Visiting new places with your pet can be exciting. Image for illustration purposes
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Whether you’re taking your pet on a trip or enjoying the great outdoors, it’s important to take steps to keep your pet healthy and safe this summer. Visiting new places with your pet can be exciting. Follow these tips to keep your pet safe throughout all your summer adventures.
Keep Pets Safe During Travel Make sure your pet is microchipped and your contact and pet information is up to date. Have your pet wear a collar with up-to-date tags while traveling. If traveling by car, make frequent stops to allow dogs to go to the bathroom and stretch their legs. Never leave your pet alone in a parked car. Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets and leave the water in a shady area.
Play Safely in the Water Check for advisories and signage before visiting lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water may be unsafe if it smells bad or if you see scum, foam, or changes in water’s color. Rinse pets immediately with tap water if they do go in water that may be unsafe.Don’t let pets eat dead animals, such as fish.If water seems unsafe, do not let your pet:Drink the waterSwim or play in the water.Eat near the water.Lick their fur if they go in the water.
Stay Healthy Around Wildlife Always supervise your pet in areas where there may be wildlife. Keep your pet on a leash. Don’t let your pet interact with wild animals. Check your pet for ticks after outdoor outings. Learn more about keeping pets healthy around wildlife
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team learned on Friday that infielder Andy Atwood, who played with the program from 2019-21, signed with the Chicago White Sox organization and has been assigned to their single-A team the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Courtesy Image UTRGV
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RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team learned on Friday that infielder Andy Atwood, who played with the program from 2019-21, signed with the Chicago White Sox organization and has been assigned to their single-A team the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.
Atwood was in his second season with the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League where he was batting .333 (32-for-96) with three home runs, 20 RBI, six doubles, 24 runs scored, and eight stolen bases in 23 games.
Last season for Great Falls, Atwood hit .296/.360/.421, going 26-for-88 with three doubles, four triples, 12 RBI, 15 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 27 games.
“It’s funny how things work out when you don’t give up,” Atwood said. “I would like to say thank you to all the coaches at UTRGV for developing me and believing in my dreams.”
Atwood started all 58 games in 2021, hitting .341/.450/.561 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, two triples, 34 RBI, 50 runs scored and eight stolen bases en route to All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) First Team honors. The 10 home runs tied for 10th-highest single-season total in program history. Atwood led the WAC in total bases (115) while ranking second in slugging and times hit by a pitch (13), third in hits (70) and runs scored, fourth in on-base percentage, and fifth in hitting.
Atwood came to UTRGV after two seasons at Oregon State, where he helped his team to the 2017 College World Series. After redshirting the 2018 season, Atwood hit .303/.406/.412 with two home runs, five doubles, one triple, 12 RBI and 27 runs scored in 30 games to help the Vaqueros win the 2019 WAC Championship.
He then hit .309/.400/.500 with one home run, four doubles, three triples, 11 RBI and 16 runs scored in 18 games in 2020.
Atwood completed his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in May 2019 and his Master of Educational Leadership in May 2020.
The City of Laredo opened the doors to the first-of-its-kind Sensory Room at the Fasken Recreation Center on Wednesday, June 22. Courtesy Image
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LAREDO, Texas – The City of Laredo opened the doors to the first-of-its-kind Sensory Room at the Fasken Recreation Center on Wednesday, June 22. It will provide a space dedicated to sensory experiences designed to help individuals with special healthcare needs feel calm, supported, and focused. A “Sensory Environment” provides areas with education and recreation opportunities, with therapeutic equipment such as weighted products, soft play equipment, bubble tubes, and interactive wall panels.
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There are many benefits to a sensory room for those with learning difficulties, developmental disabilities, or sensory processing impairments. This initiative helps them learn to interact with the world around them in a safe environment that builds up their confidence and improves their ability to cope with real-life experiences. Users can develop a wide range of fine and gross motor and speech and language skills through these resources and social interactions. Furthermore, our sensory room will:
Enhance learning through play – Our Sensory Room was designed with themes including watercolors for visual search and music therapy. Play allows children to develop speech and language skills and listening skills. In addition, children who play with their parents/caregivers and peers learn how relationships work through their play experiences.
