Good Morning! On this day in 1920, voters ratified the Better Schools Amendment to the state constitution, removing limitations on tax rates local school districts could impose on property owners.
Day-use admission to all 89 Texas state parks is free today. Check out the details here.
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Work Begins on STORM Ranch
Crews have begun clearing land for a 27-acre, $104 million swift-water training center near Houston, expected to be the nation’s largest when completed. Phase one will take about 18 to 22 months after construction begins early next year.
STORM Ranch, a swift-water rescue training facility project of the Community Volunteer Fire Department and Harris Fort Bend Emergency Services District No. 100, will provide a controlled environment for first responders to prepare for catastrophic flooding events.
The facility will include two swift-water channels, a pond for practicing boat rescues, and an urban village with buildings. The training center is expected to accommodate 6,000 first responders a year.
“The STORM Ranch will allow our teams to train in the same conditions they face during real-world incidents, ultimately saving lives,” said Cpt. Samantha Smith of the Community Volunteer Fire Department.
Big Bend Getting ‘Smart Wall’
Big Bend National Park will receive new “Smart Wall” technology as part of the Trump administration’s $4.5 billion in federal contracts announced last month to enhance border security.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem designated the Big Bend Sector as “an area of high illegal entry” and waived contracting and environmental rules to expedite construction.
Detection technology will be installed along a 363-mile stretch in the Big Bend region, part of about 535 miles of border monitored by cameras and sensors in areas deemed too remote or rugged for physical barriers.
Most of the funding for the contracts comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill that Congress passed this summer. Since 2021, 54 solar-powered Autonomous Surveillance Towers equipped with artificial intelligence have been installed in the Big Bend Sector.
SMU Topples Miami in Historic Upset
The unranked SMU Mustangs scored a historic upset against No. 10 Miami yesterday, beating the Hurricanes 26-20 in overtime for the program’s first top-10 victory in 42 years. The improbable win likely knocks Miami out of playoff contention while keeping SMU’s hopes of reaching the ACC title game alive.
SMU tied the game with a 38-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in regulation. They elected to play defense first after winning the overtime coin toss. SMU safety Ahmaad Moses intercepted Miami quarterback Carson Beck on the ensuing possession, and the Mustangs got the win when running back T.J. Harden scored on a 1-yard run.
After the victory, SMU fans rushed the field and toppled one of the goalposts, carrying it out of the stadium to the fountain at Dallas Hall. The celebration will likely cost SMU $50,000 for breaking the ACC’s newly updated event security policy, but university president Jay Hartzell didn’t seem too fazed.
“I neither condone nor support it, for the record, but I’ll pay the fine,” he posted on social media shortly after the game.
➤ Statewide: A New Yorkjudge dismissed Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against Ulster County Clerk Taylor Bruck, ruling that Bruck acted lawfully under the state’s shield law when refusing to file a Texas judgment against a doctor who provided abortion-inducing drugs. (See Details)
➤ Longview: Newlyweds Hunter and Kasydee Bishop arrived home yesterday after riding out Hurricane Melissa during their honeymoon in Jamaica. “It’s definitely a honeymoon we’re not going to forget, but we’re just really thankful and glad to be safe,” Kasydee said. (More)
➤ Atascocita: An off-duty Harris County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a man who authorities said tried to enter the deputy’s vehicle while his baby was in the back seat. The man’s mother said he suffers from a schizoaffective disorder. (More)
➤ Fort Hood: An OB-GYN at Darnall Army Medical Center was suspended after allegations he secretly recorded patients during exams, with law firms in Austin and Houston now representing at least eight alleged victims. (More)
➤ Austin: Secretary of State Jane Nelson filed a motion to dismiss a GOP lawsuit seeking to close Texas primaries, arguing in court filings that restricting voting to registered party members is a decision for lawmakers, not judges. (More)
➤ Dallas: A viral Halloween display at a Preston Hollow mansion drew crowds of onlookers on Friday, backing up traffic for blocks. (See Display)
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➤ No. 13 Texas Tech forced five turnovers in a 43-20 win over Kansas State, while No. 22 Houston committed four turnovers in a 45-35 loss to West Virginia, and North Texas handed Navy its first loss of the season, 31-17. (See Scores)
➤ The Houston Texans host the Denver Broncos today at noon, while the Dallas Cowboys play the Arizona Cardinals Monday night at AT&T Stadium. (More)
➤ Arch Manning threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns as No. 20 Texas beat No. 9 Vanderbilt 34-31—outlasting the Commodores’ 21-point fourth-quarter rally and a late onside kick attempt. (Watch Video)
➤ No. 9 Texas A&M volleyball defeated No. 2 Texas in five sets Friday night before a record home crowd of 9,801 fans. (More)
➤ Dallas Mavericks big man Anthony Davis is set to miss at least two games with a calf injury. Davis has struggled with injuries since the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade that brought him to Dallas earlier this year. (More)
➤ These cooling, bacteria-fighting sheets might be the last ones you ever buy. Sleep cool and fresh every night with Miracle Made sheets. Infused with silver to prevent 99.7% of bacteria growth, they stay cleaner and cooler—just like a fresh hotel bed at home.
➤ Javen Hinojosa, a nurse at South Texas Health System Edinburg, was one of eight nurses nationwide to win the annual HeroesFIRST competition, honoring healthcare professionals who go above and beyond to improve their patients’ lives. (More)
➤ H-E-B is selling limited edition mystery boxes featuring keychains of its popular products, including Café Olé coffee, 1877 mineral water, and Creamy Creations ice cream, in a campaign inspired by Japan’s trend and China’s Pop Mart collectibles. (More)
➤ Ximena and Scarlett Hernandez Ambriz, who were born conjoined at the pelvis in 2016 at Corpus Christi’s Driscoll Children’s Hospital, recently competed in a local cheerleading event after doctors once doubted they would ever walk following their separation. (See Sisters)
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Work Begins on STORM Ranch
