The State of Texas: Here's what happened, y'all

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [TexPats: A Texan's Guide to Steamboat, Colorado]( [Texas Monthly]( November 7, 2018 QUOTE OF THE DAY “I also want to take a moment to congratulate Beto O’Rourke. He poured his heart into that campaign. He worked tirelessly . . . And I want to also say, millions across this state were inspired by his campaign. They didn’t prevail, and I am grateful the people of Texas chose a better path.” —Ted Cruz, [who was reelected]( to the U.S. Senate on Tuesday night. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Cruz beat his challenger, Democrat Beto O'Rourke, 50.9 percent to 48.3 percent. THE LATEST [Ted Cruz Wins a Second Term in Closely Fought Race]( CARLOS SANCHEZ A spirited campaign by opponent Beto O’Rourke made the race a national obsession. [Read more.]( MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS... Toki the Goodwill snake's happy ending [via [Fort Worth Star-Telegram](] Austin Pair's pet albino red-tailed boa constrictor, Toki, escaped from his cage way back in May. When Pair moved out of the Saginaw house Toki disappeared from, he donated clothes and two couches to a Goodwill. Toki was discovered by a Goodwill worker (thankfully while snake lover and assistant manager James Murphy was working) and reunited with Pair, who is happy to have his friend and fellow Dallas Spurs enthusiast back. We’ll feature our favorite piece of weird news here each Wednesday. Tomorrow, and every Thursday, tune in for our weekly news quiz! [TexPats: A Texan's Guide to Steamboat, Colorado]( OUR TOP STORIES [Meet the Women Whose Persistence Made Texas A&M Change Its Sexual Assault Policies]( The university implemented sweeping changes after members of Twelfth Woman and others went public with their experiences. [Read more.]( [The Only Texas Chili Recipe You’ll Ever Need]( Winter is coming. [Read more.]( [Catfishing and Conspiracy in Groves]( A young city councilman’s Grindr photos were leaked, and he now faces a recall election. Was there a conspiracy to oust him, and did it come from inside City Hall? [Read more.]( THE STATE OF TEXAS Chaotic Day You likely know the key outcomes of the midterm elections (and if you don't, [check out all of our coverage here](, or check around this newsletter!), but, hoo boy, it was a long road to get there. First, U.S. Border Patrol planned to have a ["crowd control" exercise in El Paso](, less than a half mile from a polling place—not exactly the best optics. Members of Congress and civil rights groups quickly criticized the move, and the exercise was postponed. Then, [after a lawsuit]( from the Texas Civil Rights Project and the Texas Organizing Project, a state district judge ordered Harris County to extend the hours of nine polling locations that opened later than scheduled Tuesday morning. What a day! History Made Texas is sending [its first Latinas to Congress](. Tuesday night, former El Paso county judge Veronica Escobar and state Senator Sylvia Garcia were elected to the U.S. House. Escobar will take Beto O'Rourke's District 16 seat, which he gave up in his unsuccessful run against Senator Ted Cruz. Garcia, a six-year veteran of the state Senate, will take over the District 29 seat in Houston. As the Texas Tribune notes, Escobar and Garcia are among the first women from Texas to be elected to a full term in Congress in over twenty years. Get Outside In honor of Veterans Day on Sunday, [state parks in Texas]( will be waiving their fees for day-use passes. Parks will be hosting guided hikes, bird watching, and other special activities throughout the day on November 11. "The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas State Parks are very proud of the men and women that serve our country in the military," said Rodney Franklin, Interim Director of Texas State Parks. "Welcoming visitors to state parks for free on Sunday, is our way of saying thanks to those who have served in the military and their families." Fees will still apply for camping and other special activities, but hey! Get out there and enjoy the "fall weather." TRAVEL & OUTDOORS [The Best Deer Hunts in Texas]( MIKE LEGGETT Whitetail season is nearly upon us. Here are the destinations that belong at the top of every hunter’s bucket list. [Read more.]( [Stay Roped in with Rodeo Report]( [Stay Roped in with Rodeo Report]( Get an inside look into the high-intensity world that combines talented athletes with horses and livestock, steep competition, old-school traditions, and family fun. Rodeo Report’s coverage from the PRCA circuit includes competitor updates, performance analysis, and behind-the-scenes stories of triumphs, challenges, injuries, and rerides.Read More]( [TexPats: A Texan's Guide to Steamboat, Colorado]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [The Latest Texas Vanity Plate Auction Has Some Real Winners]( DAN SOLOMON [Greg Abbott Wins A Second Term as Governor]( CARLOS SANCHEZ [Texas Congressional Delegation Grows More Diverse Amid Several Republican Upsets]( MARIA RECIO [Subscribe to Texas Monthly today and save!]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Website]( Texas Monthly PO Box 1569 Austin, TX 78767 Texas Monthly has sent you this alert because you signed up to receive it either online at texasmonthly.com, at the website of one of our business partners, or when you filled out a reader response card. You may opt-out from Texas Monthly newsletters at any time. Please see our Privacy Policy. If you would like to manage which Texas Monthly Editorial newsletters you are receiving, click Preferences, below. To unsubscribe from our Editorial newsletters, click Unsubscribe. [Like]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](