Texas employers added 48,600 nonfarm jobs in January, total jobs in Texas reached a new historic high of 13,782,300. Image for illustration purposes
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AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today celebrated the state’s growing workforce and strong economy following the latest employment release from the Texas Workforce Commission showing Texas again broke the all-time record for total jobs in January for the 16th consecutive month. With Texas employers adding 48,600 nonfarm jobs in January, total jobs in Texas reached a new historic high of 13,782,300.
“Texas truly is America’s economic engine as we continue to break our all-time record for total jobs, now for 16 consecutive months,” said Governor Abbott. “Ongoing and strong jobs growth in Texas, despite a mixed economic outlook at the national level, is a testament to the strength of our state’s diverse economy and our skilled and growing workforce. I am proud that we’ve again hit a new historic high for total jobs, and I congratulate Texas employers and our talented workforce on achieving this new, record-setting milestone. This legislative session, we will continue building the Texas of tomorrow by cutting property taxes and investing in workforce development, infrastructure upgrades, and strategic economic development tools. Working together, we will ensure Texas remains an unflinching force in the country and in this world.”
From January 2022 to January 2023, Texas added 654,100 jobs, marking an annual growth rate of 5 percent, outpacing the national rate of 3.3 percent. Notable January job gains in Texas included 8,300 jobs added in Leisure and Hospitality, 8,100 jobs added in Professional and Business Services, and 5,900 jobs added in both Construction and Manufacturing employment.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol recovered a stolen weapon at the Highway 83 Checkpoint. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol recovered a stolen weapon at the Highway 83 Checkpoint.
On March 5, Border Patrol agents encountered a tractor trailer at the primary inspection lane when a Service canine alerted to the trailer. The driver was referred to secondary inspection. While on secondary, agents found two firearms and small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle. Record checks revealed that one of the firearms was previously reported stolen. The driver and passenger were taken into custody and the case was turned over to ATF.
Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement following a U.S. federal judge’s ruling that the Biden Administration has violated federal law by releasing illegal immigrants en masse at our southern border. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement following a U.S. federal judge’s ruling that the Biden Administration has violated federal law by releasing illegal immigrants en masse at our southern border.
“Yesterday, another federal court announced what Texans—and Americans—have known all along: President Biden’s open border policies are, in the words of Judge Wetherell, ‘akin to posting a flashing Come In We’re Open sign on the southern border.’ President Biden’s catch-and-release agenda, which violates his constitutional duty to enforce federal immigration laws, has catalyzed an unprecedented crisis of illegal immigration at our southern border and throughout our nation. In 2023 alone, this surge of illegal immigration will saddle Texas taxpayers with an estimated financial burden of $13.3 billion.
The Biden Administration’s lawlessness is putting all Americans in imminent danger. President Biden must start enforcing the immigration laws that are already on the books. That means aggressively prosecuting illegal crossings between ports of entry, and locking up those illegal immigrants who ‘shall’ be detained according to Congress itself. While the State of Texas continues stepping up to secure the border in the federal government’s absence, this ruling is a major win in our fight to combat the record-breaking levels of illegal immigration caused by the President’s sustained dereliction of duty.”
Governor Greg Abbott today touted Texas’ economic development success and highlighted important industries making our state the ninth-largest economy in the world during a fireside chat at the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) Spring Investor Summit in Austin. Photo: Office of the Governor
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today touted Texas’ economic development success and highlighted important industries making our state the ninth-largest economy in the world during a fireside chat at the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) Spring Investor Summit in Austin.
The Governor with members of TxEDC. Photo: Office of the Governor
“Texas is the American dream, and more people are experiencing that now than ever before,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas has everything businesses need: a friendly business and regulatory environment, no state income tax, and a young, educated workforce trained to be employed in the growing industries of tomorrow. As long as I am Governor, we will ensure Texas remains the land of freedom and opportunity, an unflinching force in the world, and the best state to live, build a business, and raise a family.”
During the fireside chat with TxEDC President and CEO Robert Allen and Occidental CEO Vicki Hollub, Governor Abbott highlighted Texas’ record-shattering 11 years in a row as the best state for job-creating business relocations and expansions. The Governor noted that Texas’ success has been aided by strategic economic development tools and the need for new tools to help local communities continue to grow and thrive. In his budget for the next two years, Governor Abbott requested the Texas Legislature ensure we have the necessary tools to take advantage of the new CHIPS Act to continue bringing semiconductor manufacturing to Texas.
Speaking at TxEDC Fireside Chat. Speaking at TEDC Fireside Chat.
The Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) is an independently funded and operated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization responsible for marketing and promoting Texas as a premier business location. TxEDC, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Texas Economic Development and Tourism, promotes Texas across the country and around the world as the best location for businesses to locate and expand.
Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) is honored to be a recipient of The Meadows Foundation grant to continue enhancing employment opportunities and promoting workforce development among Latinas in the RGV. Image courtesy if VIDA
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Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) is honored to be a recipient of The Meadows Foundation grant to continue enhancing employment opportunities and promoting workforce development among Latinas in the RGV. This grant project will provide VIDA the opportunity to lead a continuation of the successful outcomes and deliverables the program has been serving, in which an additional 250 Latinas will be provided student support services to pursue degrees and credentials in high demand occupations. VIDA is grateful to The Meadows Foundation for recognizing the value in education to build and sustain a competitive workforce in our community.
“We are immensely thankful to The Meadows Foundation, for selecting VIDA as one of its grant recipients for thisinnovative workforce development initiative, benefiting Latinas in our community. It is our continued priority to maximize human capital and promote economic mobility through education among our underserved demographic,especially Latinas. With The Meadows Foundation grant, VIDA will persist in aligning relevant workforce training opportunities with industry demand and supporting gender equality in the RGV’s workforce.” said Felida Villarreal,VIDA’s President & CEO.
About Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement
For over 27 years, VIDA has helped more than 6,000 economically disadvantaged valley residents successfully complete career training programs in target demand occupations and achieve self- sufficiency. Last year, VIDA served534 participants with an average persistence rate of 94% and an average annual salary upon graduation of over $48,000!This is a true representation of human capital investment and aligning workforce skills with local industry demand.
To learn more about VIDA, please visit www.vidacareers.org or call (956) 903-1900.
UTRGV President Guy Bailey is shown here with student Victoria Gutierrez and her family, from Port Arthur, at a signing event for Luminary Scholars recipients in 2022, at the UTRGV Visitors Center on the Edinburg Campus. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)
Texas Border Business
By Victoria Brito Morales
EDINBURG, Texas –UTRGV President Guy Bailey is one of the newest members of the Excelencia in Education Presidents for Latino Success network.
Excelencia in Education is the nation’s premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education. And the network itself and its campus teams actively collaborate to put evidence-based practices and strategic analysis of student data to use to support and advance the talents, skills and contributions of Latino students and the institutions.
Bailey is one of 25 university leaders from across the country to join the network this year.
“We are proud to have earned the Seal of Excelencia in 2021, and now, joining the Presidents for Latino Success network will only help UTRGV enhance our priority of student success,” Bailey said. “The tools gained from this network will help forge a path for Latino students for many years to come.”
Currently, there are 37 total university leaders including Bailey in the network, five from the UT System. The network is made up of college and university presidents and chancellors committed to making their institutions a learning environment in which Latino students can thrive.
Sarita Brown, co-founder and president ofExcelencia in Education, said the communication and information the network provides is crucial for unified growth.
“Higher education leaders with skills and vision are fundamental to our country’s strong recovery,” she said. “Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way.”
Through the network, Bailey will collaborate withExcelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships and amplify current efforts at the national level.
In 2021,UTRGV was one of 10 institutions to earn the Seal of Excelencia. The 10 institutions earned Seal certification by demonstrating specific inclusive strategies, implementing programs with evidence of effectiveness, and registering results that showed they are intentionally serving Latino students among all their students.
For more information onExcelencia in Education, visit edexcelencia.org.
ABOUT EXCELENCIA IN EDUCATION
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies and advancing institutional practices, while collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Launched in 2004 in Washington, D.C., Excelencia has established a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders.
Michaud will speak at the Brownsville Historical Association’s Historic Brownsville Museum on Thursday, March 16, from 6 to 8 pm. Book: Courtesy Image, Author Image: Author Image Source: stephenmichaud.com, Bgd: Googlemaps
AUSTIN, Texas — Coyote Publishing has released author Stephen G. Michaud’s long-anticipated life and death saga of cowboy Robert East, late patrón of the famous San Antonio Viejo ranch in South Texas. Michaud, coauthor with Hugh Aynesworth of The Only Living Witness, the true crime classic based on the writers’ startling Death Row interviews with serial killer Ted Bundy, spent nearly six years reporting and writing Robert’s Story: A Texas Cowboy’s Troubled Life and Horrifying Death, in which he explores the East family’s storied past and the outsiders’ devastating greed and cruelty that helped tear them apart.
Michaud will speak at the Brownsville Historical Association’s Historic Brownsville Museum on Thursday, March 16, from 6 to 8 pm. The event is free of charge and open to the public. Visit brownsvillehistory.org for more information.
Robert’s Story, says noted Houston lawyer Dick DeGuerin, is “a fascinating look inside South Texas ranching families,” and also “a great read.”
Jeff Guinn, onetime book editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and author of the New York Timesbest seller, Manson, says Robert’s Story “proves once again that when it comes to crafting gripping, real-life tales of dark, inhuman schemes, nobody does it better than Stephen G. Michaud.”
