Texas Ports Disrupted by Dockworkers Strike

Dockworkers at the Port of Houston, Galveston, and Corpus Christi—along with others on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts—are on strike, causing major disruptions to supply chains as the holiday shopping season approaches.

Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association stopped work at 36 U.S. ports managed by the United States Maritime Alliance on Tuesday after their demands for higher wages and a ban on automation were rebuffed.

It’s the union’s first strike since 1977. President Biden indicated he has no intention of helping the two sides resolve the impasse or using federal law to end the strike.

The Port of Houston is one of the busiest in the nation, contributing $440 billion to the GDP and supporting 1.5 million jobs in Texas.

Failed Safety Inspection Forces Mall Closure

The Temple Mall has been closed since Friday after failing a safety inspection due to unresolved fire code violations and problems with the facility’s plumbing and electrical systems.

The mall’s general manager says she has received estimates for the needed repairs and is waiting on the property owner, Kohan Retail Investment Group, to approve the bids.

Until then, the mall’s tenants can’t open their stores, and their employees are out of work. On Monday, the Temple Chamber of Commerce informed business owners and employees they’re eligible for unemployment benefits.

Kohan has reportedly known about issues with the mall since April. There’s no timeline for when the needed repairs will be completed or the mall can reopen.

New Food Delivery Service Coming to Dallas

Sidewalk robots and drones are coming to Dallas in the form of a new food delivery service run by Serve Robotics in partnership with Wing, a Google sister company.

The robots will transport orders from restaurants to “Autoloaders,” where drones can pick them up and deliver them to destinations up to six miles away. The collaboration aims to provide more efficient food delivery in congested areas.

Spun off from Uber in 2021, Serve operates in Los Angeles, providing delivery service for Uber Eats and 7-Eleven. Wing is already active in Dallas through a partnership with Wal-Mart.

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➤ Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that Texas would send emergency resources to North Carolina to help with search and rescue operations in the wake of devastating flooding from Helene. (More)

➤ Arlington: The Texas Water Development Board heard arguments on Monday between East Texans who oppose building a proposed 70,000-acre reservoir near Bogata and North Texas residents who say they need more water. (See Details)

➤ Houston: Thieves stole 18 truckloads of premium Terra Delyssa olive oil worth $2.5 million from an unmonitored warehouse. The Houston-based manufacturer is asking retailers to be on the lookout for discounted products with specific lot numbers. (See Photos)

➤ Coppell: The school board voted to close the oldest public school in the city on Monday, citing a $6.8 million budget deficit and declining enrollment. Nearly five dozen residents spoke in opposition to the move. (More)

➤ Lubbock: Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez, 25, died over the weekend after being hit by a vehicle while investigating a car crash in Odessa. (More)

➤ Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Travis County for holding an “unlawful secret meeting” to allocate $115,000 of taxpayer funds to pay for security at the residence of District Attorney Jose Garza. (See Details)

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➤ The Houston Astros lost to the Detroit Tigers 3-1 Tuesday in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series. Houston ace Framber Valdez gave up all three runs on seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings. (More)

➤ The Dallas Cowboys have signed defensive end KJ Henry to help out in the absence of star pass rushers DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. (More)

➤ Five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn and other potential top recruits will visit UT on Oct. 19 for the Longhorns’ big game against No. 5 Georgia (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | WNBA

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➤ PepsiCo will acquire Austin-based Siete Foods for $1.2 billion. Launched in 2014, the Mexican-American brand sells a variety of chips, tortillas, and sauces. (More)

➤ Rayburn Energy Station, a co-op-owned natural gas power plant in Sherman, will add 500MW of generating capacity using a low-interest loan from the Texas Energy Fund. (See Details)

➤ Dallas-based JumpShot Inc., an entertainment company led by former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Derrick Mayes, announced plans to open several restaurants featuring 10-by-40-foot shooting lanes with patent-pending movable basketball hoops. (More)

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➤ An Ellis County man bought a Taylor Swift-inspired guitar for $4,000 at a charity auction, only to smash it with a hammer moments later. A video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking backlash from the pop star’s devoted fan base. (Watch Video)

➤ Starship Bagel in Dallas won the “Schmear of the Year” award at the 2024 New York BagelFest. The winning entry was a basil schmear served on a garlic bagel with a side of balsamic tomato salad and a pine nut crisp. (More)

➤ “Armyworm” caterpillars hatched in droves across North and Central Texas this fall thanks to a relatively rainy summer. The destructive critters can devour a well-manicured football field in two or three days. (More)

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Do you like bagels?

1. Yes
2. They’re okay
3. No

Yesterday’s Results:

How many TV programming services do you subscribe to?

1. Two: 21.4%
2. None: 17.5%
3. Three: 16.6%
4. Four: 13.1%
5. I’ve lost count: 12.3%
6. Five: 10.7%
7. One: 8.4%

What Texas businessman was the last private owner of Barton Springs in Austin?

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