Operations

January 21, 2026

Bojangles has opened a location in Manor, Texas, an Austin suburb, according to a press release.

The first 50 guests who dined in received a $100 Bojangles gift card, and throughout opening day all guests had the chance to win breakfast for a year, with 10 winners to be selected.

The expansion into Texas marks a significant step in Bojangles’ strategic growth plan. In the past years, the brand has successfully entered new markets, with its most recent opening in Brooklyn, New York, following expansions in Piscataway, New Jersey; Las Vegas, Nevada; Columbus, Ohio; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and multiple locations across Texas in Dallas and Houston.

“We are ecstatic about introducing Bojangles to the Austin area and bringing our unique Southern charm,” Jose Armario, CEO of Bojangles, said in the release. “Our recent expansions into markets have been met with tremendous enthusiasm, and we are confident that the community will embrace our delicious offerings with the same excitement.”

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas House Democrats who broke quorum in August 2025 while attempting to stop a Republican-led redistricting effort received letters letting them know they would face fines.

Fines and financial breakdown

What we know:

In the letter addressed to Minority Leader of the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Gene Wu, Texas House of Representatives Committee’s House Administration Chair, Rep. Charlie Geren, confirmed the House of Representatives would fine Representatives $9,354.25 each for their two-week quorum break.

The fines include a $500 per day penalty over the 14-day quorum break, totaling $7,000 per member. House Democrats also face an additional $2,354.25 fine. Rep. Geren says that penalty pays for the $124,940.08 spent attempting to compel members’ attendance.

Redistricting and the quorum break

The backstory:

Democrats left the state in an attempt to block the redrawn Texas congressional maps that were eventually passed on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2026, in an 88-52 vote.

Fines are being assessed under rules enacted in 2023, after the Texas House Democrats members broke quorum after leaving the state for 38 days to block GOP voting restrictions in 2021. Those rules prohibit members from using campaign funds or fundraising to pay the fines, forcing them to pay out-of-pocket.

Democratic response

What they’re saying:

In a news release by the Texas House Democrats on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, Chair Rep. Gene Wu referred to the redistricting map and once again explained the reasoning for breaking quorum in August 2025.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – AUGUST 18: Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, holds his permission slip, granting him permission to leave the House Chamber, after the session ended for the day at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-States

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“We broke quorum because Governor Abbott held flood victims’ hostage for his intentionally racist map designed to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans,” said Texas House of Representatives Minority Leader Rep. Gene Wu. 

“Faced with Republican inaction on flooding and voting rights, we took action, and every day we were gone, we did exactly what our constituents wanted us to do: fight for them. Breaking quorum is a constitutional right, and we will use every tool available to challenge these fines.”

Good morning, Texas. Here’s what you need to know today. 

Your Weather Planner

While all eyes are on the weekend chance for wintry precipitation, most of the week will be mild. A few rain showers may greet us Wednesday morning for Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, but amounts will be light. An arctic cold front will plunge into Texas on Friday. Right now, we know cold temperatures are likely. Confidence of impacts and amounts of wintry precipitation across Texas continue to increase for the weekend, but we are still too far out to be specific. Stay tuned to the forecast as things can and will change. 

Get your 7-day forecast: Austin | San Antonio | Dallas

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Around Texas 

1. Third migrant dies at El Paso detention center

A third migrant has died at an El Paso detention camp as an investigation into another immigrant’s death earlier this month has brought national attention to the facility.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that 36-year-old Victor Manuel Diaz died in ICE custody on Jan. 14 at Camp East Montana, an immigration detention center at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso.

2. Texas AG Paxton declares DEI policies unconstitutional

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a standalone legal opinion on Monday—Martin Luther King Jr. Day—about the unconstitutionality of diversity, equity and inclusion policies and programs in the state of Texas. 

The 74-page opinion declares over 100 state laws to be unconstitutional and notes that both public institutions and private companies engaging in DEI practices are exposing themselves to legal challenges.

3. Freeze brings concern for Texas power grid that has strengthened over past 5 years

Some of the coldest temperatures of the season are here. Since the February 2021 winter storm that left millions without power, freezes bring concern for the Texas power grid.

Energy experts say that almost five years later, the grid is in a much stronger position because of better weatherization, stricter inspections for power plants and gas pipelines and new energy.

A woman walks across the snow covered street near the Texas state capitol Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Temperatures dropped into the single digits as snow shut down air travel and grocery stores. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Around The Nation

1. Army puts 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota deployment, AP sources say

2. Norwegian leader says he received Trump message that reportedly ties Greenland to Nobel Peace Prize

3. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service kicks off America250 volunteerism effort

Deep in the Heart of Texas 

Timothy, a 7-year-old hippopotamus, chases an ice block at the San Antonio Zoo, Friday, July 8, 2022, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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San Antonio Zoo brings back Valentine’s fundraiser that names a cockroach after your ex

A viral fundraiser is showing love to the San Antonio Zoo while exacting revenge on exes of Valentine’s Day past.

The zoo’s annual Cry Me a Cockroach initiative is “back and bigger than ever,” according to its website. With a donation, people ages 18 and older can symbolically name a cockroach after an ex-lover.