Provide visitors with physical, occupational, speech resources, and therapeutic recreation activities to improve their special healthcare needs. In addition to our program’s resources, we provide families with on-site information on emergency preparedness and sensory regulation items that can follow the participant home.
Within the Sensory Room is an area called the Calming Sensory Room, the perfect area for individuals who require calming or relaxation at key times during the day. The under the sea theme and equipment: soothing music, sensory cushion, fiber optics, bubble tube, bubble wall, projectors, and more.
This project is a collaboration of Council Member for District 7 Vanessa Perez, the City of Laredo Parks and Leisure Department, the City of Laredo Health Department Family Support & Community Resources, and the Children and Young Adults with Special Healthcare Needs Program.
Attorney General Paxton also released an official advisory setting forth Texas law in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. Image for illustration purposes
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The United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992), thus bringing an end to a half century of the unconstitutional and unconscionable national “right” to abortion. Attorney General Paxton also released an official advisory setting forth Texas law in light of the Supreme Court’s decision. Additionally, he announced the statewide closure of his agency’s offices today in honor of the nearly 70 million unborn babies killed in the womb since 1973. June 24th will be an annual Office of the Attorney General holiday in recognition of this momentous decision—and the many lives lost before it.
“Roe v. Wade and its successor case Planned Parenthood v. Casey have absolutely no basis in the U.S. Constitution,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Nevertheless, for half a century, Americans have had to live under these illegitimate, illegal, and unconstitutional dictates of a partisan, willful Supreme Court. No more. Today, the question of abortion returns to the states. And in Texas, that question has already been answered: abortion is illegal here. I look forward to defending the pro-life laws of Texas and the lives of all unborn children moving forward.”
“Further,” added Attorney General Paxton, “we cannot forget the extraordinary violence that Roe and Casey unleashed on our nation. Because of those decisions, almost 70 million babies have been killed in the womb. And so, today at noon, I am closing all my offices as a memorial to these babies. Our hearts and prayers go out to all of them. Never again should something like this happen in America.”
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to more than 265,500 migrant apprehensions and more than 16,400 criminal arrests, with more than 13,800 felony charges reported. More than 5,400 weapons and almost $42 million in currency have been seized. Additionally, law enforcement have turned back more than 22,000 migrants from crossing the border. Image: Office of the Governor
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Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border, stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas, and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to more than 265,500 migrant apprehensions and more than 16,400 criminal arrests, with more than 13,800 felony charges reported. More than 5,400 weapons and almost $42 million in currency have been seized. Additionally, law enforcement have turned back more than 22,000 migrants from crossing the border.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden’s open border policies.
Last week, Governor Abbott held a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission on the state’s ongoing border security preparations ahead of the latest migrant caravans headed to the Texas-Mexico border. The press conference followed a border security briefing with Operation Lone Star officials and National Guard soldiers in Weslaco.
“We know elements of the caravans are disbanding to some extent, but smaller groups of migrants are still headed straight to our border crossings,” said Governor Abbott. “The National Guard and DPS are conducting mass-migration rehearsals to implement flexible strategies to deter illegal crossings at any point along the border where they occur.”
DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez provides an update to Fox News on the past month’s historic number of migrant encounters at the border, as well as reports of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s plan to keep illegal migrants in Texas.
Texas National Guard Conducts Maritime Safety Training On Boat Operations, River Recon
Texas National Guard soldiers conducted trainings for various water incidents earlier this month on Lake Amistad to prepare for real water hazards on the Rio Grande River. “First, we train on boat operations, then move on to river recon. Water recon is crucial in our help for [law enforcement],” said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Sadikin.
The largest migrant caravan has grown to 12,000 illegal migrants and is expected to swell to 15,000 by the time it reaches the Texas-Mexico border. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are apprehending at least 8,000 people a day, according to the report.
A DPS trooper in Del Rio also describes the aftermath of a high-speed pursuit of a smuggler that resulted in a head-on collision, killing eight people.
