Saturday, September 5, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1836, Sam Houston was elected as the president of the Republic of Texas, which had earned its independence from Mexico through a successful military rebellion.

Nothing says Texas tradition quite like football season. With major college action kicking off this weekend and the NFL returning next week, we want to know: Do you have a go-to game-day recipe? Hit reply and share it with us. We’re always hungry for new ideas.

Alzheimer's disease can now be detected with a simple blood test, and for the first time, two new drugs can actually slow its progression. On The Flyover Podcast, Amy counts down the five numbers behind the biggest shift in Alzheimer's care in a generation, including one that could catch the disease before symptoms even start. Tune in here!

If you haven't compared your car insurance in a while, there's a good chance you're paying more than you need to. Even if you checked rates a year ago, the market has changed. That's why today's sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to compare quotes from more than 120 insurers in just a few minutes.

Trump Approves Texas Flood Disaster Aid

President Trump approved a major disaster declaration Thursday for 19 Texas counties battered by July's floods.

The declaration covers Hill Country counties, including Kerr, Kendall, Gillespie, and Uvalde, funding emergency work and repairs to public infrastructure. Texas previously had only an emergency declaration, capped at $5 million.

Requests covering nine more counties, plus individual assistance for temporary housing and repairs in 30 counties, remain pending.

In Kerr County, where the Guadalupe River flooded for a second straight year, more than 800 homes were damaged.

Abbott Presses Feds over $10B Medicaid

Gov. Greg Abbott is pressing the Trump administration to release nearly $10 billion in Medicaid funding withheld from Texas hospitals.

Hospitals pay about $4.2 billion a year in local taxes that draw matching federal dollars. Regulators began questioning that structure last December and froze the money, which was due to start flowing on Tuesday. Hospitals expect to lose $27 million a day during the standoff.

In a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Abbott called the hold an economic "gun to the head." His office says the financing "fully complies with federal law," but has offered to update the tax structure if Washington guarantees Texas won't lose funding.

Ranked Texas Teams Make Debuts

The Lone Star State enters Week 1 with five teams in the AP Top 25: Texas at No. 5, Texas A&M at No. 8, Texas Tech at No. 12, SMU at No. 19, and Houston at No. 23.

Four of the five ranked teams play today: Texas hosts Texas State this afternoon, Texas A&M welcomes Missouri State, Texas Tech faces Abilene Christian, and Houston hosts Oregon State. Baylor meets Auburn in Atlanta, while SMU faces Florida State on Monday night.

The Longhorns were picked second in the SEC, while Texas A&M was picked fourth after reaching last season's College Football Playoff.

Texas Tech topped a Big 12 writers' poll with 14 of 16 first-place votes, while Houston tied for third.

SMU was picked second in the ACC preseason poll.

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Your Insurance Rate Might Be Higher Than It Should Be

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➤ Statewide: Comptroller Don Huffines asked lawmakers for $2 billion to double school voucher funding over two years, citing 110,000 enrolled students and a 106,000-student waitlist, while education advocates warned public schools could lose money. (More)

➤ Houston: A multi-agency Harris County operation recovered four stolen cars and 252 stolen vehicle parts while officers arrested a man who tried to flee one of three locations searched, authorities said. (See Details)

➤ Abilene: Police are investigating after a train struck and killed a 26-year-old woman on tracks near South First and Morris streets on Thursday evening. (More)

➤ San Antonio: The City Council approved a $2.8 million automatic license plate reader system to help manage traffic as debate over the cameras continues across Texas. (More)

➤ East Texas: Tyler and Longview are competing in the East Texas Food Bank’s third annual peanut butter drive through Sept. 24 after each city won one of the first two contests. (See Details)

➤ Tesla opened its two-seat, steering-wheel-free Cybercab robotaxi to public riders in Austin on Friday, expanding its autonomous fleet as federal safety regulators evaluate the vehicle’s unconventional design. (More)

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➤ Texas coach Steve Sarkisian expects growing pains as new players debut against Texas State today, but he wants the Longhorns to correct mistakes quickly and stay composed. (More)

➤ Choctaw Casinos & Resorts became an official partner of the 2027 PGA Championship at PGA Frisco, where sold-out competition rounds and record ticket demand signal a massive North Texas turnout. (More)

➤ The Texas State Strutters, the nation’s first precision dance team at a four-year university, will begin their 67th season Saturday as the Bobcats visit Texas for the schools’ first matchup in nearly a century. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer

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➤ "Impossible" Bone Density Improvements Linked to Overlooked Protein. Doctors are doing double-takes at recent DEXA scans showing unprecedented bone density improvements in women over 60 after adding this protein in their diet. The stunning results have doctors questioning if their equipment is malfunctioning. (Learn More)

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➤ Texas’ average gas price rose 6 cents this week to $3.69 per gallon, up 92 cents from last year, though the state remained the nation’s second-cheapest place to fill up. (More)

➤ Texas DPS troopers are increasing patrols through Monday for the Labor Day travel rush, targeting impaired and speeding drivers while reminding Texans to slow down and arrange a sober ride. (More)

➤ Fort Worth’s Rooftop Cinema Club will screen Nine to Five on Sept. 25, donating 95% of ticket profits to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to children. (More)

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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, straight from the heart of the country.

➤ A simple blood test is rewriting how early Alzheimer's can be caught and treated. (Listen Now)

➤ Social Security overpaid a retiree $35,000 and gave her just 30 days to pay it back. (Hear Details)

➤ AAA predicts drivers will face the highest Labor Day gas prices on record this holiday weekend. (Podcast Available)