Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1906, the Texas Longhorns opened their season at Austin's Clark Field by shutting out a team of soldiers from the 26th Infantry, 21-0.

An item in Et Cetera mentions that the Big Tex statue at the State Fair of Texas got a permanent historical marker on Sunday. In the Poll, we ask if you've ever taken a photo with the big guy. Hit reply to share your pictures, especially if they're from way back (or a bit silly).

Markets have been busy lately, and if you weren't sure what any of it meant for your wallet, that's exactly the problem Flyover Finance solves. Starting October 12, our free email tells you what moved, why it moved, and what to watch next in a five-minute read. You'll also get practical tips on retirement, taxes, and saving that you can put to work. Sign up now so you don't miss the first edition.

Have you ever caught your dog's paws paddling away mid-nap? The twitching, the muffled woofs, the darting eyes while they're sound asleep. Those little movements aren't random, and researchers can now tell a lot about what's playing out in a dreaming brain. Christopher digs into the secret world of dog dreams on today's episode of The Flyover Podcast. What starts happening in your dog's brain about 20 minutes after they doze off? And how can you tell a good dream from a nightmare? Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 11 common money mistakes you may be making and simple strategies that could help you cut unnecessary expenses, reduce debt, and keep more money in your pocket.

500 Troops Deploy After Border Shooting

Roughly 500 troops are deploying to Texas' Rio Grande Valley this week, dropped onto islands by Chinook helicopters, after Coast Guard crews took fire from the Mexican side of the river.

It happened Sept. 26, when Coast Guard personnel returned fire during a joint interdiction operation near Garceno. No injuries were reported, no Coast Guard equipment was damaged, and the shooting remains under investigation.

Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that Operation Lone Star will continue, pointing to a "slight uptick" in crossings and a caravan in southern Mexico. He spoke beside a giant $7.5 billion check from DHS reimbursing the state's border spending.

The reimbursement comes from a fund congressional Republicans created in the 2025 tax-and-spending law over uniform Democrat opposition. Abbott, seeking a fourth term in November, faces state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, who calls the spending "political theater" but credits President Trump for the drop in crossings.

Odds Rise for Gulf Tropical Depression

Odds that a disturbance in the southwestern Gulf will become a tropical depression jumped on Monday to 80% within seven days and 60% within two days, up from 70% and 30% that morning.

A trough of low pressure is churning out a wide area of disorganized showers and storms. Forecasters expect a depression by midweek, with the low drifting east before eventually turning north.

The system has no center of circulation yet, so models have little to lock onto. Early guidance keeps the heaviest rain east of Texas, from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, but it remains too early to pin down impacts anywhere along the northern Gulf Coast.

Linebacker Flies Home on Jones' Plane

Cowboys linebacker Shemar James skipped the team flight out of Houston on Sunday and rode home on Jerry Jones' plane instead, with his wife, Erica, in labor with the couple's first child.

Coach Brian Schottenheimer shared the news in his postgame press conference. "Shemar James' wife is in labor, and he'll be flying home with the Joneses. And that's pretty cool. So, praying for an easy delivery, and God is good," he said.

Jones also arranged an escort to carry James from the runway to the hospital. The second-year linebacker made two tackles in the 34-30 comeback over the Texans, which Dak Prescott capped with a 12-yard throw to CeeDee Lamb.

James and his wife, Erica, reportedly welcomed a baby boy on Sunday. Erica posted on social media that “Baby boy made it and daddy was here.”

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Are You Wasting Money Without Realizing It?

Even smart savers can overlook everyday expenses that quietly drain their wallets. FinanceBuzz rounded up 11 common money mistakes and opportunities that could help you cut unnecessary costs, tackle high-interest debt, earn valuable rewards, and make smarter financial decisions.

From comparing financial products to finding discounts and better ways to manage major expenses, these simple strategies could leave more money in your pocket. See the 11 money moves FinanceBuzz says you should reconsider.

