Good Morning! On this day in 1926, the Texas Railroad Commission permitted the construction of the Panhandle’s first carbon black plant. By the 1930s, Texas accounted for 75% of the nation’s output of carbon black, a natural gas product essential to tire manufacturing.
When it comes to Texas fishing, the scales of justice are no joke. A Parker County man faces a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison for allegedly cheating in a fishing tournament over the weekend. Check out today’s Roundup for details.
Today’s sponsor, FemiCore, is sharing a free video featuring Dr. Shetty explaining the real causes of bladder leaks and simple habits that may help support pelvic floor health.
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Questions About Stargate Data Center
Tech giant Oracle is pushing back on recent reports that its massive Stargate data center under construction in Abilene has been delayed or downsized.
On Friday, Bloomberg reported that data center partner OpenAI had backed out of plans to expand the capacity of the 1,000-acre campus from 1.2 gigawatts to 2.0 gigawatts, and that Facebook’s parent company, Meta, had discussed leasing the additional space instead.
In a statement, Oracle said the initial and subsequent reports “reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of how AI data centers are built and operated,” adding that the project “remains on schedule.”
On Thursday, city leaders discussed the project with executives from Lancium and Crusoe, the land developer and data center builder. Around 9,000 workers are reported to be on-site each day, and construction of the data center’s first eight buildings is expected to wrap up in the first quarter of next year.
Woman Exonerated in Child’s 2003 Death
Carmen Mejia, a woman from Honduras who was convicted of murdering a 10-month-old child in her care in 2003, was exonerated by a Travis County judge on Monday after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals determined she was innocent on the basis of new evidence.
Mejia was home with her four children when the infant she was babysitting suffered fatal third-degree burns in her bathtub. Detectives said her explanation for what happened to the child changed several times, and she was sentenced to life in prison.
In 2024, Mejia’s eldest daughter stated she had turned on the bathwater while her mother was nursing. The medical examiner later indicated the child’s manner of death was an accident rather than a homicide.
“There’s nothing that I can say at this point that will bring back those 23 years,” said District Court Judge P. David Wahlberg. “I kept my faith and my hope that God was going to do justice,” Mejia said via court translator.
Mejia was not immediately released after the hearing, as she is subject to an ICE detainer after losing her legal status due to her conviction.
Alleged Fishing Cheater Arrested
A man competing in the Lake Fork Lure Company Tournament was arrested Sunday in Wood County after weights were found inside a fish he presented to contest officials.
A bass caught by Curtis Lee Daniels, 45, was flagged for examination when it activated metal detectors during weigh-in. After cutting the fish open, Texas Game Wardens found three weights inside its stomach that matched those in Daniels’ boat.
Charged with a third-degree felony, Daniels faces up to $10,000 in fines and 10 years in prison. He was released on a $20,000 bond on Monday.
Before his arrest, Daniels had won two hourly prizes totaling $2,500. William McDaniel of Festus, Missouri, won the tournament’s grand prize of $10,000 for a bass weighing 10.22 pounds.
Flying together with our sponsor
Here’s a quick truth: bladder leaks aren’t normal, no matter your age or how many children you’ve had.
Many women are told they just have a “small bladder” or that it runs in the family. Most of the time, that isn’t the real reason.
And surgery isn’t the only solution.
In this free video, Dr. Shetty explains why bladder leaks happen and simple habits that may help improve pelvic floor health.
➤ Brownsville: President Trump announced that a $300 billion oil refinery developed by Dallas-based America First Refining is coming to the Port of Brownsville. It’s slated to be the nation’s first new refinery in nearly 50 years. (More)
➤ State Rep. James Talarico has a narrow lead over both of his potential Republican opponents in the U.S. Senate race, according to a survey by Public Policy Polling. (More)
➤ Houston: The miniature train at Hermann Park ran over a man sitting on the tracks on Monday, despite the operator’s efforts to stop it when he saw him. Firefighters used rescue equipment to lift the train and free the man, who was hospitalized with serious injuries to his legs. (More)
➤ Lefors: Multiple fire departments are battling the Cabin Creek Fire, which has burned 6,500 acres and was 65% contained as of yesterday afternoon. (More)
➤ McLennan County: A grand jury declined to indict Sheriff Parnell McNamara over allegations he ordered a deputy to work on his farm while on duty. The Texas Rangers investigated the case, which was handled by prosecutors from Ellis County. (More)
➤ Fort Bend ISD: The board of trustees voted 4-3 Monday to close seven elementary schools and implement a boundary realignment plan to balance enrollment across the district. (More)
➤ Wichita Falls ISD: The Texas Education Agency has declined to take over management of the district after one of its schools received a failing grade five years in a row. Instead, TEA is appointing a conservator to monitor the district’s progress and advise the board of trustees. (More)
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➤ The Veolia Texas Open pickleball tournament drew 20,000 fans to McKinney this week, further cementing North Texas as the national epicenter for one of the country’s fastest-growing sports. (More)
➤ Texas State’s baseball coaching staff is leaning into advanced analytics to gain a pitching advantage over opponents with a phone app that gathers data from practices and games. (More)
➤ The NBA is forcing the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their Magic City Monday promotion after San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet publicly urged Atlanta not to run the strip-club-focused theme night. (More)
➤ Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, Sam Houston, Texas, and TCU are all playing in men’s basketball conference tournaments today. (See Full Schedule)
➤ The Weight-Loss Patch everyone is suddenly talking about. What if weight loss didn’t require injections, strict diets, or complicated routines? The Akemi Slim Patch is getting attention for a surprisingly simple idea: a small patch designed to help curb cravings, support metabolism, and make staying on track feel easier. Curious how it works and why so many people are trying it? See the full details here. (LEARN MORE)
➤ Buc-ee’s received an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau for failing to reply to nearly 90 customer complaints. Meanwhile, a new company policy that requires customers to pay for gas at the pump has sparked debate among fans. (More)
➤ Houston-based Mac Haik Restaurant Group is partnering with Starbird, a Bay Area chain known for its crispy fried chicken, to open 36 new locations, including ones in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. (More)
➤ Real estate developer Ray Washburne wants to build a 1,000-room convention center hotel at the site of the former Dallas Morning News headquarters. He estimates the 30-story hotel would cost about $800 million, which would require some amount of “city participation.” (See Details)
➤ Houston’s Cornerstone Capital Bancorp has acquired the holding company of Lubbock-based Peoples Bank, bringing its combined assets to $3.4 billion. (More)
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Quick truth: peeing your pants isn’t normal, no matter your age or how many kids you’ve had.
Many women are told they just have a “small bladder” or that it runs in the family. In most cases, that’s simply not true.
And surgery isn’t the only option.
In this free video, Dr. Shetty explains why bladder leaks happen and simple habits that can help improve pelvic floor health.
➤ A family from Glenn Heights whose dog was lost almost two years ago was reunited with Koko after she was found by police officers in New Jersey earlier this month. (See Details)
➤ The city of Donna approved an Indecent Attire Ordinance after constituents complained of scantily-clad workers at some of the town’s drive-thru convenience stores. (More)
➤ San Antonio has surpassed Philadelphia as the sixth-most populous city in the U.S., according to an estimate from World Population Review. The city’s population, which grew by 1.46% last year, is now 1,570,314. (More)
➤ A driver whose car went over a cliff in Palo Duro Canyon State Park walked away from the crash with minor injuries. (See Photos)
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Questions About Stargate Data Center