“We are delighted to have Stephen present his new book,” said Tara Putegnat, executive director of the Historic Brownsville Museum. “His masterful account of a South Texas ranching empire is a story everyone should read. The Museum looks forward to a wonderful presentation.”Check out the book trailer and visit robertstory.net for more on Stephen Michaud and the history of the East family.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Anzalduas International Bridge Board (AIBB) began construction this week on a donated project that will improve commercial infrastructure at the Anzalduas Land Port of Entry (LPOE). USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Anzalduas International Bridge Board (AIBB) began construction this week on a donated project that will improve commercial infrastructure at the Anzalduas Land Port of Entry (LPOE).
Under CBP’s Donations Acceptance Program (DAP), the AIBB will help fund the construction of a full commercial inspection and processing facility. The improvement will equip the Anzalduas LPOE with the necessary infrastructure improvements and additions that will support the processing of fully laden southbound and northbound commercial vehicles.
The new southbound facilities will be located on the west side of the LPOE, the improvements include upgrading the empty commercial inspection area. In addition, the improvements will also include access roads, primary outbound inspection booth, eight commercial secondary inspection bays, exit and control booth, as well as an export/cargo processing office.
The new northbound facilities will be located on the east side of the LPOE and will include Unified Cargo Processing technology which will help Mexican customs and U.S. CBP officers in inspecting incoming cargo and expedite its clearance. The enhancements and updates will also include the addition of pre-primary non-intrusive inspection technology, 30 secondary inspection bays, cargo processing and administrative offices, an operations command center, a Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lane dedicated for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), HAZMAT facility, U.S. Department of Transportation inspection facility, as well as ancillary structures and other improvements that will enhance operations.
“With the continued increase of imports from Mexico, having these additional spaces and improvements will have a significant positive impact on our ability to expedite the processing time and get shipments on their way into U.S. commerce,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Port of Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas.
“The addition of the lanes and infrastructure improvements in this project will help accommodate the rapidly growing economy in the City of McAllen; it will also reinvigorate the economic vitality of the City of McAllen by creating new international trade opportunities and incentivize new local jobs,” said Pete Flores, Executive Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations. “Many infrastructures and technological improvements at Ports of Entry are made possible by the Donations Acceptance Program.”
CBP personnel at the Anzalduas LPOE play a critical role in ensuring legitimate trade and travel, in and out of US and Mexico. The Anzalduas bridge sees, on any given day, between 2,500 to 5,000 commercial vehicles. In addition to the high commercial traffic, the Anzalduas LPOE is strategically positioned on the border due to its proximity to over 250 manufacturing facilities.
“The City of McAllen and the Anzalduas International Bridge Board remains committed to working with our federal partners to identify and implement innovative methods to expedite traffic and trade at our international port of entry, making border crossings and inspections function more effectively while helping our trade partners process and cross their goods more efficiently,” said City of McAllen Mayor and Anzalduas International Bridge Board Chairman Javier Villalobos, J.D. “We are proud to partner with CBP on this and other Donations Acceptance Program projects that provide creative solutions to meet and address specific federal needs at the local level and keep international trade and commerce flowing swiftly and smoothly.”
Pursuant to 6 U.S.C. § 301a, and more generally, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. §§ 112 et seq., as amended, CBP and GSA are authorized to accept donations of real property, personal property (including monetary donations) and non-personal services from private sector and government entities. Accepted donations may be used for port of entry construction, alterations, operations, and maintenance activities.
“The General Services Administration delivers value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across Government,” said GSA Regional Administrator Jason L. Shelton. “The use of the Donations Acceptance Program, and the associated partnerships it allows, help us to provide 21st century space for federal agencies so they can deliver their mission safely and effectively. This project is an excellent example of how the program supports our customers, like CBP, local communities and the country as a whole.”
Dr. Constantine Tarawneh, senior associate dean of the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science and director of UTRGV’s University Transportation Center for Railway Safety, instructs future engineers during the UTCRS Summer Camp in 2018. During this camp, Rio Grande Valley students work together in groups to build a project that deals with transportation engineering. Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded UTCRS a $10 million grant to focus on promoting safety in railway transportation systems. (UTRGV Archive Photo by Silver Salas)
Texas Border Business
By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
EDINBURG, Texas –The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded UTRGV’s University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) a $10 million grant to focus on promoting safety in railway transportation systems.
Dr. Constantine Tarawneh – senior associate dean of the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science, director of the UTCRS, and principal investigator of the grant – said the funding comes at a critical time for rail transportation, especially in light of recent railway disasters.
“This is the focus of our research at UTRGV,” he said. “Our UTCRS team is made up of faculty and students, and we are concentrating on four primary areas: railway track structure, railway rolling stock, railway grade crossings and developing a Universal Railway Safety Platform.”
