Infomaniacs: April 27, 2018 (6:00am)

The Talarico team issued a press release today promoting that more than 20 Current and Former Republican Leaders are endorsing Talarico for Senate. Two names on the list should be familiar to those in Brazos County. Shane Phelps is a local defense attorney who served as the Deputy Attorney General for Texas from 1999 to 2001, and was an Assistant District Attorney in Brazos County from 2001 to 2011. James Edge is the Mayor Pro Tem of Bryan. He says “As a Republican, I believe in faith, family, the rule of law, and holding public officials accountable when they betray the public trust. I will support plenty of Republicans this November, but I cannot vote for Ken Paxton.” Edge adds, “Talarico has demonstrated that he is willing to listen, work across party lines, and put Texas and our country first. As a lifelong conservative Republican, I’m proud to support him this November.”

This is some George Jetson and Fifth Element level stuff right here! Taxis will be taking to the skies in Texas. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced today that they’re launching the first phase of Project Nexus. It’s a multi-phase testing program focused on safely preparing next-generation aircraft for future use in Texas skies. This first phase will test with traditional aircraft such as helicopters and fixed-wing planes. The next phase involves testing for medical and cargo logistics, like critical medical supplies or organs between rural facilities and urban medical centers in Austin and San Antonio. The final phase involves passengers in “air taxi” flights across the Texas triangle (Dallas-San Antonio-Houston). The nationwide projects involve leading aircraft manufacturers, operators and state partners and include a range of operational concepts, including: Urban air taxi services Regional passenger transportation Cargo and logistics networks Emergency medical response operations Autonomous flight technologies Offshore and energy-sector transportation The phases are expected to rollout over the next three years. So realistically, this could all be reality by 2030. Here is the full Media Release from TxDOT (09/10/2026): FORT WORTH – Taxis are taking to the skies in Texas as the state launches test flights for a pilot program that’ll benefit the state economy and the nation. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is launching the first phase of Project Nexus. This multi-state testing program is focused on safely preparing next-generation aircraft for future use in Texas skies. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) selected TxDOT’s proposal to be part of the new Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) back in March 2026. “Under President Trump, we are unlocking the future of flight and empowering innovators to build and test these exciting aircraft right here in the U.S.,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Today marks another critical step in our work to reshape how people and products move for the better.” “In Texas, we don’t wait for the future to arrive, we build it,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said. “The Lone Star State is pushing the boundaries by testing the next generation of aircraft through Project Nexus. I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Duffy for their leadership and decisive action. These technologies will connect communities, expand access to jobs and services, and strengthen supply chains. What starts in Texas will help shape the future of aviation throughout the entire country.” “Texas has always understood that transportation is about more than moving people and goods. It is about connecting opportunity,” said Texas Transportation Commissioner Steven D. Alvis. “Project Nexus puts Texas at the forefront of a transformational moment in aviation. Thanks to projects like these and the vision of Governor Greg Abbott, we are helping build a safer, more connected, and more prosperous future for Texans and for the country. This will help ensure our transportation system continues to meet the needs of a growing state and a growing economy.” This first phase will test across the state using traditional aircraft such as helicopters and fixed-wing planes. “We’re proud to lead the way in transportation innovation as we look to find new ways to connect the people of Texas,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “Project Nexus is a first-of-its-kind opportunity to gather real-world data, improve safety and build a framework for how electric aircraft could one day connect people, goods and communities across the state.” Project Nexus is focused on creating a scalable system that can connect urban centers, rural communities and neighboring states as advanced air mobility technology develops. These initial flights will not carry passengers and are designed to collect data, validate routes and support the safe development of future advanced air mobility operations. Duffy, Cruz and TxDOT helped launch this first phase at Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Manufacturers and operators were also there to provide an aircraft demonstration. The nationwide projects involve leading aircraft manufacturers, operators and state partners and include a range of operational concepts, including: Urban air taxi services Regional passenger transportation Cargo and logistics networks Emergency medical response operations Autonomous flight technologies Offshore and energy-sector transportation The Texas pilot will advance in phases over the next three years. The next phases involve testing for medical and cargo logistics, such as transporting critical medical supplies or organs between rural facilities and urban medical centers in Austin and San Antonio. The final phase involves passengers in “air taxi” flights across the Texas triangle.

The “Learn Why You’ll Love It Here” campaign and record-setting spring sports lineup earn top honors for leisure and sports tourism promotion. Here is the Media Release from Visit College Station on 09/10/2026: (COLLEGE STATION, TX) — Visit College Station was honored with two Destination Excellence Awards at the 2026 Destinations Texas Annual Conference held Sept 2-4 recognizing the organization’s leisure marketing campaign and its promotion of major sporting events hosted in the destination this year. “The Destination Excellence Awards recognize remarkable achievement in destination management and marketing across Texas,” said Kathleen Davis, president and CEO of Destinations Texas. “Behind every one of these winning entries is a community that got busier, a hotel that stayed full, and a local business that made payroll. That is the real measure of this work.” In the DMO category with a budget of over $3 million, Visit College Station received the Best Leisure Tourism Campaign award for “Learn Why You’ll Love It Here,” the destination’s brand platform built on a college-course creative device unique to Aggieland. The win reflects the marketing team’s work creating and expanding the platform across leisure, sales and sports audiences, building destination brand awareness beyond College Station’s university association. The campaign drove measurable gains in awareness and engagement across web, social, paid media and public relations. The organization also won Best Sports Tourism Promotion for its work bringing three marquee sporting events to College Station within a five-week span in spring and early summer 2026: the Savannah Bananas at Kyle Field, the Argentina vs. Honduras “Road to 26″ match leading up to World Cup, and the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix at E.B. Cushing Stadium. The events drew more than 190,000 combined attendees, generated an estimated $33.5 million in direct economic impact and produced nearly 2,900 news articles worldwide with an estimated $146.56 million in advertising value equivalency. The sports tourism win reflects a joint effort between Visit College Station’s sales and marketing teams, working alongside Texas A&M University and event organizers to plan, fund and promote the events. ” I’m super proud. These awards belong to our entire team, who put in the work day in and day out to build College Station into a destination that competes and wins on a national stage,” said Jeremiah Cook, Assistant Director of Tourism for Visit College Station. “None of it happens without our partners at Texas A&M and across the community, collaborating and working together toward a singular goal. This is a win for the whole city.” Destinations Texas, formerly the Texas Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, recognizes excellence in tourism marketing and promotion among Texas destination organizations each year at its annual conference. These awards are a reminder of why tourism matters to College Station: every visitor drawn here brings new dollars into local hotels, restaurants and shops, supporting jobs and easing the tax burden on residents.   ### ABOUT VISIT COLLEGE STATION      Visit College Station is the official destination marketing organization for the City of College Station, home to Texas A&M University, the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the legendary Texas hospitality that defines Aggieland. Located at the center of the Texas Triangle, College Station is within a three-hour drive of Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio, making it one of the most accessible weekend destinations in the state. From game days at Kyle Field to military heritage, Brazos Valley trails to historic Northgate nights; visitors are invited to learn why you’ll love it here. Plan your trip at  VisitCollegeStation.com