Good Morning! On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated the Gary Job Corps Training Center at the former site of Gary Air Force Base near San Marcos. Over the next two years, over 3,000 workers received job training at the facility, making it the largest such training center in the nation.
An owlet was born at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin yesterday, and the event was caught on camera. Check out the video here and in today’s Et Cetera section!
We’re sponsored today by World Concern, a nonprofit offering an opportunity to help earthquake victims in Myanmar.
Houston-based budget carrier Avelo Airlines has agreed to operate deportation flights for ICE beginning next month, a move the company’s founder and CEO acknowledged is “a sensitive and complicated topic.”
The company will use three Boeing 737-800 aircraft based at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona for the “long-term charter program,” providing domestic and international flights in support of the Trump administration’s deportation initiative.
Andrew Levy, Avelo’s founder and CEO, said the agreement would help the company expand and provide job security for the company’s 1,100 employees. A job listing says the carrier is seeking “energetic, highly motivated” flight attendants to ensure safety and security on the deportation flights.
Avelo is already facing boycotts over the agreement. An online petition had received over 19,000 signatures at the time of writing, and the mayor of New Haven, Connecticut—the carrier’s East Coast hub—has called on Levy to reconsider the flights.
Student Visas Revoked at Texas A&M, UT Austin
Several international students at Texas A&M University and UT Austin have had their visas revoked and legal status terminated without prior notice. Student visa revocations have also occurred at other colleges across the country.
A Texas A&M spokesperson confirmed 15 students had their visas canceled, while UT Austin administrators stated that two former students had their visas revoked after a criminal records check.
The Trump administration has been cracking down on international students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests or otherwise promoted civil unrest on their campuses. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that any “potential criminal activity” is grounds for removal.
In some cases, administrators discovered student visas were canceled for misdemeanor crimes or traffic violations. The federal government has also revoked visas for students whose presence could pose “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.”
Harold Simmons Park Breaks Ground
Dallas residents celebrated a milestone on Tuesday when ground was broken for Harold Simmons Park, a 250-acre area along the Trinity River that generations of city leaders have dreamed of turning into a vibrant urban green space.
The $325 million undertaking will include five smaller parks with trails and amenities such as a skate park, cafe, basketball and pickleball courts, picnic groves, a cable ferry, and a 40,000-square-foot event lawn.
The park is expected to create 600 jobs, draw 4 to 6 million visitors a year, and produce $7 billion in economic development over the next 30 years. Around $170 million has been pledged for the project, including $50 million from the wife of the project’s namesake.
Former First Lady Laura Bush attended the event, along with Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, representatives from Native American tribes, and members of the historic Lone Star Baptist Missionary Church.
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It’s fallen out of the news cycle, but we know you won’t forget these families.
A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Southeast Asia, leaving behind devastation, death, and despair. Homes have crumbled, families are displaced, and critical infrastructure has collapsed. At this moment, there are more than 3,000 reported dead, and aid groups have described the damage and needs as “staggering.”
➤ Brownsville: A federal judge temporarily blocked the deportation of three illegal immigrants from Venezuela yesterday—one day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that challenges to deportations pursuant to the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act must be filed in Texas. (More)
➤ Austin: A motion to remove State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) as speaker of the Texas House was defeated 141-2 yesterday. State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), who advocated for the speaker’s removal, said Burrows has “betrayed the voters of Texas.” (More)
➤ Parker County: Authorities arrested nine people and confiscated 96 live roosters during a cockfighting bust Sunday afternoon. About 40 people fled into a nearby wooded area when deputies arrived at the scene. (See Photos)
➤ Kerrville: About 3,800 homes and businesses lost power yesterday morning due to “animal interference” at a substation. The Kerrville Public Utility Board identified the culprit as a ringtail. (More)
➤ Austin: Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd announced his intent to retire this summer, allowing Gov. Greg Abbott to appoint his replacement. Boyd was appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry in 2012 and was elected to six-year terms in 2014 and 2020. (More)
➤ San Antonio: Crews began tearing down the former Institute of Texan Cultures building Tuesday, less than a week after a lawsuit was filed to block its demolition. The 13.59-acre UTSA property is marked for development as part of a multibillion-dollar sports and entertainment district. (More)
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➤ Luka Doncic scored 45 points against his former team last night as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-97 on their home court. Doncic was visibly emotional as a tribute video played when he was introduced, and he received a standing ovation when he checked out of the game with less than two minutes to play. (More)
➤ The Houston Astros traded 34-year-old relief pitcher Rafael Montero to the Atlanta Braves for cash and a yet-to-be-named minor leaguer. Montero was a key part of Houston’s 2022 World Series victory, but his performance since then has been subpar. (More)
➤ The Dallas Stars found an unfortunate way to make NHL history on Tuesday, becoming the first team ever to lose a game after leading by three goals with one minute left in regulation. The Stars lost 6-5 to Vancouver in overtime after leading 5-2. (More)
➤ The Houston Rocketshave secured the No. 2 seed in the NBA’s Western Conference. (More)
➤ Houston-based real estate developer Hines sold 11 master-planned communities in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Houston to Miami-based investment firm Starwood Capital Group for $800 million. The communities include more than 16,000 residential lots and over 600 acres of commercial land. (More)
➤ The EPA approved a permit for Oxy Low Carbon Ventures to operate three underground carbon storage wells in Ector County. It’s the first such project in Texas to receive the agency’s approval. (More)
➤ Texas power grid operator ERCOT updated a five-year projection to show peak electricity demand could reach 218 gigawatts in 2031—more than double the record of 85.5 gigawatts set in August 2023. (See Details)
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Families in Myanmar need emergency medical treatment, food, water, and vital services. World Concern has been working in Myanmar for decades, assessing needs, actively responding, and investing in the long-term rehabilitation of this place and its people. Please give today!
Your gift today can help provide: · Emergency medical care, medicines, and vaccinations · Safe water, hygiene kits, and sanitation services · Emergency shelter and essential supplies for displaced families
➤ A “Fire Nico” mural was unveiled in Dallas ahead of the Mavericks’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers last night. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February, a move that angered many Dallas fans. (See Mural)
➤ Authorities in Fulshear rescued a great horned owl caught in a barbed wire fence Wednesday. (See Photos)
➤ Meanwhile, a baby owl hatched at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin yesterday. Athena, a great horned owl that has hatched several owlets at the center in recent years, laid two eggs in March. (Watch Video)
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Houston Carrier Will Operate Deportation Flights
