Second Poll Shows Tight Senate Race

A new Fox News poll of Texas registered voters shows Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton 51% to 48% in the U.S. Senate race.

The 3-point gap sits inside the margin of error. It’s the second poll in a week to show Talarico ahead, after Texas Public Opinion Research put him up 45% to 40% Tuesday.

Talarico draws 68% of independents and 98% of Democrats, while 89% of Republicans back Paxton. About one in four non-MAGA Republicans said they’d vote for Talarico.

Nearly 4 in 10 voters named inflation as the top issue in their Senate vote, and 2 in 10 named immigration. Texas hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.

Weekend Front Nudges the Heat Down

A weak summer cold front will slide into North, Northeast, and East Texas this weekend, dropping highs from the upper 90s into the lower 90s by Sunday.

The heat dome that has run the state all week is shifting west toward Arizona, Nevada, and California, opening the door for northerly winds on its eastern edge.

East Texas counties sat under heat advisories through Friday evening with heat indices near 105 degrees. Behind the front, morning lows should fall into the lower 70s, with a few upper 60s early next week.

Houston gets less of a break. Forecasters there expect highs near 100 today and upper 90s next week, with overnight lows close to 80.

Texas’ Top Private Company Isn’t H-E-B

Austin telecom company Purple Communications ranked as Texas’ highest entry on Time‘s first list of America’s 500 best private companies, landing at No. 56.

Purple provides video relay, interpreting, and real-time translation for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. Its score of 88.72 put it 19 spots ahead of H-E-B, the San Antonio grocer that usually tops Texas rankings.

Time built the ranking with Statista, scoring companies on employee satisfaction surveys, plus net benefit on society, knowledge, health, and the environment.

Half Price Books came in at No. 127, The Container Store at No. 160, Buc-ee’s at No. 198, Blue Bell Creameries at No. 285, and Whataburger at No. 418. California apparel maker Patagonia took the top spot overall at 96.84.

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➤ McGregor: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman toured SpaceX’s rocket engine testing site with U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions this week, calling the McGregor facility central to America’s return to the moon. (See Details)

➤ Robertson County: Crews broke ground on a $1.7 billion solar project that will produce 1.2 gigawatts when finished, the largest solar installation ever built on an existing coal mining site in North America. (More)

➤ Amarillo: Gina Hinojosa, Democrat nominee for governor, walked the site of Project Matador, billed as the world’s largest data center. Hinojosa said she’d back legislation prioritizing residents over data centers for water, and would declare an emergency if needed. (More)

➤ Denton: City Council member Jordan Villarreal, Denton’s youngest ever council member, announced Thursday he will step down, citing what he described as ongoing personal health issues. Villarreal was elected in May. (See Details)

➤ Laredo: The City Council moved to freeze data center applications while it drafts rules. The city has nothing on the books regulating the facilities, and leaders want something in place before developers file proposals. (More)

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➤ CBS Sports placed former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on leave following his arrest last week on suspicion of driving under the influence in Milwaukee. J.J. Watt will step in as CBS’ lead NFL game analyst alongside Jim Nantz. (More)

➤ San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama signed a long-term extension with Nike on Friday that includes his own signature shoe, the Nike Wemby 1. (More)

➤ Texas Rangers reliever Jakob Junis landed back on the injured list with a left adductor strain, his second IL stint this month after missing time earlier with a hip issue. (More)

➤ A nonprofit called Houston Hockey Community announced plans to build the city’s first dual-surface ice and roller hockey rink in North Houston. The facility would include a full NHL-size ice sheet and a roller court to expand affordable access to hockey in the city. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Golf | WNBA | Soccer

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One of the trivia questions this week asked, What’s the highest point in Texas? A reader named Mike sent his answer as a set of photos featuring his wife, Monika, from their epic hike to the summit of Guadalupe Peak (8,751 feet), about 100 miles east of El Paso. What a view!

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➤ Tanya Tucker traveled from a Nashville movie set to testify against a 765-kilovolt transmission line that would cross her Burnet County ranch, then sang for the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. The Seminole native asked lawmakers to “take a longer look at the other options.” (Watch)

➤ Kurth Memorial Library in Lufkin is aiming its summer reading program at a statewide problem: 70% of Texas fourth graders read below proficiency, according to 2024 Annie E. Casey Foundation data. Program Director Maren Metzner said this year’s program adds a group challenge. (Read Story) 

➤ A Sugar Land teenager with a lifelong fascination with sea creatures is recovering after a barracuda bit her. She has since given the fish a name. (Read Story)

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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, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Your $139 Amazon Prime membership includes hidden benefits most members are unknowingly paying for and never using. (Hear More)

➤ Mortgage rates have climbed to their highest level in a year as war fears and Fed doubts fuel inflation concerns. (Listen Now)

➤ Shark sightings are surging off New York City beaches, forcing police to send drones into the sky over swimmers. (Podcast Available)

Which Texas brand are you most loyal to?

1. H-E-B
2. Buc-ee’s
3. Whataburger
4. Blue Bell
5. Dr Pepper
6. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Did you ever make mums?

1. No: 57%
2. What’s a mum?: 22%
3. Yes: 21%

Which venue is known as the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas?

Show me the answer