Mailboxes across Texas, including here in Waxahachie, have been filling up with flyers about transgender students from a group called the Texas Transgender Student Union. The group’s LLC was registered in Wyoming on September 2, 2026, just weeks before the November midterms, and the Houston-area return address on the mailer doesn’t exist as written. The closest match is a commercial mailbox location, according to reporting from FOX 26 Houston.

The advocacy organizations named inside the mailers, including the Transgender Education Network of Texas, say they had nothing to do with creating or sending them. Tracking numbers on the flyers were tied to a company that provides mail-tracking services used for political mail. Early voting in Texas began October 19, which means these mailers are arriving at the exact moment ballots are being cast, and no one has publicly identified who paid for them.

Whatever your take on the subject, the paper trail raises real questions about transparency in political mail. If you received one, hold onto it, and take a closer look before you vote. Did a flyer like this show up at your address? Tell us what you saw in the comments.

In April 1984, authorities raided a 3,500-acre ranch near Mountain Home, northwest of Kerrville, after a man escaped and told them what was happening on the property. Men, many of them hitchhikers, had been recruited with promises of work, food, and shelter. Instead, survivors described being forced to labor, chained at night, and physically abused. One man, Anthony Bates, was allegedly tortured to death. Investigators recovered chains, a cattle prod, recordings, and charred human bone fragments from the property.

In 1986, Walter Ellebracht Sr., Walter Ellebracht Jr., and foreman Carlton Robert Caldwell were convicted under Texas’ organized-crime law in connection with the kidnappings. None was convicted of murder, and sentences ranged from probation to a few years served. That gap between the testimony and the punishment is part of why the case still gets discussed more than forty years later.

The story also traveled into pop culture: it helped inspire the 2006 horror film Hoboken Hollow, though the movie is fictionalized and not an accurate account of the investigation or trial. Texas history holds plenty of stories we’re proud of. This one is a reminder that isolation can conceal abuse, and that it took one person’s escape to bring it into the light. Have you ever heard this case discussed in your community?

A federal judge in Texas sentenced Rigoberto Román Miranda-Orozco, 39, to 30 years in federal prison Tuesday for his role in a 2022 settlement. Wait—correction: for his role in a human smuggling operation that ended in the deaths of 53 migrants. Miranda-Orozco admitted to arranging travel and lodging for two people who died and one who was seriously injured when a tractor-trailer’s air conditioning failed during a three-hour ride from Laredo to San Antonio. When the abandoned trailer was opened, 48 people were found dead; five more later died in hospitals.

The case remains one of the deadliest smuggling tragedies on the U.S.-Mexico border. Twenty-one of the deceased were from Guatemala, according to prosecutors, and the operation’s leader, Felipe Orduna-Torres, is serving life in prison while his top assistant received 83 years. U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons described the victims’ final hours bluntly, saying they “suffered tremendously” and were “literally trying to claw their way out.” More than 20 people have been convicted in connection with the case across the U.S. and Guatemala, and sentencing is still pending for the truck driver and other defendants.

Years after the story broke, the prosecutions keep coming, a reminder that the legal fallout from that day is far from over. What questions does this case raise for you about border enforcement and accountability? Let us know on our social channels.

The Texas Council on Family Violence’s annual Honoring Texas Victims Report counted 160 intimate partner homicides in Texas in 2025, along with roughly 240,000 family violence offenses statewide. Harris County had the most victims at 26. The youngest person killed was 16 years old, the oldest was 89. About 32% of offenders had a known history of violence, and advocates warn that many cases are never reported at all, made worse by a statewide shortage of shelter space.

The numbers carry names. Abrianna Hall, 27, was stabbed to death in her Spring apartment in May 2026. Her mother described her spirit as sunshine, and her boyfriend now faces a murder charge. TCFV’s Tabetha Harrison put the broader reality plainly: Texans are being killed in their own homes by the people they should trust the most. The 2025 toll did fall from the prior year, though experts can’t fully explain why, crediting programs like Harris County’s Domestic Violence High Risk Team and growing public awareness as possible factors.

