast opened fire on Confederate forces in Corpus Christi Bay. The shelling of the port town went on for a week.

You'll see a bunch of three-digit numbers in our Weather section today, but our top Et Cetera item links to a list of the coldest Augusts in Texas history. Do you remember the summer of '71 or 2004? Let us know in the Poll whether you'd prefer a cool August or a warmer January.

Do you think you're a good driver? A new study asked nearly 2,700 drivers about the risky things they do behind the wheel, and the answers reveal a strange gap between what people believe and how they actually drive. Here's one that will sting. It's something 61% of us do in the car, barely anyone considers it dangerous, and research shows it can scramble your focus for nearly half a minute after you stop. And the kicker: 78% of drivers believe they're safer than everyone else on the road, and researchers say that belief is wrong and dangerous. So, which of the top 5 knowing mistakes are you guilty of? Today, Ayla counts down the driving errors we all talk ourselves into. Tune in here!

Today's sponsor is Blood Sugar Secrets, sharing information about a surprising factor that may offer clues about blood sugar health and a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Texas School Vaccine Rules Unchanged

Texas students need the same vaccines this school year, despite President Trump's executive order on Monday trimming federal childhood vaccine recommendations.

The order cuts universal recommendations from 18 diseases to 11 and calls for splitting the measles, mumps, and rubella shot into three separate doses. Trump said parents can still choose every shot, and that insurance will cover them.

The Texas Department of State Health Services called it a guideline, not a mandate, and said nothing changes for the 2026-27 school year. Only the Legislature, which returns in January of next year, can change state requirements.

Rebecca Hardy of Texans for Vaccine Choice praised the order but wants Texas to broaden exemption rights. Texas still requires hepatitis A and B shots, which the order no longer universally recommends. Last year's measles outbreak killed two children and infected 762 people in Texas.

Drones Hunt Screwworm on Border

Border Patrol agents launched heat-sensing drones over Moore Air Base near Edinburg on Monday to scan livestock and wildlife for New World screwworm.

An animal carrying the fly's larvae runs a fever, and the drones' thermal cameras detect the spike from the air. Veterinarians then check the animal and quarantine it before the parasite spreads.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said a sterile fly facility at the base will open in April, seven months early, and will initially produce 100 million sterile flies per week. Crews have already released 700 million sterile flies along the border.

"The fight is not over," Rollins said. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, who called the federal government's response "slow, bureaucratic, and incomplete," wants the pest pushed back across the border.

Boerne's Path to Little League World Series Disputed

As of Tuesday afternoon, Boerne's Little League team said they won't be in Waco for a court-ordered rematch Tuesday and are instead packing for Williamsport.

Little League International disqualified Tulsa National's 12U team on Monday over an ineligible player, turning Boerne's 4-1 win over Louisiana's Ascension Parish that night into the Southwest Region championship. Boerne celebrated on the field.

Hours later, Tulsa National's parents and players went to court, and Judge Ryan Luna of the 414th District Court ordered the title game against Boerne played as originally scheduled. "The winner of the game will be determined on the field where it should be decided," the Tulsa league said.

Little League called its ruling "final and binding," and Tulsa's attorney Christian Dennie said the organization withheld the protest paperwork from his client. Boerne, which finished fourth in Williamsport in 2024, says it won on the field Monday and has the backing of Little League International's lawyers.

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Quick Question: What color is your urine most often?

Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? While urine color is often associated with hydration, a new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar. Changes in your urine may provide clues worth paying attention to, especially if you are concerned about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Now, you can learn more about what different urine changes could potentially mean and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. Take a closer look at the research and see what your urine may be telling you about your health.

Check it out here.

