Good Morning! On this day in 1882, the town of Ben Ficklin—then the county seat in Tom Green County—was destroyed in a flash flood that killed 65 people. San Angelo became the county seat the following year.
Today’s Top Stories feature a Houston Uber driver who briefly chased a perp after police officers jumped in his car. Our Poll asks whether you’d chase someone in your own car if an officer told you to. Hit reply to tell us why, why not, or if anything like that has ever happened to you.
Today’s sponsor, Doroni, is giving investors an opportunity to get in early as the company advances its vision of personal flying cars, backed by hundreds of reservations, a growing urban air mobility market, and plans to trade under the Nasdaq ticker $DRNI.
A visiting judge denied Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial Saturday, leaving his murder conviction in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf intact.
Anthony, 19, is serving 35 years for killing the 17-year-old under a team tent at a Frisco track meet in April 2025. Jurors rejected his self-defense claim in June.
His new attorneys argued he was pressured into waiving his right to testify and that limits on courtroom access denied him a public trial. Judge Michael Chitty, appointed after the trial judge was recused, denied the motion in a one-page ruling.
“The jury’s guilty verdict stands, and we remain confident in the process,” Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis said. Anthony’s attorneys plan to appeal to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.
Officers Commandeer Uber Mid-Chase
Two Houston police officers chasing a suspect on foot jumped into a passing Uber and told the driver to give chase.
Dashcam video from Aug. 7 shows a shirtless man sprinting past Anthony Baines’ car in the Heights, two officers behind him. One hopped into the passenger seat and shouted, “Go, go, go, go!“
Officers had responded to a call that the man had threatened to shoot a woman and her kids at an apartment pool. He broke free when they tried to detain him.
Baines, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, drove them around the block to their squad car. “I have cops ordering me to do things. I’m going to comply,” he said.
Houston Police Officers’ Union President Doug Griffith said nobody has to comply. “There’s nothing that forces or compels anyone to help out,”he said. The suspect got away. Baines’ passenger, waiting a block over, hadn’t moved.
Two Farrah Fawcett Statues Planned
A bronze sculpture of Farrah Fawcett riding a skateboard is likely headed for the Corpus Christi bayfront, one of two statues planned for the Charlie’s Angels star’s Texas hometowns.
Sculptor David Deming is making both with funding from private donors. A Rockport statue depicting Fawcett in the praying-hands pose from a promotional photo has been approved and is set for a January 2027 unveiling downtown.
The Corpus Christi statue still needs a council vote. That’s expected in late August on an agreement with Friends of Farrah Fawcett, a group of her former Ray High School classmates.
“She was such an iconic symbol of Corpus Christi,” said Sara Morgan, director of the Art Museum of South Texas.
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➤ Statewide: Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Justice Department to review wash facilities and prayer rooms at DFW and Houston’s Bush Intercontinental airports, writing that “Airports can no more offer Muslim-only bathroom spaces than they can maintain white-only bathrooms.” (See Details)
➤ Somerset: Stray dogs killed 16 show animals and seriously injured four more at Somerset ISD’s agriculture barn over two nights, wiping out sheep, goats, and pigs raised by FFA students. (More)
➤ Austin: A Texas appeals court decreased the Sandy Hook judgment against Alex Jones on Friday from nearly $50 million to about $5.6 million, citing a state cap of $750,000 per parent on punitive damages. A separate $1.25 billion judgment in Connecticut still stands. (More)
➤ Fort Bend County: A law enforcement officer tracked a woman for five months using Flock license plate cameras and placed a tracking device on her car, charging documents say. Sergio Rodriguez faces stalking and misuse of official information charges. (See Details)
➤ Statewide: Four hemp retailers sued the state health department in federal court on Wednesday over the ban on most hemp-derived THC products, saying it has cost more than 36,000 jobs and handed the state’s medical marijuana program a monopoly. (See Details)
➤ Montgomery County: A Porter man drew 14 days in federal prison and a $5,000 fine for shooting a bald eagle in his backyard. Game wardens found the wounded bird under a tarp in his garage, and it was later euthanized. (More)
➤ Missouri City: Body camera video shows police jumping into the water to rescue a young boy after a welfare check call near West Creek Club Drive on Aug. 7. Officers got him out safely. (See Video)
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➤ The NHL could announce an expansion team in Houston or Austin by the end of the year, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. A Houston-led group has agreed to a $2 billion expansion fee, with the team potentially beginning play in 2029-30. (More)
➤SMU Volleyball opened its 2026 season with a 3-0 sweep of No. 8 Texas A&M on Sunday at the AVCA First Serve. The No. 11 Mustangs won 27-25, 25-19, and 25-20 behind a strong defensive performance. (More)
➤ Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton strengthened his case for the backup job on Saturday, throwing for 179 yards and two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals, while running for another touchdown. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said the competition with Sam Howell remains open. (More)
➤ Shopping for luggage is one of those purchases most people put off. The good stuff is surprisingly expensive, and the cheap options rarely survive more than a few trips. We recently came across a carry-on that looks and feels like premium luggage without the premium price tag. It includes the features you’d expect from high-end brands, making it a smart upgrade before your next trip. See why it’s become one of our favorite travel finds. (More)
➤ Walmart bought nearly 35 acres off Culebra Road on San Antonio’s booming Far Westside, county property records show. The retailer hasn’t confirmed plans, but a store there would be its first new San Antonio location since 2016. (See Details)
➤ Buc-ee’s holds 51 active trademarks and has abandoned or canceled nearly 30 more, including Beaver Water and its Lake Jackson coffee shop, Buc-ee’s Beanery. (See List)
➤ An Austin candle-maker who quit her software engineering job will see her Iluxir candles hit H-E-B shelves Oct. 19 in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, and some West Texas stores. Akriti Marwaha started the brand in 2023. (Read Story)
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“The Future of Flight is Coming”
This statement from the U.S. transportation secretary after his historic flight in an eVTOL this June has captured Wall Street’s attention.
Just last month, the FAA’s MOSAIC rule took full effect, expanding the certification pathway for personal aircrafts like Doroni’s H1-X. And Florida’s leading the charge, selected as one of eight regions to lead the FAA’s flying car pilot program.
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Next, Doroni’s targeting commercial deliveries by 2028 and projecting $1.4B in annual revenue by 2032.
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➤ Painted rock gardens now line the North East Texas Trail in Detroit, the Eagle Scout project of Hunter Dwyer of Paris Troop 2, who says his mother’s story inspired it. A local gravel yard donated the stones. (Read Story)
➤ Jordan Clarkson, fresh off his first NBA title with the Knicks, brought his charity golf tournament back to his hometown of San Antonio, joined by former Spurs Bruce Bowen and Rudy Gay. Clarkson’s foundation funds scholarships and youth programs. (See Details)
➤ Six high schoolers spent their summer flying drones over San Antonio’s Southwest Side, building 3D maps of Pearsall Park and nearby streets. The licensed pilots, all 16 or 17, each received $3,000 through the 10-week internship. (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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:
➤ Nearly two weeks after deadly storms hit Indiana, thousands are still in the dark, and residents want to know why. (Hear Story)
➤ Imagine a winter without a single sunset before 5 p.m. Congress could make it happen, but there’s a catch. (Hear Trade-Off)
➤ How to wake up without an alarm clock, according to sleep researchers. It only takes about a week to retrain your body. (Listen How)
Would you drive your car in a police chase if an officer told you to?
Judge Denies Anthony New Trial