For Ellis County listeners, the takeaway isn’t just the statewide count. It’s knowing the warning signs, including coercive control and isolation, and knowing where to turn when something feels wrong at home or in a friend’s relationship. Local and statewide hotlines are available around the clock, and asking a simple question can open a door someone didn’t know existed. What would you want a friend to say if they noticed something seemed off in your relationship?

The State Fair of Texas is open for just 24 days each year, but the work behind it never really stops. According to Steven McCurdy, the fair’s director of construction and maintenance, planning for the next fair begins almost as soon as the current one ends. By January, full carpentry, electrical and plumbing teams are refurbishing props and completing construction projects across Fair Park.

Then there’s the star of the show. Big Tex stands 55 feet tall and weighs 25,000 pounds, and before every fair he’s inspected, cleaned and dressed, which includes a bath. The original Big Tex was destroyed by fire in 2012, and the replacement was engineered to withstand hurricane-force winds. Crews also stay ready for emergencies during the fair’s run, a tradition that goes back to that 2012 fire.

For Waxahachie folks, the fair is an easy drive up I-35, but now you know how much work happens the other 341 days of the year. So what’s your must-do at the State Fair: the food, the rides, or a photo with Big Tex?

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa is putting corporate tax breaks at the center of her run against Greg Abbott. The Austin state representative says she’d end the state’s data center sales tax exemptions, which cost more than $1 billion a year, and redirect that money toward households and public schools. She’s also proposing to shrink the rainy day fund to $10 billion and send one-time $1,500 checks to Texas families, with eligibility details left to the Legislature.

On education, Hinojosa opposes expanding the school voucher program and says that money should stay with public schools, a point that resonates in Ellis County where districts like Waxahachie ISD are managing growth on tight budgets. She also defended her 2019 vote against a constitutional amendment banning a state income tax, saying she would never implement one, and pledged to follow existing state immigration enforcement laws at a lower cost than Republicans propose.

The debate over tax breaks, vouchers, and cash rebates touches every Texas household, and the details will shape the race all the way to November. What matters most to you in this race for governor? Let us know in the comments.

Ten years ago, 55 Texas schools competed at the UIL state mariachi event. This year, 100 campuses took the stage, roughly 50% growth in a single decade. The milestone says a lot about how Texas schools are making room for cultural music alongside the traditional band and choir lineup.

Much of the story runs through Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, where David Zamarripa has directed the mariachi program for more than 30 years. Zamarripa played in his own middle school’s first mariachi group and served on the committee that launched the UIL competition. Today his program serves over 300 students, including Belen Gonzalez, who makes a 40-minute drive from Poteet to participate.

The roots go back to 1970, when Belle San Miguel Ortiz started the nation’s first mariachi class at Lanier High School, earning her the title “Madrina of Mariachi education.” Zamarripa’s message to students echoes that legacy: you can go anywhere and never be ashamed of your culture or where you come from. With 100 campuses now competing, that message is traveling farther than ever. Should more local schools add mariachi to their music offerings? Let us know what you think.

If your homeowners or auto policy has ever been canceled, not renewed, or denied, you know the frustration of not getting a clear answer. The Texas Department of Insurance launched a new online data portal on Sept. 23 that addresses exactly that. It shows statewide trends for why home and auto policies were canceled, not renewed, or denied, and it stems from HB 2067, a law signed last year that requires insurers to explain adverse decisions to consumers and report the reasons to the state.

Some of the portal’s numbers are striking. About 14,000 home insurance applications were declined due to a property’s location, a figure that resonates in a fast-growing area like Waxahachie where new development keeps pushing into different risk zones. Policyholder requests were the top reason home policies got canceled, at 122,059, while nonpayment led auto cancellations at nearly 490,000.

There is one notable limitation. The law bars the portal from naming individual insurance companies, a point consumer advocates criticize and industry groups defend. Even so, the tool can help local residents understand trends and ask better questions before renewal season. Take a look at the TDI website and see what the data says. Have you ever had a policy canceled or denied? Tell us your story on our Facebook page.

