Good Morning! On this day in 1855, around 200 French colonists arrived at La Réunion, a short-lived socialist community on the banks of the Trinity River in Dallas. Financial insolvency caused the society to collapse within 18 months.
While thousands of people turned out for protests across the state this weekend, folks in Jacksonville and Nacogdoches were celebrating tomatoes and blueberries. Check out today’s Around Texas section for details.
We’re sponsored today by Next Thing Technologies. Be sure to check them out in today’s edition.
Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.
Uplift Harris would have provided approximately 1,500 low-income families with $500 a month for 18 months using federal COVID-19 relief funds. Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the county in April 2024 to block the program, arguing it was an unconstitutional allocation of public funds.
The county tried to implement the program under a different name after the Texas Supreme Court ordered its suspension, prompting Paxton to sue again. An appeals court ruled in Paxton’s favor in December.
Commissioners voted to reallocate the funding to other programs for those in need, including $8 million in rental assistance, $8 million toward homelessness diversion, and $2.5 million to financial assistance for food.
Suspect Arrested in Capitol Threat
While violence erupted at several “No Kings” protests across the U.S. on Saturday, demonstrations in Texas were relatively peaceful despite drawing crowds as large as 20,000 in Austin, 15,000 in Houston, and 11,000 in Dallas and Fort Worth.
State troopers arrested a person in La Grange suspected of making a “credible threat” toward lawmakers at the State Capitol on Saturday. An evacuation order for the building was lifted following the arrest.
In sparsely populated Brewster County, a man was arrested during a protest after allegedly swinging a flagpole at a passing vehicle, injuring its driver.
Gov. Greg Abbott had deployed 5,000 Texas National Guard soldiers and 2,000 Department of Public Safety troopers ahead of the planned protests, which coincided with a military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.
Big Bend’s Summer Death Rate Is Highest in U.S.
Big Bend National Park has the highest summer fatality rate among national parks, according to a recent study that examined data from 2007 to 2023. During that period, there were 1.55 deaths per 100,000 visitors, with hyperthermia listed as the most common cause.
Daytime temperatures at the park routinely soar over 100°F during the summer months. In June 2023, a Florida man and his 14-year-old son died while hiking the difficult Marufo Vega Trail in 119°F heat.
The less popular Guadalupe Mountains National Park also made the list, with two fatalities from motor vehicle crashes during the years examined. Its summer fatality rate of 0.38 per 100,000 visitors ranked eighth among national parks.
Park officials advise summer visitors to hike in the morning, wear appropriate clothing, carry plenty of water, and be aware of the symptoms related to heat exhaustion.
Flying together with our sponsor
The Grid Can’t Handle AI — But This $6 Company Might
AI is booming.
But there’s a growing problem no one wants to admit: our infrastructure isn’t ready for it.¹
The U.S. grid is already stretched thin. In many states, it’s decades overdue for upgrades. Now layer on thousands of energy-hungry AI data centers—and it’s a recipe for blackouts, water shortages, and failure.¹
Just this month, Bloomberg reported that AI data centers are draining millions of gallons of water from drought-prone areas in the U.S.⁹
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is going the opposite direction—investing $100 billion to build ultra-modern AI power hubs running on next-gen energy tech.
➤ Texas City: A large fire at the Marathon Petroleum refinery on Saturday prompted authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order. The fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported. (See Video)
➤ Bell County: An inmate at the county jail escaped Friday after falsely identifying herself as another inmate scheduled to be released that day. Two jailers have been suspended over the incident. (More)
➤ Police executed search warrants for illegal products at multiple vape shops in Temple and Belton on Friday. An investigation dating back to January provided authorities with cause to believe the shops were selling products that contain more than 0.3% THC. (See Details)
➤ Freeport: The city council fired City Manager Larry Petty last week after he was recorded making an alleged threat to kill one of the council members. Law enforcement is investigating. (More)
➤ George West: Police found 25 illegal immigrants hiding behind mattresses in a box truck last Wednesday. The driver, 43-year-old Silvia Patricia Santamaria of Houston, was arrested and charged with human smuggling. (See Details)
➤ Jacksonville: The city hosted its 41st annual Tomato Fest this past weekend. The event featured over 500 vendors, a car and motorcycle show, and a tomato-eating contest. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, nearly 20,000 people visited Nacogdoches for the 35th annual Texas Blueberry Festival. “I love coming out here. It’s honestly one of my favorite traditions here in Nacogdoches,” said Stephen F. Austin State University student Bella-Jace Moreno. (More)
Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.
