El Paso County Struggling To House Inmates

El Paso County is weighing an emergency declaration that would allow jail officials to transfer Operation Lone Star inmates to a state prison.

The county jail houses around 300-400 OLS detainees a day, including hundreds of foreign nationals charged with rioting at a border barrier in March and April.

Housing state inmates costs the county $85-$87 per day, while federal detainees bring in $101 per day. County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said the county stands to lose out on $18 million in federal payments by the end of the year if it continues to house inmates for the state.

Commissioners voted Monday to request up to $5 million from the state to cover costs for housing state inmates this fiscal year.

Odessa Couple Arrested After Wild Date

An Odessa woman and her boyfriend were arrested after being caught with five illegal migrants in their car near Presidio.

When interviewed by a federal agent, Jackie Nichole Hall said she and her boyfriend, John Christopher Ramirez, had driven from Odessa (over 200 miles away) to watch the sunset and to “fool around” when the five migrants jumped into their car and ordered them to “Drive!”

When the agent looked at her phone and asked her about a contact in Mexico labeled “Boss,” Hall said it was her cousin with whom she had recently reconnected. She subsequently attacked the agent, trying to get her phone back.

Ramirez confessed to helping his girlfriend transport the illegal migrants. She was to receive $2,000 for each one reaching his destination, but Ramirez “personally wasn’t paid.”

Texas Cities Lead Nation in Population Boom

Nine of America’s ten fastest-growing cities are in Texas, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

Celina, a suburb of Dallas, led the nation with a 143% population increase, growing from 17,800 residents in 2020 to over 43,300 by July 2023.

At No. 2 on the list with 42,600 residents, Fulshear more than doubled its population, while other Texas cities like Liberty Hill and Josephine also saw rapid growth.

Experts point to Texas’ lower living costs, absence of a state income tax, and robust economy as key factors driving this unprecedented growth.

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➤ Federal officials capped the rates for phone and video calls from jails across the country, providing relief to Texas inmates and their families who paid 23 cents a minute on average for phone calls in 2021. (See Details)

➤ Dallas: Four citizen-led initiatives have acquired enough signatures to appear on the November ballot as city charter amendments. Three of the four amendments seek to improve policing and provide greater accountability for government officials, while the fourth seeks to decriminalize the possession of marijuana under four ounces. (More)

➤ Midland: The city council approved a bond proposal to reform the pension plan for the city’s firefighters if they agree to cut their benefits by at least 5%. Firefighters have less than two weeks to approve the cuts. (More)

➤ Houston: Vice President Kamala Harris will speak at the American Federation of Teachers annual convention today. On Monday, convention delegates voted to endorse Harris for president following Joe Biden’s exit from the race. (More)

➤ Kerrville: Days of heavy rain caused the Guadalupe River to reach its highest level since October 2018, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood warning for western Kerr County. (See Photos)

➤ Fort Worth: The parents of Anthony Johnson, the 31-year-old inmate killed during a fight with officers at the Tarrant County Jail in April, are suing the county for damages. Two former jailers named in the lawsuit were indicted for his murder. (See Details)

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➤ Dallas Cowboys star receiver Ceedee Lamb is holding out from training camp as he seeks a contract extension. Lamb is coming off a career-best season, totaling 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. (More)

➤ Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray had his best outing of the season on Tuesday, allowing just one run over 7.2 innings. His performance helped the Rangers beat the White Sox for their third straight win. (More)

➤ A preseason media poll forecasting the Southeastern Conference football standings abbreviated the University of Texas as “TEX” and the University of Tennessee as “UT,” resolving the debate over which team would claim the two-letter moniker. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | MLS

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➤ Federal aviation regulators have launched an audit of Southwest Airlines following several safety incidents, including a recent flight that descended to 150 feet above water near Tampa International Airport. (See Details)

➤ Former Texas Ranger Blake Beavan is helping develop a 122-acre youth sports complex in Roanoke. The $60-$70 million project includes baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and retail space. (More)

➤ Construction on the $11 billion Golden Pass LNG project in Sabine Pass may accelerate after a settlement between QatarEnergy, Exxon Mobil, and bankrupt contractor Zachry. The agreement allows new contractors to take over. (More)

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➤ Jerry Jones’ breach-of-contract trial with Alexandra Davis, who claims she is his daughter, abruptly ended with an undisclosed settlement. All cases involving Davis’ paternity claims were dropped. (More)

➤ A large yellow buoy mysteriously appeared on Bolivar Peninsula Sunday, attracting onlookers. Officials confirmed it’s a privately owned navigation aid but haven’t identified its origin or owner. (See Photo)

➤ Dallas baker Ashley Duarte’s home-based Chula’s Cakes has gained viral attention for her “burn-away cakes”—cakes that reveal hidden designs when set on fire. (See Photos)

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