Monday, April 6, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1968, the HemisFair kicked off in San Antonio. More than 30 nations participated in the six-month event, which attracted 6.3 million visitors. The 622-foot Tower of the Americas became a monument to the Southwest’s first international exposition.

Today's edition is abbreviated as our staff took time to celebrate Easter with their families. We'll be back with the full lineup tomorrow.

If you’re ready to finally take control of your weight and your health, today's sponsor, DirectMeds, makes it simple to start—with trusted GLP-1 treatments prescribed online and delivered straight to your door.

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.

El Paso Ranked No. 2 Best Big City

El Paso has landed near the top of U.S. News & World Report's national rankings of the best large cities to live in, earning the No. 2 spot for 2025-2026.

The publication evaluated cities with populations above 500,000 on factors including quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and migration. El Paso's combination of affordable housing, low median rent, and livability set it apart from most of the country's largest metros.

"This moment speaks to who we are as a city and where we are headed," said Mayor Renard U. Johnson. City Manager Dionne Mack added that the recognition "reinforces the strengths that continue to make El Paso a place people are proud to call home," pointing to ongoing city investments in infrastructure, public safety, economic mobility, and quality of life.

Texas cities dominated the rankings, with five cracking the top 10. Austin came in at No. 3, Fort Worth at No. 4, San Antonio at No. 6, and Houston at No. 10. Oklahoma City was ranked No. 1.

Texas Leads in Affordable, Fast-Growing Cities

Texas topped all 50 states with 11 cities ranked among the most affordable and fastest-growing in the country, according to a new study by MoneyLion. Florida was second with seven qualifying cities.

To be included, cities had to have total populations of at least 100,000 residents, one-year and five-year population growth rates above the national average, and rental or mortgage costs below the national average.

MoneyLion used the U.S. Census, Zillow, and Bureau of Labor Statistics expenditure data to find where affordability and growth still intersect, drawing on the Census American Community Survey data from 2019, 2023, and 2024 to calculate population change and leftover savings for both homeowners and renters.

Texas cities claimed four of the top 12 spots on the national list, with Frisco taking the No. 1 overall ranking, followed by New Braunfels at No. 3, McKinney at No. 4, and Allen at No. 6. League City, Conroe, Lewisville, Pearland, Denton, Fort Worth, and Grand Prairie rounded out the Texas contingent.

Frisco homeowners led the entire nation in leftover savings after housing costs, averaging $83,713 annually.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Waco: Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center - Hillcrest welcomed 39 babies in just three days in early March, including 28 in less than 48 hours, far outpacing its typical daily count of seven to twelve. Staff put out a call for extra help, describing the surge as "raining babies." (More)

➤ Nacogdoches: First Baptist Church drew more than 2,000 worshippers to its Easter Sunday service at Stephen F. Austin's coliseum, the fourth year the congregation has partnered with SFA to open the celebration to anyone in East Texas, regardless of church membership. (More)

➤ Del Valle: Four 17-year-olds face aggravated kidnapping charges after allegedly luring a former classmate to a home and then restraining and beating him. The suspects, former Del Valle ISD students, allegedly planned the attack for a week. (More)

➤ Houston: A suspected burglar got stuck halfway down a chimney while trying to break into a home on Tooley Drive. Firefighters had to extract him before police could take him into custody. He was treated for minor injuries. (More)

➤ Austin: Klein Collins senior Andrew Jones made Texas Relays history Friday, becoming the first high schooler to run a sub-13-second 110-meter hurdles—posting a wind-assisted 12.97—faster than the time Grant Holloway won Olympic gold in Paris. Jones, committed to Texas A&M, also holds the high school record in the 300-meter hurdles. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Eye doctors alarmed by vision threat standard exams miss. More people now suffer age-related vision loss than ever—yet routine exams don't screen for it. A study found four specific nutrients improved tear production by 10%, cut dryness in half, and sharpened vision by a full eye-chart line. Learn More

Flying together with our sponsor

Take control of your weight and health with DirectMeds. Their licensed providers prescribe trusted GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide—clinically proven to curb appetite, balance blood sugar, and promote lasting fat loss. Lower your risk of diabetes, boost energy, and feel confident again. Start today with a quick online consultation and 24-hour approval.