➤ North Richland Hills: The city told an anti-surveillance group it would cost $2.3 million, paid up front, to fill a records request on its Flock license plate cameras, billing $15 an hour to sift a terabyte of communications. (More)

➤ Corpus Christi: Crews confirmed a second leak in two weeks on the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, a major water line that carries Lake Texana water to the city. Workers will cut out and replace 24 feet of pipe. The 101-mile pipeline will remain offline until repairs are complete. (More)

➤ Statewide: Democratic state Sen. Nathan Johnson launched a seven-figure TV ad buy Monday in the attorney general's race, running through Election Day. Two recent polls show Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton ahead by 5 percentage points. (More)

➤ Austin: A south Austin father of two lost much of the vision in his right eye months after starting Wegovy and was diagnosed with a rare optic nerve condition that researchers are studying for a possible link to weight-loss drugs. (More)

➤ Fort Bend County: The sheriff's office warned residents that scammers are pasting fake QR codes over real ones and texting codes that look official, sending phones to look-alike websites built to harvest passwords and card numbers. (More)

➤ Stephenville: A 41-year-old insurance broker drew 13 years in prison for wire fraud and identity theft after collecting over $2 million through a loan program that didn't exist. His 90-plus collector cars will be sold to repay victims. (More)

➤ Statewide: Texas' white-tailed deer herd has grown to an estimated 5.64 million after three straight years of above-average fawn survival, and wildlife officials expect slightly above-average antler growth. Archery hunting season runs through Nov. 6. (More)

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➤ Texas A&M volleyball swept Mississippi State at Reed Arena on Sunday, with Kyndal Stowers' 20 kills and five aces adding up to a program-record 25.5 points in a three-setter. The No. 14 Aggies have won six straight. (More)

➤ Texas Southern assistant Kimble Anders joined the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor on Friday, his third hall after Galveston schools and the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Chiefs fullback played at Houston in the 1980s. (More)

➤ A YouTube streamer who celebrated on the field after Texas A&M's 34-7 win over Arkansas was tased and arrested early Sunday as police cleared the Northgate bar district. Benjamin Beard, 34, faces an evading arrest charge. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | NBA | Soccer

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➤ Kroger will build a $40 million store in Princeton, the Collin County town the Census Bureau named America's fastest-growing city last year. The 100,000-square-foot store is slated to open in late 2027 and bring 200 jobs. (More)

➤ O.B. Macaroni Co., the Fort Worth pasta maker founded in 1899, was sold Thursday to McLane Group, a Temple distributor. The deal includes sister brand Q&Q Pasta, founded in 1910. Both are sold at H-E-B and Kroger. (More)

➤ Austin's airport expected more than 35,000 travelers Monday as the first weekend of ACL Fest cleared out. The airport's new 30,000-square-foot atrium opened before the festival, adding room for TSA lines and bag drops. (More)

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Could Your Retirement Budget Use Some Breathing Room?

Retirement should be about enjoying what you’ve worked for, not worrying about every expense. FinanceBuzz highlights practical ways retirees can trim unnecessary costs, from forgotten subscriptions and everyday purchases to larger recurring expenses that may no longer fit their lifestyle.

Small changes can add up and help your savings stretch further without sacrificing the things you enjoy. See the money moves FinanceBuzz recommends for cutting retirement costs.

➤ Big Tex turned 74 on Oct. 4, and the State Fair of Texas gave him a historical marker across from the spot where the cowboy first stood in 1952. It will stay up year-round. (More)

➤ The equipment manager for Pampa's high school football team has folded Harvesters uniforms since he was a student there. Trent Loter, 57, who has Down syndrome, is enough of a fixture that players call him a father figure. (More)

➤ A Tyler wedding was held inside a nursing home Saturday, where activities director Lisa Halbrook married Alton Lancaster at Briarcliff Health Center. Her maid of honor was resident Kathy Stanley, a friend of 26 years. (More)

➤ Hundreds of girls ages 8 to 18 toured aircraft and met aerospace employers at Dallas Executive Airport on Saturday for the 12th annual Girls in Aviation Day. Women hold fewer than 10% of U.S. pilot licenses. (More)

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➤ Waking Up to Pee at Night? It’s Not Normal. If nighttime bathroom trips are disrupting your sleep, you’re not alone - but it’s not something you have to accept. A new report reveals the real reason so many adults wake up to pee and a simple way to support 24-hour bladder control, fewer urges, and fewer leaks. See what’s behind it and how to fix it. Read now.