Good evening, Texas. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

A seasonal cold front passed south through Texas Wednesday, bringing cooler – but near normal – temperatures for the next few days. We’ll see some chilly temperatures Thursday morning, but most areas should stay just above freezing. Highs will stay in the low 60s for north Texas, middle and upper 60s for central regions with highs in the low 70s for the south. A reinforcing shot of cool, dry air arrives Friday.

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Today's Big Stories

1. Avian influenza detected in Galveston County

The first confirmed case of avian influenza in Galveston County has been reported by the Galveston County Health District.

The bird was reported by a resident of the area and collected by Texas City Animal Control on Dec. 5.

Two Texas City Animal Control Officers who responded to the case started experiencing symptoms soon after. However, rapid tests conducted by Galveston County Animal Resource Center returned negative results for avian flu.

2. Supreme Court agrees to hear TikTok’s First Amendment challenge to U.S. ban if not sold

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok’s challenge to the constitutionality of the federal law that would ban the popular video-based social media app in the United States unless its China-based parent company agrees to sell it.

The court set oral arguments in the case for Jan. 10 in a brief order released Wednesday morning, asking TikTok’s lawyers and the federal government to present their arguments on whether the app “violates the First Amendment.”

A man carries a Free TikTok sign in front of the courthouse where the hush-money trial of Donald Trump was underway on April 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

3. Traveling during the holidays? AAA wants to make sure you're prepared

The holiday season is upon us, and that means Texans will hit the road or take to the skies to get to their holiday destinations. 

AAA Texas is predicting that many Texans–around 9.1 million–will travel during the holiday season.

Of those travelers, the automobile organization is predicting that approximately 90% of Texans will choose to drive to their holiday destinations, making for some congested roadways. Here are some tips for driving during the holidays.

4. AP source: House Ethics Committee voted to release findings in Gaetz investigation

The House Ethics Committee secretly voted earlier this month to release its report on its three-year investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., a a person familiar with the vote confirmed to The Associated Press.

The panel’s findings are expected to be made public after the House’s final votes before their holiday recess, according to CNN, which was the first to report on the vote Wednesday. In a social media post, Gaetz addressed the reports about the vote and denied any wrongdoing, while acknowledging his "30s were an era of working very hard - and playing hard too."

Notes for Tomorrow 

In Case You Missed It  

A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for the late singer Selena Quintanilla is pictured following a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Selena tribute concert coming to San Antonio in 2025

The San Antonio Philharmonic Orchestra is bringing “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” to the Majestic Theatre next year for “Selena VIVE!” — a Selena Quintanilla tribute concert.

Award-winning conductor Felipe Tristán will lead the orchestra in honoring the late Tejano singer’s iconic music from Fri. Jan. 3 through Sun. Jan. 5. Grammy-nominated vocalist Isabel Marie Sánchez will perform.