Good Morning! On this day in 1835, a group of 90 or so Texans under the command of James Bowie and James W. Fannin Jr. defeated a force of 275 Mexican soldiers near San Antonio at the Battle of Concepción. The skirmish was the first conflict in the siege of Bexar.
A bobcat stared down a park ranger at Estero Llano Grande State Park last week. Click the links for details and a video.
The Flyover Podcast today brings you coverage of a bizarre story out of Maryland, where an AI-powered security system mistakenly identified a bag of Doritos as a gun. Police drew their weapons and handcuffed the snack-eating high school student, who said he was terrified. How did a harmless bag of chips trigger such a dangerous mix-up—and what does it say about AI in school safety? Hear the details on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast.
Watch your inbox later today for a note from our partner Compressa—they helped our own Editor-in-Chief, David, get back on his bike pain-free, and he’s sharing how it worked for him.
Save up to 80% on your favorite brands this fall thanks to today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals.
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Cold Front Approaching
A cold front is on its way to Texas, bringing a taste of fall weather in time for Halloween on Friday. Highs in the Panhandle aren’t expected to top 70 degrees today, and by this evening, the Houston area could see temperatures dip into the 50s.
“Unlike the past few cold fronts, which were weak and had a more Pacific-based airmass behind it, this cold front will have an airmass dropping down from Canada,” read a forecast from the National Weather Service.
The front could bring rain and wind gusts up to 50 mph, increasing the threat of wildfires. Most of the state is expected to see sunny skies tomorrow and Thursday, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s and 50s. Friday should bring highs in the 70s, with a chance to top 80 in South Texas.
October has been unseasonably warm for much of Texas. In San Antonio, the average high temperature has been 90.5 degrees—more than seven degrees above average.
Fat Squirrel Week Crowns Winner
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department concluded its first-ever Fat Squirrel Week competition, featuring 16 of the “stoutest squirrels in the state as they get ready for winter.”
Inspired by Alaska’s famous Fat Bear Week, the bracket-style competition asked social media followers to like and comment on photos of squirrels to determine a winner. After several rounds, Chunkosaurus Rex from Dinosaur Valley State Park defeated Chunk Norris from Fort Richardson State Park for the heavyweight title.
“Dinosaur Valley is proud to be the home of this behemoth!” read a Facebook post from the park’s staff. The champion squirrel “hopes to see all of his competitors again next year,” the post continued, urging them to “get to snackin!”
One commenter wondered what the squirrel would get for his efforts: “Maybe an assorted nuts gift basket?“
Four Texas Steakhouses Among ‘Most Legendary’
Four Texas steakhouses are among the “most legendary” in the South, per a recent Southern Living feature that highlighted 31 establishments.
Listed in no particular order, profiled restaurants were selected for being “adaptable to any occasion” and their ability to “serve up delicious nostalgia alongside their perfectly pink filets.”
Nick & Sam’s in Dallas is a “special occasion restaurant” that offers a wide variety of marbled steaks, Japanese Wagyu, “excellent” sushi, and its popular seven-layer cake. Meanwhile, Houston’s Rainbow Lodge specializes in non-traditional dishes, such as bison, elk, and other wild game.
Housed in a converted hay barn in Buffalo Gap, Perini Ranch Steakhouse has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation and is known for its half-pound ranch burger and its 12-ounce peppered strip.
Finally, Amarillo’s The Big Texan Steak Ranch is world famous for its 72-ounce steak challenge, which has been attempted by more than 90,000 competitors.
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➤ Sugar Land: Former NFL running back Adrian Peterson was arrested Sunday morning on charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying of a weapon. It’s the second time this year the Texas native has been arrested for DWI. (More)
➤ Laredo: Local bus service is limited as El Metro Transit System workers are on strike. “Public service carries a responsibility to the community, and any prolonged disruption places unnecessary hardship on working families, students, and seniors who depend on transit every day,” said Mayor Victor Trevino. (More)
➤ Corpus Christi: Republican State Rep. Denise Villalobos has asked TxDOT for an exemption to Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to remove public street art in an effort to save 25 or so murals and decorative crosswalks reflecting the city’s coastal character. (More)
➤ Cameron County: A $12 million renovation project will expand and upgrade the RV campground at Isla Blanca Park, a popular site for tourists and winter Texans. The park’s amenities and beach access will remain open during the yearlong project. (More)
➤ Dallas: Dr. May Lau, a pediatrician accused of providing testosterone supplements to minors in violation of state law, has surrendered her license and is relocating to Oregon. Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Lau last year. (More)
➤ Statewide: More than 3.5 million Texans won’t get Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the government shutdown continues into November. H-E-B has given $5 million to food banks across the state and $1 million to feed homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels. (More)
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➤ FC Dallas lost 3-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday despite a seven-save performance from goalkeeper Michael Collodi. Game 2 of the best-of-three playoff series is Saturday in Frisco. (More)
➤ The San Antonio Spurs hoisted a banner honoring Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich ahead of Sunday’s home opener against the Brooklyn Nets. (See Photo)
➤ No. 2 Texas volleyball swept LSU on Sunday to improve to 18-0 on the season. The Longhorns have swept eight consecutive opponents. (More)
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➤ A 24,000-square-foot warehouse in the Dallas Design District is the new home of Padel Haus, an entertainment venue with six courts for playing the fast-growing tennis-like game. (More)
➤ Austin is the “strongest buyer’s market” in the U.S., with 130% more sellers than prospective buyers of real estate, according to Redfin. (More)
➤ The state capital is also the nation’s most affordable city for renters, according to Realtor.com. The average monthly rate of $1,411 represents 16.5% of the typical household’s monthly income. (More)
➤ Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller released a five-point proposal for lowering beef prices last week. He opposes President Trump’s idea of importing low-quality beef from Argentina and supports the creation of a tax credit for heifers to incentivize producers to expand their herds. (More)
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➤ Dallas-basedChili’s is bringing back its skillet queso at an undetermined date after fans criticized the move to end it on social media. “We tried to killet, but you love the skillet,” the company posted Monday. (More)
➤ Graham Weston, co-founder and former CEO of San Antonio-based IT company Rackspace, gave a Texas Longhorn named Treasure to the president of heavy equipment company JCB for his 80th birthday. The bovine is being kept at the site of JCB’s new one-million-square-foot manufacturing plant, currently under construction. (See Photos)
➤ Texas beaches get about 10 times more marine debris than other Gulf states due to the behavior of ocean currents. Among the most bizarre items to wash ashore in Texas are creepy-looking dolls. (More)
➤ The most popular candy in Texas is Sour Punch Straws, according to an analysis of Google search trends by health and lifestyle website Innerbody.com. (More)
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