➤ Big Bend: Federal contractors hauled in heavy machinery to break ground on a border wall through the 800,000-acre national park, part of a $1.7 billion contract DHS awarded in May. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham issued a cease and desist. (See Details)

➤ Houston: A Harris County jury awarded $61.5 million Monday to 24 survivors of the 2020 Watson Grinding explosion that killed three in northwest Houston. Jurors faulted 3M's inspection of the plant's gas detection system. The company is appealing an earlier verdict. (More)

➤ El Paso: Neighbors of the Marathon refinery in South-Central El Paso reported headaches, nausea, and burning eyes after state reports showed thousands of pounds of sulfur dioxide and propylene released Aug. 4-5. The refinery said it found no health risks. (See Details)

➤ Corpus Christi: Lake Corpus Christi hit 91.7% full Tuesday, its fullest in nearly five years, after more than 41 billion gallons poured in from the swollen Nueces River. A year ago, the lake sat at 19.3%. (See Photos)

➤ East Texas: Electricity rates have climbed about 40% since 2020, and a Tyler assistance nonprofit says clients are arriving with $600 to $800 bills. Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) cited rising costs for wire, substations, and upgrades mandated after the 2021 winter storm. (More)

➤ Dallas: A uniformed Dallas officer fired four rounds at a plainclothes colleague during a felony stop Aug. 6, hitting no one, video released this week shows. Chief Daniel Comeaux said the covert officer never should have left his vehicle. (See Video)

➤ Houston: A police officer says a home security deal marketed to first responders left him owing $24,000 after Ageint Security filed for bankruptcy protection. The loan was in his name. The company says it will honor its commitments. (See Details)

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➤ The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a three-year, $105.9 million extension with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams this week, with $101 million guaranteed. Dallas traded a package including a first-round pick last year to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler from the Jets. (More)

➤ The University of Houston's basketball arena and football stadium will feature Monster Energy logos on their playing surfaces this season as part of a Big 12 sponsorship deal worth roughly $20 million. Each of the league's 16 schools receives $1 million. (More)

➤ Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg's one-of-one rookie card was pulled at a Rhode Island card shop during a live internet stream. The Mavericks have offered 32 years of season tickets to whoever found the card, but it could also sell for over $1 million at auction. (More)

➤ The San Antonio Spurs will open the NBA season on Oct. 20 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals. (More)

➤ The Texas Rangers placed right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation after his velocity dropped sharply in Friday's start against Baltimore. He leads the Rangers in innings and wins this season. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Fermi America signed its first binding lease at its Project Matador campus in the Panhandle's Carson County, a deal expected to bring $6.5 billion over 15 years. TensorWave will fill it with tens of thousands of AI chips. (See Details)

➤ CapMetro bus drivers reached a tentative deal with contractor Keolis, calling off a possible strike. The agreement includes a 12% raise retroactive to Jan. 1, a $1,500 signing bonus, and more vacation time. (More)

➤ A vertical farm on San Antonio's southeast side shut down this month, cutting 166 jobs after a buyer walked away from talks on Aug. 2. 80 Acres Farms supplied H-E-B with microgreens and salads. (See Details)

➤ Stanley's Famous Barbecue is opening a smash burger joint and bar in Tyler. Construction on the 1,500-square-foot building starts in September and should wrap by February 2027, at a cost of $650,000. (More)

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Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar.

Discover what your urine may reveal and learn about a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Check it out here.

➤ A new ranking reveals that August 1971 was the coldest August in Texas since recordkeeping began in 1895, averaging 77.1 degrees statewide. August 1992 ranks second at 78.2 degrees, and August 2004 is the most recent month in the top 10. (See List)

➤ A melon-headed whale stranded alive near Surfside Beach on Aug. 4, days after another came ashore on Mustang Island. Responders found it in poor shape with shark bites and euthanized it. (See Details)

➤ A stray cat splotched with red dye has been roaming League City, and animal officials are asking residents not to feed or chase her while crews try to trap her. (See Photos)

➤ Choosin' Texas notched a 17th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Ella Langley sole possession of fourth place among the longest runs on top. Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas holds the record for the longest run at 22 weeks. (More)

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➤ Did you know your urine color may reveal clues about your diabetes risk that even an A1C test could miss? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor affecting blood sugar. Learn how to detect this potential issue and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. See what the research reveals and 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:

➤ New research reveals the dangerous driving mistake 78% of Americans don't believe they're making. (Hear Mistake)

➤ Federal rules may soon let parents grow their children's savings with pretax paycheck dollars, and employers could match. (Hear Details)

➤ After 1,666 days in a Russian prison, a U.S. Marine veteran's story just took a dramatic turn. (Listen Now)