Scientists at Texas A&M University have identified a new variant of the coronavirus.
The variant was discovered by researchers at the school’s Global Health Research Complex. It’s called the BV-1 variant because of its origins in the Brazos Valley, scientists said.
The case was identified in a saliva sample taken from an off-campus A&M student on March 5, and the student tested positive again on March 25. Scientists said this may indicate the BV-1 variant causes a longer infection in adults age 18-24 than is typical for COVID-19. The student only suffered mild, cold-like symptoms and those symptoms were resolved by April 2.
Scientists said this variant is concerning because of its genetic make-up.
“We do not at present know the full significance of this variant, but it has a combination of mutations similar to other internationally notifiable variants of concern,” said GHRC Chief Virologist Ben Neuman in a news release issued by the school. “This variant combines genetic markers separately associated with rapid spread, severe disease and high resistance to neutralizing antibodies.”
The A&M student in which the variant was found is the only case of the variant that has been reported thus far, scientists said.
“Though we may not yet understand the full significance of BV-1, the variant highlights an ongoing need for rigorous surveillance and genomic testing, including among young adults with no symptoms or only mild symptoms,” Neuman said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, five variants of COVID-19 have been identified. This would be the sixth.
Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed Jacob Boggus, Sally Harris King, and Stephanie Johnston to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners for terms set to expire on February 1, 2027. The board licenses and regulates occupational therapy services in the state of Texas.
Jacob Boggus of Harlingen is the General Manager of Boggus Ford Harlingen. He is a board member of Valley Automotive Dealers Association and Valley Zoological Society, Vice President of the Texas Dealer Academy Member in the Texas Automotive Dealers Association, Budget and Admissions Committee Member of the United Way of Northern Cameron County, and an Executive Board Member for the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce. Boggus received a Bachelor of Finance from Missouri State University.
Sally Harris King of Houston is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with Harris Health System. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Texas Occupational Therapy Association, and National Alliance for Mental Health. She is a volunteer with the Houston Food Bank and No One Dies Alone and a former volunteer with Rebuild Houston. King received an Occupational Therapy Assistant Certification from Houston Community College and has a practice area of emphasis in mental health designation from the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy. She is currently an American Leadership Forum Fellow and will graduate as a Senior Fellow in October 2021.
Stephanie Johnston, O.T.D. of Magnolia is Professor and Fieldwork Coordinator for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lone Star College – Tomball. In addition, she is co-creator of the Occupational Therapy Practitioner Re-entry Program at Lone Star College. She is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA), and the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT). She received the prestigious Roster of Fellows Award from AOTA and is an active member of Spring First Church. Johnston received a Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, and a Post Professional Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University.
These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.
Container activity at Port Houston jumped 20% in March as cargo volumes that had dipped the previous month due to a deadly ice storm came roaring back. Port Houston handled 297,397 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in March of 2021 compared to March of last year when 248,840 TEUs were handled. That brought container activity for the year to 751,199 TEUs, down only 3% compared to the 773,087 TEUs for the same period in 2020. The March figures are the highest monthly totals ever, surpassing the record set in October of 2020 by 1,187 TEUs. The demand for containerized goods remains strong, Executive Director Roger Guenther said. Cargo activity at Port Houston has picked up even more as strong consumer demand in Texas and surrounding states drives strong import volumes, he noted. “We are seeing significant increases in cargo,” Guenther said. “As container demand surges across our docks, our terminals remain efficient and free of congestion to provide the best service levels to our customers.” In addition to containerized cargo, steel saw a turnaround in March, increasing by 13%. That put steel moving across Port Houston’s docks up by 2% for the year so far. Bulk cargo also showed strength. Port Houston is the sixth-largest container port in the United States and is among the fastest-growing. Port Houston is the dominant container port on the U.S. Gulf Coast, handling more than two-thirds of all the containers in the gulf.
The U.S. Congress will hold hearings next month with the chief executives of major Wall Street banks as Democratic lawmakers step up scrutiny of the role lenders have played in helping struggling Americans recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee will hear testimony from JPMorgan Chase & Co(JPM.N), Bank of America Corp (BAC.N), Citigroup Inc (C.N), Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N), according to a notice from the House of Representatives committee.
