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Mayor Sylvester Turner Releases 2 Year Update for Resilient Houston and the Climate Action Plan
COVID-19 testing and vaccination at Houston Health Department-operated sites remain free, do not require insurance
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WANTED: Suspect responsible for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
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Texas Oil & Gas Can Save Europe, Again
Like everyone, I’m heartbroken about everything happening in our world right now. As a parent and grandparent, I’m worried about the nation we are leaving for the next generation.
In recent years, it has become painfully clear that climate catastrophism has an oversized influence on public policy. An intense focus on reaching the unattainable goal of carbon-zero has repeatedly caused poor policy decisions that increase costs to consumers and make us more reliant on unreliable forms of energy. Ironically, these policies do not reduce emissions, they just ship them overseas and make us more reliant on hostile foreign nations, like Russia and China.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Energy security is national security, plain and simple. I know it sounds played-out but it’s a fact.
Nowhere is this demonstrated more clearly than in Europe, which had relied on Russia for almost half of its natural gas supply and Chinese renewables for roughly another fifth of their energy. The European Union (EU) has painted themselves into an energy-dependent corner and jeopardized their national security as a result.
Since taking office, President Biden made every poor decision he could make to cripple our geopolitical standing in the world. From handing Afghanistan to the Taliban to destroying our American energy dominance, it’s clear this administration cares more about appeasing radical leftwing activists than doing what is right for the American people.
There are better alternatives, and buying American is the solution. In 2019, the U.S. became a net exporter of energy for the first time in 67 years, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the largest producer of oil and gas in the world. This gave us affordable energy, thousands of new jobs, economic growth, and national security. Our country achieved this by simply empowering, instead of attacking, domestic oil and gas producers.
The EU should be buying Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from friendly countries like America, Australia, and other western democracies to meet their firm generation needs. It’s dependable, affordable, and cleaner than coal. European gas presently trades around $26 per metric million British thermal units, while the price of U.S. LNG is a little over $9 but has been as low as $4. Given the right production incentives, it can be that low again. Texas represents a quarter of the U.S.’s natural gas production and can certainly produce more to meet that potential demand.
Texas is the nation’s largest producer of oil and gas, and if it were a country, it would be the third largest producer in the world. Prior to COVID-19 and OPEC disputes, Texas was producing a historic 1.85 billion barrels a year, with a 60% increase from 2016-2020. Today, Texas has been producing much less at roughly 4.7 million daily barrels, or a lesser difference of about 320,000 barrels a day.
Currently, American oil and gas producers are seeing all red lights. From growing ESG investments to federal leasing bans to canceled pipelines and increased regulations, there has been little incentive the past two years for investors, producers, refiners and more.
We need to be realistic and practical. The price of crude oil has skyrocketed, inflation is rampant, and Europe is mired in its first ground war since World War II. It’s time to switch the lights from red to green. We should be divesting from hostile countries and harnessing American oil and gas right here in the Permian Basin.
This wouldn’t be the first time Texas energy played an impactful role on the world stage. In World War I, Eastland County, Texas and the “Roaring Ranger” production were essential to the Allied victory. In World War II, six of the seven billion barrels of oil used to win the war came from the U.S., with two East Texas pipelines largely responsible for transporting most of it from the largest oil field in history at the time. Winston Churchill at the end of the conflict said that the war was won on a sea of East Texas oil.
As Chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas, I led an effort, joined by my colleagues, calling for all oil and gas producers to divest from Russia. I’m glad to see some large producers heeded that call as well as mildly encouraged that President Biden came to his sense on Russian oil. However, there is much more that needs to be done to end Putin’s unlawful war, decrease energy costs and strengthen our national security. As Biden shuts the spigot off on Russian oil and gas, he needs to turn the American one on full blast.
The Lone Star State is ready to meet U.S. energy needs and help our European allies meet theirs. Mr. President, please just give Texas the green light.
TSA Federal Face Mask Requirement for Public Transit Extended through April 18
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) extended the face mask requirement (SD 1582/84-21-01D) for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through April 18, 2022.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will continue to require a CDC approved face mask be worn over the mouth and nose by passengers, operators and contractors at all times while on DART vehicles including buses, trains and paratransit vehicles, Trinity Railway Express trains, in buildings and onboard the Dallas Streetcar.
Refusing to wear a mask, unless exempted or excluded under the CDC guidelines, is a violation of federal law and failure to comply will result in denial of boarding or removal, and passengers may be subject to federal penalties, including a fine ranging from $500 for the first offense up to $3,000 for repeat offenders.
Face masks and hand sanitizer dispensers are installed on buses, light rail vehicles, TRE vehicles and Dallas streetcars, and will continue to be available to all passengers.
