Originally published October 27, 2026. Events, counts, traffic and weather refer to the time of that report.
13 face charges in a stolen-car case • Border wall refuge proposal • Hudspeth cattle cases • UT Bevo Lab • Satellite alert legislation.
Today’s top five
13 charged in stolen-car case • Border wall could cross wildlife refuge • Hudspeth cattle cases confirmed • UT builds Bevo Lab AI hub • Satellite alert law signed.
13 charged in stolen-car case
Thirteen people face federal charges in El Paso after being accused of moving stolen vehicles across the border to Mexican cartels, KVIA reported.
U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons announced the charges Monday. Authorities recovered 29 vehicles worth approximately $1.1 million in Operation Southbound Takedown, according to KVIA and The Texas Flyover.
The Flyover reported that 22 vehicles were recovered in the United States and seven in Mexico. Three carried explosives; their intended use was unknown.
The defendants each face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted, the Flyover reported. These are charges and allegations, not findings of guilt.
Border wall could cross refuge
Federal officials are weighing a border-wall route through Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge instead of along a nearby levee, The Texas Tribune reported.
The possible change involves approximately 2.8 miles of wall and a dispute over contractors allegedly trespassing on Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 property.
At an October 14 federal hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Duke said the alternative probably would prompt more litigation, according to the Tribune.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not confirm it was considering the move. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, expressed concern about the reported rerouting. No final route change was confirmed.
Hudspeth cattle cases confirmed
USDA confirmed two New World screwworm cases in cattle in Hudspeth County Friday, KVIA reported.
The new detections, alongside New Mexico cases, brought active cases across the two states to 12, according to the report.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue of animals. The report described rising active cases during October.
Livestock owners should check animals for wounds and report suspected cases to a veterinarian or the Texas Animal Health Commission.
UT builds Bevo Lab AI hub
University of Texas Athletics is building Bevo Lab, a 25,000-square-foot artificial intelligence hub in Austin’s Innovation Tower, The Texas Flyover reported, summarizing a UT announcement.
Google Cloud, Dell Technologies and SHI International are backing the project, which will analyze game film and player data, initially for football.
The Flyover reported the technology has saved coaches more than 15 hours a week. Athletic director Chris Del Conte said the lab will not call plays.
Satellite alert law signed
President Donald Trump signed the Mystic Alerts Act into law, expanding wireless emergency alerts through satellite technology to reach phones when cellular networks fail, Texas Politics reported.
Reps. August Pfluger and Lizzie Fletcher of Texas co-sponsored the bipartisan bill after the deadly July 4, 2025 Hill Country flooding.
Many of the more than 130 people who died received no emergency alert after the storm disrupted cellular networks, Sen. John Cornyn said, according to the report.
Sen. Ted Cruz said he helped advance the bill through the Senate Commerce Committee. The report did not state when satellite alerts will start.
Hood County weather watch
Granbury airport (KGDJ) observation at 2:15 p.m.: mostly sunny, 82°F, east-southeast wind near 8 mph.
Three-day outlook: Wednesday mostly sunny, 83°/65°; Thursday mostly cloudy, 81°/63°; Friday rain showers likely, 72°/59°.
Community pulse
Livestock owners: what is part of your daily animal-health check?
Photo credits
The original HCE graphic uses file photographs credited to Rsparks3, Daderot, Michael Barera (CC BY-SA 4.0), USGS and KevinMoralesRealtor. They are file photos, not photographs of the reported events.
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