The virtual hearings scheduled for May 26 and 27 could determine how much legislative and political risk the biggest banks will face through 2022, Jaret Seiberg at Cowen Washington Research Group wrote on Thursday.
“These hearings may offer more upside than risk. A strong performance from the bank executives may discourage progressive Democrats from scheduling more hearings or from introducing adverse legislation,” he added.
While the industry’s image in Washington has improved since the financial crisis a decade ago, Democratic lawmakers have expressed skepticism that lenders are doing all they can to help Americans and small businesses hurt by the pandemic.
They are likely to grill the CEOs on the industry’s role in the small-business Paycheck Protection Program and ask them to address concerns, flagged by several congressional reports, that lenders dished out the cash to fraudsters and discriminated against some borrowers.
Industry officials also expect lawmakers to focus on how mortgage lenders are helping homeowners, and whether they are doing enough to prevent a foreclosure crisis. Other Democratic goals, including tackling racial injustice and climate change, are also expected to feature in the discussion.
After the banks posted bumper profits in this year’s first quarter and as President Joe Biden floats the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy, the millionaire chief executives are also likely to be grilled on whether Wall Street and its rich executives pay enough to the government.
Representatives for the banks declined to comment.
A group of U.S. electricity companies wrote to President Joe Biden this week saying it will work with his administration and Congress to design a broad set of policies to reach a near-term goal of slashing the sector’s carbon emissions by 2030.
Washington should implement policies, including a clean energy standard, or CES, to ensure the electricity industry cuts carbon emissions 80% below 2005 levels by 2030, the group of 13 power interests, including generators Exelon Corp (EXC.O), PSEG(PEGPP.UL), and Talen Energy Corp, said in a letter to Biden.
The letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, did not mention Biden’s goal to fully decarbonize the power sector by 2035 as part of his strategy to fight climate change. But it said the 2030 timeline is consistent with Biden’s wider goal of decarbonizing the entire economy by 2050.
“A federal policy framework can be designed to support the power sector’s deployment of strategies that are technically feasible, ensure reliability, and maintain affordability for customers,” said the letter, sent to Biden on Friday.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The 2030 goal was consistent with Evergreen Action, an advocacy group that proposed a CES in February. Sam Ricketts, a co-founder, said utilities should worry less about the 2035 goal, and focus on early wins as the last portion of emissions cuts is the hardest to achieve.
Several lawmakers, including Democrats U.S. Representative Frank Pallone and Senator Tina Smith, have introduced legislation that includes a CES.
The standard would set gradually rising targets for the power industry to cut emissions until they hit net-zero, with a range of methods from adopting wind and solar power, using existing and advanced nuclear energy, or sucking up carbon from coal and natural gas plants before they reach the atmosphere.
The White House this month included a CES in its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package, without detailing how it would work.
Some plans for a CES include flexibilities such as allowing utilities to earn bankable credits for over-achieving in early years that could be used for compliance in later years when progress on cutting emissions becomes more difficult.
Texas residents whose furnaces, septic systems, or wells were damaged by February’s severe winter storms may be eligible for financial assistance under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. If denied assistance, applicants may appeal.
What type of assistance is available?
For private wells, furnaces, and septic systems, FEMA may provide assistance or reimbursement for the cost of a professional, licensed technician’s estimate of the repair or replacement of these items.
You also may receive assistance for the actual repair or replacement of these items not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.
If you have applied for FEMA assistance and have not had a home inspection, you should call FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for instructions related to your situation. At the time of your inspection please let the FEMA inspector know you have a private well and/or septic system that may have been damaged by the storm. If you have registered and your house has already been inspected, you should call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for instructions on how to appeal.
What if my original application was denied?
Every applicant may appeal FEMA’s decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 60 days of the date of FEMA’s letter determining eligibility. Survivors of February’s severe winter storms in Texas who registered with FEMA may have received a determination letter regarding eligibility for assistance. Read the letter carefully. It may not be the final answer. FEMA may simply need additional information or documentation to process your application.
If you have questions or need to speak about your eligibility status, call 800-621-3362, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., CDT. Multilingual operators are available.