If a DART passenger is concerned with someone not wearing a mask, they can contact DART Customer Service at (214) 979-1111, or use the “DART Say Something” app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play for free.
Staying Safe While Riding DART
DART remains committed to doing everything possible to keep both our patrons and employees safe through this pandemic. The agency remains in close contact with local, state, and national health authorities, including the Texas Department of State Health Services and the CDC. DART encourages passengers who feel sick or are experiencing symptoms to stay home and avoid public places.
Cleaning and Protection
DART continues to undertake aggressive agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols on buses, light rail, paratransit vehicles and properties. In addition to thorough nightly cleanings, DART buses and trains are also cleaned on a rotating basis with hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning solutions to sanitize and disinfect each vehicle.
Social Distancing
DART recommends maintaining a six-foot distance between both fellow riders and your DART operator, leaving an open seat between yourself and other riders when available, avoiding large groups and staying home if you feel sick or are experiencing symptoms.
You can find more information about how DART is working to keep our passengers safe at www.dart.org/health.
Governor Abbott Reappoints Harris And Names Chair, Vice-Chair To Governor’s Broadband Development Council
Jennifer Harris of Austin serves as the State Program Director for Connected Nation Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. She provides oversight of the collection and analysis of broadband data and the development of broadband advancement strategies addressing access, adoption, and use among residents, businesses, and institutions. Previously, she held a variety of positions in the public sector, including roles with multiple members of the Texas Legislature. Governor Abbott first appointed her to the Governor’s Broadband Development Council in January 2020, and she will serve a two-year term as vice-chair of the council. Harris received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
Marty Lucke of Floydada is County Judge for Floyd County, which entails administration and finance leadership for the county, as well as judicial duties for certain misdemeanors, small claims cases, civil cases, probate cases, and more. He is President of the South Plains Rural Transit Board and Chairman of the South Plains Rural Planning Organization. He is also a member of the Floyd County Veterans Memorial Board and a senior steward for the Floydada Masonic Lodge #712. Governor Abbott first appointed him to the Governor’s Broadband Development Council in January 2020, and he will serve a two-year term as chair of the council. Lucke received a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Abilene Christian University.
Governor Abbott Issues Disaster Declaration, Provides Update On State’s Response To Wildfire Activity In Texas
The Governor also ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in Eastland County in honor of Deputy Barbara Fenley, who lost her life while trying to save others from the fires. Additionally, Governor Abbott has waived vehicle size, weight, and permitting requirements to ensure farmers and ranchers can get hay and feed to their livestock and other supplies can get to those who need it most.
“The State of Texas is working alongside local officials to respond to these critical fire conditions throughout several Texas counties,” said Governor Abbott. “I commend the hard work and selfless acts of thousands of first responders and fire fighters who are risking their own lives to protect our communities. I also ask Texans to join me in praying for those who have been affected by these wildfires, including Eastland County Deputy Barbara Fenley who was tragically killed while trying to save lives. We will never forget her sacrifice, and the state will continue to work closely with first responders and local leaders to mitigate these fires and support our communities as they recover.”
Texans affected by these fires can seek shelter at First Baptist of Eastland (405 S Seaman St in Eastland), River of Life Church (1247 E Main Street, Eastland), Myrtle Wilks Community Center (1498 I-20 Frontage, Cisco) and Gorman Community Center (118 S Kent St, Gorman). Additionally, volunteer organizations are stationed at Siebert Elementary (100 Little Maverick Trail, Eastland). Hay and feed, as well as a temporary animal shelter, are available at the Texas Cattle Exchange (9009 I-20, Eastland).
There are several areas of Eastland County and surrounding communities that have been impacted by multiple fires over the past several days. The Texas A&M Forest Service stated that some Eastland County residents have lost their homes, and some historic buildings like a church in Ranger were destroyed by these fires.
Earlier this week, Governor Abbott directed TDEM to activate the State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) and increase resources to respond to elevated and critical risks for wildfires in Texas, including central and southern sectors.
According to the National Weather Service, western and central Texas remain under an elevated fire risk due to high winds, low humidly, and drought conditions. Texans are encouraged to remain weather-aware and practice wildfire safety, particularly in areas where burn bans are active, to keep their communities safe.
For a list of state resources, visit https://www.tdem.texas.gov/disasters/2022-march-wildfires.
Deshaun Watson ha elegido ser cambiado a los Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson llegará con los Cleveland Browns y le darán a los Houston Texans tres selecciones de primera ronda en el Draft.
Los Cleveland Browns siempre sí lograron conseguir en un intercambio al quarterback Deshaun Watson en un intercambio con los Houston Texans.
