FBI Raises Reward, Bigger Tax Refunds, and Majors That Pay Off

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1960, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green was born in Houston. Green played for Texas A&M-Kingsville and won two Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins during a 20-year NFL career. He was named NFL Man of the Year in 1996.

It was a record-setting weekend in Texas. Baylor's first baseman crushed three grand slams, and 154 couples said "I do" at a midnight Valentine's Day wedding celebration. Get the details in today's Round Up and Et Cetera sections.

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Gov Abbott Declares State of Emergency

Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate state emergency resources ahead of severe storms expected to hit parts of the state over the weekend.

A storm system was expected to move through the state, with potential for severe weather from the Big Bend region to the Red River Valley. The system was expected to produce strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, with flash-flooding risk and possible tornadoes.

Resources at the ready include the state Department of Public Safety, Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Railroad Commission.

The storm also comes nearly five years to the day of the storm that nearly collapsed the state's power grid.

HPD Sketch Artist Helps in Guthrie Case

Former Houston Police Department sketch artist Lois Gibson, who worked 5,089 cases over decades, has come out of retirement to help identify a masked individual in Nancy Guthrie's abduction case.

Gibson, who has volunteered her services, used her experience in facial reconstruction from minimal evidence in analyzing the doorbell camera footage from the case. She estimates the perpetrator is between their mid-30's and early 40's.

"I couldn't stop myself, I just couldn't stop myself, I wanted to help, I felt the pain. I've been in the room with [kidnap victims]… so I wanted to help them," she said.

She also holds the Guinness World Record for being the most successful forensic sketch artist.

Baylor Slugger's Historic Night

Baylor first baseman Tyce Armstrong hit three grand slams in Friday's season opener against New Mexico State, becoming the second player in college baseball history to hit three grand slams in a single game.

Armstrong, a redshirt senior from Magnolia, finished with three home runs, two exceeding 400 feet, and drove in 12 runs as Baylor defeated New Mexico State 15-2 in seven innings by run rule.

He is the second college player to hit three grand slams in one game after Louisville's Jim LaFountain did it in 1976. No Major League player has ever accomplished the feat, though thirteen players have hit two in one game.

Check out Armstrong's historic third grand slam here.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Greg Abbott outlined a five-point property tax plan this week to curb local spending, give voters more control over rates, and eliminate school property taxes for homeowners. (More)

➤ Laredo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents seized more than 500 pounds of cocaine, valued at $6.8 million, from a tractor-trailer hauling flowers. (More)

➤ El Paso: University of Texas at El Paso received a $2 million federal appropriation to expand drone testing operations in Fabens and a flight test range in Tornillo. (More)

➤ East Plano: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating the East Plano Islamic Center for allegedly violating the Fair Housing Act by planning a 402-acre, allegedly Muslim-only community called The Meadow. (More)

➤ Harris County: Authorities issued citations to Spring ISD and contractors building the new Spring High School for illegally discharging construction materials into Spring Creek. (More)

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➤ Houston Rockets second-year guard Reed Sheppard was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc during Friday night's NBA Rising Stars game. (See 3s)

➤ Hannah Bilka led Team USA women's ice hockey to its fifth straight win Friday, scoring her fourth goal of the tournament in a 6-0 rout of Italy. (More)

➤ The Texas Rangers re-signed pitcher Jordan Montgomery, a key contributor during the club's 2023 World Series championship season. (More)

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➤ Whiskey Riot returns to Dallas on March 14, offering samples of 200 whiskies; general admission costs $90, and a $120 ticket includes early entry and exclusive Balcones pours. (More)

➤ A record 154 couples said "I do" at midnight on Valentine's Day at the Bexar County Courthouse, marking the largest turnout yet for the annual wedding tradition. (More)

➤ Property records show James Van Der Beek purchased a 36-acre ranch in Spicewood for $4.76 million just 33 days before his death. (More)

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A Houston rapper was uninjured after getting tossed in the air by a bull at the Fort Bend County Rodeo.

Should local school property taxes be abolished?