Applicants can appeal a FEMA determination, to do so, you need to submit supporting information along with a letter describing in detail the reason (or reasons) you are appealing.
You should include your full name, FEMA application number and disaster number, pre-disaster primary residence address, and current phone number and address on all submitted documents. You can find the application and disaster number printed on page 1 of your determination letter.
You can submit your appeal and any associated documentation by:
Mailing your documents and letter within 60 days of receiving your determination letter to the address below. Your letter with accompanying documents must be postmarked within 60 days of the date on your letter from FEMA regarding your eligibility.
FEMA National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
Faxing your information to 800-827-8112.
Survivors should register online at disasterassistance.gov. If you cannot register online, call 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, Innovation, or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.
If someone other than you or the co-applicant is writing the letter, you must sign a statement affirming that the person may act on your behalf. You should keep a copy of your appeal for your records.
In addition, it’s important to make sure FEMA has your current contact information, including addresses, phone numbers, and bank accounts. If FEMA does not have your correct contact information, you may miss letters or phone calls about your application, your appeal or your payment status.
By appealing, you are asking FEMA to review your case. If you have questions, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. TTY users may call 800-462-7585. Lines are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST daily.
The second-largest canyon in the country lies in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park; experience the canyon’s rugged beauty and enjoy its colorful history.
Things to Do
Explore the canyon by foot, mountain bike, horse, or car. We have more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Camp, geocache, study nature or bird watch. During the summer, enjoy a performance of TEXAS Outdoor Musical.
Choose from campsites with water and electricity, tent sites, equestrian sites, or backpack camping areas. Stay in one of three cabins on the canyon’s rim or four Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. Rent one of our pavilions for a wedding, reunion, or meeting.
New to Palo Duro Canyon: Glamping (luxury camping)! Each glamping site is fully furnished with air conditioning, luxury rustic furnishings, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, games, bicycles, gas grills and gas fire pits, covered porches with rockers, porch swings, and much more. More information on glamping at Palo Duro Canyon.
Stop by the Visitor Center on the canyon rim to learn more about the park. The park store at the Visitor Center sells books, pottery, jewelry, and more. Look for souvenirs, snacks, and meals at The Trading Post on the canyon floor.
Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.
Trails and backpack campsites may close due to wet weather or poor conditions. Contact the park, or check our Facebook page, for trail status.
Horseback riding
Ride on trails through 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. You can also share two other trails with hikers and mountain bikers.
Bring your own horses (original Coggins papers required). Park your trailer at the equestrian campground. Bring a water bucket for your horse.
Take a guided tour. Old West Stables on the canyon floor leads tours for the whole family to Timber Creek Canyon. They also offer souvenirs and a snack bar. Reservations required; call (806) 488-2180.
TEXAS Outdoor Musical
TEXAS Outdoor Musical runs Tuesdays through Sundays in the summer at the Pioneer Amphitheater in the park. Watch the stories, struggles, and triumphs of early settlers. The family-friendly show has singing, dancing, fireworks, and lots of Texas humor!
Come early for a barbecue dinner on our covered patio.
We need you! Visit our Volunteer page and search by zip code (79015) to see how you can help. Or visit the Partners in Palo Duro Canyon Foundation website to learn about other ways to help.
We offer programs on the park’s history and natural features. Learn about birds or Longhorn cattle, or take a driving tour with a park ranger. Visit our Events page for upcoming programs. Call the park to schedule a group program.
Civilian Conservation Corps: Workers with the CCC built Palo Duro Canyon State Park more than 70 years ago. Learn more on our History page.
Interpretive Guide to Palo Duro Canyon
Birds of Palo Duro Canyon State Park: A Field Checklist
Palo Duro Canyon Junior Naturalist Program
Destination: Palo Duro Canyon (Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine)
Attractions
Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Amarillo: Don’t miss the Amarillo Zoo, Don Harrington Discovery Center, Wildcat Bluff Nature Center, the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, and more.
What is a COVID-19 vaccine passport, and will I need one?
“Vaccine passports,” or vaccine certificates, are documents that show you were vaccinated against COVID-19 or recently tested negative for the virus. They could help you get into places such as stadiums or even countries that are looking to reopen safely.
