Minggu, 27 September 2026

Rodeo Athlete Death, Ancient Cave in Subdivision, and Longhorns Win

Alejandra Franco, a breakaway roper on Tarleton State University's rodeo team, died Thursday night after she was injured at the Sul Ross State University rodeo in Alpine.

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The Roundup

Article Icon 1Tarleton Rodeo Athlete Dies in Alpine

Alejandra Franco, a breakaway roper on Tarleton State University's rodeo team, died Thursday night after she was injured at the Sul Ross State University rodeo in Alpine.

Tarleton head rodeo coach Mark Eakin said the accident involved Franco and her horse. Officials haven't released details about what happened or the injuries she suffered.

“Ale was more than just a rodeo student-athlete; she was a cherished member of the university and a leader on campus,” Eakin said. Franco, who was from Mexico, had celebrated her birthday a month earlier.

Sul Ross kept the weekend's events on schedule in Franco's honor and brought in counselors for athletes. Alumni handed out purple ribbons at the arena gate and asked fans to wear purple.

Article Icon 1Council Candidate Arrested after ICE Protest

State troopers arrested Austin City Council candidate Misael Ramos on Saturday morning on a riot charge tied to a Sept. 20 protest over an ICE shooting in North Austin.

Ramos, who is running for East Austin's District 1 seat, faces a Class B misdemeanor count of riot participation. His campaign says he denies wrongdoing and will fight the charge.

Campaign manager Jeffrey Clemmons said troopers arrested Ramos while he was walking his dog and never showed him a warrant. DPS hasn't publicly detailed the case against him.

Police said the crowd grew to hundreds and some people threw rocks, bottles, and chunks of concrete. Three officers suffered minor injuries, and troopers arrested several people that night.

The protest followed the shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan delivery driver DHS says is an illegal immigrant with a final removal order. His attorney says he entered legally, seeking asylum.

Article Icon 1Longhorns Hold Off Vols in Knoxville

No. 1 Texas held off a late comeback bid from No. 14 Tennessee, winning 20-17 at Neyland Stadium with President Trump in attendance.

Trump arrived in style, with Air Force One flying over the stadium before kickoff. Arch Manning's uncle Peyton, a Vols legend in the 1990s, was also on hand for the programs' first meeting since the 1969 Cotton Bowl.

The Longhorns sacked the Vols 10 times, with Duncanville native Colin Simmons tying the school's single-game record with five. That pressure held up late, when Tennessee recovered an onside kick but couldn't capitalize.

Simmons' big day came with one hiccup. He drew an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for a vulgar celebration officials described as "simulating using the restroom."

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The Flyover

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Around Texas

➤ San Antonio: At least 10 police officers opened fire Friday night on a man who police say racked a loaded shotgun and pointed it at them in a bar parking lot on Ruiz Street, west of downtown. The man, in his 30s, was in critical condition after surgery. (See Details)

➤ Richardson: Neighbors of Amazon's drone delivery hub, which opened in December 2025, say it sounds like a beehive and the drones fly nonstop. Amazon says the noise is minimal and short-lived, and it plans to expand drone delivery to suburbs in nearly 500 U.S. cities. (More)

➤ El Paso: Ricardo Mora will step down as president and CEO of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce at the end of the year to expand his own business. Mora has led the chamber since August 2024. (More)

➤ Houston: METRO's on-demand electric Community Connector shuttle starts charging the standard $1.25 fare Monday after a three-year free pilot. The app-booked service covers the Third Ward, Second Ward, downtown, the Heights, and Near Northside, with free transfers and senior and student discounts. (More)

➤ Amarillo: The Texas Cattle Feeders Association joined Kansas and Oklahoma cattle groups in warning that ICE activity is disrupting workers at feed yards, dairies, and processing plants. The groups said thousands of fed cattle bound for processors have been delayed, costing millions of dollars. (More)

➤ Tatum: The City Council voted 4-1 to remove City Secretary Jacqueline Muckleroy in a no-confidence vote, days after Mayor Michael Henry announced his resignation. Muckleroy says she has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging misconduct by three city officials and wants the Texas Rangers to investigate. (More)


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Texas Sports

➤ No. 23 Texas A&M fell 35-6 on the road at No. 10 LSU, which scored 21 third-quarter points. The Aggies have now lost two straight. (More)

➤ Texas Tech linebacker Austin Romaine returned interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive passes, just seven seconds apart, in a 49-14 rout of Sam Houston. He's the first FBS player to do it since 2013. (Watch Highlights)

➤ Baylor beat Colorado 23-13 for the Bears’ first Big 12 win of the season, TCU fell 21-13 to UCF, Houston routed Georgia Southern 42-28, and No. 22 SMU hosted Missouri State as a 30.5-point favorite. (See Scores)

➤ The Dallas Wings return to the WNBA playoffs today for the first time since 2023, opening a best-of-three first-round series at the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries. (See Details)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | NHL | Golf | F1

