The University of Texas System will waive tuition costs for students from families earning $100,000 or less beginning next fall.

Why it matters: The plan includes an immediate infusion of $35 million to the nine campuses, making the UT System the first in Texas and one of the first in the country to offer such a sweeping financial aid benefit, UT System officials said.

What they're saying: "To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us," Board of Regents chairman Kevin Eltife said in a statement.

Catch up quick: Gov. Greg Abbott recently said he doesn't want Texas colleges and universities to increase tuition through the 2026-27 year.

• Currently, the UT System covers tuition for students whose families' annual household income is $65,000 or less and tuition support for students whose families earn $125,000 or less.

Zoom in: About 1,200 UT Dallas undergraduates currently qualify for free tuition because their family income falls below the UT system's $65,000 threshold, per a university spokesperson.

• UT Arlington offers free tuition to students whose families make less than $85,000 through a program called Blaze Forward. This year, UTA fully covered tuition and fees for 49% of undergraduates.

The intrigue: UT System officials say the average student debt at its institutions has declined in the past five years with the help of the free tuition program, and it's 10% lower on average than other Texas public four-year universities.

• The percentage of UT System graduates with debt has declined from around 54% in 2019 to around 48% last year, officials said.

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A typical Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost about $58 this year, a new report finds — down around 5% from last year but up nearly 20% in unadjusted dollars from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters: Grocery prices are a key way Americans experience inflation, and Thanksgiving puts food costs front and center.

Driving the news: Those figures come from the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual survey, released Wednesday and based on observed nationwide prices for a hypothetical basket of Thanksgiving staples.

• That includes turkey — obviously! — plus cranberries, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie mix.
• ☝️ Axios created an expanded menu, which includes two other Thanksgiving favorites: ham and potatoes.

Between the lines: Adjusting for inflation back to 1982, as the group always does, this year's Farm Bureau basket is one of the cheapest in decades.

Yes, but: That's not how everyday people think about prices, and grocery costs have been a major worry for many since the pandemic and through the recent election.

• Indeed, 44% of Thanksgiving hosts surveyed are concerned about the cost of having folks over for dinner this year, per a separate Deloitte report
• 3 in 10 hosts surveyed are inviting fewer people, Deloitte found, while some are also expecting guests to bring dishes to reduce costs.

✝️ The Texas State Board of Education gave final approval to a Bible-infused curriculum for elementary school students. (Texas Tribune)

⛪️ Bishop T.D. Jakes experienced a "slight health incident" while preaching at the Potter's House yesterday. The Dallas megachurch said he was in stable condition after getting medical help. (CBS News)

💰 A Florida man is accused of taking $600,000 from a Frisco woman by claiming to be billionaire Elon Musk. (FOX4)

👖 Dickies, which has been based in Fort Worth for 102 years, is moving its headquarters to California. Its parent company also owns Vans, and both brands will work out of the same location. (NBC5)

💡 The Christmas Capital of Texas will switch on its holiday lights at the 36th annual Carol of Lights. There will be multiple performance stages, shopping, kids activities and food trucks.

• 4-8:30pm today along Grapevine's Main Street. Free.

🔅 Light up the garden. Lightscape has returned to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Illuminated art installations and millions of lights decorate the 120-acre garden. 

• Open nightly through Jan. 5 in Fort Worth. Tickets start at $18. 

🐻❄️ Hop aboard. Gather a group and snuggle up under the stars to watch "The Polar Express." Blankets, chairs and picnics are welcome at this movie night.

• 7pm Dec. 4 at The Star in Frisco's main plaza. Free.

🛍️ Merrily stroll along. Wander shops and restaurants on a Christmas Sip & Stroll at The Star in Frisco. Get a map, shopping tote and seasonal tasting glass. 

• 6-9pm Dec. 5 at 5 Cowboys Way in Frisco. $35.

🎺 March to your holiday beat. The Dallas Holiday Parade will feature inflatables, 18 marching bands, antique cars and pageant queens. The parade marches along Commerce Street in downtown Dallas. 

• The parade starts at 9am Dec. 7. Free, unless you want seats. Doors open for ticket holders at 7am.