Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this date in 1942, construction began on a German prisoner of war camp in northeastern Walker County. During the war, many POWs were leased to local farmers and businesses.

Weekend storms brought heavy rain to parts of the state. If you were out on the road, you might have seen drivers flashing their hazard lights. In today's Poll, we ask whether you take that precaution when it's raining. Hit reply to share your thoughts on whether it's a good idea.

This week is the deadline. Texas homeowners only have until May 15 to protest their property taxes, and once that window closes, the opportunity is gone for the year. That’s why today’s partner, Resolute Property Tax Services, is helping homeowners take action before time runs out.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Six Bodies Found at Union Pacific Rail Yard

Six people—five men and one woman—were found dead inside a shipping container at a Union Pacific rail yard in Laredo on Sunday. Yesterday, Bexar County authorities found a deceased male who is presumed to have been separated from the group.

Webb County Medical Examiner Dr. Corinne Stern concluded five of the Laredo victims died of heat stroke. Identification cards and cell phones indicate the deceased were likely residents of Mexico and Honduras, and the U.S. Border Patrol is running their fingerprints through the Missing Alien Program's database to determine their identities.

"Union Pacific is saddened by this incident and is working closely with law enforcement to investigate," the rail company said in a statement. In recent years, the company has installed inspection stations to scan rail cars for illegal immigrants or contraband.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said his office believes the train originated in Del Rio, where the individuals boarded through an open door.

Two Houstonians Being Monitored for Hantavirus

Two Houston residents disembarked from the MV Hondius before a hantavirus outbreak was identified on the Dutch cruise ship.

According to a statement from the Texas Department of State Health Services, the unnamed residents have not exhibited any symptoms but agreed to perform daily temperature checks and notify local health officials if they become ill.

Three passengers who contracted the hantavirus died, and at least seven cases have been confirmed. Health officials in seven states have been notified about residents who were passengers on the ship or may have come into contact with someone on it.

The hantavirus is spread through rodent droppings, and humans can contract it by inhaling contaminated air. The Andes strain identified in the cruise ship's passengers is the only one known to be transmitted between humans, but prolonged exposure is typically required.

Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord, 70, was the first passenger to die from the illness and has been identified as Patient Zero. Officials believe he contracted the hantavirus after visiting a landfill in Ushuaia, Argentina, in search of a rare bird.

Buc-ee's Expanding to Six More States

Buc-ee's is expanding into six new states by the end of next year, according to a compilation published by Fox Business. The Lake Jackson-based convenience store chain currently operates 55 locations in a dozen states, including 36 in Texas.

In June, Arizona will get its first Buc-ee's with the opening of a store in Goodyear. A Benton store will become the first in Arkansas later this year. In 2027, Buc-ee’s plans to open stores in Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Ruston, Louisiana; Kansas City, Kansas; and Mebane, North Carolina.

In Texas, Buc-ee's plans to open a new store in San Marcos in July. Next year, the company expects to open additional locations in Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

Despite receiving an F rating from the Better Business Bureau in March, Buc-ee's scored well in last year’s American Customer Satisfaction Index and is Dunnhumby's top-ranked quick-service restaurant spot.

Flying together with our sponsor

If your property taxes feel too high, there’s a good chance they are. Every year, Texas homeowners overpay simply because they never file a protest. Resolute Property Tax Services makes the process simple by handling everything for you from start to finish.

Their team files your protest, reviews your valuation, gathers supporting data, and represents your case with the appraisal district. You don’t have to deal with the paperwork or the back-and-forth yourself.

Resolute has an 84% * success rate and a 4.8-star Google rating across more than 1,200 reviews. Customers regularly save hundreds to thousands on their tax bills.

Best of all, there’s no upfront cost. You only pay if they save you money.

*Percent of Resolute’s Texas residential customers who received a market value reduction on at least one protest in 2025 as of 12/31/2025. Results vary. Not all protests result in a reduction.

