Saturday, September 19, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1942, Del Valle Army Air Base was activated. It was renamed Bergstrom Field the following year for the first Austinite killed in World War II, and in 1999, it became Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Big Tex is standing tall once again, signaling that State Fair season is almost here. Get the details in today’s Roundups.

The Pentagon just released more UFO files, and this batch digs into a secret military program most people have never heard of. Why was the government commissioning studies on wormholes? What happened to the three engineers who got sick after an encounter nobody can explain? And after six releases in five months, are we any closer to knowing what’s actually going on? Amy walks through the full timeline of the release program and breaks down what’s real, what we know, and what’s still a mystery on The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, AutoCamp, has turned more than one million guests into happy campers—and now hundreds of those guests have become investors as the outdoor hospitality brand sets its sights on expanding from eight locations to more than 100.

Feds Restore $12B to Texas Hospitals

The federal government will restore nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding to Texas hospitals, Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Thursday, ending a year-long dispute with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

CMS halted the payments on Sept. 1, the first stoppage since the program began in 2014, over how Texas raises more than $4.2 billion in taxes to access the funds. Hospitals stood to lose $27 million a day.

Advocates warned rural hospitals would be particularly hard hit if the freeze continued. The funds help close the gap between Medicaid reimbursements and the actual cost of treating low-income patients. It’s unclear when payments will resume.

Police Warn AI Is Supercharging Scams

Garland police are warning that scammers armed with AI-generated voices, images, and emails are impersonating trusted companies and pressuring victims to act fast. Even the department isn’t immune: one officer says fake iCloud and Coinbase pitches have landed in his own inbox.

The good news: the defense is low-tech. A cloned voice needs only a short audio clip pulled from online posts, so hang up and call back on a number you know. “The best thing is to not only verify but slow down,” Officer Matthew Pesta said. Urgency, secrecy, and demands for specific payment methods are the tells.

Americans reported nearly $21 billion in losses to internet crime last year, a 26% jump, and the FBI says crypto-linked complaints drove more than half of it, with AI-linked losses topping $893 million.

Big Tex Rises Again for 140th State Fair

A crane hoisted Big Tex back into place at Fair Park on Friday, one week before the State Fair of Texas opens its 140th year.

The 55-foot cowboy got a new wardrobe: custom Levi’s 501 jeans cut from 85 yards of denim—about 132 pounds’ worth—boots featuring bluebonnets and a longhorn, and a fresh Cavender’s pearl snap.

The fair runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 18 in Dallas, with more than 100 free attractions and 70 Midway rides on the grounds. Officials said the clear bag rule and Fair Park firearms ban are expected to remain in place.

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Inc: In Less Than 30 Days, This Brand Raised $1.2M From Its Own Guests

That’s Inc’s headline from July when outdoor hospitality market leader AutoCamp opened its doors to retail investors for the first time. The moral? Those who know the brand best sprung to action.

Less than 30 days. That’s how long it took for more than 350 AutoCamp customers to move from visitors to shareholders, investing $1.2M+ into the company’s future. A closer look at the company’s success is all you need to see why.

By merging iconic outdoor destinations like Yosemite, Zion, Cape Cod and Joshua Tree with boutique-hotel comfort, AutoCamp has transformed $732B in hospitality markets.

Now, after surpassing their initial $1.2M target, AutoCamp has extended the opportunity for those who missed out. And with 1M+ happy campers so far, there’s a big pool of potential investors.

AutoCamp already operates in eight locations nationwide today. Claim your early-stage stake in AutoCamp as they work to expand to 100+.

➤ Statewide: Dillard’s will transfer its primary stock listings from the New York Stock Exchange to the newly formed Texas Stock Exchange on Oct. 5, deepening ties to its largest market after reincorporating in Texas last year.

➤ Austin: District officials are making a final bid to avoid campus closures or a district takeover by appealing the fifth consecutive failing ratings for Burnet and Webb middle schools, which narrowly missed D grades. (See Details)

➤ Meridian: Officials have lifted all evacuation orders for Meridian as firefighters reached 35% containment on the 1,100-acre Hydra Fire, though elevated fire danger could return today. (See Details)

➤ Lubbock: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center received a record $24.5 million, five-year NIH grant to expand research, mentorship, and community partnerships serving medically underserved residents across its 121-county region. (See Details)

➤ Rio Grande City: Rio Grande City High School was locked down on Friday after a student allegedly told a teacher he had a gun. Police found no weapon, detained him, and said he attributed the claim to a dream. (More)

➤ Killeen: Killeen named four finalists to replace Interim City Manager Kent Cagle and invited residents to meet the candidates on Tuesday. (See Details)

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➤ Texas co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen was arrested on a misdemeanor drunk driving charge this week after a three-vehicle crash in Austin. The Longhorns have not said whether he will coach tonight against UTSA. (More)

➤ Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway is doubtful for today’s game against Louisiana Tech, his second straight absence since he hurt his ankle in the season opener. Backup Nate Bennett will start again. (More)

➤ TCU football landed a commitment from Fort Worth offensive lineman Gabriel Brooks this week after he backed out of a pledge to Stephen F. Austin. Brooks, who plays at North Crowley High School, described the decision as “staying home.” (More)

➤ Today’s Texas college football slate is headlined by No. 16 SMU traveling to play No. 23 Louisville in a ranked ACC matchup. No. 9 Texas A&M also hosts Kentucky—thier first SEC game of the season. (See Full Schedule)

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

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Hotels Ditch Blackout Curtains for Beautiful Canyons

Guests are trading early-morning housekeeping wakeups for breathtaking views. And industry giants clearly think it’s no fad.

Marriott just launched the “Outdoor Collection,” opening properties in destinations like Jackson Hole. Hyatt partnered with a brand specializing in off-grid, safari-style tents.

Meanwhile, Hilton Hotels formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with outdoor-lodging leader AutoCamp. That makes AutoCamp the only outdoor lodging bookable for 200M+ Honors members at Hilton.com. And their boutique approach doesn’t compromise comfort for beauty.

They’ve been building toward this moment since 2013. 1M+ happy campers across 9 locations. An exclusive Airstream partnership no competitor can replicate. Now, AutoCamp’s inviting everyday people like you to invest for the first time.

The giants are validating the category. Claim your piece as an AutoCamp investor as they work to expand to 100+ locations.

This is a paid advertisement for AutoCamp Regulation Crowdfunding offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.autocamp.com. Forward looking statements were included here that the Company believes to be accurate given the current information. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors which if changed may affect the outcome(s). Past performance is not indicative of future results.

➤ The Plano Balloon Festival fills Oak Point Park through Sunday with balloon launches and glows, skydivers, live music, food, and family activities, while nightly laser shows replace fireworks because of fire risk.

➤ Authorities used DNA testing and identified a Galveston woman as the “Happy Face Killer’s” last unnamed victim nearly 34 years after her death, giving her sisters long-awaited answers. (Read Story)

➤ Levelland’s Wallace Theater is celebrating one year since reopening with free popcorn, a mayoral proclamation, and weekend screenings of E.T. and True Grit after serving more than 10,000 people since its revival. (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.

➤ Newly released Pentagon UFO files reveal a secret military program studying warp drives and unexplained injuries. (Listen Now)

➤ The lone holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial is disputing fellow jurors’ accounts of what happened behind closed doors. (Hear Details)

➤ Top tech executives are reportedly joining Trump’s state dinner for China’s leader, and AI is on the table. (Podcast Available)