Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1879, Texas passed the Fifty Cent Act, selling public land in 52 West Texas counties at 50 cents an acre to pay down state debt and build the Permanent School Fund.

Yesterday's trivia question asked about the difference between alligators and crocodiles. Our answer had to do with snouts, but a reader named Joe emailed to give us the real solution: "One will see you in a while; the other will see you later."

Thanks, Joe.

Are you frustrated with a phone battery that never seems to last the day? You are not alone, and the fix usually is not a trip to the store or a few hundred dollars for a new device. A handful of settings buried in your phone are quietly draining power all day long, and most of them are switched on by default without you ever knowing. In today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla walks through seven quick changes that can stretch your battery well past what you are getting now. Tune in here to learn more.

Today's sponsor, hear.com, introduces the nearly invisible Horizon IX hearing aids, designed to deliver crystal-clear conversations in noisy environments with advanced dual-processing technology, and backed by a 45-day no-risk trial.

Abbott Announces $5.5M Medical Training Grants

Gov. Greg Abbott announced $5.5 million in grants to give Texas medical students hands-on training with primary care doctors across the state.

The three Statewide Preceptorship Program grants will fund training in family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics, with an emphasis on preparing physicians for rural and medically underserved communities.

"Texas families deserve quality primary care close to home," Abbott said.

Students typically complete their preceptorships during the summer between their first and second years of medical school. The program, administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, dates to 1978.

DPS Hunts Police Impersonator on U.S. 190

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is searching for a man who posed as a police officer and pulled over drivers on U.S. 190 north of Houston.

The suspect conducted traffic stops in Walker, San Jacinto, and Polk counties while driving an unmarked black 2022 Jeep Gladiator, DPS said.

Investigators suspect that multiple drivers may have been stopped by the man, who wore civilian clothing. They're asking victims to come forward.

Texas Leaders Honor Sen. Lindsey Graham

Texas political leaders paid tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the four-term South Carolina Republican who died Saturday at 71.

A medical examiner's preliminary findings point to an aortic dissection. Graham had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv the day before his death.

"Lindsey was a fearless patriot, a devoted public servant, and one of the fiercest advocates for America's national security," Sen. Ted Cruz wrote on X.

Sen. John Cornyn called Graham "one of the funniest people I have ever met" and a "great patriot." Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows praised Graham's energy and conviction in support of a strong national defense.

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➤ South Texas: The USDA has released nearly 400 million sterile flies in Texas in its fight against the New World screwworm, with most released along the Texas-Mexico border and in counties with confirmed cases. (See Details)

➤ Beaumont: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cited the city on July 7 after a contractor connected a sewer line to a drinking water line, pumping sewage into the system for about a week in June. The affected section serves prisons, the Jefferson County jail, and industrial sites. (See Details)

➤ La Salle County: The United States Geological Survey recorded a 3.6-magnitude earthquake near Dilley on Sunday afternoon. It is unclear if any damage or injuries have been reported. (More)

➤ Dallas: Two North Texas dog rescues, DFW Pug Rescue and DFW Beagle Buddies, have suspended taking in new dogs, citing soaring veterinary costs and rising demand. Beagle Buddies paused intake indefinitely after 15 years and more than 600 rescues. (More)

➤ DFW: Raising a child in Dallas-Fort Worth will cost $23,340 in 2026, up 4.5% from last year—the biggest jump of any Texas metro, a SmartAsset study found. Costs trail only Austin statewide, but DFW still ranks as the 10th-most affordable major U.S. metro for raising a child. (See Details)

➤ Angelina County: The district attorney's office is carrying a backlog of more than 5,000 cases with just five prosecutors on staff. District Attorney Amy Wren says the community is paying the price. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Some Texas Taco Bell locations have temporarily pulled fresh toppings, including lettuce, cilantro, onions, pico de gallo, and guacamole, as health officials investigate a multistate Cyclospora parasite outbreak. (See Details)

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➤ Texas schools must monitor Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) readings for all outdoor athletics and marching band activities starting Aug. 1, under a rule the University Interscholastic League Legislative Council approved in June. The measure factors in humidity, wind, and solar radiation when making heat-safety decisions. (More)

➤ Texas Longhorns volleyball players Henley Anderson, Genevieve Harris, Taylor Harvey, and Abby Vander Wal helped the U.S. win the U21 Pan-American Cup on Sunday, sweeping Canada 3-0 in the final in Columbus, Ohio. The Americans dropped just one set in the tournament. (More)

➤ NFL executives, coaches, and scouts voted Tyler Smith, the Cowboys' 25-year-old left guard, as the league's best interior offensive lineman in ESPN's annual position rankings, up from No. 2 last year. (See List)

➤ Eight Texas A&M baseball players were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, led by Chris Hacopian, who went 11th overall to the Washington Nationals as the highest-drafted position player in program history. It's A&M's second straight eight-player draft class. (See Details)

➤ Two Baylor Bears players also heard their names called in the MLB Draft on Sunday: pitcher Lucas Davenport went to the Boston Red Sox at pick No. 156, and first baseman Tyce Armstrong to the New York Yankees in the 19th round. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: WNBA

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➤ Dairy Queen has closed dozens of locations nationwide, including 42 in Texas, after the parent company revoked franchise rights from Texas operator Project Lonestar for failing to complete required building remodels. Additional closures hit Alaska and Montana amid economic pressures on franchisees. (See Details)

➤ TSA screenings at Texas airports fell 4.3% during the 2026 federal funding lapse, the 9th-steepest drop among states, according to a study by Upgraded Points. Nationally, daily throughput dropped 6.7% between March and May. (See Report)

➤ Aoudads, an invasive North African sheep introduced to Texas after World War II, are spreading a respiratory bacterium to native desert bighorn sheep, with fatality rates as high as 80%. (Read Story)

➤ KTH Texas, a Japanese-owned auto parts supplier, will build a $100 million plant near Seguin, off Interstate 10, creating 170 jobs by 2031. The 300,000-square-foot facility will stamp and weld vehicle structural components, with operations scheduled to begin in April 2028. (See Details)

➤ Tom Green County Commissioners voted 5-0 on July 7 to withdraw the county from the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone covering downtown San Angelo and nearby commercial corridors. (More)

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➤ A Corpus Christi couple has spent 21 years waking at 5 a.m. to collect cans and clean up their neighborhood near Airline Road, and they say they have no plans to stop. (Read Story)

➤ Hook 'Em, the University of Texas mascot, is one of 11 nominees for the 2026 Mascot Hall of Fame. Hook 'Em debuted in November 1975 and makes more than 300 appearances a year. Fan voting runs through July 26. (More)

➤ Artist Luke Weaverling of Conroe, known online as "Luke the Cardist," paints layered, vivid designs directly onto sports cards, turning ordinary trading cards into one-of-a-kind pieces that have drawn collectors' attention nationwide. (Read Story)

➤ San Antonio Denny's franchise owners Lupita Corbeil and Dawn Lafreeda won the Texas Restaurant Association's Spirit of Generosity Award for their support of victims of the 2025 Hill Country floods. (Read Story)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ How can you make your phone battery last significantly longer without buying a new device? (Hear More)

➤ Homeless encampments have taken over 12 blocks near a popular New York City museum, and workers say the city has stopped clearing them. (Hear Episode)

➤ A fire tore through a crowded bar in Thailand this weekend, killing dozens. (Listen Now)