Thursday, June 27, 2024

The Roundup

Article Icon 1Lawmakers Push Connection To National Grid

A group of 22 Democrats in the U.S. House is calling on the Department of Energy to consider Texas as a potential site for one of several federally funded electricity transmission corridors.

While Texas’ self-contained power grid is exempt from certain federal regulations, it can’t pull electricity from neighboring states to meet high demand during extreme weather events like Winter Storm Uri in 2021.

“You can’t have a 21st-century electric grid with a giant hole in the middle of it in the shape of Texas,” said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Austin), who is leading the group and has introduced legislation to connect the Texas grid to the rest of country.

An MIT study on Casar’s bill found that 80% of the outages Texans experienced during the 2021 ice storm could have been averted if grid operators had pulled electricity from neighboring states.

Article Icon 1Cornyn Leading National Effort To Protect Judges

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is leading an effort in Congress to provide better protection for judges and court personnel through federally funded training, threat monitoring, and technical assistance.

The legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously two weeks ago and has bipartisan support in the House, is a response to the increasing frequency of attacks on judges and prosecutors in recent years.

Julie Kocurek, a Travis County judge who was nearly killed by a defendant in 2015, is working with Cornyn to raise awareness about the issue. She recently participated in a panel discussion with Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley, who was appointed to her position in 2013 after a defendant killed her predecessor, his wife, and another county prosecutor.

Article Icon 1Texas Cities Rank High in Daily Driving

Several Texas cities rank high in daily miles driven among 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, with San Antonio drivers logging the most in the state at 31.5 miles per day.

Houston follows closely, with drivers traveling an average of 30.4 miles daily, ranking it 18th among the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, according to an analysis by Replica, a mobility analytics company.

Raleigh, North Carolina, took the No. 1 spot with 38.1 miles driven per day, while New Yorkers drive the least miles with 14.4 per day.


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What is the secret to staying relatively healthy at age 84?

Look at the legendary Chuck Norris’s advice since he is now a whopping 84 years old and yet has MORE energy than me.

He found a key to healthy aging… and it was by doing the opposite of what most of people are told.

Now, he’s put the entire method into a 15-minute video that explains the 3 “Internal Enemies” that can wreck our health as we age, and the simple ways to help combat them, using foods and herbs you may even have at home.

I’ve included the Chuck Norris video here >> so you can give it a shot.
Around Texas

➤ Dallas: City council members considered a charter amendment to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession on Wednesday after an advocacy group delivered 22,000 verified petitions from citizens who support the measure. (See Video)

Austin: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw a record 2,068,404 travelers in May. The airport is undergoing renovations, including an expanded security checkpoint, more terminal space, and a new baggage handling system. (See Video)

➤ San Antonio: TxDOT will limit highway closures at the Loop 1604 and I-10 interchange to a few weekends this summer, providing relief to residents accessing nearby shopping areas. (See Schedule)

Houston: A Harris County judge was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly driving while intoxicated. She has presided over several high-profile murder trials in recent years. (More)

Dallas: Construction began Wednesday on a $3.7 billion expansion of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. (See Video)

Axtell: Ranchers are concerned about a spate of unexplained cattle deaths in recent weeks, prompting an investigation by researchers from Texas A&M. (See Details)

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Texas Sports

➤ The University of Texas hired former Texas A&M baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle as their new head coach. The move came less than 24 hours after Schlossnagle told a reporter, “I took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again.” (More)

➤ Athing Mu, a Texas A&M grad and the defending Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 800-meter run, won’t get a chance to compete in this year’s Summer Games after she tripped at the U.S. Olympic trials. (See Video)

The Houston Rockets are rumored to be eyeing Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant after completing a trade with the Brooklyn Nets involving several future draft picks. (More)

Yesterday’s results: MLB | WNBA | Copa América 

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The Business Of Texas

SeAH, a Korean steel company, and a potential SpaceX supplier, could build a $110 million metals and fabrication facility in Temple. The factory would create at least 100 full-time jobs. (More)

Another giant data center campus is planned for west San Antonio, with a 300,000-square-foot building expected to be finished by the end of the second quarter of 2025. (More)

Uber Freight will soon use autonomous trucks without safety drivers for shipping between Dallas and Houston. (More)

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Chuck Norris’ 15-minute solution to feeling younger?

He found a key to healthy aging… and it was by doing the opposite of what most of people are told.

Now, he’s put the entire method into a 15-minute video that explains the 3 “Internal Enemies” that can wreck our health as we age, and the simple ways to help combat them, using foods and herbs you may even have at home.

I’ve included the Chuck Norris video here >> so you can give it a shot.
Et Cetera

Houston Mayor John Whitmire teased Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s fiancé in a now-deleted Facebook comment, saying he “Sure looks like a nerd.” (See Details)

➤ The Amarillo Zoo welcomed a 2-year-old red kangaroo named Ike from the Ringtail Ranch Lemur Rescue in Lubbock. Zoo officials say he’s quickly become friends with their 13-year-old kangaroo, Mike. (Watch Video)

➤ Sam Lopez and Gabby Sanchez—fiancés and owners of Denton food truck “Insurgent”—beat out 49 other food truck operators to win the Food Truck Championship of Texas. (More)

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The Polling Station

What type of power generation should Texas prioritize?

  1. Coal
  2. Natural gas
  3. Nuclear
  4. Wind
  5. Solar
  6. Biomass
  7. Hydroelectric
  8. Geothermal
  9. Other

Wednesday’s Results:

What’s your favorite way to get the news?

    1. The Texas Flyover: 29.6%
    2. TV: 20.0%
    3. Websites / blogs: 17.7%
    4. Social media: 9.0%
    5. Radio: 8.8%
    6. Other: 8.2%
    7. Podcasts: 6.7%
Texas Trivia

What town in Texas is home to the “World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup”?

Show me the answer

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