Monday, September 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1971, David Phillip Vetter, known as the "Bubble Boy," was born in Houston with a severely weakened immune system. He spent nearly his entire life in some form of sterile containment contraption. (See Photos)

The cost of living is the quiet force behind almost every financial decision you make, and lately it's been an uphill battle. Why does your paycheck buy less than it used to? Why is home buying suddenly out of reach for you or your loved ones? And who exactly decides what the cost of living is in the first place? In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we take a deeper look at the number everyone quotes and how it will continue to affect your budget. (Tune in here)

Today’s sponsor is LMNT. We’ve talked about LMNT before, usually by telling you how much our team likes it. But that might not be the most useful thing we could tell you. So today, we’re taking a different approach and publishing what may be the saltiest advertisement in Flyover history.

Border Wall Rises in Big Bend Region

Crews lifted the first 30-foot steel panels into place along a 47-mile stretch of Hudspeth County on Sept. 15, the first major border wall construction in Texas' Big Bend region.

It's part of a $46.5 billion push to line the border with steel panels, vehicle barriers, roads, and cameras. Customs and Border Protection said it has built 232 miles since January 2025 and is now putting up 12 miles a week, double its earlier pace.

Landowners, ranchers, and environmental groups have fought the plans, arguing that the remote country along the Rio Grande sees little illegal crossing. "This fight is not over," said Clara Benson of the No Big Bend Wall Coalition.

The administration says the barriers, roads, and sensors will help agents spot and stop smugglers, fulfilling President Trump's promise to finish the wall. Landowners and a conservation nonprofit sued this week, challenging DHS waivers of environmental rules.

Hegseth Visits Texas A&M, Austin

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited Texas A&M on Saturday, touring the Veterans Resource Center, addressing the Corps of Cadets, and conducting a contracting ceremony for dozens of cadets. He later attended the Aggies’ game against Kentucky and participated in a POW/MIA halftime ceremony.

During his remarks at Texas A&M, Hegseth said the military is focused on merit in recruiting and promotions and that DEI offices and quotas have been eliminated.

A day earlier in Austin, Hegseth visited Capital Factory and Saronic Technologies as part of the Pentagon’s "Arsenal of Freedom" tour. He also administered the oath of enlistment to new recruits at the Austin Armed Forces Reserve Center.

At Kyle Field, Hegseth met with Gov. Greg Abbott on the sidelines during Texas A&M’s game against Kentucky. Kentucky went on to defeat the ninth-ranked Aggies, 31-21.

George W. Bush Releasing Paintings Book

Former President George W. Bush will release a new book of oil paintings featuring political prisoners and dissidents from around the world. The Call of Freedom: Portraits of Political Prisoners and Dissidents is scheduled for publication in March.

The book will feature 44 full-color portraits painted by Bush, accompanied by biographical sketches of the people depicted. Subjects include individuals who have faced persecution because of their ethnicity, gender, political positions, or religious beliefs.

Among those featured in the collection are Uyghur advocate Rushan Abbas, Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, and Jina Mahsa Amini, whose 2022 death in Iranian custody sparked widespread protests. Former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky wrote the foreword.

An exhibition of Bush’s portraits will open at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas the same day the book is released. A portion of Bush’s proceeds will support organizations assisting political dissidents and the Bush Institute’s related work.

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➤ Statewide: President Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc., directed another $5 million to TV and digital advertising supporting the Republican Senate nominee Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a new FEC filing. The group previously committed $10 million to the race. (More)

➤ Fort Worth: Dozens of new U.S. citizens were sworn in Sept. 17 at the Eldon B. Mahon U.S. Courthouse in Fort Worth. Texas A&M System Board of Regents Chairman Robert Albritton delivered the keynote. (More)

➤ Austin: The Texas Supreme Court is weighing whether Allen Premium Outlets' owners can be held liable in a negligence lawsuit stemming from the 2023 mass shooting that killed eight people. Simon Property Group argued that Texas law generally does not require property owners to protect against third-party criminal acts. (More)

➤ Eagle Pass: Border Patrol agents rescued four migrants from a portable water tank in the bed of a pickup near Eagle Pass. Agents used power tools to open the tank. The migrants declined medical care, and the 19-year-old U.S. citizen driver was charged with alien smuggling. (More)

➤ San Antonio: The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio will permanently close its Rayburn clubhouse Sept. 25 and pause its Eastside location Sept. 30 through the school year, citing financial challenges. The nonprofit reported a $1 million loss in 2025 and is seeking options for displaced children. (More)

