Monday, November 18, 2024

The Roundup

Article Icon 1NRG Launching Virtual Power Plant

Houston-based NRG Energy is partnering with Renew Home and Google Cloud to launch a virtual power plant (VPP) in Texas next year. The project aims to address the state’s ongoing grid reliability issues.

The VPP will use AI-driven thermostats to optimize energy use and conserve power during peak demand, potentially reducing consumption by up to 1 gigawatt—enough to power 200,000 homes.

The program requires customers to relinquish control of their thermostats but promises potential savings through automatic, real-time HVAC adjustments. Critics of VPPs contend they are inherently volatile and unpredictable.

In the spring, Renew Home will provide free smart Nest and Vivint thermostats to NRG customers who enroll in the program.

Article Icon 1Southwest Airlines Plane Hit by Gunfire

A Southwest Airlines plane was hit by gunfire Friday night at Dallas Love Field Airport as it prepared for takeoff, prompting authorities to ground the aircraft and briefly close one of the airport’s runways.

After a bullet entered the cockpit, the flight’s 99 passengers disembarked and boarded another plane. No one was injured, and the aircraft was removed from service until repairs could be completed.

According to a passenger who spoke to the media, the pilot said there was “a rattle outside of the plane” and that they needed to return to the gate to ensure the aircraft was safe to fly.

Police believe the bullet that hit the aircraft was fired randomly. An investigation is ongoing.

Article Icon 1Lawmakers File Nearly 1,700 Bills

New and returning members of the Texas House and Senate have filed nearly 1,700 bills as of Sunday ahead of next year’s session, which begins on Jan. 14.

Legislators have filed bills to establish a universal school choice program, increase funding for public schools, ban abortion-inducing drugs, lower property taxes, and prohibit foreign ownership of Texas land.

Bills can be filed until the 60th day of the session. In 2023, 8,616 measures were filed during the regular session and four called special sessions, of which 1,266 passed, a rate of less than 15%.

A list of filed House bills can be viewed here, while a list of filed Senate bills can be viewed here. The public can track the progress of any bill by accessing Texas Legislature Online.

The Flyover

Christian children in hostile areas and restricted nations around the world are often mistreated within their communities and face great challenges because of their faith. In some countries, they are specifically targeted for persecution or forced conversion, and they quickly learn the cost of following Christ.

The Voice of the Martyrs works through its global network of front-line workers to bring Christmas Care Packs to children in hostile areas and restricted nations.

Christmas Care Packs are tailored to the specific needs of children in the different regions where they are delivered. The packs include items like school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, a toy, and Christian literature. Every child also receives a full-color, illustrated children’s Bible in the appropriate language. For most of these children, it is the first Bible they have ever received!

Sponsor a Christmas Care Pack today and bless the youngest members of our persecuted Christian family this Christmas.

Around Texas

➤ Houston: The city council designated a new 70-acre mixed-use development at the former Halliburton campus as a “walkable place,” authorizing it to receive additional land and provide less parking. (More)

➤ Tyler: Country singer Sundance Head, winner of the 11th season of NBC’s The Voice in 2016, was accidentally shot in the stomach while reaching into his vehicle for a firearm. The bullet missed all of his internal organs, and he did not require surgery. (See Details)

➤ Dallas: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside a downtown hotel Saturday where the annual Global Conference for Israel was being held. On Thursday, police arrested 10 protesters for briefly blocking traffic near the conference. (More)

➤ San Antonio: The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has created a special enforcement team to address a recent increase in animal-related incidents, particularly dog bites. (More)

➤ Hearne: Police arrested a woman on suspicion of fraud after she claimed a $5 million winning scratch-off lottery ticket earlier this month. Arthurica Jackson, who worked at the store where the ticket was obtained, is being held on a $3 million bond. (More)

➤ Longview: Monica Keasler, who rescues and rehabs squirrels, attempted to clear her name by submitting a freedom of information request to New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation. She claims she has been falsely accused of asking officials to confiscate internet sensation Peanut the Squirrel from its owner last month. (More)

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Texas Sports

The Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys will face off tonight on Monday Night Football. The Texans enter the game favored by a touchdown. (See Preview

➤ No. 3 Texas defeated Arkansas 20-10 on Saturday, while No. 15 Texas A&M blew out New Mexico State 38-3. No. 13 SMU faced a tough ACC matchup against Boston College and showcased their explosive offense, scoring 38 points to defeat the Eagles 38-28. (More)

➤ Baylor’s football team got a big conference win Saturday, beating West Virginia 49-35. Running back Bryson Washington rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns and caught a Sawyer Washington pass for an additional score. (Watch Highlights)

➤ The Dallas Mavericks beat the San Antonio Spurs for the second time this season on Saturday, winning 110-93 in a game that Spurs star Victor Wembanyama sat out due to a bruised knee. (More)

 Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | PGA | LPGA | NCAA-M | NCAA-W

Flying together with our sponsor

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The Business Of Texas
Texas State University is partnering with X-Bow Systems, a producer of solid rocket motors with a manufacturing facility in Luling, to build a state-of-the-art test facility at its Freeman Center research location in San Marcos. (More)

Houston-based Exxon Mobil will lay off nearly 400 employees over the next year and a half following its $63 billion acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources. (See Details)

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to offer investors the opportunity to buy shares at $135 per share next month, pegging the company’s value at $250 billion. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor 

➤ Never lose your reading glasses again! With ThinOptics®, you’ll always have your reading glasses handy! These thin, incredibly durable, and comfortable glasses stick right to the back of your phone, keeping them safely tucked away until you need them. (See It Here)

Flying together with our sponsor

Each year, The Voice of the Martyrs works through its global network of front-line workers to provide Christmas Care Packs to the children of persecuted Christians in hostile areas and restricted nations.

The contents are specifically tailored to meet the needs of the children in each region. Every pack comes with a full-color, illustrated children’s Bible in the appropriate language. For most of these children, it is the first Bible they have ever received!

Give a gift of hope today when you sponsor a Christmas Care Pack.

Et Cetera

➤ A San Antonio driver caught the moment a mattress, loosely tied to a truck in front of her, went airborne last Wednesday night. (Watch Video)

➤ Country singer-songwriter Tommy Alverson died Thursday at the age of 74. A resident of Mineral Wells, Alverson is best known for his 1999 hit “Una Mas Cerveza.” (More)

➤ A brilliant meteor streaked across the Texas sky Wednesday night. (See Photo)

Flying together with our sponsor

 Rosetta Stone Cyber Week Sale: $149 for lifetime access to language learning in 25 languages. To make your holiday shopping easier, we’re offering Black Friday pricing now! We guarantee you won’t find a lower price on our site for the rest of the year, so buy with confidence and complete your holiday shopping today. (See It Here) 

The Polling Station

Would you let your power company control your thermostat if it would save you money?

  1. Yes
  2. No
 

Saturday’s Results:

Would you like your rideshare or taxi driver to carry a gun?

  1. You bet: 78.1%
  2. Absolutely not: 21.9%
Texas Trivia

What was the first steamship-of-war in the Texas Navy?

Show me the answer

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