Good Morning! On this day in 1839, Ben McCulloch—a Texas Ranger, U.S. marshal, and Confederate general—was wounded in a duel with a friend of Alonzo B. Sweitzer, whom he had recently defeated in an election to the Texas House of Representatives. His right arm was permanently crippled by the injury.
We’ve featured several lists of the state’s best barbecue in The Texas Flyover. If those rankings have ever left you scratching your head, now is your chance to weigh in with your opinion.
Ten Texas BBQ joints have been nominated for the nation’s best Texas-style barbecue. Strangely, there’s competition from California and several other states. Check out the story in today’s Et Cetera section.
If you’ve been looking for a smart way to invest in the clean energy boom, today’s sponsor, DiviGas’s breakthrough hydrogen recovery technology, could be the billion-dollar solution the world has been waiting for.
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Official Charged in Used Clothing Scheme
McAllen City Commissioner Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo and his wife have been charged with money laundering, smuggling merchandise, and employing illegal immigrants at their used clothing business. Federal authorities raided their home and business on Thursday, and the couple surrendered on Friday.
Castillo, 55, was elected to office in 2022 and runs Oro Ropa Usada, a thrift store that sells used clothing, with his wife, Bertha, 57. Mexico has strict rules regarding the importation of used clothes, and U.S. thrift store operators are frequently targeted by corrupt Mexican officials.
In August, Castillo allegedly told an informant that he pays bribes to “facilitate uninterrupted transport” of goods into Mexico. He also received over $20,000 from an undercover agent who indicated “his job was to collect money from Houston and transport it south,” according to a complaint.
Last Thursday’s raids appear to have been part of a larger operation targeting multiple similar businesses in McAllen. Authorities arrested 22 people, most of whom were charged with visa fraud or unlawful employment.
Pastor Barred From Entering Service at DFW
Two GOP candidates running to replace Ken Paxton as Texas attorney general are looking for answers about a Florida pastor’s claim that he was denied entry to a Muslim prayer service at one of five interfaith chapels at DFW International Airport on Sept. 26.
In a social media post, Tom Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida, said he visited the chapel in response to a public announcement about a “prayer service” where “all are welcome.” He said he was denied access.
The executive director of DFW’s Interfaith Chaplaincy said in a statement that the Muslim cleric who organized the service was “shocked and saddened at this claim,” adding that it is the chapel’s policy not to restrict entry to services.
In social media posts, U.S. Rep Chip Roy of Austin said, “Taxpayers deserve to know whether their dollars are subsidizing exclusion,” while State Sen. Mayes Middleton of Galveston said, “We aren’t letting Texas turn into Dearborn, Michigan.”
Hunter Who Fell 15 Feet Rescued
A hunter who fell 15 feet from a portable tree stand in Jasper County’s Sandy Creek Park was rescued by members of the Beech Grove Volunteer Fire Department on Saturday.
The unnamed hunter lay on the ground for about 45 minutes before he could reach his phone and call for help. When first responders arrived, they transported him in an all-terrain stretcher and a UTV through a mile of thick woods, using chainsaws to clear a path.
The man was transported to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont by helicopter. He is reported to be in stable condition.
“This was a great example of excellent teamwork,” said Beech Grove Fire Chief Jamie Gunter, who praised the actions of 911 operators, sheriff’s deputies, game wardens, and park personnel. He also thanked the community for providing donations for the equipment used in the operation.
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➤ Silverton: Two grass fires have burned approximately 2,500 acres in Swisher and Briscoe counties. Multiple agencies and three tankers have responded to the fires, which are now 100% contained. (See Photos)
➤ Angleton: A woman is in custody after two children—a 13-year-old and a 4-year-old—were shot and killed on Saturday. Two others—an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old—were hospitalized following the shooting. (More)
➤ Fort Worth: Robert Griffin III, Baylor’s Heisman Award-winning former quarterback who works as an analyst for Fox Sports, was in “the worst car accident” of his life on Friday. “Thankful to God that my wife and kids are safe,” Griffin posted on social media. (More)
➤ Olmos Park: The 55-year-old sister of Suzanne Clark Simpson, whose husband Brad is accused of her murder, has been arrested for allegedly harassing members of Brad Simpson’s family. (More)
➤ Dallas: More than 175 occupied residential units were evacuated on Thursday when a ruptured water line on the 20th floor of the historic Mercantile Building caused an electrical short on the 11th floor. (More)
➤ Godley: Johnson County officials have agreed to a one-month partnership with Fort Worth’s animal services department to round up a pack of stray dogs that have threatened and alarmed residents. (More)
➤ Houston ISD: The Las Americas Newcomer School, which provides specialized services to recent immigrant or refugee students, has been closed after enrollment dropped to 21 students due to “what’s happening in our country on a federal level.” (See Details)
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➤ The Houston Texans trounced the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens 44-10 in Baltimore yesterday, earning their first-ever win at M&T Bank Stadium and improving their season record to 2-3. (More)
➤ The Dallas Cowboys defeated the winless New York Jets 37-22 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes and orchestrated two 90-yard scoring drives behind an injury-depleted offensive line. (More)
➤ The United Football League is shutting down the San Antonio Brahmas, along with teams in Detroit and Memphis. The Brahmas went 1-9 this season and fell to the Birmingham Stallions in the first-ever UFL Championship Game in 2024. (More)
➤ The Dallas Stars are reportedly “evaluating all options”—including leaving Dallas—for their next home arena when the team’s lease at the American Airlines Center expires in 2031. (More)
➤ San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored on a violent dunk during a recent scrimmage. (Watch Video)
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➤ Coppell-based home goods retailer At Home, which filed for bankruptcy in June, received approval for a restructuring plan that will eliminate nearly $2 billion in debt. (See Details)
➤ Xcel Energy, a Minneapolis utility company that provides power to much of the Panhandle, has proposed building eight new generation facilities in Texas and New Mexico, including a $600 million, 1,300-acre solar farm in Potter County. (More)
➤ Lockheed Martin has finalized a $24.3 billion federal contract to assemble 294 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, more than half of which will be built at the company’s production facility in Fort Worth. More than 1,230 F-35s are in service across 12 nations. (More)
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➤ Ten Texas barbecue joints are competing for the top spot in a USA Today contest to identify the nation’s best places for “true Texas-style ‘cue.” Restaurants in California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, and Arizona are also among the 20 nominees. (See Details)
➤ Meanwhile, Brandon Hurtado, the pitmaster at Arlington’s acclaimed Hurtado Barbecue, appears in a Season 2 episode of Taylor Sheridan’s Landman, which premieres Nov. 16. Hurtado also runs the kitchen at Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Headquarters in Weatherford. (More)
➤ The first of two weekends of performances at the Austin City Limits music festival is in the books. “Electric. It’s so fun. I love it. Vibes are always high,” said one of thousands of attendees. (More)
➤ According to a study by tutoring website Preply, El Paso is the country’s most bilingual city, with 39% of residents reporting they speak English “very well” while speaking another language at home. San Antonio ranks fourth, while Houston is sixth and Dallas is tenth. (More)
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Official Charged in Used Clothing Scheme
