Crews are working to put out a hotel fire reported in northwest Houston.
According to the Houston Fire Department, the fire was taking place in the 12100 block of the Northwest Freeway. The location appears to be an Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Houston.
HFD says firefighters are performing extinguishment efforts, and no injuries have been reported.
Firefighters are asking residents to avoid the area.
Governor Greg Abbott today sent a letter to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) supporting the adoption of a reliability standard and new reliability design for the ERCOT market, as more people and businesses move to Texas and energy demand grows.
“After an extensive 18-month stakeholder engagement process and a review of the market designs analyzed in the reliability study commissioned by the PUC last year, the Performance Credit Mechanism (PCM) must be given strong consideration,” reads the letter. “As the Legislature has noted, a reliability standard must be the foundation of any reliability design. The PCM best meets this call because it is based on a reliability standard, incentivizes new dispatchable generation, and maintains Texas’ energy-only market. The fact that generators have already publicly committed to building thousands of new megawatts of dispatchable generation resources if the PCM is adopted and implemented by the PUC further supports this point.”
In the letter, Governor Abbott notes that a bridge solution should be implemented by the PUC to maintain enough power supply for Texas’ growing demand during the transition to the new reliable market design and construction of new dispatchable generation resources. The Governor also commends the PUC on the significant progress made in grid reliability following bipartisan reforms passed by the 87th Legislature and signed into law and the Governor’s directive in 2021 that the PUC take immediate action on grid reliability across the state.
Source: gov.texas
Universal Parks & Resorts announced today a theme park, situated in Texas, specifically designed to inspire fun for families with young children. The company promised “a lush green landscape and featuring
immersive themed lands” that celebrates “Universal’s iconic brand…and brings to life its beloved characters and stories in ways that will wow even the youngest theme park goers.”
The proposed park would be built in Frisco, Texas, which the company considers a gateway to a growing, regional market with broad appeal in the Southwest. Frisco is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and has a listed population of 225,000. For Super Nintendo World fans, Frisco is home to the National Videogame Museum, which features rare gaming consoles and arcade machines.
Universal Parks & Resorts selected the city of Frisco based on the city’s growing population and ability to attract businesses to the area. The proposed location for the new concept is ideally situated east of the Dallas North Tollway and north of Panther Creek Parkway. The park will be designed to be more intimate and engaging for younger audiences and will be sized for a regional audience. It is expected to feature family-friendly attractions, interactive and playful shows, character meet and greets, unique merchandise
and fun food and beverage venues.
Part of 97 acres of land recently purchased by the company, the proposed park also has plans for an adjacent themed hotel and room for expansion. The entire area is intended to have a completely different look, feel, and scale than Universal’s existing parks and will appeal to a new audience for the brand.
Below, you can see a video presentation on the project delivered today by Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the city of Frisco and Mayor Cheney as we work to bring this innovative, new concept to life designed specifically for a younger generation of Universal fans,” said Page Thompson, President, New Ventures, Universal Parks & Resorts. “We think North Texas is the perfect place to launch this unique park for families given its growing popularity within this part of the country.”
Cheney added, “Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and has been recognized as a great
place to plant professional roots and raise a family. This new Universal concept will continue to enhance our tax base, expand employment opportunities and bring even more fun to Frisco benefiting our residents, businesses, and visitors.”
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Lone Star College is one of the top associate degree producers in the nation. Today, it also offers four baccalaureate programs for students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree close to home.
“The baccalaureate programs expand Lone Star College’s commitment to providing high-quality academic and workforce programs while ensuring that students meet industries’ needs,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC Chancellor.
LSC held a Bachelor’s Degree Holiday Retention and Recruitment Event at LSC-University Park Dec. 16. Devon Still, former NFL Defensive End, and current speaker and Positive Psychology Instructor at Penn State University, spoke to attendees, encouraging them to finish their baccalaureate program despite challenges they may face. Still earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston-Downtown after he played for the Houston Texans in 2016.
“Your character determines what you’re willing to go through to achieve your goal,” said Still. “Storms will not last forever; endure them. Good times won’t last forever; savor them. Education provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to live a flourishing life. Without it, there is no progress individually or collectively.”
Before the event, Asma Mirza, Steradian Technologies co-founder and CEO, encouraged students to cultivate powerful networking relationships with their professors and find opportunities to create innovative ideas in their chosen industry. Mirza said that her bachelor’s and master’s degrees led her to create Steradian, a Houston-area deep-tech, health care startup developing a novel way to detect respiratory infections within 30 seconds for the price of a latte.
“It’s important for students to understand that earning a bachelor’s degree and forming solid networking groups can lead them to create their own jobs and excel in their careers,” said Mirza. “Earning a bachelor’s degree can be their big step toward becoming great.”
At the Bachelor’s Degree Holiday Retention and Recruitment Event, Jose R. Lopez said LSC is an economical choice for earning his bachelor’s degree in Energy, Manufacturing and Trades Management. He will graduate in May 2023. Lopez is a 30-year career machinist and quality inspector in the Energy and Manufacturing industry. He previously earned an associate of arts degree and an associate of applied science degree at LSC-CyFair.
