Trump Taps Houston Billionaire for Ambassador

Melinda Hildebrand, owner of a Houston doughnut shop and the wife of a billionaire oil executive, has been nominated by President Donald Trump as the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica.

Hildebrand’s husband, Jeffrey, co-founded Hilcorp in 1989, growing it to become the largest private oil company in the U.S. Worth an estimated $7.3 billion, the couple has hosted fundraisers for Trump and given nearly $3 million to his campaigns.

Hildebrand opened River Oaks Donuts in 2013, saying, “I felt like I wanted to provide the neighborhood with donuts. It’s as simple as that. There was a need, so we are providing a service.”

In a Truth Social post, President Trump said Hildebrand “will fight tirelessly to protect America’s Interests abroad, especially in Trade and Immigration.” Hildebrand has said she is “honored to be nominated.”

‘Ghost Deer’ Smugglers Convicted

A licensed white-tailed deer breeder and his business partner from East Texas have been convicted of illegally smuggling seven “ghost deer.” Game wardens intercepted them in Montgomery County on their way to Brazoria and Duval counties, where the two unnamed suspects allegedly intended to release the deer on private property.

Captive deer are susceptible to chronic wasting disease (CWD), and documentation must be provided when transporting them so that state officials can track outbreaks. The two perpetrators were convicted of more than two dozen breeder violations each and several drug and alcohol offenses, receiving $12,060 in fines.

Because wardens couldn’t immediately determine the disease status of the captive “ghost deer,” all of them were euthanized. An examination later found that they were likely not infected with CWD.

Out With the Old, In With the New

Two iconic public displays—one in Austin and another in Houston—came down last week and are being replaced with something new.

On Monday, a 100-year-old Austin building known for its 60-foot mural of Texas icon Willie Nelson was demolished to make room for a new high rise. The previous building’s owners have expressed a desire to recreate the mural, which was commissioned for the annual South By Southwest festival in 2016.

On Wednesday, the signage for what was formerly known as Minute Maid Park—the home field of the Houston Astros since 2000—was removed so that signage for the newly named Daikin Park could be put up in its place. The old signage and logo will be auctioned off at a later date.

Daikin, a Japanese company and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of air conditioning units, signed a 15-year deal after last season for the naming rights to the ballpark.

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➤ A federal judge temporarily suspended parts of a Texas law requiring social media companies to obtain parental consent for minors. Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling, which determined that the content moderation requirements were likely unconstitutional. (More)

➤ Gaines County: At least 10 measles cases—seven of which have required hospitalization—have been reported over the last two weeks. This follows two measles cases in Harris County last month. (See Details)

➤ Harris County: Judge Lina Hidalgo lashed out at former District Attorney Kim Ogg following the dismissal of corruption charges she had brought against three employees in Hidalgo’s office. Hidalgo called the prosecution an “outrageous debacle” and labeled Ogg “a dirty cop.” (More)

➤ Alice ISD: Superintendent Anysia Trevino advised parents last week that their children could be questioned about their citizenship at a Border Patrol checkpoint if they attend a school event in South Texas. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks dismissed the idea that agents would board school buses as “absurd.” (More)

➤ Houston: Federal immigration agents have arrested Jorge Carvajal Castrejon, 36, who is accused of illegally entering the country six times and was previously convicted of DWI in Harris County. (More)

➤ Hutto: Texas State Technical College broke ground on a $47 million expansion at its East Williamson County campus last week. Scheduled to open in the spring of 2027, the 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility will allow the school to triple enrollment in its manufacturing programs. (Watch Video)

➤ Much of the Panhandle could see snow today, and temperatures are expected to drop across the state over the next few days. (See Forecast) 

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➤ Anthony Davis delivered an impressive performance in his first game for the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday night, scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds before exiting in the third quarter with a left adductor strain. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Mavericks recorded 18 blocked shots in the game, a franchise record. (More)

➤ Houston Texans all-pro cornerback Derek Stingley told reporters he would like to stay in Houston for the rest of his life. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: PGA | LPGA | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ Google has reportedly relinquished a lease for over a million square feet in Denton County that the company previously indicated would be used to support its data center operations. (More)

➤ ExxonMobil is reportedly looking to build an $8.6 billion plastics plant along the Texas coast in Point Comfort. The proposed plant is projected to provide 300 permanent and 300 contract jobs and to generate over $61 billion in revenue during its first 40 years. (More)

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➤ A rooster affectionately known as “Ol’ Red” has adopted a Brookshire’s grocery store in Overton as his new home. Locals have enthusiastically embraced him, creating a Facebook page to chronicle his adventures. (Watch Video)

➤ NFL running back Derrick Henry is selling his 4,200-square-foot Dallas home for $1.6 million. Henry was thought to be a shoo-in to play for the Dallas Cowboys, but he signed with the Baltimore Ravens ahead of this season. (See Photos)

➤ Dallas Mavericks fans protested the team’s blockbuster trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of Saturday’s home game against the Houston Rockets. Arena staff confiscated signs and shirts critical of general manager Nico Harrison. (See Photos)

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Did you watch the Super Bowl?

1. Yes, all of it
2. Some of it
3. No, none of it

Saturday’s Results:

What’s your preferred Super Bowl snack?

1. Chips and salsa: 32%
2. Other: 27%
3. Chicken wings: 22%
4. Pigs in a blanket: 11%
5. Drone-delivered PepsiCo Party Packs: 8%

Who was the most prominent proponent of the idea that Texas should be split up into as many as five states?

Show me the answer