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Friday, March 28, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, 1,200 Texas Confederate soldiers who were serving in Brig. Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibley's Army of New Mexico clashed with 1,340 Union soldiers in the westernmost conflict of the Civil War: the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico.

Carole Keeton, a former gubernatorial candidate, Texas Comptroller, and mayor of Austin, passed away Wednesday at the age of 85. See our story below to read about this "one tough grandma."

We're sponsored today by Sam's Club, offering a special deal on new memberships for The Flyover readers.

Judge: Prisons Without A/C 'Unconstitutional'

In a Wednesday ruling, a federal judge said housing inmates in Texas prisons without air conditioning during periods of extreme heat is "plainly unconstitutional." The ruling stopped short of ordering the state to remedy the situation in the two-thirds of prisons that aren't fully climate-controlled.

The class-action lawsuit was filed in 2023 by Bernie Tiede, a convicted murderer sentenced to life and the subject of the 2011 film Bernie. U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman said that "excessive heat is likely serving as a form of unconstitutional punishment."

The case will now proceed to trial, where Pittman noted that prisoners and advocates are likely to prevail. Officials estimate it would cost $1.1 billion to install air conditioning in all of the 100 or so state prisons and another $20 million annually to operate the systems.

State law requires county jails to be kept at a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Several bills have been filed this legislative session to require state prisons to be equipped with air conditioning.

'One Tough Grandma' Remembered

Carole Keeton, the first woman to serve as Texas Comptroller and the mayor of Austin, died Wednesday at the age of 85.

Keeton was born in Austin and studied government at the University of Texas. She served on the board of trustees for Austin ISD before being elected mayor of her hometown in 1977, serving three terms.

Keeton was also elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, where she served from 1994 to 1999. In 2006, she ran as an independent candidate for governor, referring to herself as "one tough grandma" and garnering 18% of the vote to finish third.

In an obituary, Keeton's family praised her as "a trailblazer for women, embodying the best of public service and inspiring younger generations to serve." Yesterday, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered flags to fly at half-staff in her honor until sunset today.

Waldorf Astoria Coming to Fredericksburg

The state's first-ever Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Resort is coming to Fredericksburg in 2027.

Developed through a partnership between Hilton and Wine Country Hospitality Partners, the 106-acre luxury resort will include 60 hotel rooms, 37 resort villas, and 50 private residences. Guests and residents will also have access to an 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center and two pools.

"Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country marks a significant shift for hospitality in Texas, bringing the renowned service and luxury experience of the brand to a destination with unmatched potential," said developer Robert Radovan in a press release.

Hilton Vice President Amy King called the hotel a "monumental milestone" for the company, recalling that founder Conrad Hilton established Hilton in Texas over 105 years ago.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Parts of South Texas have received several inches of rain over the last 24 hours. A Flood Watch is in effect for 4 million people through today, and Gov. Abbott has activated state emergency resources to respond to life-threatening situations. (More)

➤ Harris County: A Cypress Springs High School student was hospitalized on Wednesday after being stabbed during a fight in one of the school's bathrooms. The unnamed suspect was apprehended by local police after fleeing the campus. (More)

➤ Dallas: The city council approved a motion to rezone a property adjacent to the Pepper Square shopping center for 1,000 luxury apartments, despite significant opposition from nearby residents who say the development will disrupt their quality of life. (More)

➤ San Antonio: The city asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit by Southwest Airlines alleging airport officials unfairly denied the carrier gate space in a new terminal set to open in 2028. In response, Southwest filed a complaint with the FAA, asking it to review the city's compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws. (More)

➤ Frisco: The owner of a Tesla that was keyed while parked at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport earlier this month is seeking $1 million in damages from the suspect, 56-year-old Rafael Hernandez. (See Details)

➤ Tarrant County: Police arrested 27-year-old Dylan Lofton after he allegedly left threatening and racially charged voicemails for Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez. He is being held on a $100,000 bond. (More)

➤ El Paso: U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said during a visit to Fort Bliss on Wednesday that construction of an "immigration facility" there is imminent. (See Details)

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➤ No. 3 seed Texas Tech survived No. 10 seed Arkansas 85-83 in overtime Thursday night in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. (More)

➤ The Houston Astros won their first game of the season yesterday, beating the New York Mets 3-1. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers lost to the Boston Red Sox 5-2 in their first game. (See Scores)

➤ Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson recorded his second hat trick of the season and the fifth of his career on Wednesday night, leading the team to a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. (Watch Video)

➤ Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful ACL surgery on his left knee Wednesday, according to a statement from the team. (More)

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➤ Elevate your golf performance with FlightPath Golf Tees. Designed to enhance distance and accuracy, these tees feature precision engineering that reduces friction, promoting straighter ball flight. Their durable construction ensures longevity, providing consistent performance round after round. (Shop Now)

➤ Island, a Dallas-based startup whose web browser integrates security and productivity tools, raised $250 million in funding, pegging the company's value at $4.8 billion. Island has about 450 corporate customers and 500 employees. (More)

➤ Drought conditions have contributed to suboptimal wheat quality, driving its price down to $4.85 a bushel, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife report. At the same time last year, wheat sold for $5 a bushel. (More)

➤ Saronic, an Austin-based developer of autonomous watercraft, is considering building a shipyard dubbed Port Alpha on the Texas Coast, where it could manufacture medium to large-scale vessels. (More)

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Beat rising costs with a membership designed to save more.

Sam's Club is offering a $45 discount on a Plus Membership, now just $65 (regularly $110), along with a free 16-inch pizza to kick off the savings, now through March 31.

Plus Members enjoy free delivery, early shopping hours, and the ability to skip checkout lines with Scan & Go.

With low prices on name brands and exclusive Member's Mark products, Sam's Club helps members get more for their money—especially when prices are rising everywhere else.

➤ Hallsville High School senior Tucker Soules has won multiple awards for the self-loading and unloading inline hay trailer he designed. He plans to go to manufacturing school and start his own business building custom trailers. (Watch Video)

➤ T.D. Jakes, the 67-year-old pastor of The Potter's House megachurch in Dallas, revealed he had a heart attack when he abruptly stopped preaching during a sermon last November. (More)

➤ Jonathan Rios, the director of molecular genetics at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, received a $420,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to test a treatment for a rare genetic disorder that causes children to lose the ability to speak and walk by age 5. (More)

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➤ Experience all-day comfort and relief with Vibrathotics vibrating insoles. Their patent-pending vibration massage technology increases blood flow, alleviating foot pain and numbness associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis and neuropathy. Designed for daily wear, these insoles support your arches, reduce fatigue, and improve balance. (Shop Now)