Texas
Texas governor issues plea to Thanksgiving travelers
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has urged drivers to remain vigilant during Thanksgiving travel to ensure safety on the roads.
On Tuesday, the governor wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “When you’re traveling to visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, remain vigilant on the road. Eliminate distractions and arrive at your destination safely.”
Abbott’s message included a repost of a Monday safety notice from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), which highlighted the dangers of distracted driving as a record 71 million Americans are set to travel for the holiday, the American Automobile Association (AAA) reported.
In its X post, the Texas DPS wrote: “Distracted driving is dangerous and preventable. This holiday season, keep your focus on the road. Check out today’s video for tips on how to minimize distractions and arrive safely.”
A video accompanying the DPS post featured Sergeant Bryan Washko who gave drivers a series of safety tips.
“Distracted driving is dangerous for you and everyone else on the road. Put your phone away, silence notifications, and store your phone out of reach while driving,” he said.
Washko added: “Limit in car distractions. Avoid activities that take your focus off the roads, such as eating, changing music, or reaching for items. Engage passengers. If you’re traveling with others, ask a passenger to help with tasks like navigation or phone calls. Taking these simple steps will help everyone have a safe and happy holiday season. From everyone here at DPS, happy holidays.”
Newsweek has contacted the DPS via email for comment.
Eric Gay/ASSOCIATED PRESS
DPS has announced an increased traffic enforcement effort from Wednesday through Sunday to prioritize road safety during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Texas Highway Patrol will focus on violations such as driving while intoxicated, speeding, failing to wear seat belts, and ignoring the “Move Over, Slow Down” law, which protects emergency responders and others stopped on the side of the road.
“With Thanksgiving around the corner, we remind everyone to stay vigilant on the roads. There can be countless distractions this time of year, but your safety and the safety of others is what matters most,” DPS Director Steven McCraw stated in a Monday press release.
During last year’s Thanksgiving enforcement effort, DPS issued 41,093 warnings and citations, including 11,525 for speeding, 1,310 for driving without insurance, and 596 for seat belt violations.
Safety tips provided by DPS include eliminating distractions, buckling up, avoiding impaired driving, slowing down in poor conditions, and reporting hazards to law enforcement.
Drivers are also encouraged to monitor weather and road conditions online to plan their travel routes.
More than 150 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks — a major outbreak less than two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American troops would no longer be required to be vaccinated against the flu.
A day off at the pool — and a little sunburn — didn’t stop the Minnesota Twins’ momentum.
Brooks Lee hit a three-run homer as Minnesota scored multiple runs in the first inning for the third consecutive game, and the Twins went on to complete a series sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 win Thursday.
Minnesota has won four games in a row and scored 25 runs in the three-games series in Texas. The two teams had a rare, mid-series day off on Wednesday with the England-Croatia World Cup game being played in Arlington.
“We’re locked in every day,” Lee told Audra Martin on the team’s broadcast. “Yesterday, taking time off, lay out by the pool, get a little burnt and then right back to it. We did a good job getting focused. I feel like we do that with rain delays, too, just lock back in and we’re doing it.”
Lee’s 12th homer capped a four-run first off Jack Leiter (3-7). Trevor Larnach made it 6-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot to straightaway center that just cleared the extended glove of leaping Alejandro Osuna. Larnach’s third hit was an RBI single in the fifth, and Ryan Kriedler hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Joe Ryan (5-3) struck out seven but needed 97 pitches to get through five scoreless innings while allowing three singles. Leiter was done after the fourth, and has given up 17 runs while losing three starts in a row.
The Twins never trailed in the sweep that extended their winning streak to four, matching their longest this season. Their 14-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best for any American League opponent since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Wyatt Langford, Ezequiel Duran and Justin Foscue hit solo homers for the Rangers, who have lost five of six games. They are 0-15 when giving up multiple runs in the first inning.
Twins DH Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had an RBI single before Lee’s homer. Bell hit a three-run homer in the first inning of the series-opening 4-2 win Monday, and had an RBI single for a 2-0 lead in the first of a 12-2 win on Tuesday.
“We’re just passing the baton each time,” Lee said of the offensive output. “Our guys are hot. They feel good and they came out swinging today. It was awesome to see. We’ve done that for a while now.”
Up next
Twins rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26 ERA) starts Friday at Arizona. The Diamondbacks are scheduled to start right-hander Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11).
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