The Dallas Cowboys are 2-4 after back-to-back losses to Green Bay and a previously winless Tampa Bay team, and the timing couldn’t be worse. This was supposed to be the stretch where the offense, finally healthy, found its rhythm. Instead, Dallas turned in its two worst performances of the season. Dak Prescott has thrown two interceptions in each of the last two games and has struggled against the blitz, while the running game hit a season low against the Packers. It’s the first time since 2019 the Cowboys have scored fewer than 20 points in consecutive Prescott starts.

That has second-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer under real scrutiny for the first time. In the locker room, Prescott and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams talked about stopping the spiral. Prescott’s take was blunt: this tests the whole team, and one win is what it takes to rebuild confidence. There’s also a quiet position battle brewing at tight end, where Brevyn Spann-Ford outproduced Jake Ferguson against Green Bay and could push for the starting job.

Next up is Monday night at Philadelphia, where two 2-4 teams that have combined to win the past five NFC East titles meet with both seasons on the edge. Dallas has lost four straight at the Linc, and the debate over coaching and quarterback play is following the team up I-35 and beyond. For Waxahachie football fans, it’s the perfect Monday night conversation.

What would you change first if you were calling the shots for the Cowboys? Let us know in the comments.

Elon Musk has become the dominant financial force behind Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign, donating $158 million last month to the Senate Leadership Fund, which routed the money to a Texas PAC running pro-Paxton ads and get-out-the-vote efforts. The Senate GOP’s campaign arm says it plans to spend nearly $200 million on the race overall. Paxton has not publicly addressed Musk’s support, and his campaign declined to comment.

On the other side, Democrat James Talarico announced a record $64 million in direct individual donations last quarter. He’s built his message around the spending gap, telling supporters Musk is trying to “buy Texas” and that “Texas is not for sale.” Talarico has also argued that a billionaire’s vote counts exactly the same as any other Texan’s when the ballots are counted.

The contest is shaping up as a bellwether for the 2026 midterms and a live test of whether unprecedented single-donor spending can sway a statewide race. For voters here in Ellis County, the practical effect will show up in the mailbox, on the airwaves, and at the polls on Nov. 3. What do you think: should one donor be able to put this kind of money behind a single Senate seat?

Texas election officials have a simple message for voters in Ellis County: a few minutes of prep before you head to the polls can save you real trouble on Election Day. Verify your registration, pull up a sample ballot, and know what to do if something looks off. If your registration is flagged or you’re on the suspense list, you can sign a statement of residence affidavit at the polling place to confirm your Texas residency.

There are backup options for nearly every situation. A provisional ballot lets you vote while the county researches eligibility afterward, and officials stress that no voter should ever be turned away without one. If you moved counties, say from Dallas to Ellis, you can use a limited ballot during early voting at the main county polling site. Voters hospitalized during early voting or on Election Day can ask about an emergency ballot, and mail-in ballots need to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The 866-OUR-VOTE hotline is available if you need guidance.

Waxahachie has grown fast, and a lot of newer neighbors are voting here for the first time. Whether you’re voting early at the courthouse or on Tuesday at your precinct, the rules are the same for everyone: check, ask, and cast your ballot.

Have you checked your registration yet this cycle? Let us know on our Facebook page.

A Texas man serving 60 years for armed robbery is asking the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn his conviction, and the outcome could change how license plate cameras operate in Waxahachie and every North Texas suburb. Charles Brownlee’s attorneys argue that police violated the Fourth Amendment by mining Flock camera data, which let officers build a detailed “pattern of life” tying him to five 2024 robberies across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, all without a warrant. Flock runs roughly 13,000 cameras across Texas and allows departments to scan each other’s data, meaning a search can reach far beyond our city limits.

The government’s position is that plate captures are isolated records from public roads, where drivers have no expectation of privacy. But courts are split. A March 5th Circuit ruling permitted some single-camera use while leaving broader tracking unanswered, and an Oklahoma federal judge suppressed Flock evidence on Oct. 1. With Texas lawmakers already pledging 2027 bills to restrict plate readers, this case is the one to watch.

