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Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1951, WCBS debuted the "John Henry Faulk Show," which featured music, political humor, and listener participation facilitated by the native Austinite. Faulk's program was canceled in 1957 after he was branded a communist, but he sued for libel and won a record $3.5 million judgment that was eventually downgraded on appeal. (More)

A Hill County deputy was in for a surprise when he pulled over an 18-wheeler reported for cargo theft last week. Check out the story in Around Texas to learn what he found!

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We're sponsored today by the non-profit World Concern, offering an opportunity to help needy Christian children in Somalia.

Teens Arrested After Escaping Detention Center

Three teenagers escaped from a Granbury juvenile detention center and led authorities on a multi-county chase Sunday evening, prompting a nearby school district to cancel classes Monday as a safety precaution.

The boys, aged 15 and 16, injured two guards before stealing a vehicle and firearms and robbing a gas station in Dublin. After stealing another vehicle, they led police on a chase to Lancaster and Hutchins, where they fled on foot and were eventually apprehended.

Morgan Mill ISD, located about 20 miles west of Granbury, canceled classes Monday after consulting with the Erath County Sheriff's Office.

News outlets published the juveniles' names and photos while they were on the run but withheld that information after they were captured.

Student Death Prompts Calls For Action

A town hall meeting was held Saturday morning in East Houston to address concerns about a railroad crossing where 15-year-old Milby High School student Sergio Rodriguez was struck and killed by a train while walking to school last Monday.

Sergio's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Union Pacific Railroad and the train operator on Tuesday. Witnesses reported that the student tripped while trying to cross the tracks in an undesignated area. Union Pacific claimed he "made a tragic decision to try and outrun a moving train."

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Houston Mayor John Whitmire have supported calls for Union Pacific to pay for a pedestrian bridge over the high-traffic crossing.

At the meeting, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) urged action to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. "We have to continue to work together to make sure this doesn't happen again and no child is injured or harmed in any way crossing the tracks," she said.

Texas Family Moves to Help With Helene Relief

After witnessing the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Gholson native Caleb Fisher moved his family to North Carolina to assist with disaster recovery efforts.

"We were only here, I think it was five days, and I just had that same crazy burning urge to come back and help as much as we could. The good Lord's blessed us with the opportunity to be able to," he shared.

Fisher made the journey to North Carolina with his wife and their four kids in their camper earlier this month. They are volunteering with Red Truck Men, a local nonprofit organization.

Months after the storm ravaged the area, Fisher said there is still a lot of work to do. "Major bridges washed out, major roads are washed out, houses are still stuffed up in trees. There are still vehicles strewn everywhere," he said.

Somalia is facing a devastating combination of natural disasters, global conflicts, widespread poverty, and disease outbreaks. East Africa has just endured its worst drought in 40 years, leaving tens of millions without access to clean water, wiping out millions of livestock, and destroying crops. With domestic food production crippled, Somalia has relied heavily on imports—90% of its wheat coming from Russia and Ukraine—until those shipments stopped.

Now, two in five children in Somalia suffer from acute malnutrition, and cholera is spreading in some regions. The food crisis, compounded by global humanitarian aid being redirected to Europe and the Middle East, has created a perfect storm, leading to a sharp rise in child malnutrition.

Be Doers

We're asking the Flyover Community to join us in partnering with World Concern to help get emergency nutrition packs (a peanut paste fortified with nutrients), water, and hygiene products to those with the most need.

Every $12 feeds a child for a month. We're matching the first $750; just give through this link.

➤ Uvalde: City council member Hector Luevano defeated acting mayor Everardo "Lalo" Zamora in Saturday's mayoral runoff election, earning 665 votes to Zamora's 636. This marks the third mayoral election in the past year due to a series of resignations. (More)

➤ Austin: The University of Texas System Board of Regents has approved $106 million to construct a series of caps over I-35, connecting the university's campus with the other side of the interstate. (Watch Video)

➤ Hill County: Law enforcement recovered 34,000 stolen avocados during a traffic stop Thursday after being alerted to a potential cargo theft by the Laredo Police Department. (More)

➤ Bryan: A Texas Historical Marker was unveiled at the First Mexican Baptist Church of Bryan on Saturday, recognizing the church's significance as the region's only Spanish-speaking congregation when it was founded 102 years ago. (Watch Video)

➤ Houston: Two teens were killed, and four were injured, in a shooting at a makeshift club in an empty business Saturday night. "Makeshift, unsanctioned pop-up parties can quickly lead to chaos and violence," said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. (See Details)

➤ Dallas: UT Southwestern medical student and Rice graduate Travis Dowd won this year's BMW Dallas Marathon on Sunday with a time of 2:26:08. It was his first race at the distance. (More)

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➤ The Houston Texans have officially clinched their second consecutive AFC South title. CJ Stroud and DeMeco Ryans are the first quarterback and head coach duo to win back-to-back division titles in their first two seasons. (More)

➤ Luka Doncic scored 45 points with 13 assists and 11 rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 143-133 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, making some NBA history in the process. (More)

➤ Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied the possibility of trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons amid contract negotiations. (More)

➤ UT and Texas A&M were both knocked out of the NCAA postseason volleyball tournament over the weekend after advancing to the third round of play. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why not get your stocking stuffers from The Flyover this year? Check out CozyCharge, the rechargeable hand warmer
that provides eight hours of warmth whenever you need it. (See It Here)

➤ The newest Buc-ee's travel center opened for business in Amarillo yesterday, boasting 108 fuel pumps, 24 EV charging stations, and a 74,000-square-foot convenience store. The I-40 location is the first in the Panhandle. (See Photos)

➤ San Antonio-based USAA has settled a class-action lawsuit stemming from a 2021 data breach that affected up to 22,000 people nationwide. Although terms of the agreement were not disclosed, court documents reveal a proposed $3.25 million settlement. (More)

➤ State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Keller) has filed legislation to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve within the state treasury. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to establish a national strategic Bitcoin reserve. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Somalia faces a crisis from natural disasters, conflict, poverty, and disease. The worst drought in 40 years devastated crops and livestock, while food imports from Russia and Ukraine halted. Two in five Somali children now suffer from acute malnutrition. Join us in partnering with World Concern to get emergency nutrition packs & clean water to children. $12 feeds a child for a month.

➤ Austin's Thai Kun was featured in a Southern Living list of 11 restaurants with the best fried chicken. O-Ku Sushi culinary director Masatomo "Masa" Hamaya said their fried chicken skins are a "must-start to your dinner." (More)

➤ Central Texas native Chayden Gillaspy attained the rank of Eagle Scout on Sunday, becoming the third generation in his family to do so. U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Waco) attended the Court of Honor ceremony and presented Chayden with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. (Watch Video)

➤ Wildlife photographer Andre Mirakyan captured some spectacular photos of a mother bobcat and her kitten at Estero Llano Grande State Park in Weslaco over the Thanksgiving weekend, describing the experience as "a lifer for me in a big way!" (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

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