Saturday, August 15, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1855, the first Feast of the Assumption celebration was held in Fayette County’s Czech community of Mulberry and Hottentot (later renamed Praha). This annual event still draws thousands of visitors.

Do you know what a monkey’s brain sea bean is? We sure didn’t. Check out today’s Et Cetera section to learn why hundreds are washing ashore in Texas.

Have you cracked your knuckles today? Most chronic knuckle crackers have been told that the habit would come back to haunt them in the form of arthritis. That old warning has echoed across dinner tables for generations, and it turns out science has been putting it to the test the entire time. One doctor was so determined to settle the argument that he cracked the knuckles on just one hand, every single day, for fifty years, then compared the results. What he found earned him a prize and might change how you feel about that satisfying little pop. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Amy cracks the case on one of America’s most nagging health questions. Tune in here!

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Texas Schools Get A-F Report Cards

The Texas Education Agency released A-F accountability grades Friday for public schools and districts statewide, with 24% of campuses earning an A and 14% receiving a D or F.

The ratings, based largely on STAAR results, carry high stakes: five consecutive F’s at a single campus can trigger a state takeover, which happened last year in Fort Worth, Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth.

Austin ISD is now exposed after Burnet and Webb middle schools drew a fifth straight F. Districts have until Sept. 11 to appeal before grades become final in December.

Federal Gun Limits Lifted in Texas

Nearly century-old federal limits on silencers and short-barreled rifles and shotguns were lifted Thursday in Texas and other states covered by a Lubbock judge’s ruling against the 1934 National Firearms Act.

The law required federal registration and a $200 tax stamp before buyers could take home the covered weapons. Congress zeroed out the tax last year, and the judge ruled the remaining requirements could not survive without it.

The Trump administration declined an emergency appeal, letting the order take effect, though it can still challenge the ruling within 60 days. Here are the guns the decision reaches.

New Sensor Spots Grid Trouble Early

A sensor developed at the University of Texas clips onto live power lines and catches hidden threats like tree limbs brushing wires before they spark outages or wildfires.

Researchers spent more than five years on the device, which powers itself from the line and pinpoints trouble spots instead of leaving crews to search miles of wire. In a month of field testing near Seguin last fall, it recorded 34 events. Conventional equipment caught three.

The 2024 Panhandle fires burned more than 1.2 million acres, and the main blaze began while a damaged power pole awaited repair. Researchers say the sensors could also track new grid strains like data centers.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texas lawmakers to limit classroom laptop and tablet use next year while emphasizing books, handwriting, and direct teacher instruction in K-12 schools. (More)

➤ Central Texas: Fort Hood identified Army pilots Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Seth L. Olmstead, 25, as the soldiers killed in Wednesday’s maintenance test flight crash near Salado. (See Details)

➤ Hood County: A jury acquitted local GOP Chair Eva Royer of election fraud after authorities accused her of using a Granbury address while living outside the city limits. (See Details)

➤ San Antonio: City officials will host 11 town halls Aug. 17-25 for residents to weigh in on the proposed fiscal 2027 budget before the City Council’s Sept. 17 vote. (More)

➤ Houston: Wheatley High School teacher Darius Williams tearfully said his seniors couldn’t complete a basic literacy exercise, prompting HISD Superintendent Mike Miles to acknowledge students still lag despite recent gains. (See Video)

➤ Pecos City: The city council unanimously fired City Manager Charles Lino weeks after former Councilman Conrado Saldana’s felony abuse-of-power indictment, though officials didn’t link the decisions. (More)

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➤ The Dallas Cowboys open their preseason slate against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks at 7 p.m. tonight on the NFL Network. (How to Watch)

➤ Meanwhile, two-time Oscar winner Dustin Hoffman stopped by Dallas Cowboys training camp this week and was seen chatting with players, coaches, and owner Jerry Jones. When asked how he thought the Cowboys would do this season, Hoffman said, “I don’t know anything about football.” (More)

➤ Texas A&M football unveiled desert camo “Honor and Support” uniforms for its Oct. 3 home game against Arkansas, which will also celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary. (More)

➤ The San Antonio Spurs will log more than 54,000 miles this season, the second-most travel in the NBA. Games in Paris and Manchester hand San Antonio the league’s longest single road trip. (See Details)

➤ Cooper Lutkenhaus, a 17-year-old middle-distance runner from North Texas, has already won gold in the 800 meters on the professional track and field circuit. (Read Story)

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➤ Texas faces its hottest weather of the year, with highs near or above 100 degrees through the weekend and an even hotter stretch expected next week. (More)

➤ SherRhonda Gibbs became the first female president in Texas College’s 132-year history, unveiling plans for a $50 million capital campaign and new academic programs. (More)

➤ Hundreds of brain-shaped monkey’s brain sea beans washed ashore along the Texas coast after riding ocean currents potentially thousands of miles from tropical Latin America. (See Beans)

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➤ Elevated blood pressure can be influenced by constricted blood vessels and excess fluid in the bloodstream, making the heart work harder. Surprisingly, one common everyday food may contribute to both issues—and it might not be the food you expect. Knowing what to watch for could make a difference.

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:

➤ One doctor cracked only the knuckles on his left hand for 50 years to settle the infamous medical argument. (Hear More)

➤ American shoppers cut back sharply in July, raising fresh doubts about the strength of the economy. (Listen Now)

➤ Police have recovered more than $10 million in masterworks stripped from an Italian museum in a three-minute heist. (Podcast Available)