Good Morning! On this day in 1845, a group of settlers affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in Grayson County. Led by Lyman Wight, they were the first Mormons to make their home in Texas.
Get your coats and rain jackets! A cold front is expected to hit the Panhandle tomorrow night and is likely to move into North and Central Texas on Thursday, bringing rain and dropping afternoon highs by about 20 degrees.
Tired of scam calls and wondering how strangers got your info? Today’s sponsor, Incogni, helps you take back control by removing your personal data from the brokers who sell it.
Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.
Judges Block Redistricting
A three-judge panel blocked the implementation of the state’s congressional redistricting plan passed by lawmakers over the summer, claiming, “Substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.”
The new map would give the GOP an edge in 30 of the state’s 38 congressional districts, up from 25 in the map authorized in 2021.
Republicans initiated the mid-decade redraw after President Trump urged the move in an effort to protect the GOP’s slim majority in the U.S. House, though Gov. Greg Abbott and state lawmakers also argued they were aiming to address “coalition districts” identified by the Department of Justice.
“A federal court just stopped one of the most brazen attempts to steal our democracy that Texas has ever seen,” said Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu. Abbott called the ruling “clearly erroneous” and “absurd.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton promised to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. The state’s candidate filing deadline for the March primaries closes Dec. 8, providing a short timetable to resolve the dispute.
140 Illegal Immigrants Arrested
Federal agents arrested more than 140 illegal immigrants in San Antonio during an early Sunday raid targeting a sex and human trafficking operation purportedly run by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The FBI reported the arrests in a Monday statement announcing the establishment of a regional Homeland Security Task Force to “combat transnational criminal organizations.” The statement indicated the task force had also apprehended a father and son accused of money laundering and arms smuggling for a Mexican cartel.
Agencies participating in the task force include the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, among others.
More than 100 people protested the operation Monday night, chanting “immigrants are welcome here.” Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, promised “more of this to come” in a social media post praising DPS for their efforts.
FEMA Could Move to Texas
The Trump administration is reportedly considering relocating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Texas, according to two unnamed former senior officials at the agency interviewed by Politico. A state government source confirmed discussions about a possible move.
The report also revealed that Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, could lead the agency if it relocates to the state. Kidd confirmed on social media that he was interviewed for the post in February, but he insisted he’s “committed to serving Texas first.”
Kidd played a visible role in the aftermath of this summer’s devastating flash floods in the Hill Country and Central Texas, overseeing search and rescue operations and discussing measures to improve coordinated disaster preparation and response with lawmakers.
Earlier this year, President Trump appointed Kidd and Gov. Greg Abbott to a 13-member FEMA review council. On Monday, Acting FEMA Administrator David Richardson resigned after six months on the job.
Flying together with our sponsor
Unknown Number Calling? It’s Not Random.
The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras laughing at the people they were scamming. One even bragged about making $250K off victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don’t dial numbers at random—they buy your data from brokers.
Once your info is out there, it’s not just annoying calls. It opens the door to phishing, impersonation, and even identity theft. That’s why we recommend Incogni. They delete your personal data from the web, follow up with data brokers automatically, and continue monitoring as new threats pop up.
