After deadly Texas flood, families face a Thanksgiving shadowed by grief and loss

Ethan Dietz, a sophomore basketball player at Connors State College in Oklahoma, passed away on Tuesday due to a head injury sustained during a game on Saturday in Texas. The college confirmed the incident and stated that several games have been canceled following his death.

A Texas landlord has initiated a legal challenge against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in the U.S. Supreme Court, contesting the agency's immunity from lawsuits regarding lost or mishandled mail. This case highlights the frustrations faced by individuals when dealing with postal service issues, particularly concerning accountability for mail delivery failures.

Universities and school districts across the United States are advocating for a reexamination of Thanksgiving, framing it as a 'Day of Mourning' to acknowledge its colonial roots. This movement incorporates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) perspectives into traditional celebrations, aiming to reshape the narrative surrounding the holiday.

This Thanksgiving holiday travel period is projected to be the busiest in 15 years, with nearly 20 million travelers expected to pass through TSA checkpoints, as Americans resume travel following a recent government shutdown that disrupted air travel nationwide.

Former President Donald Trump's push to redraw congressional maps mid-decade is facing resistance from local officials across both parties, complicating his efforts to secure Republican-friendly districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Despite initial success in Texas, where five additional red districts were drawn, the backlash has prompted California to propose five new Democrat-friendly districts in response.

The FAA has announced that air travel is back to normal as millions prepare to fly during the Thanksgiving holiday, with over six million expected to travel. This follows weeks of disruptions caused by a government shutdown that affected flight operations across the country.

During the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump spared two turkeys, Gobble and Waddle, while delivering a speech filled with political satire and personal insults aimed at political opponents. This event, a long-standing tradition, serves as a festive kickoff to the Thanksgiving celebrations.

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating on Texas's emergency appeal to reinstate a congressional map that is perceived to favor the Republican Party. This case is part of a larger wave of redistricting disputes affecting multiple states, including Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, with a decision expected imminently.