Good Morning! On this day in 1716, the Domingo Ramón expedition founded the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches Mission among the Nacogdoches Indians, with Father Antonio Margil de Jesús in charge. The abandoned mission’s buildings later became the nucleus of Nacogdoches, which claims to be the oldest town in Texas.
You’ll find an item in Et Cetera below about 16,000 Future Farmers of America members descending on Fort Worth in blue corduroy jackets this week. Were you ever in FFA? If so, what was your favorite project? Hit reply to let us know.
More than half of retirees in the last five years say they regret how they planned, and it’s usually not the mistakes you’d expect. Experts say the ones that quietly derail retirement stay hidden until after the paycheck stops, when a handful of overlooked missteps start compounding at the worst possible time. In today’s Flyover Podcast, Amy breaks down the five most common retirement mistakes and how to sidestep them before they cost you. Tune in here to learn more!
Today’s sponsor, AirCar, is giving investors a chance to get in early on its vertically integrated flying car company, with a limited-time offer of 10% bonus shares before the current funding round closes.
An ICE officer shot and killed a man during a targeted enforcement operation in Houston’s East End Tuesday morning, federal officials said.
ICE said Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national in the country illegally, rammed an ICE vehicle near Canal Street and Wayside Drive around 6:50 a.m., ignored commands, and tried to run over an officer, who “fired his weapon in self-defense.” The man was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he died.
The man’s son, Ronaldo Salgado, said his father was a construction worker who had lived in the U.S. for nearly 35 years, was pursuing a work permit, and was picking up his crew when he was shot.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and several Houston officials called for an independent investigation, noting witness photos appeared to show no damage to the van. The DHS inspector general is investigating the shooting, and the FBI is investigating a potential assault on a federal officer.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate Mission Regional Medical Center over reports it advertised “birth packages” to foreign nationals.
In a letter to HHSC, Abbott said the Hidalgo County hospital marketed “Birth Packages in South Texas” in foreign countries to profit from birth tourism. “American citizenship is not for sale, and Texas will not permit our healthcare system to be used as a magnet for birth tourism,” he wrote.
The agency must refer any violations to Attorney General Ken Paxton for civil enforcement and to local prosecutors for potential criminal charges.
The hospital said it doesn’t “support or facilitate any unlawful activity” and that the maternity marketing materials are no longer in use. Abbott said he’ll work with the Legislature next session to strengthen state law against the practice.
Teen Survives Bedroom Lightning Strike
A 13-year-old Cypress boy survived a lightning strike that reached him through the metal desk where he was playing video games in his bedroom.
Vlad Skuridin’s family believes the bolt hit a nearby tree and traveled into the house, entering his abdomen through a metal part of the desk, touching his skin. “I just jumped out really fast, and I started screaming … I honestly thought I was gonna die,” he said.
Harris County Precinct 4 constables said the current traveled through the home’s wiring, sparking a small fire in the attic. The teen walked away shaken but largely unhurt, saying that he felt “a little shocked and dizzy.”
Constables urged residents to avoid corded electronics and stay clear of wiring and plumbing during thunderstorms, since lightning can travel through a home’s electrical system.
Flying together with our sponsor
The Real Reason This Flying Car Can Move Faster
Here’s something most flying car companies won’t tell you: they don’t actually build their own aircraft. They assemble parts from outside suppliers, then wait on everyone else’s timelines and price tags.
AirCar does it differently. They’re an original equipment manufacturer, building everything in-house, from carbon fiber airframes to 400V motors. No outside suppliers or margin lost to middlemen.
That control is exactly why AirCar can price its LightSport at $99K (4X more affordable than competitor EHang’s $410K+ aircraft), while hitting roughly 50% target margins. That’s also why it can move toward commercialization faster than competitors who are still years into heavy air-taxi certification.