For local listeners, the practical question is simple: how much of your daily drive should be searchable, and by whom? Cameras have helped recover stolen vehicles and solve cases here at home, but a database that can replay your movements is a different kind of tool. Do you think police should need a warrant before searching Flock data? Let us know on our social pages.

A U.S. Air Force tech sergeant died Saturday after falling while rappelling from the rafters of the Alamodome in San Antonio during a pregame demonstration for the annual “Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans” game, officials said. Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year veteran from Fort Stewart, Georgia, served as a Tactical Air Control Party instructor with the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2. Nellis Air Force Base announced his death, and the Air Force says an investigation is underway.

Spectators watched the demonstration shortly before Navy and UTSA were set to kick off, and Patterson was one of four service members scheduled to take part in the rappel. He was treated on the field for several minutes and then taken to a hospital. The game’s start was delayed about ten minutes, and UTSA went on to win 38-34. UTSA coach Jeff Traylor said the energy in the stadium disappeared after the fall.

Brig. Gen. Scott C. Mills said the tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing. The incident raises real questions about the safety of pregame military demonstrations that are fixtures at stadiums across Texas and the country. For those of us here in Waxahachie, with so many military and first responder families in our community, this one hits close to home.

Have you attended a military appreciation game, and how did it sit with you after hearing this news? Let us know on the station’s Facebook page.

Mike Guadagnoli turned 100 this year, and he marked the milestone the same way he’s marked most of his birthdays: at the State Fair of Texas. This year was his 75th trip to the fairgrounds, and he made it with his family by his side, just like always.

Guadagnoli is a father of eight, and the fair was an annual tradition he built from the ground up. That meant ten family members making the trip every year, and his daughter Melody remembers what a task that was. But the Guadagnolis kept showing up, decade after decade, even before Big Tex made his debut at Fair Park in 1952. His family says that detail makes him laugh: he was a fairgoer before the fair’s most famous face ever arrived.

Through all those years, Guadagnoli’s reaction to being back is refreshingly simple. He says he’s happy and amazed. For anyone who has ever watched a parent or grandparent light up at a familiar place, that’s a feeling worth holding onto. What’s the tradition your family refuses to give up? Tell us about it in the comments.

The Dallas Mavericks waived center Dwight Powell on Monday, likely closing a 12-year tenure that began when he arrived as a secondary piece in the December 2014 trade that brought Rajon Rondo from Boston. Powell, 35, was a late training camp addition last month, but with all 15 guaranteed roster spots filled, retaining him would have meant releasing another player.

Over his Mavericks career, Powell appeared in 768 games, all but five in Dallas, making 266 starts while averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. He was a fan favorite not for highlights but for consistency, effort, and a steady presence in the Dallas community. Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri called him “the consummate professional” and praised an impact that extended well beyond the basketball court.

For North Texas fans, Powell’s exit is a quiet end to a chapter that traces back to one of the most debated trades in recent franchise history. Twelve seasons with one team is rare in today’s NBA, and it’s worth asking what his departure says about how rosters are built now. What’s your favorite Dwight Powell memory in a Mavericks uniform? Let us know.

Arlington has replaced its 20-year-old traffic operations hub with a new Traffic Management Center that monitors nearly 200 cameras across 380 signalized intersections. The facility features 10 workstations, updated technology, and LED screens, giving engineers the ability to adjust signal timing in real time and dispatch first responders faster when something goes wrong on the road.

The system also flags detection failures and signal problems at everyday intersections, so issues get caught before drivers start calling them in. “We’re not waiting for people to call us and tell us something is happening on our roadways. We’re able to see it and get alerts,” said Chris Funches, Arlington’s city traffic engineer. During major events at AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, staff work four hours before the event and two to three hours after it ends, with space for partners like TxDOT, law enforcement, and regional agencies to coordinate.

If you drive that corridor for work, errands, or game days, the changes could show up in shorter signal waits and quicker crash response. What intersection in our area would you most like to see get this kind of attention?

