Houston Limits Police Calls to ICE

Houston Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order Friday that bars police from calling ICE during routine encounters, such as traffic stops, unless the person is arrested for a jailable offense.

Whitmire, a Democrat, tied the move to Tuesday’s elections, when Gina Hinojosa ousted Gov. Greg Abbott to become the first Democratic governor in more than 30 years. “I’ve said many times, elections matter,” he said.

In April, Whitmire pushed to amend a similar City Council ordinance after state leaders threatened to withhold more than $110 million in public safety funding. With Abbott in office until January, Whitmire said, “I will take that risk and I know I’m doing right.”

The Department of Homeland Security criticized the order, saying, “We remain disappointed that sanctuary politicians seek to limit cooperation with ICE.” A spokesperson added that seven of the 10 safest U.S. cities cooperate with the agency.

Republican: Limit Hinojosa’s Powers

Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison is urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to curb the governor’s emergency powers before Democratic Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office in January.

Harrison warned in a letter to Abbott that Hinojosa would inherit power to “modify laws, ignore laws, or create and enforce laws” on a whim. He said no governor, Republican or Democrat, should hold such authority under a 1975 disaster law.

Attorney General-elect Nathan Johnson, a Democrat, called Harrison’s push “irresponsible” and warned that after such an overwhelming vote, the move could hurt Republicans’ reputation “for a generation.” Harrison filed a bill to limit the powers in 2022, but it stalled.

Longtime Texas political journalist Scott Braddock called the session “highly unlikely” because Democrats could simply stay home and deny lawmakers the quorum they need to act. Abbott hasn’t announced plans to call one.

Texas’ 10 Most Peaceful Small Towns

Dinosaur tracks, a 25-foot-deep spring-fed pool, and 70-foot sand dunes helped land 10 Texas communities on a list of the state’s most peaceful small towns.

Out west, Fort Davis is the state’s highest town. Nearby, Balmorhea State Park has the world’s largest spring-fed pool, which stays between 72 and 76 degrees year-round, while visitors in Monahans rent discs to sled down sand dunes.

Southwest of Fort Worth, Glen Rose’s Dinosaur Valley State Park preserves fossilized tracks along the Paluxy River. In Dublin, the plant that opened in 1891 as Dr Pepper’s first bottler still makes cane-sugar sodas under its own label, around the corner from a Ben Hogan museum.

East Texas picks include Crockett, gateway to a 160,000-acre national forest, and Kilgore, which lights its downtown oil derricks each Christmas. On the coast, Matagorda’s west beach is reachable only by boat, kayak, or canoe.

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➤ South Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott ordered extra state emergency resources ahead of storms that threaten flash flooding through early this week, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, along the border, and in the Coastal Bend. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa’s transition team launched a website where Texans can submit resumes and cover letters for jobs in her incoming administration. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. (More)

➤ Dallas: The Dallas County Public Defender’s Office chief investigator is jailed without bond on a murder charge after first responders found his wife of 35 years stabbed to death in their downtown apartment Friday night. (More)

➤ Odessa: Police are hunting Santiago Valencia, 20, whom they call armed and dangerous, after a stairwell argument at the MCM Grande Hotel ended with a person shot Saturday night. The victim survived. (See Suspect)

➤ Arlington: The Texas Veterans Day Parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Entertainment District, followed by a drone show. Marines will collect new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots along the route. (More)

➤ El Paso: A UTEP-led study found more than a century of releasing farm-raised ducks for hunting has left wild mallards less genetically diverse and more inbred. Researchers analyzed more than 400 museum specimens and more than 600 modern birds. (See Findings)

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➤ The Dallas Cowboys improved to 4-5 with a 27-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Dak Prescott threw for 335 yards and two touchdowns, while Caleb Downs sealed the win with a late interception. (More)

➤ The Houston Texans won their third game in four tries Sunday, routing the Los Angeles Chargers 44-22. C.J. Stroud threw for 384 yards and five touchdowns as Houston improved to 3-5. (More)

➤ Among ranked Texas volleyball teams in action Sunday, No. 5 SMU won, No. 13 Texas lost, No. 17 Texas A&M lost, and No. 24 Baylor won. (See Scores)

➤ Astros prospect Nehomar Ochoa Jr. is playing in the Arizona Fall League after a 2025 accident in which a 7-pound metal hook crashed through his windshield and struck his forehead. (More)

➤ Texas Lutheran football clinched its third straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship Saturday, beating Centenary 28-20 days after kicker A’Jean Augustine and former linebacker Deyreck Dean died in a crash. Teammates carried their jerseys onto the field. (See Tribute)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NHL | NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | NCAA Volleyball

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➤ What’s the best dog breed in America? We ranked the top 10, and the winner is hard to argue with. (Tune In Here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down the 10 dog breeds that make the best pets. So what separates a great dog from the rest? Is it how smart they are, loyalty, size, or how much hair ends up on your couch?

Everybody thinks their dog’s breed belongs at the top, so where does your four-legged friend actually land on our list? Find out here!

In case you missed it, last week’s Flyover Focus dug into the strange but important history of Daylight Saving Time. (Watch Here)

➤ Fredericksburg’s new Kimpton hotel has tapped Houston chef Aaron Bludorn, whose group runs three Michelin Guide-recommended restaurants, to lead its kitchen. The 210-room hotel anchors The Meuse, a 22-acre resort and shopping district opening in late 2027. (Meet Chef)

➤ Texas’ largest spa, at 40,000 square feet, opened in October at Canyon Ranch’s new Spicewood resort. The Lake Travis property also has a 141-room hotel, a medical center, and a restaurant run by two-Michelin-star chef Val Cantú. (See Resort)

➤ Texas Biomed scientists in San Antonio landed a $200,000 grant to study a tuberculosis treatment that revs up the body’s immune system instead of attacking the bacteria, an idea borrowed from cancer care. Texas has the nation’s second-most TB patients. (See Research)

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➤ A 102nd birthday in Tyler came with a full parade, as family and friends rolled out for Ida Mae Ford. Known to her grandchildren as “Big Mama,” Ford summed up the day: “I feel good!” (See Parade)

➤ A 40-year radio veteran from Longview joined the Texas Radio Hall of Fame Saturday in Kilgore. Diane Day has been on KYKX 105.7 since 1986 and still hosts weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Meet Host)

➤ More than 4,000 worshippers filled Greehey Arena at St. Mary’s University Saturday as the Archdiocese of San Antonio celebrated 100 years leading the region’s Catholic dioceses. (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. 

➤ An impaired driver plowed into a pack of weekend cyclists outside Raleigh, and the man now facing 18 charges is 76 years old. (Hear More)

➤ Melania Trump showed up at the LSU-Alabama game with a $7.2 million gift, and it had nothing to do with football. (Listen Now)

➤ Two-thirds of kids have had an imaginary friend by age 7, and researchers say the invisible milk cartons and ballerinas are doing more than keeping them company. (Hear Details)

Have you ever been to Fredericksburg?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet!
4. I live/am from there!

Yesterday’s Results:

Which belongs at the center of Thanksgiving dinner?

1. Turkey: 69%
2. Both: 23%
3. Ham: 4%
4. Neither: 4%

What is the name of the shrub planted throughout the Panhandle and Great Plains region during the Dust Bowl?

Show me the answer

If you’re a fan of our Trivia section, you’ll love our new book, The Flyover Book of Trivia 2027, an illustrated collection of 100 of our favorite questions and answers. (Buy It Now)