Texas A&M President Resigns 

Texas A&M President Mark Welsh resigned from his position Friday amid fallout from a viral video in which an A&M student confronted her instructor for teaching “gender ideology” that did not align with her religious beliefs.

Welsh initially defended the instructor before ultimately removing her, as well as her department head and dean, over the incident. That initial response drew backlash from political voices in the state, with Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, among others, calling for Welsh’s removal.

Chancellor Glenn Hegar and the university’s Board of Regents announced Welsh’s resignation Thursday night, calling him “a man of honor” with “selfless dedication,” but acknowledging that “now is the right moment to make a change.”

Welsh released a farewell statement yesterday in which he thanked A&M students: “You make this university whole. You give it a pulse. You bring it light.” Student leaders organized a “clap-out” as Welsh exited campus Friday morning. 

Big Tex Rises in Fair Park

The 2025 State Fair of Texas opens next week, signaled by the raising of the iconic 55-foot-tall Big Tex cowboy in Fair Park on Friday.  You can watch the full installation here.

The fair begins next Friday, Sep. 26, and visitors will once again be welcomed by Big Tex’s waving arm, swiveling head, and iconic “Howdy, folks!” Check out more Big Tex fun facts here.

Food will remain central to a fairgoer’s experience for the 2025 season, which runs through Oct. 19, featuring classics such as Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, as well as crab and mozzarella arancini, the Chill and Thrill Delight, the Cookie Chaos Milkshake, and Wagyu bacon cheeseburger deviled egg sliders.

Dallas Team Sees Dodo Progress

The team at Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences announced a breakthrough in its attempt to resurrect the dodo bird, which has been extinct for centuries.

Colossal’s “pivotal step” was a recipe that successfully grows the primordial germ cells of Nicobar pigeons, the dodo’s closest living relative. Researchers hope to create a genetic copy of the dodo to bring it out of extinction.

The company said the dodo de-extinction project could take another five to seven years. It’s also looking to revive the woolly mammoth, the dire wolf, and the Tasmanian tiger, among other extinct species.

Among Colossal’s high-profile investors are Chris Hemsworth, Nicholas Braun, and Paris Hilton. The team plans to raise an additional $120 million for ongoing projects.

➤ Waco: Baylor alumnus and Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James was among three people killed in a plane crash in North Carolina. James is best known for co-writing “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” (More)

➤ Statewide: The Texas Education Agency reported Wednesday that it’s reviewing hundreds of complaints about public school teachers’ social media posts related to Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The complaints are currently under investigation. (See Details)

➤Plano: A Texas man has been charged with 22 counts of threatening New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and his family. Jeremy Fistel allegedly left Mamdani a series of messages suggesting he should fear for his life. (More)

➤ Bexar County: A backlog of up to 45,000 voter registrations remains unprocessed ahead of the Nov. 4 elections because the California-based vendor responsible for processing the registrations is struggling financially. The election includes a vote on constructing a new Spurs arena. (See Details)

➤ Houston: Police recovered the body of University of Houston student Jade “Sage” McKissic this week after she was reported missing days earlier. (More)

➤ Collin County: The county animal shelter has suspended dog adoptions due to a canine distemper outbreak. The viral infection is highly contagious. (See Details)

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➤ Texas has a jam-packed college football slate today: No. 17 Texas Tech takes on No. 16 Utah, the Baylor Bears take on Arizona State, and a much-anticipated cross-town rivalry game between SMU and TCU kicks off this afternoon. (See Full Schedule)

➤ The domestic violence case against Houston Texans safety Jimmie Ward was dismissed by a grand jury, meaning that no probable cause was found to move the case forward. (See Details)

➤ Texas Tech secured a football commitment from DeSoto High School’s K’Adrian Redmond, considered one of the best defensive linemen in the country. Redmond picked the Red Raiders over Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, and Baylor. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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Ready to discover how much you really know about Texas? Whether you’re a native Texan or just fell in love with the Lone Star State, our Texas History Quiz will challenge and surprise you! Test your knowledge of everything from the Alamo to oil booms, from legendary figures to hidden gems that shaped our great state.

The Texas State Historical Association has been preserving these incredible stories for generations through the official Texas Almanac and our comprehensive Handbook of Texas online encyclopedia. But history isn’t just about reading—it’s about engaging with the past that made Texas what it is today. Take the quiz and dive deeper into the fascinating tales that built our state. 

➤ Owners of a home on the Texas Gulf Coast recently shocked the real estate market by dropping their original sale price of $799,000 to $190,000 over the course of several months, citing low interest from homebuyers. (See Home)

➤ A Boerne man found and returned an envelope full of cash to its owner last week with the help of social media. He said, “I think everybody was waiting for something positive to be a part of, honestly, so it was a team effort.” (More)

➤ North Texas-based beauty brand Mary Kay has launched an AI app that scans your face to suggest the best foundation for your skin tone. (More) 

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Are you a history buff?

1. Absolutely
2. Depends on the subject
3. Nope

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever eaten alligator?

1. Yes: 63%
2. No: 37%

What is the oldest public junior college in Texas?

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