The Longhorns were the story of college football two weeks ago, riding a No. 1 ranking and a comeback win over Ohio State into the heart of SEC play. Then came Oklahoma, and now a 27-24 loss to unranked Florida in Gainesville. Texas sits at 4-1 overall and 1-2 in conference play, and the questions in Austin are piling up fast. Arch Manning has now been held to 200 passing yards or fewer in four games, and the run game averaged just 3.3 yards per carry after a promising start on Saturday.

Coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t shy away from the scrutiny when asked about his quarterback. “Everything is going to be evaluated,” he said, then repeated it with more emphasis. “Everything means everything.” Add in All-American edge rusher Colin Simmons leaving the game on a golf cart with a lower right leg injury, and Texas heads into a massive home matchup against No. 9 Ole Miss with its playoff hopes on the line.

For Waxahachie fans, the moment feels familiar to any season that started with sky-high expectations and then wobbled. The Longhorns still control plenty of their own fate, but a third loss would almost certainly end the playoff conversation. What’s your read on this team: is it a temporary slump, or is it time for real changes? Let us know in the comments.

A service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, died Saturday after falling while rappelling from the Alamodome ceiling to midfield before UTSA’s Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game against Navy. According to Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs, he was taken to a local hospital and later died, and an investigation into the incident is underway. His identity has not been released.
The man was one of four service members scheduled for the pregame rappelling demonstration, and video shared on social media showed him descending feet first before the hard fall in front of fans and the band. The game was delayed about ten minutes before UTSA won 38-34. UTSA offered counseling services to students and expressed condolences to the service member’s family and military colleagues.
Military appreciation events at stadiums across Texas are meant to honor the people who serve, and this one ended in grief for a whole dome full of people. As details develop, our thoughts are with his family, his squadron, and the San Antonio community. Have you ever attended a military appreciation game, and what did that experience mean to you? Let us know on our social pages.

The Dallas Cowboys never found the scoreboard in the first half Sunday night in Green Bay, and the Packers made them pay. Jordan Love threw for 276 yards and a touchdown and added a 1-yard scoring run, while Green Bay’s defense intercepted Dak Prescott twice on the way to a 23-13 win. It was the Cowboys’ first scoreless opening half since November 2021.

The Packers have now won three straight and improved to 11-1-1 in their last 13 meetings with Dallas. The game was far from clean, though. The teams combined for 22 penalties and 204 yards of flags, and Packers receivers dropped three passes that would have been touchdowns, keeping the final score closer than the action suggested. For Dallas, the loss drops the Cowboys to 2-4 and raises questions about an offense that stalled for two full quarters.

Green Bay could get another boost Monday, when Josh Jacobs comes off the commissioner’s exempt list after not playing all season. For Cowboys fans in Waxahachie and across Ellis County, the Sunday night blues are real this week, but Friday night lights still belong to our local teams. What’s the Cowboys’ biggest issue heading into next week: offense, defense, or discipline? Let us know on our social pages.

Along the rocky shore of Lake Travis near Austin sits a park unlike any other in Texas. Hippie Hollow has been the state’s only clothing-optional park since the 1960s, open every day of the year for guests 18 and older. Clothing stays on until you’re inside the gate, and after that, it’s optional.

The rulebook is stricter than most people expect. Alcohol, tobacco, and pets are prohibited. Lewd behavior and unauthorized photography are not allowed. No lifeguards are on duty, and swimmers should know about hydrilla in the lake and zebra mussels along the shoreline, which make foot protection a smart call. In other words, a place with no dress code still has plenty of rules.

For those of us here in Waxahachie, it’s a curiosity more than a weekend plan, but it fits right into Austin’s long tradition of keeping things weird. It also raises a fun question about freedom, public spaces, and how Texas balances the two. Would you ever visit a place like Hippie Hollow, or does the rulebook alone talk you out of it? Let us know on our social pages.

About three hours south of Waxahachie, along the shores of Lake Travis, sits a park that has marched to its own drummer since the 1960s. Hippie Hollow is the only clothing-optional public park in Texas, open every day of the year, and it draws curious visitors from across the state.