➤ Lubbock: A former Texas Tech assistant professor pleaded guilty to leading a federal fentanyl distribution ring that traded drugs for sex and caused at least eight overdoses. Daniel Taylor, 51, sold pills branded “ghost” and “pink flamingo” and faces up to 40 years in prison. (See Details)
➤ Statewide: Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said Tuesday he’ll file another bill to ban consumable THC products when the Legislature convenes in January. Perry’s 2025 ban passed both chambers before Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed it, opting for tighter regulations instead. (More)
➤ Sweetwater: The state secured a temporary injunction forcing Global Fiberglass Solutions to clean up more than 3,000 wind turbine blades stockpiled at two Nolan County sites and banning new shipments. The company must remove all the waste within 550 days. (See Details)
➤ Statewide: Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign called a Texas Tribune-ProPublica report alleging he voted from a Collin County address where he no longer lives a partisan “hit piece,” saying he’s in full compliance with state election law. (More)
➤ Frisco: Karmelo Anthony’s new legal team filed motions Tuesday seeking a new trial and the recusal of Judge John Roach from post-trial proceedings in the Austin Metcalf murder case. Anthony was sentenced last month to 35 years for the track meet stabbing. (See Details)
➤ Galveston County: The district attorney’s office says three women were killed in separate domestic violence murders in one week in late June, with nearly 1,500 family violence reports countywide this year. All three accused men are jailed on murder charges. (See Details)
➤ Austin: A planned Austin Energy outage will cut power to parts of downtown for about six hours starting at 11 p.m. on Sunday, part of the utility’s Repowering Downtown system upgrades. Affected customers have been notified by mail, text, or email. (More)
Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️
➤ Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said that quarterback Will Hammond, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last October against Oklahoma State, will be the Week 1 starter if cleared by doctors. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, coach McGuire used Big 12 Media Days this week to renew his push for the Red Raiders to schedule a nonconference game against Texas. “We’re ready to go right now,” he said. (More)
➤ The Dallas Mavericks acquired former University of Houston Cougar Marcus Sasser from the Detroit Pistons as part of the six-team trade. The Red Oak native, who shot 41.5% from three last season, returns to his home city after three years in Detroit. (More)
➤The Texas Rangers earned a C in ESPN’s midseason MLB grades as a .500 team with a clear path to the postseason if Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford get healthy. The Astros also got a C for staying close in the division race despite a minus-44 run differential and cycling through 11 starting pitchers. (More)
➤ Summer is here and there’s still time to feel your best.If you’ve been thinking about losing weight, DirectMeds connects qualified patients with licensed providers who can prescribe GLP-1 medications like semaglutide. Start your journey toward a healthier, more confident you. See if you qualify today.
➤ The USDA has confirmed 31 New World screwworm infestations across 12 Texas counties, threatening the state’s $41 billion cattle industry and potentially raising beef prices. Twenty-one counties are under movement restrictions, and southern livestock ports of entry are closed. (See Details)
➤ The El Paso Independent School District, which declared financial exigency last month over a multimillion-dollar deficit, is weighing a November bond of up to $450 million for campus repairs, technology, and athletic stadiums. Trustees are expected to vote August 11 on calling an election. (More)
➤ UT Health East Texas, based in Tyler, warned that more than 50,000 patients insured by UnitedHealthcare, including 25,000 seniors, could go out of network if no new contract is reached by September 1. UT Health cited rising supply and inflation costs. (More)
➤ The Texas General Land Office (GLO) warned that Galveston’s $55 million South Shore Drainage pump station project may lose funding if it isn’t finished by the January 31, 2027, deadline. Galveston has spent only $5 million so far and requested an extension the GLO denied. (See Details)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Pack 3X More in Any Bag. Checked bags cost money and time. Aerless compression bags let you fit 3X more into a single carry-on, with a pocket-sized rechargeable pump that removes excess air in seconds. Over 1 million travelers use it, backed by 50,000+ five-star reviews. (Click here)
Flying together with our sponsor
The Flying Car Market Is Growing 550% By 2030
There’s a pattern to the way new markets take off. First they’re dismissed, then they’re debated, then they’re obvious. By then, the early opportunity is gone. The flying car market is somewhere between the first two stages, which is exactly where you want to be.
Most retail investors will watch it happen from the sidelines. A few will get in now.
AirCar is already in the market: $21M in deposit-backed pre-orders, 1,000+ manned test flights, a $99K aircraft that’s 4X more affordable than the competition and first deliveries ~12 months out.
This is a paid advertisement for AirCar Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.aircar.aero/
➤ An Austin neighborhood is testing a resident-run gunshot detection system that sends messaging alerts with a rough location and audio when a sensor picks up gunfire. The program launched in mid-June, and about 100 people have opted in so far. (See Details)
➤ Carl Richardson, a 47-year-old bassist who started on trumpet in eighth grade, now teaches the next generation of musicians at Lamar State College Port Arthur. His hometown of Vidor recently inducted him into its Walk of Fame. (Read Story)
➤ More than 16,000 Texas Future Farmers of America Association members and guests gathered in Fort Worth this week for their annual state convention, opening with two days of community service cleaning up parks and volunteering, blue corduroy jackets and all. (More)
➤ More than two dozen foster care alumni earned math and English college credit through Texas Woman’s University’s month-long FAST Academy, building support networks before starting college this fall. Former foster youth nationally complete degrees at a rate below 10 percent. (Read Story)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Researchers recently discovered why so many collagen supplements fail to deliver noticeable results. It isn’t because collagen doesn’t work…It’s because much of it never gets absorbed in the first place.That’s why scientists are taking a closer look at a delicious new way to consume collagen that helps the body absorb dramatically more than traditional powders or pills. Read the full story here.
The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:
➤ More than half of retirees regret their planning, undone by five mistakes they never saw coming. (See List)
➤ Search crews have found the Boeing 737 cargo plane that vanished in the Arabian Sea. (Hear Details)
➤ Nike is being sued for allegedly copying 7-Eleven’s trademark colors days before the shoe’s launch. (Listen Now)
Would you be in favor of a gunshot detection system in your neighborhood that would send you an alert anytime a gunshot was heard?
ICE Officer Fatally Shoots Houston Man
