Good evening, Texas. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
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Tuesday will start chilly but feature more sunshine throughout the day. A warming trend will take us into the first few days of the new year.
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Today’s Big Stories
1. Texas town fighting housing development that could threaten water quality
Neighbors in the quiet town of Grey Forest, tucked northwest of San Antonio, are fighting a water battle they say is sure to spread across Texas. In their backyard sits Helotes Creek. It helps fill wells for their homes and eventually empties into the Edwards Aquifer, which supplies water to nearly 2.5 million people in San Antonio.
Protecting the watershed is the reason Stuart Birnbaum, Lisa Pack, and their group, Scenic Loop Helotes Creek Alliance, have spent the last four years trying to stop a new housing development called Guajalote Ranch.
2. Several major stores extend holiday return deadlines through late January
The National Retail Federation expects $850 billion of merchandise to be returned this year. Nineteen percent of that will come from online purchases, mainly from Gen-Z compared to any other generation.
Most stores are extending return deadlines for the Christmas season through mid to late January.
3. TxDOT campaign reminds people to take a sober ride this holiday season
As the holidays come to a close and with New Year’s celebrations on the horizon, the Texas Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to celebrate safely with a new campaign aimed at curbing drunk driving.
According to TxDOT, last December had the highest number of crashes caused by drunk drivers in Texas. Additionally, over 2,000 drunk driving-related crashes occurred during the 2024 holiday season. That’s why the department launched its “Drive Sober. No Regrets.” campaign.
Notes for Tomorrow
Tuesday, Dec. 30
Malaysia resumes search for flight MH370’s wreckage after 11 years
Times Square New Year’s Eve Philips Ball test
In Case You Missed It
Dozens prepare Christmas cookies for first responders and hospital staff working Christmas Day (Spectrum News 1 Texas/Lily Celeste)
Texas Jewish Congregation delivers cookies to essential workers on Christmas Day
Christmas morning at the Jewish Community Center in Austin was filled with ribbons and box-folding as the Agudas Achim Congregation prepared to deliver cookies to essential workers on Christmas Day.