“During the pandemic, I was laid off, but I did not want to stop my educational journey,” said Lopez. “I was planning to attend the University of Houston, but during my research, I found out that Lone Star College offered a degree that was less expensive. It was a good deal that I couldn’t pass up.”
Nathaniel Littlepage, a student in the Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity program, felt LSC was the only educational institution in the area that could offer him the next step in his desired field.
“I earned an associate degree in CISCO Networking, but I had no place to go with it,” Littlepage said. “Lone Star College’s Cybersecurity bachelor’s degree is the only program locally, and I’ve learned many skills, such as programming and threat analysis, which will prepare me for a forensics career in law enforcement.”
LSC is the only community college in the state to launch four baccalaureate degrees in Nursing, Cybersecurity, Emergency Management and Energy, Manufacturing and Trades Management. These programs were recognized for multiple promising practices in the 2022 e-book issued by the Community College Baccalaureate Association.
“Lone Star College offers bachelor’s degrees in a wide range of fields focused on industries that are critical to the local and regional economies where community college students live and work,” said Dalia Sherif, Ph.D., LSC-University Center at The Woodlands Executive Dean of Baccalaureate Programs and Partnerships. “Additionally, students can earn their bachelor’s degrees at the same tuition rates as an associate degree, thus saving them thousands of dollars.”
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Eyewitnesses said the sound of the crash that killed three young people overnight on Thousand Oaks Drive is something they may never forget.
Taylor Tucker was outside in his backyard directly across the street when he heard tires squeal just after 10 p.m.
He said he looked up and heard the crash of what he knew was a fatal impact.
“The second I saw it, I ran as fast as I could. There was nothing I could do to help anybody,” Tucker said, adding that many people tried to come to the aid of the victims.
Tucker said “Multiple people were trying to help but the interior of the car was so mangled there was no way I could get to them. It was no way, they had to be cut out by the jaws of life.”
Eric Santos said he was driving by and stopped to help.
“That’s somebody’s family members, me personally I wanted to get out and help and see what I could do because this could happen to anyone and you don’t want to see someone’s family members like that,” Santos said.
Police said the frantic efforts by everyone involved were not enough.
The Medical Examiner has not released the names of the deceased, saying their identifications are only tentative, but they believe the dead are a 22 year old woman, a 17-year-old boy and a ten-year-old boy. The woman has been identified as Evelyn Flores.
Police said the driver of the southbound car failed to yield the right of way to an oncoming northbound Jeep.
The driver of the Jeep was taken to the hospital as well. A condition update on that person is not available.
Santos said he hopes the family members of the victims know they were not alone in the end.
“Nobody gave up. Everybody was here trying to help out and trying to see what was wrong and they weren’t left there to be forgotten or nothing. We were there trying to help. Everybody was trying to help: police, firefighters, bystanders, anybody,” Santos said.
Police said a secondary accident happened when a passing pickup truck came into contact with wires knocked down in the initial crash.
That driver did not require medical attention.
The force of the collision rattled a large concrete pillar out of its base and sheared a utility pole clean off.
Tucker said he hopes the crash will result in some sort of upgrade to traffic control at the corner of Alamo Blanco, where he said drivers often treat Thousand Oaks like a raceway.
“This is like a drag strip every night! I would do anything for a light right here. Anything for a light!” Tucker said.
A steady stream of people came to pay their respects at the site Monday morning.
Jennifer Johnson brought flowers.
“I came here to leave flowers because that could have been anybody’s kids. I seen it on the news this morning and it definitely does break my heart,” Johnson said.
Source: kens5
While the courts have prevented the Title 42 public health order from lifting for now, the Biden-Harris Administration today is announcing new enforcement measures to increase security at the border and reduce the number of individuals crossing unlawfully between ports of entry. These measures will expand and expedite legal pathways for orderly migration and result in new consequences for those who fail to use those legal pathways. They also draw on the success of the Venezuela initiative, which launched in October 2022 and has resulted in a dramatic drop in the number of Venezuelan nationals attempting to enter the United States unlawfully.
The Administration is also announcing that it is surging additional resources to the border and the region, scaling up its anti-smuggling operations, and expanding coordination and support for border cities and non-governmental organizations. Importantly, the actions announced today are being implemented in close partnership with Mexico and governments across the Western Hemisphere.
While these steps will help address some of the most acute challenges at the Southwest border, they will not solve all of the problems in an immigration system that has been broken for far too long. That can only happen if Republicans in Congress who have spent the past two years talking about border security quit blocking the comprehensive immigration reform and border security measures President Biden proposed on his first day in office, and opposing the billions of dollars in additional funds the President has requested for border security and management.
