Texas Brothers Hold Family Hostage, Steal $8M

Two Texas brothers, Raymond and Isiah Garcia, face state and federal charges for holding a Minnesota family hostage and stealing $8 million in cryptocurrency from them. 

According to the criminal complaints, the two ambushed the Grant, Minn., husband at gunpoint while he was taking out the trash, and then held him, his wife, and his adult son hostage for about nine hours while forcing the cryptocurrency transfers.

Isiah Garcia also forced the husband on a drive to a family cabin where more cryptocurrency was held in a hard-drive wallet. The suspects were alerted to the additional wallet from a third party who helped facilitate the transfers.

No reported arrests have been made yet of the third-party suspect.

Six Flags Coaster To Be World’s Tallest

Six Flags Over Texas has unveiled plans for its newest roller coaster, designed to break six world records, including the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster.

The ride, dubbed “Tormenta Rampaging Run,” is themed after the Running of the Bulls in Spain, and its debut in 2026 coincides with the park’s 65th anniversary.

After lifting riders 309 feet into the air, Tormenta will execute a “beyond vertical drop” and reach speeds of 87 mph—all world-record-breaking experiences on the first “giga dive coaster” ever built.

The new roller coaster will anchor an immersive area that includes a Spanish village and a new restaurant.

El Paso Music Venue to Break Ground

El Paso’s $80 million Sunset Amphitheater has a start date of Nov. 19 set for construction, according to Venu, the company developing the long-anticipated live music venue.

Commenting on the groundbreaking, Venu CEO J.W. Roth called the amphitheater “a beacon for live music in West Texas.” The open-air venue will seat 12,500 and host about 40 concerts a year.

Venu is eyeing the end of 2026 for completion of the $80 million project, to which the city of El Paso is contributing $31 million.

Developers are projecting $2 billion in revenue within a decade, “fueling jobs, tourism, small business growth, and expanded entertainment opportunities for the community,” according to a spokesperson.

➤ Sabine County: Authorities recovered the body of a college student from Kentucky in a Texas lake Friday morning. Peyton Hughes was reported missing on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Dallas: Southwest Airlines has settled a class action lawsuit against it, agreeing to pay $18.5 million to employees who were not compensated while on short-term military leave. (See Details)

➤ Huntsville: Death row inmate Robert Roberson’s attorney announced he would not seek clemency for his scheduled execution on Oct. 16, instead petitioning for a new trial. This is the third time Roberson has been scheduled for execution. (More)

➤ Statewide: Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ new memoir, 107 Days, details her plans for a secret “Stars Project” to mentor young Democrats, which included Texas politicians Lina Hidalgo and Jasmine Crockett. (More)

➤ Statewide: Multiple companies announced layoffs that will affect 754 Texas residents by the end of November. The biggest hit is in the Rio Grande Valley, but North Texas is impacted as well. (More)

➤ Tarrant County: Raunaq Alam, acquitted this month of a hate crime for anti-Israel graffiti he painted on a church wall, has been arrested again and is now facing perjury charges. (See Details)

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➤ Texas A&M, ranked No. 9, hosts Auburn this afternoon in a series where the teams have traded victories each of the past four years. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN, and the Aggies are 6.5-point favorites. (See Preview)

➤ Following last week’s Iron Skillet win over SMU, No. 24 TCU traveled to Arizona State for a Friday night Big 12 matchup. (See Score)

➤ Houston visited Oregon State, looking to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2016. (See Score)

➤ Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn suffered a collapsed lung during the team’s preseason game this week. He’s undergoing surgery soon and will be re-evaluated for hockey activities in four weeks. (More)

➤ Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña is day-to-day with an injury, and his availability for this weekend’s crucial games is uncertain. The Astros are currently fighting for a spot in the American League’s Wild Card race. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | NHL | Soccer | Ryder Cup | WNBA

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➤ One Battle After Another, the Paul Thomas Anderson film shot in El Paso, hit theaters yesterday. Location manager for the film, Jacob Cena, commented, “This movie is going to showcase El Paso in a positive manner.” (More)

➤ A Texas family is embarking on the development of a master-planned community on 2,000 acres of land they have owned through three generations. (See Details)

➤ The city of Kyle has approved an $800,000-plus plan to move a 400-year-old oak tree known as “Jolene” to widen the road next to it. (See Tree)

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Have you ever used a ride share service like Uber or Lyft?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you plan to visit the state fair this year?

1. No: 56%
2. Maybe: 23%
3. Yes: 21%

What Texas town is home to an arrangement of decommissioned shipping containers resembling a reclining person?

Show me the answer