The grant will award $2 million per year over the course of five years, Tarawneh said, with funding starting in the spring through the end of fiscal year 2028. The overall goal of the work is to focus on the safety of railway systems, with secondary goals studying economic strength and global competitiveness, as well as climate and sustainability.
Dr. Janna Arney, UTRGV executive vice president and provost, said Tarawneh has been at the forefront of research in his field and brings his many years of expertise and experiences to the classroom.
Dr. Constantine Tarawneh, senior associate dean of the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science and UTCRS director, served as the principal investigator on a $10 million grant that will focus on the safety of railway systems, with secondary goals studying economic strength and global competitiveness, as well as climate and sustainability. (UTRGV Photo)
“We are so proud of the research Dr. Tarawneh is doing at UTRGV, especially his work on railway safety sensors, and of how passionate he is about sharing that with our students,” Arney said. “They are in the transportation lab with him, researching and developing products that will make a difference in people’s lives and make the world a better, safer place.”
Tarawneh said UTRGV graduate and undergraduate students alike have a chance to engage in state-of-the-art research and development related to railway safety.
The center will support the students financially through employment and tuition remission, which will help them focus on conducting research alongside experienced faculty and staff as they perform application-based railroad research.
“Our students will benefit greatly from proven workforce development that will prepare them to enter the workforce seamlessly,” he said.
FOURFOLD FOCUS
Within the four primary areas of research outlined above – railway track structure, railway rolling stock, railway grade crossings and developing a Universal Railway Safety Platform – UTCRS will focus on the following principles:
Investigate and develop strategic engineering models of railway components, including track structure, rolling stock, and grade crossings, that are capable of predicting and avoiding potentially unsafe conditions.
Identify and investigate railway sensing technologies that increase safety, durability, and life of railway transportation systems.
Identify and develop sustainable and renewable structural components.
Identify and develop innovative and practical energy harvesting methods to power the rail infrastructure sensor technologies in development.
Investigate and develop fully integrated technological software capable of providing straightforward access to both our models and our failure sensing technologies by appropriate railway personnel.
Train and develop the next generation of rail transportation engineers with emphasis on providing pathways to doctoral programs for underrepresented minorities.
Co-PIs on the UTRGV grant include Dr. Dimah Dera, associate director of UTCRS; Dr. Heinrich Foltz, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Angela Chapman, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) coordinator; Dr. Mohsen Amjadian, assistant professor of Civil Engineering, UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science; Dr. Mustapha Rahmaninezhad, assistant professor in practice, UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Dr. Arturo Fuentes, professor of Mechanical Engineering, UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science.
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT, COMMUNITY IMPACT
Tarawneh said this grant is the largest STEM grant received at UTRGV, and helps give the university visibility, which in turn helps attract top talent to the faculty.
“Grants like this also help the institution develop much needed doctoral programs in the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science,” he said. “In addition, the work generated from grants of this magnitude will have long-lasting impacts on the rail transportation industry in terms of technology and workforce development, as well as providing the community with engagement programs that can recruit K-12 students to STEM fields.”
Since its inception in 2013, the UTCRS has engaged more than 220 graduate and 600 undergraduate students in its various research, education, workforce development, technology transfer and community engagement activities.
The UTCRS also has hosted about 8,000 K-12 students and 800 STEM teachers in its annual UTCRS STEM Summer Camps.
Tarawneh’s hope is that this grant will help bolster even further student and community involvement in the center.
“We want our students and the Valley community to be proud of the diligent work the UTCRS is doing,” he said. “We want them to see that we are developing and deploying technologies that will mitigate train derailments and enhance highway-rail grade crossing safety, and that we are helping the federal Department of Transportation achieve its vision of Zero Deaths in the transportation system.”
Dr. Constantine Tarawneh and UTRGV students install a bearing in the bearing testing lab at the UTRGV Engineering Building in 2020. (UTRGV Archive Photo by David Pike)
Port of Matamoros Marker. Image by Debbi Hook, HMdb.org The Historical Marker Database.
Texas Border Business
MATAMOROS EXPEDITIONS OF 1836 AND 1837. After the Texas Revolution at least two expeditions against Matamoros, Tamaulipas, were proposed. In July 1836, upon the arrest of captains Henry W. Karnes and Henry Teal and word of José de Urrea’s forces concentrating at Matamoros, President David G. Burnet and Gen. Thomas J. Rusk planned an attack on the city by land and sea. Because of opposition from the cabinet and from Gen. Sam Houston, the expedition was never carried out, although the port of Matamoros was under blockade from July 21 to November 1, 1836. Another proposal to attack Matamoros was advocated by Gen. Felix Huston in the spring of 1837, but it was defeated when President Houston, who again opposed the expedition, extended furloughs to the members of the army.
From Handbook of Texas Online • Published by the Texas State Historical Association