Esto solamente un día después de que los reportes indicaban que Watson le habían dicho a Cleveland que ya no estaban en la discusión para irse con ellos y que el mariscal de campo actual Baker Mayfield ya había pedido su salida de los Browns.
Charles Robinson de Yahoo! Sports está dando a conocer la noticia en el que Cleveland le va a dar a los Houston Texans tres selecciones de primera ronda y dos de segunda en el NFL Draft.
Adam Schefter de ESPN reporta que los Browns han firmado a Deshaun Watson por cinco años en el que le pagarán 230 millones de dólares. Con cada uno de esos dólares siendo garantizados.
Es la cifra más alta de dinero garantizado en la historia.
Watson no jugó en toda la temporada 2021 debido a que quería ser intercambiado por los Houston Texans además de lidiar con nueve cargos criminales de mujeres que lo demandaban por acoso y violación.
No obstante, el pasado viernes un juez determinó que no enfrentaría cargos criminales.
Watson ya se había establecido desde que llegó a la NFL en el 2017 como uno de los mejores QBs jóvenes en la NFL con los Texans.
Es importante que todavía enfrenta demandas civiles por las mismas situaciones. Además falta que hable con la Liga y es posible que primero enfrente una sanción de la Liga antes de que pueda jugar.
Pero al saber que Watson no iba a estar en la cárcel, cambió el panorama completamente para él.
Ahora la siguiente duda es ver a dónde va Baker Mayfield que decepcionaron la campaña pasada, después que en el 2020 ganaron su primer juego de playoff desde 1994.
LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE PRESENTAN “PA’ LOS PLEBES Y MIS COMPAS”
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AMAZON CIERRA LA COMPRA DE MGM, ¿QUÉ CONTENIDOS LLEGAN A PRIME VIDEO?
Parece que las fusiones en el mercado de las plataformas de vídeo en streaming se aceleran. Si hace pocos días se conformaba la que involucraba a HBO Max y Discovery+, ahora ha movido ficha de forma definitiva Amazon. La compañía creada por Jeff Bezos está dando pasos muy importantes para colocarse como una de las mejores opciones del mercado, no hay duda.
Lo que se ha conocido de manera oficial en el día de hoy es la compra por parte de la conocida tienda online de MGM, una de las compañías que tiene un catálogo de producto más amplio si se suma todo lo que tiene antiguo y lo actual. Evidentemente, la segunda firma queda dentro de Amazon Studios, que es la encargada de todo lo que tiene que ver con los contenidos como series y películas dentro de la firma norteamericana.
Ahora es cuando se cierra definitivamente el trato
Hace nada menos que un año que se cerró el acuerdo entre Amazon y MGM para la compra de la segunda (cifrada en unos 8.450 millones de dólares), pero debido a algunas reticencias por parte de la Comisión Federal de Comercio de EEUU hasta la fecha no se había completado la transacción. ¿Y qué ha ocurrido para que esto sea así? Por un lado, la Comisión antimonopolio de la UE ha dado luz verde y, por otro, se cumple la fecha que se dio para que la entidad norteamericana antes mencionada no ha dicho nada en contra. De esta forma, todo se oficializa. Ya era hora.
Que llega de nuevo a Amazon
Pues la verdad es que la cantidad de contenidos que tiene MGM es muy amplia, y esto permite aumentar lo que ofrece Prime Video respecto a sus rivales (que es el objetivo número uno de este movimiento). Así, con lo que se acaba de saber y las inversiones en series potentes licenciadas -como por ejemplo La Rueda del Tiempo o la que este mismo año comenzará a emitirse y se basa en la Segunda Edad de la Tierra Media- está muy claro que la inversión de Amazon es brutal.
Algunas de las llegadas a Prime Video
Está claro que el estudio creado en 1925 tiene de todo (se calcula un mínimo de… ¡4.000 películas!). Algunos ejemplos de los clásicos que tiene en su catálogo son Lo que el viento se llevó, El mago de Oz, Bailando con lobos o El violinista en el tejado. Aparte, hay títulos que son llamativos debido a que son franquicias de lo más reconocidas, y algunas de ellas son Rocky; La pantera rosa; La familia Adams; y, por encima de todas ellas, James Bond.
En lo que tiene que ver con las series, existen algunos títulos que seguro te gustan y que, desde ahora, pasarán a formar parte del catálogo de Amazon. Algunos ejemplos son El cuento de la criada, Fargo y, también, la espléndida Vikingos.
La verdad es que la compra es positiva y, seguro, permitirá a Prime Video lanzar nuevos contenidos basados en clásicos (como puede ser una nueva saga de Robocop, Poltergeist, Tomb Raider o Stargate tienen todas las papeletas) y, de esta forma, aprovechar que ya son conocidas por parte de los espectadores.