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Et Cetera

➤ Friesenhahn Cave, tucked inside a subdivision 20 minutes north of downtown San Antonio, holds the bones of as many as 30 scimitar-toothed cats, plus mammoths and dire wolves. Family legend says the old landowner kept scientists out for three decades because he hid Prohibition whiskey down there. (Read Story)

➤ Four San Antonio authors launched Inbound Books, a co-op publishing house that gives every title a marketing plan and steers 50% of royalties to writers. Authors who help each other with marketing or artwork earn a share of the profits. (More)

➤ Two robot mowers at Taylor City Cemetery need names, and the city is asking the public for ideas. The autonomous machines handle grounds maintenance so Public Works staff can tackle other projects. (More)

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The Flyover Podcast

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. 

➤ France’s first papal visit in 18 years brought 700,000 people to a Paris Mass. (Hear More)

➤ Could your belly button hold clues to brain health? A small study found intriguing patterns. (Listen Now)

➤  A recruiter’s iced coffee rule stirred up a surprisingly heated hiring debate. (Podcast Available)

  

Check This Out

SpaceX Raptor engines rolled down Main Street in McGregor’s Founders Day parade Saturday, sharing the route with cheerleaders and youth football teams. Every engine the company builds is tested in McGregor before it’s cleared to fly.

The Polling Station

Would you let a robot mow your lawn?

  1. Already do
  2. Yes, if the price is right
  3. No, I'll mow it myself
  4. I hire someone
  5. I don't have a lawn

Yesterday's Results:

Would lower prices make you more likely to attend the State Fair?

  1. No: 61%
  2. Maybe: 23%
  3. Definitely: 12%
  4. Already going: 3%
  5. Went on opening day: 1%
Texas Trivia

What is the official state snack of Texas?

Show me the answer

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Nor'easter Hits Hard, Headache Remedies, and Shakey's Pizza Revisited

A powerful nor’easter brought torrential rain, flooding and strong winds to the Northeast on Saturday, and the region is braced for more impact as the weekend continues.
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The Flyover

The 37 Best Gadgets of 2026 You Won’t Find in Stores

The best gadgets aren’t just cool... they solve real everyday problems. From clutter-busting tools to clever tech upgrades, these picks are making waves for their usefulness and ingenuity. We’ve rounded up the most talked-about items that people can’t stop adding to their carts.

Each one combines practical function with a touch of genius, making them perfect for your home, office, or even as gifts. But be warned... demand is skyrocketing, and these top gadgets are already selling out faster than expected.

Learn More

The Flyover Podcast

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. 

➤ France’s first papal visit in 18 years brought 700,000 people to a Paris Mass. (Hear More)

➤ Could your belly button hold clues to brain health? A small study found intriguing patterns. (Listen Now)

➤  A recruiter’s iced coffee rule stirred up a surprisingly heated hiring debate. (Podcast Available)

  

Sports

➤ Air Force One flew over Neyland Stadium before President Trump watched No. 1 Texas hold off No. 14 Tennessee 20-17. The Longhorns' defense sacked the Vols 10 times. (Watch Videos)

➤ No. 17 Iowa beat No. 18 Michigan 20-19 on Hank Brown's 16-yard touchdown pass as time expired, completing a 91-yard Hawkeyes drive in the final 1:46. (Watch Play)

➤ Stephen Curry agreed to a two-year, $116 million extension with the Golden State Warriors, taking less than the max and giving the team roughly $10 million more projected cap space next summer. (More)

➤ In a rare move, Major League Baseball relocated today’s regular-season finale between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, because of an approaching nor'easter. (More)

➤ Manchester City was found guilty of a majority of charges tied to the Premier League’s financial rules. Possible sanctions include a fine, points deduction, suspension, or expulsion from the league. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | NHL | Golf | F1

Finance

Trend Line Weekly Market Report  Previous Week

▲ NASDAQ
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
27,068.72
1.29%
▲ SPX
S&P 500
7,743.41
0.66%
▼ DJI
Dow Jones Industrial Average
51,828.62
-0.21%
▲ BTC
Bitcoin
$84,034.92
3.56%
▼ GOLD
Per Ounce
$4,321.20
-2.08%
▼ SILVER
Per Ounce
$64.25
-2.39%
▼ OIL
West Texas Intermediate Crude
$92.41
-8.50%
Bitcoin, gold, silver, and oil are traded 24 hours a day.

