Wednesday, September 11, 2024

The Roundup

Article Icon 1Texas Farms Hit by Water Shortage

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller warned the state is facing a severe water shortage, particularly impacting agriculture.

Miller reported Texas was losing about one farm per week due to water scarcity, highlighting the Rio Grande Valley as particularly affected.

He cited examples of agricultural decline: tomato production had nearly vanished in the Rio Grande Valley, the Winter Garden area’s vegetable crop yield had dropped 80%, and Pecos cantaloupe farming had ceased as wells ran dry.

Miller proposed solutions including stormwater capture, water recycling, and using brackish water for fracking, emphasizing the urgent need for action.

Article Icon 1Southwest Chairman to Exit

Southwest Airlines announced a significant board restructuring on Tuesday, with longtime Chairman Gary Kelly set to retire next year and six board members to resign in November.

This move comes after pressure from major shareholder Elliott Investment Management, which has built a 10% stake in the airline and advocated for changes to improve financial performance.

The airline plans to appoint four new board members and will share an updated business plan at its upcoming investor day in Dallas. The company’s stock dropped 3% on the news.

Article Icon 1Tony the Escaped Tiger Captured in Mexico

A 400-pound Bengal tiger named Tony, with a taste for freedom, was finally apprehended after a seven-day Mexican adventure that kept South Texas on high alert, officials reported.

The feline fugitive, who had slipped out of Quinta La Fauna Zoo in Reynosa, Mexico, on Sept. 3, was caught just 5 miles from the U.S. border at midnight Tuesday in Los Longoria. See a photo of Tony here.

Mexican officials confirmed the capture, ending a wild game of cat-and-mouse that had prompted warnings from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office across the Rio Grande.


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Somalia is facing a devastating combination of natural disasters, global conflicts, widespread poverty, and disease outbreaks. East Africa has just endured its worst drought in 40 years, leaving tens of millions without access to clean water, wiping out millions of livestock, and destroying crops. With domestic food production crippled, Somalia has relied heavily on imports—90% of its wheat coming from Russia and Ukraine—until those shipments stopped.

Now, two in five children in Somalia suffer from acute malnutrition, and cholera is spreading in some regions. The food crisis, compounded by global humanitarian aid being redirected to Europe and the Middle East, has created a perfect storm, leading to a sharp rise in child malnutrition.

Be Doers

We’re asking the Texas Flyover Community to partner with World Concern to help distribute emergency nutrition packs (a peanut paste fortified with nutrients), water, and hygiene products to those in greatest need.

Every $12 feeds a child for a month. We’re matching the first $750; just give through this link.

Around Texas

➤ Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall in Louisiana today, with Texas coastal areas under a Tropical Storm Watch—anticipating storm surge, strong winds, and rainfall. (More

➤ Brownsville: A 9/11 remembrance ceremony will temporarily halt traffic at Veterans International Bridge today, with officials advising travelers to use alternate crossings between 7-8 a.m. (See Details)

➤ Amarillo: The Santa Fe Historical Railway Museum will expand into the former Potter County Library building, transforming the long-empty space into a new museum. (More)

➤ Corpus Christi: Padre Island National Seashore officials identified and cited an individual for decapitating sharks and wasting fish along the beach. (More)

➤ Dallas: A new western route for the proposed Dallas-to-Fort Worth high-speed rail project is moving forward with additional funding for study, despite concerns about its connectivity to downtown Dallas attractions. (More)

➤ San Antonio: Residents near Martin Luther King Park report increasing encounters with large groups of feral hogs, causing concern for safety and property damage in the east-side neighborhood. (More)

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Texas Sports

➤ The Texas Rangers are calling up top pitching prospect Kumar Rocker to start Thursday against the Seattle Mariners. He has a 100 mph fastball and a wicked breaking ball. (See Video)

➤ Dallas Cowboys starting tight end Jake Ferguson is considered week-to-week after injuring his knee in the Cowboys’ 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. (More)

➤ Kyle Tucker has been selected as the Houston Astros’ nominee for the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award. The award is given to the player who best represents baseball through off-the-field actions. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA

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The Business Of Texas

USAA experienced a data breach affecting over 4,000 Texans and 32,000 customers nationwide. The breach exposed personal information, including names, Social Security numbers, and medical data. (More)

➤ Meta implemented new supervision features for Facebook and Instagram users in Texas due to a state law requiring parental consent for minors’ social media use. (More)

➤ Worthington Bank announced plans to build an eight-story, $55 million headquarters tower in the Walsh development in west Fort Worth. (See Details)

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Somalia faces a crisis from natural disasters, conflict, poverty, and disease. The worst drought in 40 years devastated crops and livestock, while food imports from Russia and Ukraine halted. Two in five Somali children now suffer from acute malnutrition.

Join us in partnering with World Concern to get emergency nutrition packs & clean water to children. $12 feeds a child for a month. 

Et Cetera

San Antonio and Austin ranked among the most educated U.S. cities in a new study. San Antonio boasted a 67.30% bachelor’s completion rate while Austin had 59.89% bachelor’s attainment. (See Study)

Cooper Beebe, the Dallas Cowboys’ rookie center, practiced snaps with his mother Tamara in their backyard. The unusual training method helped him prepare for his NFL debut. (More)

Dr. William Shaver, a Lubbock gastroenterologist, retired after 38 years. He pioneered endoscopy in West Texas and holds numerous patents for colon prep solutions and gut health treatments. (More)

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➤ Protect yourself from the germs living on your toothbrush. Bril is a portable toothbrush case that uses natural UV-C light to kill 99.9% of the unwanted viruses and bacteria living on your toothbrush — protecting you and your family from potential medical issues. (See It Here)

 

The Polling Station

Apart from your cell phone, do you have a camera that you use regularly?

  1. Yes
  2. No
 

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you like beef jerky?

  1. Yes: 74.2%
  2. No: 25.8%
Texas Trivia

Which Texas town changed its name in 2005, resulting in all of its residents receiving free television service and DVRs for ten years from a satellite TV provider?

Show me the answer

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