Good morning, Texas. Here’s what you need to know today.
Your Weather Planner
The early spring preview continues on today with some areas that could tie or break a record high today. San Antonio could tie a record if they hit 91 degrees this afternoon, while Laredo and McAllen could break records with highs forecasted around 100. We cool slightly into the weekend but stay warm and dry. Pattern change looks possible next week as the ridge of high pressure finally breaks down.
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Around Texas
1. High fire danger persists in Texas as wildfires spread
Fire officials are warning of high fire danger throughout the week as strong winds persist. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Texas A&M Forest Service reported nine active wildfires across the state.
Among the largest is a fire in Gillespie County near the Nebo Mountain area. It started around 2 p.m. Tuesday and quickly spread to more than 1,100 acres by 8 a.m. As of midday Wednesday, it was 70% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service’s website.
2. The hotly contested Texas Senate race is setting spending records ahead of Tuesday’s primary
Candidates and political groups are pouring money into Texas’ hotly contested U.S. Senate race at a record pace, partly fueled by Democrat James Talarico’s fundraising and allies of Republican Sen. John Cornyn trying to save his over 20-year-career.
Heading into Tuesday’s primary elections, the cost of advertising and reserved advertising time had topped $110 million, the most ever for a Senate primary, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
As students were walking out of class at 5 p.m. to head home or to grab a bite on Jan. 29, dozens at Texas A&M University in College Station marched straight to the center of campus with signs in hand and voices loud in chant.
Students, as well as faculty and staff, were there to protest an updated Texas A&M University System policy that limits professors in their instruction of curriculum on gender, race and sexual orientation unless granted an exception by college leadership.
Around The Nation
1. Cuba says it killed 4 people aboard Florida-registered speedboat that opened fire on soldiers
2. Larry Summers will resign from teaching at Harvard during review of Epstein ties, university says
3. Casey Means faces Senate health committee in confirmation hearing to be U.S. surgeon general
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Kicheko the giraffe smiles for the camera at the San Antonio Zoo. His name means “laughter” in Swahili. (Credit: San Antonio Zoo)
San Antonio Zoo hoping to win best zoo title
After taking second place in a Newsweek competition last year, the San Antonio Zoo is going for gold in this year’s USA Today 10Best rankings.
The zoo is one of 20 across the country that 10Best experts nominated for its Reader’s Choice Awards. Fans must now cast their votes online to determine which facility will take home the title of best zoo for 2026.