Unlike some Republican officials playing political games and obstructing real solutions to fix our broken immigration system, President Biden has a plan and is taking action. Under the new enforcement measures announced today, the Biden-Harris Administration will:
Impose New Consequences for Individuals who Attempt to Enter Unlawfully
To facilitate a return to the processing of all noncitizens under Title 8 authorities when Title 42 eventually lifts, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is:
Expand Legal Pathways for Safe, Orderly, and Humane Migration
The Biden-Harris Administration and its international partners in the region are also announcing new and expanded legal pathways to the United States and other countries that individuals can and should use to avoid consequences for crossing the border unlawfully. These include:
Surge Resources to Secure the Border, Disrupt Criminal Smuggling Networks, and Support Border Communities
The Biden-Harris Administration is surging resources and expanding efforts to securely manage the border, disrupt the criminal smuggling networks preying on vulnerable migrants, and support communities receiving migrants as they await their immigration enforcement proceedings. New and expanded efforts include:
The Biden-Harris Administration will do everything within its authority and available resources to manage this challenge, but until and unless Congress delivers the funding as well as comprehensive immigration reform measures President Biden requested, the United States’ broken immigration system will indeed remain broken.
Source: whitehouse
Amazing festivals, food- and drink-related celebrations, special events and more – there’s always something to do in Galveston, Texas.
Washed Ashore: Art to Save The Sea
Kevin McCarthy has been elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives after heated exchanges that almost saw fellow Republicans come to blows.
It took 15 rounds of voting for Mr. McCarthy to win the job, despite his party having a majority in the chamber.
It came after a dramatic pressure campaign played out live on the House floor as party rebel Matt Gaetz was urged to vote for Mr. McCarthy.
The Florida Congressman was among six holdouts who relented late on Friday.
Earlier, amid heated scenes in the chamber, Mr. Gaetz had almost come to blows with Rep Mike Rogers – a supporter of Mr. McCarthy. The Alabama congressman had to be physically restrained by colleagues as he bellowed and jabbed his finger at Mr. Gaetz.
The Speaker sets the House agenda and oversees the legislative business. The post is second in line to the presidency after the US vice-president.
Mr. McCarthy told reporters that former President Trump had helped him get the final votes: “I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence”.
“He was with me from the beginning… he would call me and he would call others,” he said.
US President Joe Biden congratulated Mr. McCarthy for his win and said he looked forward to cooperating with the Republican Party.
“The American people expect their leaders to govern in a way that puts their needs above all else, and that is what we need to do now,” he said.
Republicans have already pledged to launch investigations into Mr. Biden’s family business dealings and administration.
In a remarkable turnaround in the 12th round of voting, Mr. McCarthy was able to persuade 14 Republican holdouts to cast their vote for him. A 15th rebel followed suit for the 13th ballot.
After the 13th ballot was adjourned, Mr. McCarthy insisted to reporters that he would “have the votes” to take the speakership in the next round.
But the California congressman was still three votes short of the 217 he needed to take the prized gavel, and in chaotic and dramatic scenes, he again failed to win on the 14th ballot.
The dissidents included members of the House Freedom Caucus, who argue that Mr. McCarthy is not conservative enough to lead them as they work to try to oppose Democratic President Joe Biden’s agenda.
Mr. McCarthy has offered various concessions to the rebels, including a seat on the influential rules committee, which sets the terms for debate on legislation in the chamber.
He also agreed to lower the threshold for triggering a vote on whether to unseat the Speaker, to only one House member, leading to the possibility that the Republican coalition could easily fracture again even after Mr. McCarthy’s victory.
As the last politician on the roll – Montana’s Ryan Zinke – voted, the House floor erupted in applause as it became clear Mr. McCarthy had finally emerged victorious.
Mr. McCarthy hugged other representatives and signed autographs, but across the room, the Democrats’ side was completely silent. No democrat applauded.
Senior Democratic Party lawmakers accused Mr. McCarthy of ceding power to an extreme wing of his party and likened the stand-off to the riot exactly two years ago on Capitol Hill by Trump supporters who disrupted Mr. Biden’s certification as president.
“Two years ago insurrectionists failed to take over the Capitol,” Congressman Eric Swalwell wrote on Twitter. “Tonight Kevin McCarthy let them take over the Republican Party.”
And Virginia Congressman Don Beyer referred to the angry scenes among Republicans that followed the 14th count.
“Unsettling that this process ends in threats of violence in the House Chamber, on this of all days,” he said. “Maybe it didn’t determine the outcome, but that is no way to conduct the people’s business. A dark and sobering moment will probably be remembered long after this session ends.”
The minority Democrats had continued to vote in unison for their leader, New York’s Hakeem Jeffries, the first black person ever to lead a party in Congress.
Friday was the first day that Mr. McCarthy’s vote count actually surpassed that of Mr. Jeffries.
Mr. McCarthy opened his acceptance speech by joking; “that was easy, eh?”. He outlined a range of Republican policy objectives that included lowering prices, securing the US-Mexico border, and combatting what he described as a “woke indoctrination”.
He said one of his primary goals was to stop “wasteful Washington spending”.
The lawmakers began leaving the Congress around 02:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Saturday morning – 14 hours after the gavel first rang at noon.
Not since 1860 in the build-up to the American Civil War has the lower chamber of Congress voted this many times to pick a speaker. Back then it took 44 rounds of ballots.
In November’s midterm elections, Republicans won the House by a weaker-than-expected margin of 222 to 212. Democrats retained control of the Senate.
Source: bbc
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