Paxton Probes Data Center Water Use

Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into hundreds of Texas data center developments that haven’t answered a required state water-use survey.

State law directs the Texas Water Development Board to survey major users of groundwater and surface water. The first targets sit in 18 counties, from Lubbock, Randall, and Ector to Smith, Harris, and El Paso.

The move follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s Sept. 21 order halting state permits for data centers until ERCOT finishes auditing the industry’s power and water use.

Paxton’s U.S. Senate opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, criticized the investigation, saying it came 40 days before Election Day. 

Texas Eyes Annexing New Mexico Counties

A Texas House committee will hold a September 30 hearing on potentially annexing New Mexico counties. House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, ordered the study ahead of the 2027 session.

Chairman Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, said nothing is decided yet, though he believes the counties have a “good case.” Lawmakers from southeastern New Mexico, home to oil-rich Lea County, have pushed secession proposals since 2021 over frustration with Santa Fe.

Any border change would require approval from both legislatures and Congress.

State Fair Opens with Lower Prices

The State Fair of Texas opened its 24-day run at Fair Park on Friday with cheaper tickets, parking, and rides after attendance slipped last year.

Adult tickets are $2 cheaper, and ride prices fell nearly 20%. Admission runs $15 on weekdays and $25 on weekends, kids 12 and under pay $10 daily, and official parking dropped to $25.

More than 200 food and drink items cost $10 or less. This year’s Big Tex Choice winners include Burger Chop Tater Tacos and a Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog.

The fair runs through October 18. Prairie View A&M and Grambling State meet today in the State Fair Classic at the Cotton Bowl, with kickoff at 6 p.m.

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➤ Statewide: Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico challenged Republican rival Attorney General Ken Paxton to a televised Fox News debate moderated by Bret Baier during a Thursday interview in Austin. (More)

➤ Denton County: A 13-year-old Sanger ISD student died on Thursday after a school bus veered off Huling Road, hit a culvert, and rolled over. The driver and three other students suffered minor injuries. (More)

➤ Longview: Gregg County election workers are processing about 8,000 voter records before the Oct. 5 registration deadline after DPS forwarded a backlog of incomplete applications, some at least a year old. (More)

➤ McKinney: Avelo Airlines added Atlanta, Denver, Nashville, and New Orleans to its planned nonstop routes from McKinney National Airport, where commercial flights are set to begin in December. (More)

➤ San Antonio: Coca-Cola’s local bottler completed a $42 million East Side plant expansion on Friday, adding 170,000 square feet of warehouse space and a second production line. (See Details)

➤ Conroe: Officials agreed to buy MidSouth Electric Co-op’s water and wastewater subsidiaries to address service problems west of Conroe and support development in the area. (More)

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➤ The Dallas Wings open their WNBA playoff run on Sunday against the Golden State Valkyries in a best-of-three series. (See Details)

➤ Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg’s debut-patch card fetched $8.04 million at auction, the highest price for a card featuring a single NBA player. (More)

➤ No. 11 Texas Tech (3-0) hosts Sam Houston at 11 a.m. today at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, riding a 10-game home winning streak. Another win would tie the fourth-longest home streak in school history. (Preview)

➤ Cole Hutson, a Texas offensive lineman, secured a court injunction against the NCAA, but coach Steve Sarkisian said his eligibility for today’s game at Tennessee remained unsettled. (More)

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

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➤ Chuck Norris spent years researching what he believed were hidden threats inside the body that contribute to “rapid aging.” He identified three “internal enemies” that may affect energy, digestion, muscles, and joints. Before his passing, Chuck recorded a short video explaining what he discovered and the approach he believed could help. Watch the video here >>

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➤ KFC will open its 3,400-square-foot Open House restaurant on Saturday in McKinney, serving breakfast and late-night fare, expanded sauces, boba refreshers, Krunch shakes, and new sides. (See KFC)

➤ San Antonio’s Muertos Fest returns to Hemisfair on Oct. 23-25 with more than 80 community altars, live music, and Día de los Muertos processions honoring loved ones. (More) 

➤ Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is scheduled to move from federal prison in Bryan to a halfway house in Del Valle in August 2027 while remaining in federal custody. (More) 

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➤ Most Americans think eating sweets for breakfast is unhealthy… But according to Stanford researchers, there’s one delicious “dessert” food that Costa Ricans in the famous “blue zone” there eat each morning that… So, what’s the #1 “dessert” food that helps Costa Ricans live healthy, lean, and energetic past 100?

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. 

➤ Some American workers could start collecting full Social Security years early, but critics warn of fallout. (Hear Details)

➤ Coastal flood alerts cover 33 million people as a rare multiday nor’easter threatens the East Coast through the weekend. (Listen Now)

➤ The robotic spacecraft launched to save a failing NASA telescope has itself plunged back to Earth. (Podcast Available)

Would lower prices make you more likely to attend the State Fair?

1. Definitely
2. Maybe
3. No
4. Already going
5. Went on opening day

Yesterday’s Results:

How far out of your way would you drive for gas that’s 40 cents a gallon cheaper?

1. Wouldn’t go: 50%
2. Up to 10 miles: 34%
3. 10 to 20 miles: 12%
4. 20 miles or more: 4%

Before he became the cowboy known as Big Tex, which famous figure did he portray?

Show me the answer