➤ Gov. Greg Abbott designated the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations. In response, CAIR called Abbott an “Israel First politician” who “unleashed violence against Texas students protesting the Gaza genocide.” (More)
➤ Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD for allegedly refusing to display posters of the Ten Commandments, as required by a new state law. Meanwhile, McAllen ISD has removed such displays to be dismissed as a defendant in a suit challenging the law. (More)
➤ San Antonio: Former Alamo Trust president and CEO Kate Rogers has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who were instrumental in her removal after a social media account affiliated with the Alamo recognized Indigenous Peoples Day. (More)
➤ Austin: A mistrial was declared in the case of police officer Daniel Sanchez, who is accused of fatally shooting a man without justification while responding to a 911 call in 2022. The man allegedly fired two shots through his own front door when police arrived. (More)
➤ The University of Houston’s chapter of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity has been shut down following allegations of hazing that resulted in a non-university student’s hospitalization earlier this month. (More)
➤ Marshall: Chris Paddie, a former GOP Texas House member who resigned from office in 2022, was fined $105,500 for violating a state law barring former lawmakers from working as lobbyists if they contributed to political candidates within the previous two years. (See Details)
➤ Bryan: Noella Turnage, a former nurse at the Federal Prison Camp, was fired last week after sharing emails from convicted child-sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell with members of the House Judiciary Committee. A Wall Street Journalarticle published last month claims Maxwell has received special treatment at the prison. (More)
Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️
➤ San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss multiple games with a calf strain. No official timetable has been provided for his return. (More)
➤ Texas and Baylor remained at No. 4 and No. 7, respectively, in this week’s AP women’s basketball poll, while TCU jumped up seven spots to No. 10. (See Poll)
➤ SMU is one of 48 teams—and the only one from Texas—to qualify for the NCAA men’s soccer championship tournament. The Mustangs earned a first-round bye and will play the winner of the Washington-Oregon State game. (More)
➤ The Dallas Stars placed forward Matt Duchene on long-term injured reserve this week. Duchene hasn’t played since taking a massive hit against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 18. (More)
➤ Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was named the Associated Press Player of the Week after leading the Aggies in a historic comeback win over South Carolina on Saturday. Reed threw for 439 yards and three touchdowns as the Aggies scored 28 unanswered points after trailing 30-3 at the half. (More)
➤ The mug that made every bookworm’s wish list this year. Olivia’s BookHaven Mug gift became her sister’s instant favorite—its handcrafted 3D book-spine design creates a mini bookshelf effect that amazes everyone. Made from durable, dishwasher-safe glass, it’s functional art for book lovers. With 9,780 happy customers, it’s now 50% off while supplies last. (LEARN MORE)
➤ Waymo announced it will introduce its self-driving taxis in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio without specifying a date for the expansion. It already serves 90 square miles in and around Austin. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, Amazon introduced its Prime Air drone delivery service in San Antonio on Monday. The online retail giant also provides drone deliveries in Waco. (More)
➤ Houston’s NRG Energy is building a $936 million natural gas power plant in Chambers County that’s expected to generate 721 megawatts of electricity when it comes online in 2028. It’s being financed by a loan from the state-run Texas Energy Fund. (See Details)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Long-term care isn’t always fully covered by Medicare. Nearly half of Americans over 65 will need long-term care, but Medicare usually doesn’t cover it. See how you can bridge the gap before Medicare enrollment ends on Dec. 7 with Money’s list of the best Long-Term Care Insurance providers.
Flying together with our sponsor
Delete your personal data
Spam starts with your personal data being sold. Data brokers are profiting from your home address, SSN, phone number, and other personal information that doesn’t belong to them. Incogni scrubs your personal info from the web. Simple as. It takes three minutes to set up, tackles over 420 data brokers and people-search sites, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Protect your data, your time, and your sanity. Get Incogni today and never look back.
➤ San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre is showing a live production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast today through the end of the month. The cast includes 2025 Texas State University grad Cameron Monroe Thomas, who plays the role of the feather duster, Babette. (More)
➤ Kilgore natives and cousins Candis Jones and Andrae’a Graves are participants in BYUtv’s Relative Race, a competition featuring teams traveling across the country in search of relatives they have never met. Jones met 13 new relatives, including her biological father. (Watch Video)
➤ San Antonio was named the nation’s best Thanksgiving destination by personal finance website WalletHub, which ranked 100 U.S. cities by 18 metrics in five categories: Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions, affordability, safety and accessibility, giving thanks, and Thanksgiving weather forecast. (See Details)
➤ Ten of the nation’s top 100 restaurants are in Texas, according to reservation website OpenTable, which determined its rankings by customer reviews. Eight of those restaurants are in Austin, while the other two are in Dallas and Houston. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Most Americans are deficient in magnesium, leading to poor sleep, low energy, and stubborn weight gain—but most supplements only use one or two low-quality forms. Organixx Magnesium 7 delivers all seven forms your body needs for better sleep, higher metabolism, improved mood, and greater overall wellness, now available in a limited flash sale.
Judges Block Redistricting
