Good Morning! On this day in 1924, Waco native Julius Lorenzo Cobb Bledsoe made his professional singing debut at Aeolian Hall in New York City. The baritone is remembered for his portrayal of Joe in the 1927 musical Show Boat.
The Texas Department of Public Safety graduated eight new K-9 teams on Friday. Scroll through their pics here, and hit reply to let us know if you have a favorite.
Today’s sponsor, Share-Ify, is using AI to help food companies improve safety, streamline operations, and respond faster to potential risks across the supply chain.
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Energy Demand Forecast Likely Inflated
Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the state’s power grid operator, met with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Friday to discuss ERCOT’s recent report projecting that the state’s energy demand will quadruple over the next six years.
A report submitted last week predicts peak energy demand will reach 367,790 megawatts by 2032, while the all-time record from August 2023 is 85,508 megawatts.
However, ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas said the forecast is likely inflated due to the “changing landscape” of the state’s data center boom.
“Texas is experiencing exceptional growth and development, which is reshaping how large load demand is identified, verified, and incorporated into long-term planning,” Vegas said. Texas is expected to become the country’s No. 1 data center market within two years.
The PUCT ordered ERCOT to reevaluate its forecast to ensure accuracy before it’s used to make long-term plans. “I think it’s clear we need to engage in the process to find ways to refine this number into something that’s more usable,” PUCT Chair Thomas Gleeson said.
Fermi America CEO Steps Down
Toby Neugebauer, the CEO of the Rick Perry-backed company developing the world’s largest data center campus near Amarillo, stepped down Friday, causing Fermi America’s stock to plummet more than 30% in aftermarket trading.
The endeavor, dubbed Project Matador, was announced last June, and Fermi America went public in October. In December, a prospective tenant canceled a $150 million advance to support construction, prompting investors to file a class-action lawsuit.
In a Thursday interview, Neugebauer acknowledged that he “misunderstood where the supply chain is” for the equipment needed to cool advanced AI chips. He said the company was in talks with a prospective tenant but couldn’t disclose who.
Fermi America plans to power the 11-gigawatt data center with on-site solar, natural gas, and nuclear power. Project Matador is being developed on 5,236 acres leased from Texas Tech University and could eventually expand to 7,570 acres.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Launches in Texas
Massachusetts-based BJ’s Wholesale Club will open its first Texas store in Forney this Friday and plans to open locations in Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, and Waxahachie in the coming weeks. Stores in Mesquite and Tyler are also in the works.
BJ’s sells bulk food products alongside some smaller-portioned items and prepared meals. “What we find is that many of our members do their weekly grocery shopping with us,” spokesperson Kirk Saville said.
Customers can also find household goods, clothing, and electronics at the company’s stores. A robot roams the aisles to scan for items that are low on stock. On Wednesday, the Forney store will be selling gas for $2 a gallon ahead of its grand opening this weekend.
“Our focus on value and our unique club model are resonating with families,” Saville said. “Based on the enthusiasm we’re seeing in our communities, Texas is a great fit for us.”
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➤ Kerrville: A committee of Texas lawmakers investigating the deaths of 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic last summer is visiting the site of the catastrophe today. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, the National Weather Service released a detailed report on the flash floods that killed more than 130 people in the Hill Country and Central Texas last July. (More)
➤ Houston: Authorities are looking for 24-year-old Kevin Faux, who has been charged with murder in the death of Ashanti Allen, 23, who was eight months pregnant with his child. In February, Faux was released on a plea deal for a previous assault on Allen. (More)
➤ Austin: A monument to veterans of the American Revolution who later settled in Texas was dedicated at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday. Gov. Greg Abbott was inducted as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and received the Society’s Silver Good Citizenship Medal. (See Photos)
➤ Canyon: During a campus celebration last week, West Texas A&M marked the end of a five-year fundraising campaign that raised $208,654,050. (More)
➤ Judson ISD: The district’s board of trustees approved the elimination of more than 500 positions to address a projected budget shortfall of $35 million. Earlier this month, the board approved the closure of three elementary schools and one middle school. (See Details)
➤ Austin: The city has asked 675 employees to agree to payroll deductions after an error resulted in overpayments of $1.4 million last month. (More)
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➤ The Dallas Stars opened the playoffs Saturday with a 6-1 home loss to the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series. Matt Boldy scored twice for Minnesota, while Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves. Game 2 is tonight in Dallas. (More)
➤ No. 4 Texas baseball lost 2-1 to No. 11 Alabama on Sunday after winning the first two games of the weekend series, while No. 10 Texas A&M baseball defeated LSU 5-2 yesterday to sweep the three-game series in Baton Rouge. (Scores)
➤ No. 5 Texas softball dropped the second game of its three-game series against No. 13 Georgia 4-2 on Sunday. No. 11 Texas A&M softball erased a 6-0 deficit to beat No. 14 Mississippi State 10-9 yesterday, sweeping the three-game home series. (Scores)
➤Texas A&M senior linebacker Daymion Sanford was carted off the field with a left lower-leg injury during Saturday’s Maroon and White scrimmage game. (More)
➤ Scientists at Washington University discovered that doing this simple couch-yoga pose fixes constipation, bloating, and embarrassing gassy moments. At the same time, they were shocked to see that something SO simple can empty your bowels faster than any laxative or fiber-rich diet can. Read all about this revolutionary trick here: This Couch-Yoga Pose Clears Your Gut Fast
➤ ExxonMobil is planning to develop a carbon capture facility on 25,000 acres in Jefferson and Liberty counties. The project would store carbon dioxide at depths between a half mile and 1.5 miles. (More)
➤ The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of an H-E-B employee, 27, who died following complications from an injury received at a San Antonio warehouse earlier this month. (More)
➤ American Airlines turned down a proposal to merge with United Airlines, the company announced in a statement Friday. United CEO Scott Kirby reportedly pitched the idea during a February meeting with President Trump. (See Details)
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➤ A medical drama filmed at Dallas Medical Center will premiere next weekend at the Dallas International Film Festival. One In A Million was written and directed by Tanner Beard and stars Ashley Greene, Russell Quinn, and Roxton Garcia. (More)
➤ Three ranches spanning nearly 88,000 acres along the Texas-Oklahoma border in the Panhandle have hit the market for $127.7 million. The ranches support livestock and generate additional income through wind energy and bitcoin mining leases. (More)
➤ David Bae, a third-grader at Skaggs Elementary School in Plano, is one of five finalists in the annual Doodle for Google contest. His submission, titled Slow and Steady Wins the Peak, portrays the fable of the tortoise. “My superpower is endurance, not giving up,” he said. (More)
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How many generations has your family lived in Texas?
Energy Demand Forecast Likely Inflated
