Van Zandt County Pauses Green Energy Projects

Van Zandt County commissioners passed a moratorium this week, temporarily pausing all green energy projects in the county amid an investigation by the state Attorney General’s office.

The moratorium pauses construction over a dozen projects, including those involved in the Amador Energy Storage project, a roughly 100-megawatt battery facility managed by Taaleri Energia using Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. battery cells. These are on the Prohibited Technology List for Texas for alleged connections to China.

The lithium battery and solar plants have also reported dozens of fires over a year’s time, according to residents, raising concerns about their overall safety in the area. The commissioners paused the work to allow state officials to conclude an investigation.

Paxton Backs Doctor on Ivermectin Rx

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has intervened in support of Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, a Houston-based doctor who sued the Texas Medical Board after she was reprimanded for prescribing ivermectin to a patient with COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Paxton declined to defend the state medical board in the case, instead stating that the board’s public reprimand was unlawful and motivated by politics.

In 2021, Bowden attempted to treat a critically ill Tarrant County sheriff’s deputy with the drug ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication believed by some doctors to effectively treat COVID-19.

Texas Ranked No. 1 in Valentine’s Day Texts 

Texas is the most in-love state in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day, according to data from AT&T showing four Lone Star cities in the top 10 nationally for the number of text messages exchanged on February 14.

Referring to texting as “the new love language,” the study suggests that the higher the text message volume, the more romance is in the air.

Sitting at No. 1 on the list two years in a row, Houston was 1.5 million text messages ahead of runner-up San Antonio in 2024 and 2025.

Dallas and Austin fill in Texas’ top 10 representation at No. 4 and No. 8, respectively. No other state accounted for multiple cities on the list. You can see the full top 10 here.

Flying together with our sponsor

47% of parents need more life insurance

Ready to bridge the gap? Welcoming a new child is an exciting milestone—but it also comes with new responsibilities. Nearly 47% of parents say they don’t have enough life insurance to fully protect their loved ones.

Coverage is more affordable than you think. Modern term life insurance is designed to fit real budgets, with some policies starting at just $7 per month.

Fast, simple approval. Many top providers offer online applications with approval possible in under 15 minutes—no long paperwork or weeks of waiting.

Compare trusted options. Explore Money’s top-rated life insurance providers and see how easy it can be to secure coverage that gives your growing family.

➤ Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, chairman of President Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission, removed Catholic activist Carrie Prejean Boller from the commission this week after a contentious hearing on antisemitism. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Large swaths of Texas, stretching from Dallas to the Gulf Coast, are expecting severe storms and rainy weather during the Valentine’s Day weekend. (More)

➤ Statewide: Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton has sued Cord Blood Registry (CBR)  for “reprehensible” marketing tactics, alleging that the company exploits the emotional anxieties of new parents for umbilical cord blood banking. (More)

➤ Austin: The Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Texas A&M student Brianna Aguilera died by suicide when she fell from a high-rise in Austin following November’s Texas-Texas A&M football game, re-affirming the police department’s conclusions. (More)

➤ Houston: Famed forensic artist Lois Gibson has released an unofficial sketch of the masked suspect in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case. Gibson is retired from the Houston Police Department. (See Sketch)

➤ Austin: The Department of Public Safety has installed license plate readers in Austin, despite broad community opposition and the city’s canceling its contract with the readers’ vendor. (See Details)

Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Texas Rangers top prospect Sebastian Walcott—the No. 7 prospect in all of baseball—will miss most of this upcoming season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. (More)

➤ President Trump officially pardoned former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Nate Newton this week, who was convicted on drug trafficking charges in 2002. (More)

➤ A 16-year-old football player at Stevens High School collapsed during an offseason workout this week and died at the hospital early the next morning. (More)

➤ No. 16 Texas Tech men’s basketball plays No. 1 Arizona today in Tucson, their biggest game of the season so far. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: Olympics | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf 

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Unlock top AI stock picks for 2026 with expert guidance from The Oxford Club—get their best AI growth ideas, curated by seasoned strategists to help you target tomorrow’s market winners. Discover the top three AI stocks free and position your portfolio for potential long-term gains with smart, research-driven insights.  (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Protect your loved ones starting at $7/month

Nearly 47% of parents say they don’t have enough life insurance to fully protect their loved ones. The good news? Modern term life insurance is more affordable and accessible than many expect, with some policies starting at just $7 per month and online applications that can be approved in under 15 minutes. Explore Money’s top-rated life insurance providers to see how easy it can be to secure coverage that brings real peace of mind for your growing family. 

FIND AFFORDABLE PROTECTION

➤ The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, which has renovated historic courthouses in the state for over 25 years, has five full restorations set to reopen in 2026. (See Photos)

➤ A new study ranked Texas second in the U.S. for “bad luck odds” on Friday the 13th—which was yesterday—based on superstition-driven search activity on the internet. (More)

➤ Recent Lindale High School graduate Emma Dilley saved a man’s life in Dallas, performing CPR after finding him collapsed in a crosswalk. (See Video) 

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Savings That Never Show Up. Many homeowners go solar expecting lower bills—only to face a costly double payment: a solar loan plus their regular electric bill. What promised savings often becomes financial strain. Stonegate has helped families nationwide exit solar contracts that no longer deliver. Find out today if your contract qualifies for cancellation.

What’s your favorite section of The Texas Flyover?

1. History
2. Trivia
3. Poll
4. The Roundup
5. Around Texas
6. Sports
7. Business
8. Et Cetera

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you ride in a remote-controlled taxi?

1. No way: 57%
2. Maybe: 29%
3. Absolutely: 14%

What is the official state dog breed of Texas?

Show me the answer