➤ Boyd: Four Boyd High School students, including two 17-year-olds charged as adults, face felony charges after police say a 14-year-old student was restrained and assaulted during a locker-room hazing incident. The charges include unlawful restraint and injury to a child causing bodily injury. (More)

➤ San Antonio: A VA inspector general report found mental health care at San Antonio's Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital failed to meet several agency standards, including privacy, safety, and medication-consent requirements. The VA said corrective actions were underway. (More)

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➤The Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 37-20 on Sunday as Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and set the franchise career record with his 249th. CeeDee Lamb had 153 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels left with another injury to his left elbow. (More)

➤The Houston Texans fell to 0-2 with a 20-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, failing to score a touchdown despite C.J. Stroud throwing for 353 yards. Houston managed just 18 rushing yards from its running backs and played without top receiver Nico Collins, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury. (More)

➤ The University of Texas held onto the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 college football poll after its win over UTSA, while Texas Tech climbed to No. 11. Texas A&M fell 14 spots to No. 23 after a home loss to Kentucky, and SMU dropped to No. 22. (More)

➤ ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Knoxville on Saturday for No. 14 Tennessee's matchup against Texas at Neyland Stadium. The game marks the Longhorns' first trip to Tennessee. (More)

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Flyover Focus takes a deeper look at the topics that matter. Click the link to watch this week’s full episode.

➤ Your grocery bill, your mortgage, and your retirement check all move with the cost of living. So what's actually behind that number? (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we get into how the cost of living is measured, why the official figure doesn't always match what you see at the register, and whether the yearly raise to Social Security checks actually keeps anyone afloat. We also look at who's feeling the squeeze hardest, and whether there's any relief in sight. (Watch Now)

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down artificial intelligence, tune in here.

➤ Texas' statewide average for regular gasoline reached $3.93 a gallon, up 10 cents in a week and $1.14 from a year ago. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller renewed calls to suspend the 20-cent state fuel tax. (More)

➤ H-E-B plans to invest more than $1 million in curbside upgrades at three Austin-area stores. Projects at two Austin locations and one in Hutto are expected to begin in November, with construction tentatively scheduled to be completed by April 2027. (More)

➤ Temple opened the new Santa Fe Community Market downtown Saturday, transforming a building purchased by the city three years ago into an open-air pavilion for vendors, food trucks, and performances. The market will operate every third Saturday morning of each month. (More)

➤ Central Texas College graduated 19 students from its paramedic program, including EMTs, firefighters, and active-duty service members. Graduates completed classroom, lab, clinical, and field training and are now eligible to work as paramedics, firefighter-paramedics, and other advanced emergency medical providers. (More)

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We’ve Been Endorsing LMNT the Wrong Way

Instead of simply telling you we like LMNT, here’s the better endorsement: we actually use it. Packets end up in our gym bags, desks, cars, and suitcases. Everyone has a favorite flavor, and the best ones have a habit of disappearing first.

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Order LMNT today and get a free sample pack with your purchase. It’s an easy way to try more flavors and find your favorite.

➤ The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s new Enchanted Garden exhibit fills the Fuller Garden with life-size sculptures of fairy-tale and folklore characters, including fairies, unicorns, and wizards. The outdoor display is open during regular garden hours and runs through Nov. 30. (See Photos)

➤ Bobz World near Los Fresnos has grown from a seashell business into a roadside attraction featuring giant dinosaurs and sea creatures, black-light mini golf, mini bowling, an arcade, and nearly two dozen exhibits. (More)

➤ San Antonio’s KPOPWORLD Festival & Worldwide Dance Competition, scheduled for Oct. 28-31 at the Alamodome, has been postponed until 2027 because of visa delays affecting international performers. (More)

➤ The Tormenta Rampaging Run, Six Flags Over Texas' new roller coaster, stopped with 48 riders aboard Saturday after a sensor triggered a technical delay. All guests were safely unloaded, and the 309-foot-tall coaster returned to service nearly 50 minutes later. (More)

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➤ Why Do Bruises Suddenly Show Up After 50? You don't remember bumping into anything—yet another bruise appears. While many people chalk it up to aging or medication, easy bruising may be a clue worth paying attention to. It's one of 7 commonly overlooked warning signs that can become more noticeable with age. See all 7 warning signs—and what they could be telling you.