Good morning! On this day in 1939, the State Soil Conservation Board was organized in response to the devastating Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
If you’re good at naming animals, the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels could use your help with a couple of baby capybaras. Scroll down to Et Cetera for details and answer the Poll question while you’re down there about the most named pets you’ve ever had at once.
Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is helping you plan your ideal retirement with a free guide designed to align your goals, timeline, and investment strategy for lasting financial confidence.
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Paxton Faces Cash Challenge
Ken Paxton defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff earlier this week, winning the GOP nomination for a November contest against Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, a contest that has national Republicans bracing for a costly fight.
Paxton had raised $7.6 million with $2.3 million cash on hand, while Talarico pulled in more than $40 million during the primary cycle. Talarico’s campaign reported raising an additional $600,000 in the two hours after the runoff.
A GOP consultant warned the party may need to spend up to $100 million to hold the seat, potentially pulling resources from other battleground states as Republicans defend their Senate majority. Texas’ roughly 20 media markets make statewide advertising among the most expensive in the country.
Cornyn pledged in his concession speech to support Paxton in the general election against Talarico, saying he trusts Texas voters.
Abbott Freezes Texas Tuition Again
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive this week ordering all Texas public colleges and universities to freeze undergraduate tuition and fees through the 2026-2027 academic year.
It’s the fourth consecutive year Abbott has maintained the tuition freeze, a policy first introduced in 2023. The order covers all two-year and four-year institutions—both general academic and health-related schools—affecting hundreds of thousands of students statewide.
“Higher education must be attainable for Texas students and families,” Abbott wrote to university presidents. Since the freeze began, Texas has invested more than $680 million in community college funding reform and $328 million more in expanded financial aid programs.
The governor also signaled he wants to extend these limits in future years, writing that Texas must “continue leading the nation in creating affordable pathways to higher education.” The freeze covers both tuition and mandatory fees across all public institutions, including community colleges.
Fertitta to Acquire Caesars Entertainment
Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta struck a deal to acquire Caesars Entertainment in a transaction valued at $17.6 billion, capping a years-long pursuit of the casino giant.
The all-cash equity portion of the transaction totals approximately $5.7 billion—a 49% premium over Caesars’ unaffected share price as of Feb. 25, 2026. Fertitta’s company would absorb roughly 52 Caesars casinos across the U.S., adding to his existing Golden Nugget casino portfolio and Landry’s restaurant empire.
The agreement includes a “go-shop” period through July 11, 2026, during which Caesars can solicit competing bids. Fertitta first approached the company about a merger back in 2018, making Thursday’s announcement the culmination of an eight-year chase.
The Galveston-born mogul—who also owns the Houston Rockets—would become one of the largest gaming operators in the country if the deal clears regulatory and shareholder approval. Caesars shareholders must still vote on the transaction.
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Summer Reading List: The 15-Minute Retirement Plan
Spend a few minutes this summer to pause, assess your current position and ensure your strategy aligns with your objectives. Our guide is written specifically for investors with $1M+ to help you create a more defined and secure retirement plan.
A careful review can help you streamline choices, identify any shortfalls and proceed with more confidence, whether you’re nearing retirement or it’s still years away. We designed our guide to help you concentrate on what’s most important, allowing you to consider your future decisions with conviction and clarity. Download the guide now to help get answers to the following crucial questions:
● How long will I need my portfolio to last? ● How can withdrawals impact my savings and investments? ● What trade-offs might I need to make when retirement planning?
➤ South Texas: Three South Texas cities—Corpus Christi, Brownsville, and McAllen—rank among the nation’s 10 most overpriced housing markets, part of a new report finding 11 Texas cities in the national top 50. (More)
➤ Statewide: The Department of Public Safety unveiled a $3.2 million counter-drone program to protect FIFA World Cup matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and NRG Stadium in Houston ahead of the June 14 kickoff. (More)
➤ Houston: Transportation officials warn some commutes near NRG Stadium could double on FIFA World Cup match days this summer, with disruptions expected across multiple corridors during the month-long tournament and downtown FanFest. (More)
➤ Laredo: U.S. Customs officers seized $455,000 worth of cocaine and ketamine at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge, arresting a 75-year-old U.S. man after a canine unit found 14 drug packages hidden inside his SUV. (More)
➤ Houston: A new study ranks Houston among the nation’s deadliest metro areas for road fatalities, pointing to infrastructure funding gaps and dangerous intersection designs as key contributors to high crash rates. (More)
➤ Statewide: A new investigation asserts that school police officers across Texas tased, pepper-sprayed, and hogtied students—including a 10-year-old in Cypress-Fairbanks—sometimes in response to minor misconduct, raising use-of-force concerns. (More)
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➤ Texas Tech softball beat Mississippi State 8-0 in their first game of the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City yesterday. They’ll play Tennessee on Saturday. (More)
➤ Texas softball, meanwhile, lost to Tennessee 6-3 in their first game of the WCWS yesterday, and will face elimination in a game against Mississippi State today. (More)
➤ Victor Wembanyama bounced back from a Game 5 loss to score 28 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks as San Antonio crushed Oklahoma City 118-91 Thursday night to tie the Western Conference Finals. The series now heads to a Saturday winner-take-all Game 7, with an NBA Finals berth against the Knicks at stake. (More)
➤ The five Texas schools that made the NCAA baseball tournament field—Texas, Texas A&M, Tarleton State, Texas State, and Lamar—open Regionals today. (See Schedule)
➤ Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Good Guy Award for his accessibility with local and national media. He is the first member of the Cowboys franchise to receive the honor. (More)
Did you miss the chance to contribute yesterday? The Texas Flyover was built to be different than mainstream media. No agenda. No spin. Just the news, clearly written, fairly covered, and delivered every morning to half a million readers across the state.
We’re not backed by a corporation with an angle. We’re supported by readers, and that’s exactly how we want it.
➤ Dallas Fed president Lorie Logan warned at a Bank of Japan conference in Tokyo that U.S. shale can’t offset the global oil supply gap from the Hormuz closure, saying the world may need to consume less oil and gas. (More)
➤ H-E-B still hasn’t reached El Paso, Texas’ sixth-largest city, despite years of demand, as logistics and supply chain hurdles continue to block the San Antonio grocer’s far-west expansion. (More)
➤ Houston SWAT officers used drones to raid Lucky J’s Social Club on Richmond Avenue, arresting four to five people for illegal gambling after a months-long undercover investigation found gaming tables and more than $350,000 in cash. (More)
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➤The $100 Billion IPO Everyone Is Watching. Elon Musk’s Starlink project could become one of the biggest IPOs in history, and investor James Altucher says there may still be a way for regular investors to position early for less than $100. He’s even revealing the free ticker behind his top pick. (More)
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Retirement Might Be Closer Than You Realize
Knowing when to retire can be tricky and when it comes to building a retirement plan often it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together The 15-Minute Retirement Plan, to help you map out a path forward and navigate important financial decisions in retirement.
-How long will I need my portfolio to last? -How can withdrawals impact my savings and investments? -What trade-offs will I need to make when retirement planning?
➤ Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels is asking the public to help name two newborn baby capybaras at the Central Texas attraction. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, the San Antonio Zoo is offering free admission to all Texas teachers throughout June for Teacher Appreciation Month, plus 50% off tickets for up to four guests. (More)
➤ Wine & Food Week returns to The Woodlands June 3–7 for its 22nd year, featuring the theme “Going Places” with wine pairings, culinary events, and tastings at the Woodlands Resort in the Houston area. (More)
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What’s the most named pets you have ever had at one time?
Paxton Faces Cash Challenge
