Scaled quail – also known as blue quail and “cottontops” – are quintessential creatures of the arid grasslands and the dominant quail species in West Texas. Researchers at Alpine’s Borderlands Research Institute are learing how adaptable these seemingly vulnerable creatures are.

The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Angelo State University as the first school in Texas to join a national initiative to recruit more air traffic controllers. Texas Public Radio’s Kory Cook reports the agreement comes as the FAA works to address staffing shortages across the country. Excavators have a long history of damaging natural gas pipelines in Texas. KERA analysis has found that more than 4,800 pipeline strikes have been reported so far this year.