Good morning! On this day in 1908, cartoonist Frederick Bean “Tex” Avery was born in Taylor. Working for Warner Bros. and MGM Studios, he helped create the Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Elmer Fudd.
If you get a text message warning you about an unpaid toll bill, it’s a scam. Check out this story and more in today’s edition, and let us know how you feel about paying for toll roads in today’s poll!
If you’re planning your travel, be sure to include today’s sponsor, Babbel, in your travel plans.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced a law enforcement operation at the 33,000-acre Colony Ridge housing development northeast of Houston on Monday, stating that Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers were assisting Homeland Security Investigations targeting “criminals & illegal immigrants.”
Home to an estimated 40,000 residents—many of whom are Hispanic immigrants—Colony Ridge is “known for its cartel activity and illegal alien population,” according to ICE. Lawsuits from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the U.S. Justice Department accuse the developers of fraudulent marketing, predatory lending, and selling homes lacking essential infrastructure.
Abbott stated that the operation had been planned for months in coordination with Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar. Yesterday, ICE announced the arrests of 118 people on charges of “criminal sexual conduct, homicide, theft, negligent manslaughter, child sexual abuse, crimes of moral turpitude, weapons offenses and drug offenses.”
Colony Ridge CEO John Harris said he was “grateful” for the operation, adding that state and federal law enforcement “know who the bad guys are, so we are fully supportive of these efforts.”
TxDOT Warns about Scams
TxDOT is warning Texans to be on the lookout for text message scams that purport to alert recipients about potential fines and even the suspension of their driver’s license if they don’t pay an overdue toll balance.
The FBI issued a public service announcement last year that the scam was spreading from state to state. The Harris County Toll Road Authority, which manages the EZ Tag program in the Houston metro area and the statewide TxTag pass, has received 2,000 calls about the scam over the last four months.
TxDOT said the TxTag program does not send overdue balance alerts by text message and advised those who receive such messages to report them to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The warning comes as lawmakers have filed over a dozen bills aimed at regulating the construction and operation of toll roads in Texas, including proposals to decriminalize toll road offenses, increase billing transparency, and require voter approval for the construction of new toll projects.
Two of the hospitals are in Houston, while two are in the Dallas area. Each hospital received a score based on outcomes and experience, professional recognition, and key programs, services, and staff.
With a score of 78.9, Houston Methodist Hospital was ranked No. 15, while the Texas Heart Institute at Houston’s Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center received a score of 73.0 for a No. 19 ranking.
Spring travel is calling—are you ready to ditch the touristy spots and explore like a local? Whether it’s ordering fresh croissants in Paris or finding the best pasta in Rome, Babbel helps you speak the language and experience more.
With bite-sized lessons (just 10 minutes a day!) created by real language experts, you’ll be chatting with confidence in just three weeks. Right now with Babbel’s Spring Sale save 60% and get ready for your best trip yet. Don’t just visit—connect.
➤ Azle: A small plane crashed and caught fire in a field Monday afternoon. Two occupants suffered minor injuries. (See Photos)
➤ Forest Hill: The Texas Rangers are investigating a Saturday shooting that killed a mother in her backyard when she was struck by a stray bullet. (More)
➤ Amarillo: A grand opening ceremony was held Tuesday for the new city hall, which was built for $35 million by refurbishing an old hardware store. (More)
➤ Corpus Christi: Seth “Andrea” Gregori, 21, was arrested Monday on charges of making terroristic threats against the city’s police department. The FBI stated that this arrest “thwarted another mass casualty attack” similar to the 2016 ambush on five Dallas police officers. (More)
➤ Houston ISD: At least two criminal complaints have been filed against the district over allegations it paid nearly $1.4 million to a consulting firm to promote the $4 billion bond proposal that voters rejected in November. (See Details)
➤ Amarillo: Chief of Police Martin Birkenfeld retired Friday after asking a federal judge for leniency when determining the sentence for former Perryton football coach Cole Underwood, who admitted to a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Birkenfield had been with the department since 1990. (More)
➤ Fulshear: Cory and Kinsey Cook recently met the police officers who escorted them to the hospital several weeks ago when Kinsey went into labor with their son Jack. “They were true guardian angels to us,” said Kinsey. (Watch Video)
Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.
➤ Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones indicated the team would look to draft a quarterback this year. (More)
➤ The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in 21 years. TCU’s No. 10 ranking was unchanged from last week, while Baylor rose two spots to No. 17. (More)
➤ Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel was put in the concussion protocol yesterday, adding to the team’s growing list of players dealing with injuries. Miro Hieskenan and Nils Lundkvist are sidelined for the rest of the season. (More)
➤ Introducing FIXD: the smart at-home car diagnostic scanner that translates your car’s check engine light into simple terms on your smartphone. By identifying issues early, FIXD helps prevent costly repairs and unnecessary mechanic visits, saving you time and money. Compatible with most gas-powered vehicles from 1996 onward.
➤ The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved the construction of a deepwater port off the coast of Brazoria County. Once completed, it will have the capacity to supply ships with 85,000 barrels of oil per hour via a pipeline connected to an onshore facility. (More)
➤ Catalyst Brands, the Plano-based parent company of JCPenney, is cutting 5% of its corporate workforce, or about 250 jobs. JCPenney merged with Sparc Group—whose brands include Eddie Bauer, Brooks Brothers, and Nautica—last month to form the new company. (More)
➤ Work began on a $100 million logistics center in Laredo earlier this month. Developed by Stotan Industrial, the 932,600-square-foot Port Laredo Trade Center is scheduled for completion next April. (More)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Secure your financial future with Hamilton Gold Group’sexpert guidance in gold and silver IRA rollovers and direct investments. Benefit from our team’s 150 years of combined experience, competitive pricing, and an unconditional buyback guarantee. Join satisfied clients who trust us for wealth preservation and growth. (See It Here)
➤ The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin released its annual spring wildflower forecast yesterday. East Texas is likely to see a strong spring bloom, while drought conditions in other regions could limit the number of germinating wildflowers. (More)
➤ A San Antonio driver recently snapped a picture on a local highway of a truck towing a trailer with dozens of haphazardly stacked chairs. Social media users compared the image to post-apocalyptic scenes from the movie Mad Max: Fury Road. (See Photos)
➤ The National Park Service announced the discovery of a new plant species “previously unknown to science” at Big Bend National Park on Monday. Nicknamed “wooly devil,” the Ovicula biradiata is a member of the daisy family with fuzzy leaves and two ray petals in each of its flowers. (See Photo)
Flying together with our sponsor
➤ Introducing Duo Cover: the ultimate microwave companion that saves you money by preserving leftovers and preventing food waste. Its innovative MoistureLock™ steam knob ensures moist, delicious meals, while the collapsible, magnetic design keeps your microwave clean and eliminates the need for disposable covers. Invest in Duo Cover for a cleaner kitchen and a fuller wallet.
118 Arrested During Colony Ridge Operation
