Fire hydrant all dressed up. Photo: Shafaq Patel/Axios
👋 Shafaq here. I spotted this freshly painted American-flag fire hydrant in Missouri City.
Why it matters: The U.S. is one month away from its 250th birthday, and signs of the semiquincentennial are showing up everywhere — from decorated fire hydrants to patriotic merchandise lining grocery store shelves.
Plus, Texas state agencies are instructed to prominently display the Texas America250 logo on their homepages, after Abbott's chief of staff, Robert Black, sent a directive to agency heads.
What we're watching: July 4 will be Houston's final World Cup match. The day will culminate with the city's annual Freedom Over Texas Fourth of July celebration, complete with fireworks.