The rules are stricter than most people expect. Guests must be 18 or older, and clothing stays on until you’re inside the park. Alcohol, tobacco, and pets are prohibited, lewd behavior gets you removed, and while photography is allowed, the park strongly encourages asking permission first.

There are practical concerns too: no lifeguards on duty, hydrilla in the water, and zebra mussels along the shore that make foot protection a smart call. Whether it’s on your bucket list or your list of places to avoid, it’s a genuinely unique piece of Texas. Would you take the drive, or is this one you’ll leave to the free spirits?

The next time you’re walking the State Fair of Texas midway with a Fletcher’s Corny Dog in hand, you’re carrying a tradition that started with a conversation. In 1938, brothers Neil Fletcher Sr. and Carl were working as performers when they came up with the idea of a hot dog dipped in cornbread batter and fried on a stick. They introduced it at the fair in 1942, and early fairgoers weren’t sure what to make of it. The brothers responded by cutting the corn dogs into bite-size pieces and giving out samples, and the rest is fair history.

Today Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs sells about 550,000 corn dogs across seven locations during the fair’s 24-day run. Granddaughter Amber Fletcher, known as the Corny Dog Queen, helps carry the family business forward, and the operation starts preparing as early as February with contracts, menus and permits. The recipe has stayed familiar, but the flavors keep growing. This year Fletcher’s won a Big Tex Choice Award for a fudgy, gooey chocolate version of its famous corn dog.

For those of us around Waxahachie, the State Fair is an easy day trip and a yearly ritual worth the drive. Fletcher’s is one of those stops that connects grandparents, parents and kids in the same long line, all waiting for something that’s been fried the same way for more than eight decades. Have you tried the chocolate Corny Dog yet, and did it live up to the hype?

Floyd County grows more pumpkins than just about anywhere in Texas, and this year the weather did not cooperate. A summer of extreme drought cut yields by an estimated 30 to 40 percent, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. County agent Mark Carroll told reporters that 2026 is the driest year he’s seen in his 20 years working in the area. Growers started the season with little to no subsoil moisture, so even irrigation couldn’t make up the difference. The harvest also finished one to two weeks early because there were fewer pumpkins to bring in.

For anyone planning a pumpkin patch trip around Waxahachie this fall, the outlook is a lot brighter than the fields out west. Pumpkin prices have stayed relatively steady over the past three years, and supply from other growing regions can help meet Halloween demand. That means no big sticker shock and no real risk of empty shelves at your local patch. Texas farmers grow more than 200 pumpkin varieties for carving, baking, and decorating, so there’s no shortage of choices once you’re standing in the field.

The harder story is on the farm side. High growing costs plus a reduced crop means a rough financial year for Texas pumpkin growers, even if the rest of us barely notice at checkout. One simple way to help is to buy from a local patch instead of a big-box display, and to go a little earlier in the season while selection is best. Which pumpkin patch in Ellis County is your family’s favorite? Tell us in the comments and we’ll share the list on air.

A construction worker in Houston is waking up in a hospital bed today with multiple leg fractures and a scheduled ankle surgery after a federal officer drove into him during a pursuit Saturday. The man, Miguel Parra Hernandez, was not the person ICE says it was targeting. According to the family of the man in ICE’s photo, that suspect, Jose Mendoza-Cervantes, died years ago. The person in the image, they say, is Jose Hector Jimenez, who also died while fleeing immigration authorities. Immigration rights group FIEL has handed over the death documents to the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

DA Sean Teare says surveillance footage contradicts ICE’s claim that Parra Hernandez stepped in front of the officers’ vehicle. He said criminal charges against the federal officer are now being considered. Meanwhile, Parra Hernandez’s attorney, Kim Bruno, and FIEL’s executive director, Cesar Espinosa, are pushing for his release before he’s transferred from the hospital to federal detention.

For our neighbors here in Waxahachie, this is a good reminder that Houston is just up the road, and how state and federal officers handle these situations affects how a lot of families right here in Ellis County think about the system. Whatever side you’re on, the question of who gets held accountable is the same one our courthouse has answered for more than a century. What do you think should happen when the record shows a federal officer got the facts wrong?