Canvas Hack Hits Texas at Finals

A cyberattack knocked out Canvas, the widely used learning management platform, at the worst possible moment for thousands of Texas students—finals week.

The hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility, saying nearly 9,000 schools worldwide were hit and threatening to leak billions of private student records unless Instructure, Canvas’s parent company, paid a ransom. Cybersecurity analysts describe the group as a loose U.S.-U.K. network of young hackers, the same outfit previously linked to the Ticketmaster breach.

Texas institutions caught in the outage span the state: UT Austin, Texas A&M, UT San Antonio, the University of Houston, Baylor, Texas State, Alamo Colleges, and multiple school districts, including Houston ISD and Katy ISD. UIW extended finals deadlines, and UTSA rescheduled assignments.

Canvas was largely restored by Friday, and commencement ceremonies at most Texas universities proceeded as planned. Katy ISD confirmed that sensitive data—Social Security numbers, home addresses, and passwords—was not stored in its Canvas environment and was not exposed.

DHS: World Cup Threat Extremely High

The Department of Homeland Security is warning that the terrorism threat surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup is “extremely high,” particularly in crowd areas, fan zones, and transit hubs outside stadiums.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin made the comments on Thursday on FOX Business, noting that a recent 76-day government shutdown delayed federal security funding to host cities and set back law enforcement training at a critical moment. Security preparations are also happening against the backdrop of heightened international tensions.

Texas carries a heavy match load. DFW will host nine matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, more than any other venue, while Houston hosts seven at NRG Stadium. Security planning extends beyond the stadiums to fan festivals at Dallas’s Fair Park, team training sites in Frisco and Mansfield, and transit hubs across the Metroplex.

The first DFW kickoff is less than 40 days away, and officials are still working to finalize security plans for one of the biggest sporting events the state has ever hosted.

Starship V3 Lights Up Boca Chica

Boca Chica lit up Thursday night when SpaceX fired all 33 Raptor 3 engines on Super Heavy Booster 19, the inaugural full static fire of the next-generation Starship V3 architecture and the single most powerful rocket test ever performed on Texas soil.

The roughly 14-second, full-thrust burn at Starbase’s brand-new Pad 2 also stress-tested the site’s new water deluge system, which shielded the launch infrastructure from immense heat and acoustic loads, key for SpaceX’s goal of flying Starship at Falcon 9-level cadence from the Rio Grande Valley.

Hours later, SpaceX rolled Ship 39 to the launch mount and stacked the full Starship V3 vehicle, officially setting up the 12th integrated flight test and the V3 architecture’s first flight. From the scrublands of South Texas, SpaceX has transformed Boca Chica into the most ambitious launch complex on Earth, and the world’s biggest rocket is now one step closer to its pivotal role in NASA’s Artemis moon program.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: State health officials are monitoring two Texas residents who traveled aboard the MV Hondius during a deadly hantavirus outbreak, though neither reported symptoms or contact with infected passengers. (More)

➤ Allen: Authorities found a 13-year-old Louisiana girl safe in Allen on Friday after an AMBER Alert linked to her abduction near Shreveport, and police arrested a suspect in the case. (More)

➤ Houston: The city named former Corpus Christi chief operating officer Drew Molly as its first chief water officer, charging him with strengthening long-term water supplies and infrastructure resilience amid rapid growth. (More)

➤ Austin: The City Council advanced a new economic development framework designed to attract businesses and major investments while requiring public benefits in exchange for incentives. (More)

➤ Brownsville: A new SpringHill Suites by Marriott is coming to Brownsville as SpaceX’s nearby Starbase facility drives a hotel and industrial construction boom across the Rio Grande Valley. (More)

Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Hotel bookings in Dallas and Houston are falling short of World Cup expectations, with 70% of surveyed hoteliers reporting a pace in line with a typical summer rather than a major international event. (More)

➤ The Dallas Wings open the WNBA season this afternoon against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. (How to Watch)

➤ Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said the team will not overhaul the roster this offseason after a disappointing first-round playoff exit: “I’m not blowing this up, we’re too good of a team.” (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stay safer wherever you go with the Siren Guardian personal alarm, the compact safety device designed to clip onto your keys, purse, or backpack. With a quick pull, it unleashes a powerful 130dB siren and flashing strobe light to attract attention, deter threats, and provide added peace of mind day or night.

Proud new father Miguel Miro:

“Our baby bean wrapped in no better tortilla.”

Flying together with our sponsor

Why pay thousands for hearing aids?

Oricle Hearing Aids deliver crystal-clear sound, all-day comfort, and rechargeable convenience for under $100. No prescriptions, no appointments—just powerful, affordable hearing support you can trust. Join over 150,000 satisfied customers who’ve made the switch.

Hear better, live better—order Oricle today and save!

LEARN MORE

➤ San Antonio’s weekend lineup includes Paseo por El Westside, celebrating the city’s historic Westside, and Tacos & Tequila Festival, featuring tacos, margaritas, Lucha Libre, and performances by Paul Wall and Trina. (More)

➤ Broadway’s Wicked, the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, major comedy tours, and Sting headline a packed weekend of entertainment across Dallas. (See Events)

➤ Houston’s culinary elite raised $633,640 for the Houston Food Bank during the 26th Annual Chefs’ Dinner at Hotel ZaZa Museum District, funding more than 1.9 million meals across southeast Texas. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Transform your daily shower with HydroSoothe, the filtered showerhead designed to remove chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities that can dry out skin and damage hair. Featuring a 7-stage filtration system and boosted water pressure, HydroSoothe helps leave skin softer, hair shinier, and every shower feeling like a spa experience.

Did you wear a jacket during this week’s cold front?

1. Yes
2. No
3. What cold front?

Yesterday’s Results:

What do you think about the cancellation of the ‘Epic Eid’ event?

1. Agree: 70%
2. Don’t care: 12%
3. Disagree: 9% 
4. On the fence: 9%

Which Texas town owes its beginnings to a breakfast cereal tycoon?

Show me the answer