Good Morning! On this day in 1911, character actress Ann Doran was born in Amarillo. She appeared in more than 500 motion pictures and 1,000 television shows.
A mini-golf chain backed by Tiger Woods is expanding its presence in Texas with a new location in Austin. Get the details in today’s Business section, and let us know if you’re any good at mini-golf in the Poll.
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Austin Explores New Air Traffic Controller Program
Austin is exploring the possibility of establishing a local air traffic controller academy to address an urgent staffing crisis at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
Currently, only 29 of 60 positions for certified controllers at AUS are filled, causing travel delays and raising safety concerns. The city has proposed partnering with Austin Community College (ACC) and the FAA to create an air traffic controller training program.
“Rather than just pointing a finger, we are lending a hand and looking at the ways that we can create Austin’s very own air traffic controller academy,” said Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes during a Thursday meeting.
The FAA says it has reduced administrative processing times for hiring new air traffic controllers by more than five months. The agency recently reported that 550 students are receiving training to address the national shortage of qualified candidates.
Midland Receives Grant for Rocket Launch Site
Midland International Air & Space Port has received a $5 million grant from the Texas Space Commission to develop the first commercial vertical rocket launch site in the U.S.
Every other launch site in the country is either operated by NASA—which limits access to contractors—or by corporations for their sole use. The new facility, however, will be accessible to a much larger universe of companies.
The spaceport currently supports suborbital rocket launches and is used by a company testing hypersonic jets, but the new facility in Reeves County will accommodate orbital flight.
Around 400 people in the region are currently employed in the space industry. The new launch site, which is expected to be completed in late 2027 or early 2028, could increase that total to 1,600.
Buc-ee’s Tops Convenience Store Ranking
For the second year in a row, Buc-ee’s has been ranked as the nation’s top convenience store by Newsweek’s report of the best retailers, beating out competitors like Sheetz, Wawa, and QuikTrip.
The Lake Jackson-based chain received a score of 92.78 out of 100 based on an independent survey in which customers evaluated brands on products, customer service, atmosphere, accessibility, and shop layout. The survey looked at U.S. retailers across 43 categories.
Recently, YouTuber Safiya Nygaard reviewed Buc-ee’s, Sheetz, and Wawa, giving Buc-ee’s the nod in terms of atmosphere but knocking it, ironically, for its lack of convenience.
“While we did really like it, we think Buc-ee’s is more of a spectacle, almost like a theme park. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a Buc-ee’s with a water slide somewhere,” she said.
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➤ A Texas Senate panel held a virtual hearing on redistricting for residents of the Rio Grande Valley on Friday, while a House committee held an in-person hearing at the University of Houston on Saturday. Hundreds of demonstrators protested outside the hearing in Houston. (More)
➤ San Antonio: City Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez was arrested Thursday on a charge of driving while intoxicated. She was released from the Bexar County Jail on Friday on a $1,000 bond. (More)
➤ Houston: ICE agents mistakenly detained a 33-year-old U.S. citizen for two hours last Wednesday. In a statement, the agency said the man has the same name as a violent criminal they were targeting. (More)
➤ Southlake: Following his announcement that he would not run for reelection, Republican State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione admitted to an affair “years ago” but denied allegations by an exotic dancer that he paid for her to get multiple abortions. (More)
➤ McAllen: Joel Gonzalez, a 38-year-old youth softball coach, has been charged with assault after he allegedly knocked over a female umpire during a confrontation over a call earlier this month. (More)
➤ Dallas: A conservative advocacy organization has sued the city on behalf of three citizens over the enforcement of 133 ordinances that allegedly conflict with state law. (See Details)
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➤ Texas Rangers star second baseman Marcus Semien was struck in the head with a 94.6 mph fastball in the third inning of the team’s Saturday game against the Atlanta Braves, but he stayed in the lineup and delivered a walk-off single, giving his team a 6-5 win. (Watch Videos)
➤ Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon, 29, is expected to miss the preseason and perhaps Week 1 with a lingering foot injury. (More)
➤ The Dallas Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract extension with tight end Jake Ferguson on Sunday. (More)
➤ The Houston Astros suffered another injury over the weekend when starting pitcher Brandon Walter was added to the team’s injured list. (More)
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➤ Blue Bell will remove certified artificial colors from its products by the end of 2027, the Brenham-based company announced last week. (More)
➤ Texas cotton growers are trying to raise awareness about the dangers of clothing manufactured with synthetic fibers, which break down into microplastics when washed or discarded. (More)
➤ PopStroke, a mini-golf chain backed by Tiger Woods, is taking over a popular sports and entertainment venue in north Austin. It’s one of six locations in Texas that are open for business or under development. (See Photos)
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➤ U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan threw out the first pitch for last Thursday’s Corpus Christi Hooks game. The rescue swimmer, 26, is credited with rescuing more than 160 people from Camp Mystic following the deadly July 4 flash floods. (More)
➤ A 4-year-old dog named Kite is helping a team of volunteers from 50-Star SAR find the remains of flood victims in and around Center Point. Last year, she helped find victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. (More)
➤ Palo Duro Canyon State Park is one of the eight most underrated parks in the country, according to a report from National Geographic. (See Details)
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Austin Explores New Air Traffic Controller Program
