Thune’s PAC Drops $32 Million on Texas

Brisket-Stuffed Twinkie Leads Fair Menu

The State Fair of Texas unveiled dozens of new foods for 2026, led by Deep Fried Ranch, the Pho Burger, and the Twinkle Twinkle Brisket Star, a hollowed Twinkie stuffed with smoked brisket, bacon, jalapeños, and cream cheese, then battered and fried.

Four new vendors join the grounds, including Chinese candied-fruit stand HGG Tanghulu and Polish comfort-food shop Pierogizilla. Fairgoers can also try this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards winners, including the Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog and the Burger Chop Tater Tacos.

The fair, themed “Stars, Stripes, and Howdies,” runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 18 at Fair Park in Dallas, where Howdy’s is adding a value menu with smaller portions priced at six or eight coupons.

Longhorns Host No. 1 Buckeyes

No. 4 Texas welcomes No. 1 Ohio State tonight to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin for Week 2’s only matchup between ranked teams. Texas is a slight 1.5-point favorite for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

Both teams opened the season with lopsided home victories last week. Texas routed Texas State 59-7, producing 516 total yards as Arch Manning passed for 305 yards and four touchdowns, while Ohio State defeated Ball State 56-3.

The programs have met only five times, with Ohio State holding a 3-2 series lead after winning the past two meetings. The Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal and 14-7 in last year’s season opener.

Heavy demand has pushed average ticket resale prices to between $800-$900, with typical entry prices between $450-$500. Earlier this week, one SeatGeek ticket was listed for more than $42,000.

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➤ East Texas: Tatum Mayor Michael Henry resigned after two years in office, citing “current circumstances” and saying the city needs leadership committed to accountability. (See Details)

➤ McAllen: DEA agents seized more than 2,000 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of cabbage during a joint federal and state investigation. (More)

➤ Palo Pinto County: The Ross Fire, Texas’ 15th-largest on record, reached 76% containment as crews gained ground and drought conditions worsened across North Texas, pushing Fort Worth from minimal to severe drought status. (More)

➤ Whitehouse: A water main break opened a sinkhole that partially swallowed a pickup and closed the intersection of Peggy Drive and Hagan Road as city crews worked on repairs. (See Details)

➤ Jacinto City: City leaders opposed a proposed AI data center as the company targeted October to begin redeveloping the site, while residents questioned officials and the developer during a Friday night town hall. (More)

➤ San Antonio: City Council unanimously confirmed and swore in Jesse Salame as police chief on Thursday, making the 27-year SAPD veteran the first city native to permanently lead the department in more than 20 years. (More)

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➤ L

➤ Beyond No. 4 Texas’ showdown with top-ranked Ohio State, four other ranked teams from the state are in action: No. 10 Texas A&M hosts Arizona State, No. 13 Texas Tech visits Oregon State, No. 17 SMU welcomes UC Davis, and No. 22 Houston faces Southern. (See Schedule)

➤ Midland High graduate and incoming UTPB golfer Gilbert Lujan Jr. qualified as one of 28 amateurs for the Sept. 15-17 Curry Cup at Bethpage Black Golf Course in New York. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer

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Up, Up, and A-Way to Get in On This Boom

Flying car company stocks are soaring on Wall Street. Archer went public at $1.7 billion.  EHang IPO’d at $662 million. And Joby raised a whopping $1.6 billion when they went public.

Luckily, 15k+ investors have found an early-stage opportunity to capture this boom: a private-stage company named Doroni. 

They’re pioneering the $100B personal aircraft segment with their H1-X, the aircraft FOX Business called “the ‘flying car’ set to revolutionize personal air travel.” 

And with Morgan Stanley projecting that the flying car industry will reach $9 trillion by 2050, the timing couldn’t be better.

Now, with 600+ preorders, they’re targeting commercial deliveries for 2028. And earlier this year, they reserved the Nasdaq ticker $DRNI. Invest in Doroni today and get up to 20% bonus shares.

➤ Dave & Buster’s will celebrate National Video Games Day today by offering unlimited game play to the first 200 guests named Dave, Davy, David, Ann, Ana, Anna, Anne, Annie, or Buster who arrive before noon. (See Details)

➤ The new Champions Social Club at the former III Forks Steakhouse site in Dallas aims to build community by combining dining, games, cocktails, and networking in a “third space,” somewhere between home and work. (Read Story)

➤ UT Austin will lead a five-year, $30 million National Science Foundation center studying and analyzing how people and robots adapt to each other over time as the machines enter dorms, hospitals, and homes. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ Physical therapists say six simple moves may protect the strength and balance that age quietly erodes. (See Exercises)

➤ One surrogate’s refusal to end a pregnancy has escalated into a custody fight now before the U.S. Supreme Court. (Hear Story)

➤ Popular weight loss drugs have been linked to a rare brain disorder that can turn deadly without quick treatment. (Podcast Available)

Would you try a brisket-stuffed, deep-fried Twinkie?

1. Absolutely
2. Maybe one bite
3. Not a chance
4. I already regret it

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever won a prize for something you grew or raised?

1. No: 88%
2. Yes, animal: 8%
3. Yes, fruit/vegetable: 2%
4. Yes, both: 2%

Which groundbreaking electronic device did Texas Instruments engineer Jack Kilby invent in 1958?

Show me the answer