Sunday, May 11, 2025

Happy Mother’s Day! On this day in 1964, construction began on Toledo Bend Reservoir. The reservoir has a surface area of more than 180,000 acres and is the largest man-made body of water in the South.

How would you react if Tom Cruise popped into your theater while you were watching the new Mission: Impossible? It could happen. Read more in Et Cetera.

Feeling off lately? Try one week of free online therapy with today’s sponsor, BetterHelp.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Google Settles Privacy Case for $1.4B

Google agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle a privacy infringement lawsuit brought against the company by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022, with Paxton accusing the tech giant of unlawfully tracking users’ private data, including geolocation, incognito searches, and biometric information.

Google said the settlement does not require the company to admit wrongdoing or change any products or customer disclosures.

Last year, Meta agreed to pay $1.4 billion to Texas for collecting and using facial recognition data. You can read Paxton’s full statement about the Google settlement here.

Termite Swarms Set for Annual Return

Southeast Texans may witness termite swarms this weekend as part of the Formosan subterranean termites’ annual mating schedule.

Insect experts advise Texans to avoid turning on outdoor lighting, as they tend to swarm at night and are attracted to light.

The Formosan species is not native to the U.S. The insects were brought into Louisiana in crates after World War II.

Dozens of counties are expected to be impacted by the swarms, with coastal regions hit the hardest. Read more about the invasive species here.

E. Coli Found in Decatur Water

The city of Decatur issued a boil water notice on Friday after E. coli was detected in routine testing, indicating human or animal waste contamination. The order was lifted Saturday.

The city flushed water lines and will continue follow-up testing to ensure the bacteria are no longer present.

The city was unsure of the cause of the contamination, citing a pipe break, failure in the water treatment process, or excess runoff as possibilities.

Consuming contaminated water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, and other illnesses.

The Flyover is just like The Texas Flyover, except it covers news from all 50 states. Sign up with one click!

Flying together with our sponsor

Life can be overwhelming, but getting support shouldn’t be. This May for Mental Health Awareness Month, BetterHelp is offering one week of therapy completely free, so you can experience what real support feels like—no cost, no pressure.

You’ll be matched with a licensed therapist in as little as 24 hours, and connect on your schedule—by phone, video, or chat. With 35,000+ professionals, there’s someone for you. 94% of BetterHelp users report feeling better after starting therapy, and now you can try it yourself, risk-free.

Start Your Free Week

➤ El Paso: A semi crash on Transmountain that involved 12 vehicles killed a man and injured seven others on Friday. (See Photos)

➤ Lake Texoma: The lake level is expected to peak today after rising about 20 feet above normal due to recent torrential rain, causing several businesses in the area to close. (More)

➤ Central Texas: Jeffrey’s Steakhouse was named one of the top steakhouses in the world by London-based media company Upper House. (See List)

➤ Fort Worth: Rising Star Baptist Church hosted more than 30 vendors offering free wellness services, including prostate and breast cancer screens. (More)

➤ Austin: An experiential entertainment venue will open May 23 in Hutto, offering movie theaters, gaming areas, private event spaces, and food and beverage. (See Photos)

➤ San Marcos: The new Limestone Link section opened on the 100-mile hiking and biking trail connecting San Antonio to Austin. (See Photos)

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

➤ The Dallas Stars fell to the Winnipeg Jets 4-0 on Friday night, leaving the series tied 1-1. Game 3 is at 4:30 p.m. today. (See Matchup)

➤ No. 3 Texas softball was eliminated from the SEC tournament after falling 14-2 to Texas A&M. (More)

➤ South Texas welcomed professional soccer with a launch event celebrating FC Corpus Christi’s arrival into the United Soccer League. (See Photo)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Don’t miss Texas’s May 15 property tax protest deadline. Ownwell fights for your savings—risk-free. We handle everything, and you only pay if we win. Sign up in minutes, save for years. Click here to start.

Flying together with our sponsor

BetterHelp is making therapy more accessible than ever this May. For a limited time, get your first week free and talk to a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home.

94% of users say they feel better after starting therapy on BetterHelp, and 93% are matched with someone who fits their needs. You can chat, call, or message your therapist whenever it works for you.

Talk to a Therapist

➤ Tom Cruise plans to surprise moviegoers in San Antonio on May 22, attending early screenings of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. (More)

➤ Perfect attendance paid off for a Harlingen high school student who won a new car for the achievement. (See Car)

➤ Scary Larry Pickles specialty pickle shop opened in Corpus Christi. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Become the Hero of Your Family’s Legacy with D/2 Biological Solution. Do you have a departed loved one? D/2 Biological Solution eliminates mold, mildew, and lichens and can help you restore your loved one’s gravestone. Visit GraveStoneCleaner.com today.