Good morning, Texas. Here’s what you need to know today.
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Today may be the only day that feels like spring across Texas. By the time the weekend approaches, record highs will likely fall across much of the state. No chance of rain for the next week.
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Around Texas
1. Hill Country vacation rentals on road to recovery post floods
For more than a decade, Brian Olsen has owned Casita Blu, a vacation rental cabins company in the Texas Hill Country. He started renting them out in 2014, though they were built in 1934.
But then the July Fourth floods last year changed everything.
2. Austin Community College embraces AI partnership
The wave of artificial intelligence is coming, whether or not people are ready for it. Many are pushing back against it, but there are institutions choosing to embrace it. The Austin Community College District (ACC) is on that list, and a partnership with a Texas-based nonprofit is pushing it forward into the AI realm.
College can be overwhelming, from the application process to enrolling in classes to figuring out the path to take in a career and keeping grades up. ACC hopes to ease some of those challenges for students by using AI.
3. ‘You have to be really disciplined’: How an FC Dallas player navigates Ramadan
FC Dallas defender Lalas Abubakar is one of nearly 2 billion Muslims worldwide observing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. But he’s the only Muslim player on the FC Dallas roster.
Since 2023, Major League Soccer has given drink breaks during Ramadan matches to allow players like Abubakar time to break their fasts at sundown.
Around The Nation
1. Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Iran war, says country posed no imminent threat
2. House GOP insist Iran war is justified, Dems deride costs
3. Flight cancellations and delays continue after storms dump snow in Midwest and head east
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Omnium Circus performers prepare for their Texas debut this week. (Spectrum News 1/Blessing Iwuchukwu)
Omnium Circus makes Texas debut during spring break
Since 2021, Omnium Circus has been thrilling stages across the country, showing people of all abilities that they too have a seat at the table of entertainment, but not in Texas. Until now.
Lisa Lewis is the founder and executive director of Omnium Circus. It was launched in 2020 virtually when she realized there was a need for more inclusivity in this space.