➤ Dallas: Halperin Park, spanning three acres over 14 lanes of traffic on I-35E, opened this past weekend. Park supporters and local officials celebrated the occasion with a ribbon-tying ceremony. (See Photos)

➤ Webb County: Former Laredo City Council member Alfonso "Poncho" Casso has filed a petition to remove Sheriff Martin Cuellar from office, citing his federal indictment for alleged misappropriation of county funds to operate a cleaning business during the COVID-19 pandemic. (More)

➤ Austin: A Texas appeals court issued an injunction allowing retailers of smokable hemp to sell the products after the Department of State Health Services appealed a lower court ruling against the agency's ban. (See Details)

➤ Austin: Meanwhile, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that nicotine pouches can be taxed as tobacco products because "non-tobacco plant matter and nicotine take the place and function of tobacco in taxed products." (More)

➤ Laredo: The city council approved funding for a study on the environmental impact of border buoys being installed in the Rio Grande. "The federal government has a mandate, and we have issues here that have to be mitigated," Mayor Victor Treviño said. (More)

➤ San Antonio: The city's Office of Historic Preservation is hosting a series of meetings with residents to get public input on the future of the River Walk. "It's been a while since we've really reinvigorated our River Walk," District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur said. (More)

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➤ Victor Wembanyama will not face further discipline from the NBA beyond his ejection for an elbow on Naz Reid during Sunday night's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, clearing him for tonight's Game 5 in San Antonio with the series tied 2-2. (More)

➤ Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom recorded his 1,900th career strikeout against the Cubs during his 256th game on Sunday, making him the second-fastest pitcher to reach the milestone. Only Hall of Famer Randy Johnson got there in fewer games. (More)

➤ The Dallas Cowboys will open the 2026 NFL season against the New York Giants during a Sunday night matchup on September 13, marking the eighth time in 15 seasons they've met in a season opener. (More)

➤ Five Texas teams qualified for the NCAA softball tournament: Baylor, Texas, Texas State, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. (More)

➤ Four-star wide receiver Julian Caldwell committed to Texas Tech this week, choosing the Red Raiders over Oregon and Texas. (More)

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➤ Austin is the Texas metro with the best job outlook for new college grads, according to an analysis by payroll firm ADP that examined hiring rates, affordability, and annual salaries. (More)

➤ Asset manager BlackRock's foundation is investing $30 million in programs to train 12,000 new electricians in Texas. "Texas sits at the center of America's infrastructure and energy buildout," the company said in a statement. (More)

➤ A study conducted by UT Austin estimates data centers could account for up to 9% of the state's water consumption by 2040. Dan Diorio of the Data Center Coalition said he's concerned about local moratoriums on data center development, calling the technology "a national security issue." (More)

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This is your final reminder. The May 15 deadline is here, and waiting any longer could mean losing your chance to lower your property taxes this year.

Resolute Property Tax Services has helped thousands of Texas homeowners reduce what they owe without the hassle of doing it themselves.

The Flyover readers can also receive an exclusive 26% discount.

It only takes a few minutes to get started, but you need to act now before the deadline passes.

➤ The off-ramp from southbound I-610 to Westheimer Road in Houston is the most stressful highway exit in the state, according to a survey of 3,011 drivers conducted by personal injury law firm Regan Zambri Long. (More)

➤ Snow's BBQ in Lexington was featured in the Fast Food Club's list of "the one barbecue restaurant in every state people can't stop talking about." The famous smokehouse is only open on Saturdays. (More)

➤ Ten Texas hotels were included in Travel + Leisure’s annual list of the top 500 hotels in the world. (More)

➤ New Diana High School's marching band will perform in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. "We're going to be representing Texas quite well," said Band Director Gary Fort. (More)

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Do you turn your hazard lights on in heavy rain?

Yesterday's Results:

What do you think is the best explanation for UFOs?

Aliens: 29%
Military tech: 21%
Atmospheric effects: 16%
Other: 12%
Spiritual beings: 11%
Hoaxes/Hallucinations: 11%

What Texas town welcomes visitors with a billboard honoring a local champion baton twirler?

Show me the answer

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The Texas Flyover
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