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.
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday he has secured a settlement of bankruptcy claims against genetic testing company 23andMe stemming from a 2023 data breach that exposed personal information, including some genetic ancestry data, of 6.9 million customers worldwide.
Paxton’s office said the settlement includes $150 million for a multistate coalition of 42 states. But because of limited funds in 23andMe’s bankruptcy estate and competing claims, the states’ recovery will be $18 million paid immediately, with Texas receiving $1,266,860.
23andMe disclosed in October 2023 that attackers had accessed accounts affecting 6.9 million consumers. Some of the information was later posted for sale on the dark web, according to Paxton’s office, which said the company learned of the breach months after the data became publicly available. The office said 23andMe initially denied a breach and later blamed consumers’ account settings and password practices.
Paxton joined a multistate investigation that concluded 23andMe used unreasonable security practices and failed to implement adequate safeguards against hacking, the office said.
23andMe filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2025. Paxton’s office said the settlement incorporates privacy and cybersecurity requirements, including enhanced security standards, comprehensive risk assessments and creation of an independent advisory board, along with enforcement of state privacy laws and continued consumer data deletion rights.
“Companies that collect and profit from Texans’ most personal information have a legal duty to protect it,” Paxton said in a statement.
The company also agreed to a $46.75 million class-action settlement in the bankruptcy case for affected U.S. consumers who submitted claims by Feb. 17, 2026, Paxton’s office said.
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2025 season with more expectations than any team has had to deal with in recent memory.
Many among the media were ready to crown the team and quarterback Arch Manning before they even played one game. Of course, those unrealistic expectations were never met, even though the team finished with a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl win over the Michigan Wolverines.
2026 is heading in the same direction for the Longhorns. Many believe head coach Steve Sarkisian has the most talented team in the country. But in order to fix the issues from this past season, the Longhorns needed to fix one issue that has cost them in the past.
Changing The Narrative
One of the biggest issues the Longhorns had last season was the play of the offensive line. It was apparent in the first game of the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes that Manning didn’t have the pocket time needed to make big plays.
This offseason, Coach Sarkisian went out and found two massive transfer portal additions that should completely change the narrative on this offensive line.
It starts with potential starting right tackle Melvin Siani. Siani has spent time with the Temple Owls and last season with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
The Longhorns are set at left tackle with Trevor Goosby, who could play himself into being a top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If the team can get competent play from Siani, the offense will be able to open up the playbook, and the world may finally see Manning at his college peak.
The Longhorns also went out and found a potential fix at left guard for the 2026 season. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers transfer Laurence Seymore could be another strong patch for the holes in the offensive line.
After spending the first two seasons of his college career with the Miami Hurricanes, Seymore made stops with the Akron Zips and the Hilltoppers.
Of course, the one concern with Seymore is wondering if he can compete at the SEC level coming from the C-USA.
This season for the Longhorns starts and stops with the play of Manning. Coach Sarkisian and the rest of this coaching staff understood that protecting their quarterback was the most important goal when building the 2026 roster.
The Longhorns are going to be leaning on veteran talent to protect their quarterback, and it may very well be the best decision they made this offseason.
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