Good Morning! On this day in 1910, golfer Jimmy Demaret was born in Houston. Known for his flamboyant personality and wardrobe, he won the Masters in 1940, 1947, and 1950.
Also being born in Houston this weekend is the city’s first-ever Pickle Festival. It’s kind of a big dill!
Later today, we will email you on behalf of our partner, ProDentim, with information about a stunning new soft candy product that will melt in your mouth and help restore your gums and teeth. We hope you find their message useful!
We’re sponsored today by Organixx, your best source for collagen supplements.
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TX Legislature Passes Abortion, Education Bills
The Texas House passed two abortion-related bills on Thursday. One permits abortions when they’d save the life of a mother whose baby doctors deem won’t survive, and the other prohibits local governments from funding organizations that help pay for out-of-state abortions.
A pair of property tax cut bills also passed the House, raising the homestead exemption to save Texas homeowners an estimated $500 annually and raising it even higher for homeowners 65 and older.
The House also gave initial approval to a bill that would allow prayer in public schools, requiring school boards to vote on having a designated time of prayer during the school day.
Finally, House and Senate reached a joint agreement on the $8.5 billion school funding bill, with $4.2 billion going toward teacher and staff pay increases over the next two years.
Austin OKs $104 Million for 1-35 Parks Plan
The Austin City Council on Thursday approved an amended plan for the I-35 Cap and Stitch Project, which ultimately aims to provide parks, trails, and green space built over top of the roadway.
The vote approved a $104 million initial investment in the project, enough for five structures in the area that could eventually support larger community spaces.
The council postponed a separate vote on funding the design for the community spaces, with a commitment deadline of November 2026, as Thursday’s approval squeaked in under the May 31 deadline.
The measure passed 8-3 with dissenters advocating for saving money for future projects.
Blue Origin Reveals its Next Flight Crew
Blue Origin, the private space company owned by Jeff Bezos, has announced the crew for its upcoming space tourism flight.
Included in the crew is Amy Jorge, a STEM middle and high school teacher from Galveston who has led more than 60 space and zero-gravity flight experiments with her students.
Blue Origin’s most recent space tourism flight showcased a celebrity-studded, all-female crew, which included Katy Perry.
The six-person crew will launch from Van Horn, Texas, on a date yet to be announced.
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➤ Austin: Gov. Greg Abbott thanked the U.S. House for its Thursday approval of a $12 billion border security reimbursement to Texas, which Abbott formally requested in January. (More)
➤ Dallas: The city council has revealed in-depth plans for a new convention center. While final costs are still unknown, initial estimates are more than $3 billion. (See Plans)
➤ El Paso: Amazon began construction on a new $51.5 million delivery station this week, expected to provide same-day delivery in the El Paso area. (More)
➤ Harris County: Commissioners voted down Judge Lina Hidalgo’s request to fund four of her staff members joining her on a trip to Paris for an international trade mission. (See Details)
➤ Houston: Baylor College of Medicine announced it is ending a 25-year partnership with Healthcare for the Homeless, citing the nonprofit’s unpaid debts to the college. (More)
➤ San Antonio: U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.) will give the keynote address at the Memorial Day ceremonies at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, despite being under indictment for alleged bribery. (See Details)
➤ The Dallas Stars squared off against the Edmonton Oilers again last night in the second game of the Western Conference Finals. (See Score)
➤ Texas Tech beat FSU 2-1 Thursday in the women’s softball super-regional tournament in Tallahassee, sending them to the College World Series for the first time. (More)
➤ The University of Houston signed head basketball coach Kelvin Sampson to an extension that will keep him through 2029. The contract details weren’t revealed. (More)
➤ All nine members of Texas’ women’s rowing team received All-SEC honors this season, including Marg Van Der Wal, who was named the SEC’s Rower of the Year. (More)
➤ TCU basketball coach Jamie Dixon was one of nine Texas-based athletes voted into the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame on Thursday. (See the List)
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➤ Tom Cruise made surprise appearances at two Dallas movie theaters on Thursday during a trip to the state promoting the premiere of Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning. (Watch Report)
➤ Kendalia Halle, San Antonio’s historic dance hall that closed suddenly last year, is now for sale, listed at $550,000. (More)
➤ Houston’s Karbach Brewing Company is hosting the city’s first-ever Pickle Festival tomorrow, with pickle eating, tossing, and juice chugging on the agenda. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
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Have you watched any NBA or NHL playoff games this season?