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Amy Hess has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ The mystery deepens as the FBI raises its reward in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. (Hear More)

➤ Your tax refund just got bigger, and the IRS data proves it. (Listen Now)

➤ Forget six figures. These humble majors are winning the employment game. (Podcast Available)

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Lunar New Year Festival, Free Cookies for Blood Donors, and ARTBEAT

Sunday, February 15, 2026

Good morning! On this date in 1898 the USS Maine exploded in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, killing 266 sailors. At the time, many Americans blamed Spain for the attack. Following the explosion, Georgia became a major hub for the resulting Spanish-American War, providing over 25 training camps across the state with two of the most important camps located in Savannah and Chickamauga.

Happy Lunar New Year! Celebrating the Year of the Horse, the fourth annual Lunar New Year Festival kicked off yesterday at Stone Mountain Park. Get all the details in today's Top Stories.

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.

Family of Man Killed at Crosswalk Sues Atlanta

The family of Pradeep Sood, a man who was struck and killed by a vehicle in February 2025 while crossing Peachtree Street at a faded crosswalk in downtown Atlanta, has filed a $12 million wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Atlanta.

The family alleges the city failed to address the deteriorated crosswalk, which they say misled pedestrians.

Family members and advocates are urging the city to install a raised crosswalk on the street and provide a clear timeline for the crosswalk's installation.

The worn crosswalk has been repaved, and the Atlanta Department of Transportation announced that safety upgrades are planned for the area this fall.

The city has not commented on the lawsuit due to it being pending.

Second Round of E-Bike Rebate Program Approved

The City of Atlanta has approved $1 million in funding for the second round of its e‑bike rebate program to help residents afford e‑bikes.

Throughout the first round of funding in 2024, 579 recipients redeemed a rebate ranging from $500 to $2,000, which was spent exclusively at locally owned, small businesses in Atlanta.

Over 11,000 residents applied for the rebate program, which was the first of its kind in Georgia.

According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, 74% of surveyed residents who received the rebate reported riding their e-bikes at least two days per week.

Lunar New Year Festival Begins

Stone Mountain Park kicked off its fourth annual Lunar New Year Festival yesterday.

The event takes place every Saturday and Sunday from 4-9 p.m. through March 1.

The festival, which celebrates the Year of the Horse, features a Lunar New Year Drone and Light Show, lighted parade, live entertainment, cultural activities, and more.

Tickets for the event start at $24.99 and can be purchased here.

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➤ Atlanta: Multiple elephant ivory carvings that were found in a package imported from Austria were seized by authorities at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. (More)

➤ Banks County: A conditional reopening of the Atlanta Dragway facility that closed in 2021 was approved last week. (More)

➤ Gwinnett County: A fire at a mobile home park in Tucker destroyed five homes and displaced more than 20 residents on Friday. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: Due to school construction, eight polling places will be temporarily relocated, impacting voters for the upcoming May 19 primary and potential June 16 runoff. (More)

➤ Savannah: A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Forsyth Park Shade Garden will be held next to the Fragrant Garden at Bull Street and East Park Avenue on Feb. 18. (See Details)

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➤ Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale told reporters he doesn't plan to use MLB's new ball-strike challenge system next year. (More)

➤ No. 15 Georgia baseball started its 2026 season with a bang, defeating Wright State 13-1 via run rule in seven innings. (More)

➤ ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler predicted the Atlanta Falcons will win the NFC South in 2026 and star running back Bijan Robinson to win MVP in a recent article. (More)

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➤ The Shepeard Community Blood Center in Augusta is offering two free boxes of Girl Scout cookies to blood donors from Feb. 16-20. (More)

➤ The Sandy Springs Arts Foundation's third annual ARTBEAT showcase raised $100,000 for public school art programs in the city. (More)

➤ The 49th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival will be headlined by The Roots, Kamasi Washington, and PJ Morton. The free, three-day event will be held at Piedmont Park from May 23-25. (More)

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➤ Ready for big President's Day savings? Snag early deals on tech, gadgets, kitchen gear, and must-have Amazon finds—plus exclusive gizmos at up to 70% off and early markdowns before the holiday rush. Shop this limited-time President's Day event and score huge discounts while stocks last! (SHOP NOW)