Good Morning! On this day in 1912, actress and singer Dale Evans was born in Uvalde. In 1947, she married singing cowboy Roy Rogers. The dynamic couple were performing partners until his death in 1998.
A pet monkey got loose in a Spirit Halloween store in Plano this week. Check out photos and a video of the wild scene here.
On today’s Feel Good Flyover Podcast, host Amy Hess talks with the founder of October’s Child, an Austin nonprofit giving thousands of kids the chance to celebrate Halloween in costume. Don’t miss this exclusive interview.
When disasters strike, The Flyover community always shows up. Hurricane Melissa has left thousands in Jamaica without homes, food, or clean water—and they need our help now. We’re partnering with Convoy of Hope to deliver immediate relief, and we’ll match the first $2,000 in donations, doubling your impact.Donate here!
Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.
Dallas Ordinances Targeted in Lawsuit
The Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based conservative think tank, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the city of Dallas, seeking to invalidate 83 local ordinances that allegedly conflict with state law. Some of the ordinances pertain to employee pay for city contractors and the treatment of LGBTQ residents.
The suit, brought on behalf of three Dallas residents, targets the ordinances on the basis of the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, a 2023 state law that restricts local regulations from exceeding those specified by state law.
Proponents of the law said it was necessary to undo a “patchwork” of local regulations across the state, while opponents—who dubbed it the “Death Star” law—argued it violates local autonomy. A Travis County judge ruled the law unconstitutional, but an appeals court overturned that ruling in July.
“Cities don’t get to pick and choose which state laws they follow,” said Matthew Chiarizio, one of the foundation’s senior attorneys. “For too long, Dallas has piled unnecessary and duplicative regulations on its citizens.”
Houston Ship Channel Expansion Marks Milestone
Port Houston announced it has completed its portion of a $1.2 billion project to expand the Houston Ship Channel through Galveston Bay from 530 feet to 700 feet. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to complete its portion by 2029.
Planning for the expansion began in 2010, but dredging didn’t start until 2022. The project enhances safety and efficiency for larger ships and extends the transit window for daylight-restricted vessels by two and a half hours.
The 52-mile Houston Ship Channel is the busiest waterway in the United States, and Port Houston leads the nation in waterborne tonnage, reaching 309.5 million tons in 2023. According to the Houston Port Authority, the port supports 3.37 million jobs nationwide and generates $906 billion annually.
Port Commission Chairman Ric Campo praised those involved in the project and thanked them for their “collaboration and capacity to see clearly the importance of this vital gateway to our nation and ensure its ability to safely sustain and grow international trade.”
U.S. News Ranks Best Elementary, Middle Schools
U.S. News & World Reportreleased its annual rankings of the nation’s best elementary and middle schools on Tuesday. The rankings, which are unique to each state, are based on publicly available data of student scores on state assessments. Although private schools were profiled, they were not ranked.
The state’s No. 1 elementary school is Midland ISD’s Carver Center, a gifted and talented campus where 97% of students scored proficient or better in math and 98% scored proficient or better in reading.
Hurricane Melissa—a Category 5 storm with winds up to 185 mph—hit Jamaica and left behind catastrophic destruction.
It’s one of the strongest Atlantic storms on record, bringing torrential rain, dangerous storm surge, and widespread flooding and landslides that have destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.
Convoy of Hope is responding with food, clean water, hygiene kits, baby care items, tents, tarps, and other emergency supplies for families in desperate need—and we need your help.
