Good Morning! On this day in 1882, the town of Ben Ficklin—then county seat in Tom Green County—was destroyed in a flash flood that killed 65 people. San Angelo became the county seat the following year.
An Austin restaurant with walk-up-only service was named as one of the best breakfast spots in the country. Read more in Et Cetera.
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Texas Senate Passes Redistricting Bill
The Texas Senate passed House Bill 4 early Saturday morning, sending the bill that would create five new GOP-friendly congressional districts to Gov. Abbott’s desk for signing.
The measure passed the House along party lines 88-52 on Wednesday after weeks of controversy, including Democrats leaving the state.
The bill’s passage would cap off a months-long effort started by President Trump, who urged Gov. Abbott to call a special session on the subject.
Gov. Abbott vowed to sign the bill “swiftly” into law in a statement on Saturday. You can view the proposed map in HB 4 here.
List: Texas High Schools Named in Top 100
The School for the Talented and Gifted in Dallas ranked No. 9 nationally and No. 1 in Texas on a list of the best U.S. high schools.
More than 24,000 public high schools were ranked on college readiness, state tests, curriculum, and graduation rate, with Texas placing 11 schools in the top 100.
The School for the Talented and Gifted earned a 99.95 score and tied for first nationally in state assessment proficiency. Dallas also placed two other schools in the top 25, with Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School at No. 15 and the School of Science and Engineering at No. 23.
Texas tied with Arizona for the most representation in the top 50. You can see the full list here.
Texas Woman Finds Ice Age Fossil at Thrift Store
A woman shopping at a Houston thrift store thought she was buying rocks for her art students, but later discovered one was actually a mammoth tooth.
Studio artist Wendy Wight bought 10 rocks, including one that looked a bit odd. After inspecting the rock, a friend ran a reverse image search, revealing it was a mammoth tooth estimated to be at least 25,000 years old.
A paleontologist confirmed the findings and suggested it was likely a Columbian mammoth due to its distinctive features, like its layered enamel plates and root structure.
Wight’s plans for the tooth are currently unclear, but for now, it’s on display in her studio. You can see a photo of the tooth here.
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➤ Fort Worth: Taiwan-based firm Wistron is bringing a $761 million AI supercomputer to the city after officials approved tax abatements for two facilities. (More)
➤ North Texas: A student at Denton Ryan High School was taken into custody Friday after reportedly stabbing another student in a classroom. (More)
➤ Austin: Delta Air Lines is launching three new nonstop routes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Denver, Columbus, and Kansas City. (More)
➤ Kingsville: The city is set to receive its first new fire station in nearly 70 years, featuring a two-bay garage capable of housing four emergency vehicles. (More)
➤ Harris County: Judge Lina Hidalgo spent more than $43,000 in campaign funds on a Paris trade mission after county commissioners refused to cover her travel, though her office says she does not have an active campaign. (More)
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➤ The Sam Houston Bearkats lost their season opener to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 41-24, surrendering more than 400 passing yards in head coach Phil Longo’s debut. (Box Score)
➤ The Dallas Cowboys closed preseason with a 31-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, their first victory as evaluations continue ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. roster cut deadline. (More)
➤ The Houston Texans ended preseason with a 26-7 win over the Detroit Lions, in a game that doubled as an audition for players fighting to make the final 53-man roster.(See Score)
➤ Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson capped off the Rangers’ ninth-inning comeback with a walk-off double to put the Rangers ahead 4-3. (See Double)
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➤ Fatburger, a California-based burger chain, will open a Boerne location by year’s end as part of FAT Brands’ plan to launch 80 Texas restaurants over the next decade. (More)
➤ Mercado Sin Nombre in East Austin was named among the nation’s best breakfast spots, praised for its biscuits and standout masa dessert with chili-chocolate-ganache and toasted marshmallow. (More)
➤ Country star Miranda Lambert was announced as part of the first slate of performers for the 2026 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo at Frost Bank Center next spring. (See Full List)
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Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard couldn’t handle the heat this week.
Texas Senate Passes Redistricting Bill
