Fires in Brown County were extinguished earlier this week, according to the latest Pfluger Fly-By congressional newsletter, which also thanked local first responders and law enforcement officers who helped fight fires and evacuate residents. The update included several opportunities and federal-program announcements relevant to residents of Brownwood and communities across Texas’s 11th Congressional District.
The newsletter said the congressional office is accepting applications for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge, a computer-science competition for middle and high school students. Participants may create original apps using any programming language, platform or tools. Students may enter individually or in teams of up to four, and submissions are due October 26, 2026.
Brown County fire response highlighted
The update opened with a message for Texans affected by the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties. It said the Brown County fires had already been extinguished and expressed appreciation for local emergency personnel involved in the response.
The newsletter specifically thanked “all of our local first responders and law enforcement officers who have been on the ground fighting the fires and evacuating residents.” It did not provide the locations, acreage, cause, number of evacuations or damage totals for the Brown County fires.
App Challenge offers student showcase
The 2026 Congressional App Challenge is open to students in middle and high school. The office described it as an opportunity to build computer-science and STEM skills while displaying students’ coding work.
The winning app will be displayed on the U.S. House of Representatives website and CongressionalAppChallenge.us. The newsletter said the app is expected to be unveiled at a congressional reception in Washington, D.C., in late December, although the date had not been determined. Additional prizes may be announced.
Students seeking information about the competition can visit CongressionalAppChallenge.us or contact Kathy Keane at [email protected]. The newsletter encouraged applicants to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations before submitting an entry.
Service Academy Night set for San Angelo
Students, parents and educators interested in U.S. Service Academies are invited to a Service Academy Night scheduled for September 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the ASU Houston Harte University Center’s CJ Davidson Conference Center, 1910 Rosemont Drive, San Angelo. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.
The event is intended for students in the 11th Congressional District who are interested in becoming military officers or joining college ROTC. Questions may be directed to Service Academy Liaison Mary O’Connor at [email protected]. A recording of a previous Service Academy Night is available for students who cannot attend.
Other federal updates in the newsletter
The congressional office said Kimble, Mason and Menard counties had been added to a presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance following recent flooding. The designation provides local governments with federal resources for infrastructure repairs and recovery. Agricultural producers in Kimble or Menard counties who experienced livestock or infrastructure losses may be eligible for USDA Disaster Assistance.
The update also addressed New World Screwworm cases reported across Texas. It said the USDA and Texas had taken action to eradicate the threat, including deploying sterile flies across affected areas. People who see signs of maggot infestation in live or recently dead wild animals were advised to call USDA Wildlife Services at 866-487-3297. Ranchers were urged to monitor livestock and report unusual findings to the USDA, with official updates available at screwworm.gov.
Additional items included the presentation of a Congressional Bronze Medal to Mason High School student Sabina Perez, recognition of outgoing Mason County Judge Sheree Hardin, and a call for students in grades K-8 to join Second Lady Usha Vance’s Summer Reading Challenge. Students participating in the reading challenge must read 12 books, complete a reading log and submit it to receive a prize.
Residents who need assistance with a federal agency were reminded that the congressional office can help. The newsletter did not publish a Brownwood-specific federal assistance deadline or a separate local contact number.