➤ The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that states are permitted to apply their state gambling laws to Kalshi’s sports-related event contracts on prediction market platforms. (More)

➤ Bank of America will hire 1,000 additional apprentices in consumer banking, technology, and operations over the next two years while investing $150 million in workforce development programs. (More)

➤ Oil prices declined on Friday amid optimism that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened, helping the S&P 500, the Nasdaq Composite, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average close higher. (More

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The Flyover

Ladies and gentlemen, here are our most-clicked stories of the week:

➤ Neurologists weighed in on the 10 most popular home headache remedies, revealing one that can make the pain worse and one backed by real science that most people don't have at home. (Podcast Available)

➤ Sixteen bears, including defending champion Chunk, are competing in Alaska’s Fat Bear Week, with online voting through Sept. 29 to crown this year’s champion. (See Bears)

➤ Vintage photos of Chuck E. Cheese revisit its animatronic band, ceiling tubes, game tokens, and ticket munchers, bringing back childhood memories and perhaps a few nightmares. (More)

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren't gimmicks or dust collectors, they're practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you're organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what's genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won't last.

Click Here

Quick Hits

➤ The U.S. and China agreed to lower tariffs on $30 billion in goods each imports from the other, open talks on AI, and strengthen military communications after President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (More)

➤ President Trump said on Saturday he rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days as part of a deal conveyed through Qatar. (More)

➤ A federal jury in San Diego ordered Apple to pay Taction Technology $5.7 billion for infringing two patents behind the taps and vibrations users feel on iPhones. Apple is expected to challenge the verdict. (More)

➤ The White House barred CNN from Saturday’s Air Force One press pool as President Trump traveled to a University of Tennessee football game, two days after a judge temporarily lifted a broader press access ban. (More)

➤ Greek rescuers recovered six bodies Saturday from a house destroyed by an apparent gas explosion in Athens’ Plaka district, and local media reported that documents suggested four victims were U.S. citizens. (More)

➤ Axel, a deaf dog surrendered as a puppy, is preparing to deploy with the Michigan National Guard as a ministry dog after learning more than 50 commands, including hand signals. (See Axel)

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Whatever Happened To...

Whatever happened to Shakey's Pizza?

Before Pizza Hut and Domino's conquered the American pizza market, Shakey's Pizza Parlor was the original, the nation's first franchised pizza chain, and for a generation of teenagers, it was the only place to be on a Friday night.

Sherwood "Shakey" Johnson and his buddy Ed Plummer opened the first Shakey's in Sacramento in 1954 in a converted grocery store. Johnson, a Navy veteran whose wartime bout with malaria left him with a tremor and his nickname, had a simple formula: pizza, cold beer, and live Dixieland jazz. It worked. By the mid-1970s, Shakey's had grown to close to 500 U.S. locations, coast to coast. You can see an early ad here.

But the real magic was the atmosphere. Banjo players and ragtime pianists performed on small stages. Silent comedy shorts, the Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, flickered on screens between sets and hushed the kids instantly. Menus printed song lyrics so families could sing along. Pinball rooms gave way to arcades in the 1980s. The motto said it all: "We serve fun at Shakey's... also pizza."

For teenagers, Shakey's was the Friday night ritual. After the high school football game, kids piled in to grab a booth, split a pizza, flirt, feed quarters into the arcade machines, and soak up the noise. A separate "beerless" room kept teens and adults comfortably apart. Birthday parties were practically a rite of passage.

Then came the ownership carousel. After Johnson and Plummer sold out in the late 1960s, Shakey's passed through a string of neglectful corporate owners. Each squeezed the brand and invested nothing. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Little Caesars offered speed, delivery, and lower prices. The banjo players quietly disappeared. By 2003, just 61 U.S. locations remained.

Today, about 43 Shakey's survive in the U.S., nearly all in Southern California. The real twist? Shakey's is thriving overseas, with roughly 295 locations in the Philippines, where it is a publicly traded company. A new 1980s-themed flagship opened in Culver City, California, last year, complete with arcade games and retro décor, betting that Americans still miss the parlor that started it all.

Did you ever pile into a Shakey's after a Friday night football game? What do you remember most, the pizza, the camaraderie, or the banjo player? Hit reply and tell us.

Check This Out

Why are tires black? The answer has more to do with durability than appearance.

Poll Position

What is your first move when a headache strikes?

  1. Take medicine
  2. Drink water
  3. Grab caffeine
  4. Lie down
  5. Other
 

Yesterday's Results:

Have you ever had an arch-rival?

  1. No, I'm too easygoing: 50%
  2. Only if you count siblings: 13%
  3. Yes. I still think about it: 11%
  4. Yes, and I won: 7%
  5. Other: 7%
  6. Yes, but we made peace: 6%
  7. Yes, and they don't know it: 6%

Quote BoxDaily Quote

Quote

“She needed him to be present when he was at home, not responding to text messages on his constantly buzzing cell phone or replaying a game in his mind. She needed more help with the kids. She needed the chance to sleep in just a few days a week. She needed more time for her own career.”

—  Author Lars Anderson, on Gisele Bündchen, who was married to NFL legend Tom Brady before their 2022 divorce 

TriviaToday's Trivia

Which Founding Father did Thomas Jefferson initially want to write the Declaration of Independence?

Show me the answer

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