➤ Baylor senior Nathaniel Ezekiel of Nigeria won the 400m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday. His personal best time of 47.49s is the No. 3 all-time mark in collegiate history. (More)
➤ Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia delivered a walk-off hit in the 11th inning of Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox. (See Hit)
➤ Houston Astros rookie Cam Smith also got a walk-off hit on Saturday, delivering a 3-2 win for Houston over the Minnesota Twins. (See Hit)
➤ The Houston Rockets signed 31-year-old center Steven Adams to a three-year contract extension for $39 million on Saturday. (More)
➤ Blast away dirt and grime with the PowerStream Pressure Washer! Compact yet powerful, it easily tackles patios, driveways, siding, and more. No bulky machines or expensive services—just quick, effective cleaning right from your hose. Restore your home’s shine in minutes with this lightweight, high-pressure cleaning solution!
➤ Austin ranked No. 5 among large U.S. cities as a destination for recent college graduates, according to a new study by CoworkingCafe. (See Details)
➤ Thirty-seven current and former franchise owners of Dallas-based Dickey’s Barbecue Pit have accused the company of providing misleading financial information to prospective franchisees and forcing them to use high-priced vendors affiliated with corporate ownership. (More)
➤ The 40-acre Ottine Mineral Springs in Gonzales, once a site where polio patients went to receive treatment, has been renovated and opened to the public after operating for many years as a private club. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ GuardX helps protect you from identity theft with advanced RFID-blocking technology built into a sleek, durable design. Safeguard your credit cards, ID, and personal data from digital thieves wherever you go. Stay one step ahead of fraud with this smart, stylish layer of everyday protection.
Flying together with our sponsor
The One Crisis No One’s Talking About (That Could Stall AI)
AI is already overwhelming our energy grid¹—and Big Tech knows it.¹⁰ That’s why they’re racing¹⁰ to find cheaper, scalable battery solutions.
Next Thing Technologies has developed a sodium-ion battery that’s safer⁷, cheaper⁶, and in the U.S.⁹—and it could quietly become the backbone of America’s AI infrastructure.¹
Over 7,800 investors have already contributed more than $7M.³
You can still get in at just $6/share, with bonus shares for larger investments.⁴
This isn’t another AI stock. It’s the energy behind the movement.¹
➤ Todd Dodge and his son Riley, who coach high school football at Lovejoy and Southlake Carroll, respectively, recently discussed the lessons they’ve learned from fatherhood and football. Riley won a state championship in 2006 while playing for his dad, and he lost a title game to him as a coach in 2021. (More)
➤ White Deer’s oldest resident, 99-year-old Roy Hodges, continues to work around the ranch from the back of a horse. “I’ve always liked cattle and and horses,” he said. (More)
➤ A three-story Austin home built in 1889 with pink granite left over from the Capitol is on the market for $8.9 million. The residence, once a military academy and a doctor’s office, is rumored to be haunted and is known as “The Howling House.” (See Photos)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ 1 Easy Trick To Remove Grease (No Scrubbing Needed) Just spray, wait, and wipe away years of baked-on tough stains in minutes! This one easy trick is helping thousands remove baked-on oven grease and kitchen grime — without scrubbing! Just spray it on, wipe it off, and watch years of grease disappear in seconds. No harsh chemicals. No elbow grease. Just fast, satisfying results. See why everyone’s raving about this kitchen-cleaning breakthrough. Learn More
Please refer to our full Disclosures page [http://www.nextthing.tech/email-disclosure] to see important information regarding the statements made herein, sometimes identified by superscript numbers (¹, ², etc.). Forward-looking statements, performance and progress claims (cost, safety, longevity), and market data are speculative estimates based on current assumptions, involve risks, and are not guaranteed. Past performance does not predict future results, specific data requires verification, third-party mentions are informational only, and offer terms may change without notice. Investing involves risks, including loss of principal. Please read the Offering Circular [http://edgar.secdatabase.com/61/121390024095418/filing-main.htm] before investing. Rainmaker Ad Ventures is paid by Next Thing Technologies for promoting their securities offering. Payment is in cash and billed monthly. As of the end of May, Rainmaker has received $13,800. Additional fees may have accrued since then.
County’s Guaranteed Income Program Scrapped
