Yesterday, we shared a report that said the New World screwworm parasite—a serious threat to livestock—had been found within 25 miles of the Texas border. By the next morning, an infection had been discovered in the state. See The Roundup below for details.
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Screwworm Confirmed in South Texas
Federal officials confirmed the first New World screwworm case in Texas since 1966. The flesh-eating parasite was found in a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Zavala County, about 50 miles from the Mexican border.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the detection on Wednesday after the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the sample. Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges swiftly established a 12-mile quarantine zone, barring any warm-blooded animal from leaving without inspection.
Officials stressed the food supply faces no risk. Screwworm larvae burrow into open wounds on living animals but do not infest processed meat. Rollins said no other U.S. cases have been detected, and the infected calf is expected to recover.
To contain the spread, the USDA has been dropping millions of sterile flies into the region—the same technique used to eradicate screwworm from the U.S. in the 1970s. Texas leads the nation in cattle production, and industry leaders have been sounding alarms about the parasite’s northward march through Mexico for more than a year.
Texas Tops Fortune 500 List
The Lone Star State now leads the nation with 57 Fortune 500 company headquarters, surpassing California’s 56 and reclaiming the top spot it lost to the Golden State two years ago.
The 57 Texas-based firms generated an estimated $2.8 trillion in combined revenue last year, narrowly beating California’s $2.7 trillion. Gov. Greg Abbott declared Texas the “undisputed headquarters of headquarters,” crediting the state’s business climate for attracting continued corporate relocations.
Texas also got a high-profile addition this week, as Samsung Electronics America announced it will move its U.S. headquarters from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, to its existing campus in Plano. The relocation will bring roughly 1,000 employees to North Texas by year’s end.
Anthony Murder Trial Gets Underway
Opening statements began Thursday in the Collin County murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, 19, charged with fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet in April 2025.
Prosecutor Bill Wirskye told jurors the killing was a premeditated “sneak, surprise attack”—arguing Anthony provoked the confrontation rather than tried to avoid it. He said surveillance video from the meeting would be central evidence for the state.
The defense contends Anthony acted in self-defense when Metcalf approached him. Both were 17-year-old athletes from rival schools at the time. Anthony is being tried as an adult under Texas law.
Testimony began later Thursday at the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney after opening arguments concluded. A jury of 12 with six alternates was seated following a weeks-long selection process. Anthony faces a sentencing range of 5 to 99 years or life in prison if convicted of murder.
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BOXABL Is Betting on Factory-Built Housing
Boxabl’s goal is ambitious: build homes more like automobiles using factory automation and standardized production.
The company says a single automated factory could eventually produce thousands of homes annually while using significantly less labor than traditional homebuilding methods.
Its foldable Casita homes are designed to ship efficiently and unfold on-site in about one hour. BOXABL also says it is developing stackable housing systems for multifamily and larger residential projects.
BOXABL has announced plans for a proposed SPAC merger with FG Merger II Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), with the combined company expected to under the anticipated ticker symbol $BXBL following closing.
⤠Kyle: A man was arrested after police say he listed a human skull for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Sean Shymkiw, 24, faces a felony under Texas law for selling human organs. (More)
⤠Northeast Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $200 million Texas Energy Fund grant to upgrade transmission infrastructure through Southwestern Electric Power Company, improving grid reliability for about 192,000 customers across 19 counties. (More)
⤠Austin: An Austin family is working alongside researchers to develop a treatment for their baby, diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic disease that currently has no approved cure. (More)
⤠Arlington/Houston: FIFA reversed course and banned fans from bringing reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums, just days before matches kick off. Critics say the ban poses a health risk due to overheating. (More)
⤠Austin: Austin ISD senior Luis Fernando Cabrera graduated from high school on Tuesday after spending about 20 days in ICE detention. A federal judge ordered his release so he could walk the stage with his classmates. (More)
⤠Statewide: Austin Democrat Gina Hinojosa launched her first general election ad of the governor’s race this week, streaming it during the NBA Finals to reach San Antonio Spurs fans. (More)
⤠Texas softball won their second straight national championship last night, beating Texas Tech 4-1 in Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series. The Longhorns are the first back-to-back champions since Oklahoma did so over a decade ago. (More)
⤠Former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, and Baylor football coach Art Briles headline the Texas Sports Hall of Fame’s 2026 ballot. Voting is set to begin in July. (More)
⤠Houston Astros fans joined the viral “Tarps Off” movement at Daikin Park this week, stripping off shirts and twirling them overhead during the series against the Pirates. The shirtless craze sweeping the MLB actually traces back to Stephen F. Austin club baseball players. (More)
⤠Texas A&M women’s tennis landed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for 2026, reloading a program that’s won two national titles in the last three seasons. (More)
⤠Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban voiced concern about the future of Victory Park and downtown Dallas after the team announced plans to leave the American Airlines Center after their lease is up. (More)
⤠Take the guesswork out of monitoring your blood pressure at home with the Vital Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor. Designed for convenience and ease of use, it provides fast readings from your wrist, making it simple to track your numbers, stay informed, and support your health routine from the comfort of home. (LEARN MORE)
⤠Texas now produces 9.4% of U.S. gross domestic product—up from 7.2% in 2000—the largest share gain of any state over 25 years, according to a new Texas 2036 report. (More)
⤠Starbase-headquartered SpaceX is seeking $75 billion in what would be the largest IPO in U.S. history, targeting a $1.77 trillion valuation that could push Musk past $1 trillion in net worth. (More)
⤠The Railroad Commission of Texas issued 753 original drilling permits in May, including 655 for new oil or gas wells. (More)
⤠Texas gas prices have dropped for the second straight week, with the statewide average falling to $3.72 per gallon. (More)
⤠The emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that kills ash trees, has spread to three more North Texas counties—Young, Montague, and Clay—raising alarms for landowners and forests statewide. (More)
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BOXABL’s Growth Story Is Drawing Investor Attention
This company has raised more than $235M from investors as it works toward its goal of transforming the housing industry with factory-built homes.
The company’s foldable housing system is designed to reduce shipping costs and speed up installation. Its flagship Casita unfolds on-site in less than one hour.
The company has announced a proposed merger with FG Merger II Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), which could result in BOXABL trading publicly on Nasdaq under the ticker $BXBL.
Shareholder meetings related to the proposed transaction are expected on June 9, 2026.
BOXABL and FGMC have extended their merger deadline to June 30, 2026, pending shareholder approvals, see SEC Exhibit 99 for further details https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1816937
⤠Amarillo’s Route 66 Festival kicked off yesterday with live music, classic cars, and food along the historic “Mother Road,” drawing enthusiasts from across the country. (More)
⤠The Texas Music Revolution in McKinney and FoodieLand Food Festival headline a packed Metroplex weekend, among five family-friendly DFW events running today through Sunday. (More)
⤠El Paso’s June calendar is packed with sports, live music, comedy shows, and community workshops for locals and visitors alike, beginning this weekend. (More)
⤠The Austin area’s weekend lineup runs from Georgetown festival grounds to downtown block parties—six events worth checking out across the capital region. (More)
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Screwworm Confirmed in South Texas