➤ Dallas: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is weighing a run for U.S. Senate as a recent poll indicates strong favorability among Democrats. Meanwhile, local attorney Tony Box announced he is running as a Democrat to succeed Ken Paxton as Texas Attorney General. (See Details)
➤ Killeen ISD: The school board voted 4-3 on Tuesday to close and consolidate an elementary school and two middle schools. Supporters of the plan claim it will save the district $100 million over the next five years. (More)
➤ Laredo: The city removed a street mural in front of the federal courthouse that read “Defund the Wall” on Tuesday. The removal follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s threat to withhold $1.6 billion in funding from TxDOT if the city did not comply with his executive order to remove “political ideologies” from public streets. (More)
➤ East Texas: The National Weather Service confirmed two EF-1 tornadoes touched down Tuesday near Lindale and Kilgore. The storms knocked down trees and damaged roofs. (Watch Video)
➤ Galveston: A portion of the Galveston Ship Channel has been closed as crews work to clean up an oil spill caused by a Netherlands-based oil tanker’s collision with a pier Tuesday night. (See Details)
➤ Uvalde: The death of a 35-year-old staffer for U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio) is under criminal investigation after authorities initially reported there was “no indication of foul play.” (More)
➤ Leander: The National Transportation Safety Board is urging state and local officials to enforce seat belt use on school buses after its review of video from an August crash confirmed at least 36 students on board were not wearing a seat belt. (See Details)
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➤ Friday Night Football: The 4-4 Rice Owls play No. 25 Memphis tonight in Houston, while Sam Houston travels to Louisiana Tech in hopes of winning their first game of the season. (More)
➤ Westlake High School in Austin retired the jersey of former NFL quarterback Drew Brees last weekend. Brees played for the Chaps from 1993 to 1996, delivering their first-ever state championship during his senior year. (More)
➤ University of Texas quarterback Arch Manning returned to practice this week but is still in the concussion protocol. Backup Matthew Caldwell is set to start if Manning can’t play. (More)
➤ Houston Texans wide receivers Christian Kirk and Nico Collins returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday. It’s unclear whether they’ll play in Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos. (More)
➤ The Dallas Stars could move to a new arena in nearby Plano if the team decides to leave the American Airlines Center after their lease expires in 2031, according to the Dallas Morning News. A struggling 1.4-million-square-foot mall is reportedly being eyed as a facility that could generate “365-day revenue.” (See Details)
➤ This Halloween, protect your home from scary repair bills with the ServicePlus Home Warranty Sale! Get coverage for appliances and major systems at unbeatable prices—no tricks, just treats. Right now get 50% off plus 2 months free. 🎃 Claim your quote now!
➤ Jay Bhaumik, the CEO of Plano’s Texas Star Pharmacy and Wellness Center, is launching BMK Pharma in Allen to manufacture drugs for hospitals and other large providers. The 50,000-square-foot facility is expected to employ over 100 high-skilled workers. (More)
➤ An unnamed Fortune 500 company plans to build a $450 million robotic distribution center in Cibolo. The city council approved a $32 million incentive agreement on Monday for “Project Theo.” (More)
➤ Dallas Love Field is the first airport in Texas to introduce CLEAR biometric eGates at TSA checkpoints for customers enrolled in the company’s identity verification program. The eGates use facial recognition technology that allows passengers to bypass TSA’s traditional screening process. (More)
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Double your impact—Jamaica recovery
Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica with 185 mph winds, catastrophic flooding, and landslides that have left families homeless and communities cut off.
But help is on the way. Convoy of Hope is providing food, water, hygiene kits, baby care items, tents, tarps, and other emergency supplies for people who need them most. You can be part of this URGENT response with your generous donation, helping people who’ve lost everything.
➤ San Marcos joined the list of Central Texas cities to launch a voluntary security camera registration program in an effort to help law enforcement investigate crimes. “This program speeds up the investigative process by letting us know where cameras are located,” said San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge. (More)
➤ The Boy From St. Croix, a documentary film about San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan, premiered Tuesday at the Austin Film Festival. The documentary was directed by Duncan’s brother, Scott Duncan. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, Dallas Wings star and WNBA Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers has been tapped for a lead role in Jess and Pearl, an upcoming sports film about two friends and teammates who become fierce rivals. (More)
➤ The Hutto Police Department created a rap video featuring Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough as a recruitment tool. “We wanted to show people a bit of who we are behind the badge, and the fact is that we love to have fun while doing the difficult work,” said Yarbrough. (Watch Video)
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Dallas Ordinances Targeted in Lawsuit
