Texas Heads to the Polls

Texans will pick a U.S. senator today, with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton facing Democrat state Rep. James Talarico for Sen. John Cornyn’s seat in the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history.

Gov. Greg Abbott seeks a fourth term against Democrat state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick faces Democrat state Rep. Vikki Goodwin. The attorney general’s seat is open, with Republican state Sen. Mayes Middleton facing Democrat state Sen. Nathan Johnson.

Houston voters hoping to stay dry should go early, as a cold front will push storms in around noon, with quick, heavy downpours possible until about 4 p.m. Rain should clear before polls close at 7 p.m. Severe weather is unlikely.

In Austin, CapMetro is offering free rides Tuesday on every service, from buses and trains to bikeshare. Riders get 60 free minutes of bike time by selecting the “I Voted” pass in the app.

Indicted ICE Officer Posts Bond

The ICE officer accused of running over a man with his SUV during a West Harris County immigration operation turned himself in Monday on a felony assault charge and was released on a $30,000 bond.

Prosecutors said surveillance video shows Mario Alberto Morales, 33, driving over a median and striking Miguel Parra Hernandez, 48, as he fled Oct. 10 near Clay Road and Highway 6. Parra Hernandez, whose leg was broken, remains in federal custody at a rehabilitation facility.

Morales’ attorney called the crash “clearly just an accident,” saying he swerved to avoid another vehicle, and ICE dismissed the case as “a political stunt.” Another defense lawyer questioned the indictment’s timing on the last day of early voting.

The defense will try to move the case to federal court, arguing Morales was carrying out federal duties. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare says his office will oppose that. Morales is due back in court Dec. 2.

Austin Family Killed in Florida Crash

An Austin tech entrepreneur, his wife, and their two young children were among nine people killed Sunday when a Bahamas-bound jet from Austin plunged nose-first into a Palm Beach County neighborhood and exploded.

A joint family statement confirmed Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were aboard with their nanny and two friends. Robinson, 44, played basketball at Rice University before graduating in 2003.

Captain Jeff Gregory, 55, and co-pilot Nathalia G. Filgueiras, 20, also died. The crew reported ice and moderate turbulence at 35,000 feet and asked to climb higher shortly before declaring an emergency, federal investigators said.

The flight left Austin-Bergstrom at 10:37 a.m. local time on a direct route into a line of storms across Florida. “Austin is the largest small town,” said Austin aviation attorney Mike Slack, predicting the loss will ripple through the community.

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➤ Statewide: ICE and partner agencies arrested 4,170 people across Texas during “Lone Star Mission,” a 10-day operation that ended Oct. 29. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said those arrested included murderers, sexual assailants, drunk drivers, and smugglers. (More)

➤ Seguin: Two Texas Lutheran University students with football ties died early Monday when their speeding SUV crossed into oncoming lanes on state Highway 46 and hit a guardrail. A’Jean Augustine, 20, was a junior kicker. Deyreck Dean, 23, was a former linebacker. (More)

➤ Houston Area: The Texas Attorney General’s Office arrested multiple parolees accused of voting illegally in Harris County in the midterm election after a citizen tipped off investigators on Oct. 27. Texas law bars felons on parole from voting. Their names haven’t been released. (More)

➤ Austin: A Halloween-night crash cracked an I-35 overpass guardrail near Sixth Street, dropping concrete rubble onto a parked car below. TxDOT made temporary repairs but says more work is needed. Police charged the driver with intoxication assault. (More)

➤ The Houston City Council is set to vote Wednesday on whether to apply for a federal drone grant meant to give police a bird’s-eye view of large public events. Officials say they’re drafting rules for how the drones would be used. (More)

➤ Roma: Federal officers found a rifle, five pistols, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition in a suitcase tagged “Poncho” on a Mexico-bound truck Sunday. The passenger, who goes by Poncho, told agents he was paid $900 for the job. (See Seizure)

➤ Port Arthur: The city could spend $69,375 on 25 security cameras for City Hall and its annex, including two license plate readers, if the council signs off today. Police would have access, though the documents don’t say how the readers would be used. (More)

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➤ Millsap’s star rusher scored six touchdowns on Oct. 23, hours after his father, Bulldogs head coach Jacob Johnson, died of leukemia at 45. Braun Johnson topped 2,000 rushing yards for the season in a 63-0 win over Eastland. (Meet Braun)

➤ The UTSA Roadrunners football team takes a five-game winning streak to Florida Atlantic Thursday night. At 7-1 and 4-0 in the American Conference, UTSA is off to its best start since opening 8-0 in 2021. (More)

➤ Texas A&M is in the final year of its Adidas contract, which ends June 30, 2027. An A&M sports management professor said the Aggies could take less cash in exchange for more endorsement money for players. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Tesla’s robotaxi service launched in Fort Worth on Monday, joining Austin, Dallas, and Houston. The service area stretches west past TCU to White Settlement and north along Interstate 820 toward Saginaw. Tesla says San Antonio is coming soon. (More)

➤ Plano’s headquarters list grew again as the city council approved $400,000 in incentives to lure FleetPride, a heavy-duty truck parts and repair company, from Irving. The move will bring 325 jobs. (More)

➤ Terry Black’s Barbecue opens its first San Antonio restaurant Nov. 17 on Broadway near the Pearl. The Austin-founded chain’s new spot will be its eighth. (More)

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➤ An injured owl is bound for El Paso rehab after a DPS trooper, while driving an elderly couple home, spotted him along State Highway 118 near Terlingua. The owl was named Walker, for trying to walk off and for Walker, Texas Ranger. (Meet Walker)

➤ San Antonio Zoo is getting Tatu, a 7-year-old African lion moving from Topeka, Kansas. He and Sarabi, the zoo’s 18-year-old lioness, will meet only through protective barriers because of their differences in age, strength, and energy. (Meet Tatu)

➤ Two robot mowers that tend Taylor City Cemetery are now Pancho and Lefty, named for the Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard song. Residents chose the names in a public vote. Early suggestions included Blade and Runner. The pair cost about $60,000. (Meet Mowers)

➤ Special-education students from 25 schools, more than 850 in all, will compete today in Beaumont’s 48th annual Babe Zaharias Memorial Relays. The events range from the sack relay and tug-of-war to a wheelchair obstacle course. (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. 

➤ Blood pressure readings can be inflated by seven everyday mistakes, and one can add nearly 20 points. (See Mistakes)

➤ As food prices continue to outpace the Fed’s target, planners say one weekly habit could shrink your grocery bill. (Hear Tip)

➤ Prosecutors are pushing to retry Lindsay Clancy for her three children’s deaths after a deadlocked jury forced a mistrial. (Listen Now)

Would you let a robot mow your lawn?

1. Already do
2. I’d try it
3. Rather mow it myself
4. I pay a human
5. I’m lawnless

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you ever buy sushi from the grocery store?

1. Don’t eat sushi: 47%
2. Yes, occasionally: 28%
3. No thanks: 17%
4. Yes, regularly: 8%

Which Texas city once claimed the title Cotton Capital of the South?

Show me the answer