The certificates are still being developed, and how and whether they’ll be used could vary widely around the world. Experts say they should be free and available on paper, not just on apps since not everyone has a smartphone.
In the U.S., federal officials say there are no plans to make them broadly mandatory. In some states, Republican governors have issued orders barring businesses or state agencies from asking people to show proof of vaccination.
Objections revolve mostly around privacy and security — how people’s personal information will be stored — and fairness. Critics say the passports will benefit people and countries with more access to vaccines.
Supporters say they could make reopenings faster and easier. Proof of vaccination or a negative test could be a way for businesses and schools to reassure customers, students, and parents that steps are being taken to limit transmission of the virus.
International travel bans by countries could also be eased if people are able to show proof they’re vaccinated. Some countries have long had requirements to prove vaccination against yellow fever.
Still, a challenge is creating certification systems that work across vaccine providers and businesses. More than a dozen initiatives are underway to develop a credential that could be stored on a smartphone or printed on paper, using a QR code.
A coal mining operation near the Texas-Mexico border was commended for its environmental restoration after shutting down operations. RRC’s commissioners on Tuesday recognized Dos Republicas Resource Co. with the agency’s 2021 Texas Coal Mining Reclamation Award.
Dos Republicas’ 6,348-acre Eagle Pass Mine, which has held a Railroad Commission permit since 2000, ceased mining operations last year and is now working toward full reclamation. The Eagle Pass Mine is about five miles northeast of Eagle Pass in Maverick County near the border with Mexico. Sub-bituminous coal from the Olmos Formation had been harvested from the surface mine, supplying 2-3 million metric tons of coal per year to a Mexican federal electricity commission power plant.
RRC’s award recognizes Dos Republicas’ reclamation of the Dahlstrom pit, which was graded and merged with the surrounding area in 2018 and 2019. Layers of subsoil and topsoil were placed on top and planted with a mix of native grasses, which provide cover and forage for livestock and wildlife and will hold the newly placed topsoil in place while brush species take time to establish.
“Dos Republicas’ efforts at the Dahlstrom pit exemplify environmental stewardship,” said RRC Director of Surface Mining and Reclamation Division Brent Elliott, Ph.D. “It exceeds RRC standards, which are to return lands to a condition as good or better than before mining started.”
The area has been mined for coal since around 1850 and once provided coal to power steamboats that moved up and down the Rio Grande and trains that helped to grow Texas and facilitate trade with Mexico.
the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a payment of $21.5 million to Trinity Metro for reimbursement of project costs incurred by Trinity Metro in the construction of approximately 2-miles of rail and platform facilities linking the Cotton Beltline to the DFWIA Terminal B passenger rail platform. The reimbursement is associated with the facilities to be shared by the DART Silver Line. In addition, DART will provide Trinity Metro $6 million for access rights to Terminal B at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport for the future DART Silver Line project once it begins revenue service in 2023. The Trinity Metro Board of Directors approved the agreement on Monday, April 12.
“The Silver Line helps address strong demand by a growing number of residents and employees in the eastern portion of the region for a convenient and efficient connection to DFW Airport,” said Paul N. Wageman, chairman of the DART Board of Directors. “We are pleased to finalize the agreement with Trinity Metro. It marks another important right of way segment that DART has secured and is critically needed to complete the construction of the Silver Line.”
With revenue service scheduled for 2023, the 26-mile Silver Line project will traverse seven cities between DFW Airport, Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, and Plano, and include 10 new stations. The primary purpose of the Silver Line is to provide passenger rail connections and services that will improve mobility, accessibility, and system linkages to major employment, population, and activity centers in the northern part of the DART service area.
When completed, the $1.3 billion Silver Line will connect with the Trinity Metro TEXRail commuter rail line at DFW North station providing access to Downtown Fort Worth and various other Tarrant County locales. The Silver Line will also connect with the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) A-train commuter rail line providing access to various Denton County locations, DART’s Green Line providing access to Dallas Love Field and Downtown Dallas via Downtown Carrollton Station, and DART’s Red and Orange Lines at CityLine/Bush Station, giving riders easy access to Downtown Plano and the eastern side of the DART network.