Texas National Guard Responds To Increased Illegal Crossings In The Anzalduas Area
Texas National Guard, 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company 3-141, were notified the morning of June 16 that several illegal migrants were spotted in a cornfield by the border wall in the Anzalduas area. A team led by Staff Sgt. Cruz-Perez went to help law enforcement apprehend five illegal migrants in the cornfield using military night vision and thermal scopes, as well as a Border Patrol search dog. The illegal migrants were apprehended, processed, and taken by law enforcement.
“This area has been a large hot spot of criminal activity as of late, with different shifts capturing hundreds of illegal migrants,” said Cruz-Perez.
Texas Army National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers assigned to Operation Lone Star rehearsed their response to illegal mass migration in Laredo last week as part of their 24/7 efforts to curb illegal activity. The joint exercise allows for interagency capability to surge dozens of vehicle and personnel especially equipped to deter and interdict illegal mass migration.
Soldiers assisted law enforcement in apprehending more than 100 illegal migrants who crossed the Texas-Mexico border during this period and attempted to evade capture within Laredo neighborhoods and shopping areas.
DPS Aviation Operations Division Assists U.S. CBP Agents In Apprehending Illegal Migrants, Seizing Marijuana
While conducting a border interdiction flight near the Sierra Blanca AOR, DPS Aviation Operations Division aircrew answered a call for assistance. Aircrew arrived on the scene and deployed ground assets to assist CBP ground agents in apprehending nine illegal migrants found hiding within a nearby rock formation.
During the apprehension, 10 large bundles of marijuana were found individually concealed within several nearby rock formations. The illegal migrants and evidence were turned over to CBP for processing.
Newsmax’s border correspondent Jaeson Jones rides along with DPS troopers working in conjunction with Border Patrol agents in pursuit of smugglers near Del Rio.
DPS troopers engaged in a high-speed pursuit with smugglers through a residential area in Laredo. The smugglers, as well as five of the seven illegal migrants, fled on foot through the brush. All of the illegal migrants were apprehended with the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol.
DPS troopers stopped a driver out of Dallas attempting to smuggle one adult and two children into the U.S. illegally. The illegal migrants were apprehended and referred to U.S. Border Patrol. Troopers charged the driver with one count of smuggling of persons, a third-degree felony, and two counts of smuggling of persons under 18 years of age, a second-degree felony.
Newswise — Kimberly Baker, Ph.D., RD, LD, director of the Clemson Extension Food Systems and Safety Program Team, shared a few tips below for food safety during outdoor dining. Image for illustration purposes
Newswise — Kimberly Baker, Ph.D., RD, LD, director of the Clemson Extension Food Systems and Safety Program Team, shared a few tips below for food safety during outdoor dining.
To keep foods cold during a cookout:
Using a bowl or pan that is larger than the food’s serving dish, fill with ice and nestle the serving dish on top of the ice. Using a serving bowl or pan with tall sides will allow the serving dish to be set deeper into the ice and maintain the cold temperature longer.
Use a cooler to keep food cold, ensuring there is enough room to hold adequate ice or ice packs with the food and minimizing how much the cooler is opened. If storing food for a longer period, wrap food in smaller portions to only serve what is needed and keep the remaining food cold. If necessary, have an extra cooler with ice or ice packs for food/drinks that will be opened more often.
If you do not have the ability to provide temperature control for cold food during a cookout, cold food can be kept at ambient temperature for up to six hours if the food is 40°F or lower when being removed from temperature control and if it does not exceed 70°F during service. Check the food’s temperature every hour to ensure it has not exceeded 70°F. If the food has a temperature of 70°F or higher, then throw it out. Mark the time the food is removed from temperature control, so you can determine when it should be discarded. After six hours, discard any leftover food.
To keep foods hot during a cookout:
Use a chafing pan with sternos (fuel cans) to keep food hot.
Create a portable hot box using preheated bricks. Wrap clean bricks with aluminum foil and heat in the oven on 350-400 degrees until hot. Line a large cooler with clean towels, place hot bricks carefully in the bottom of the cooler, but on top of the towels. Place hot food (food should already be 135°F or higher) on top of bricks and continue to wrap the towel(s) in the cooler around the food to provide insulation on all sides of the food.
If you do not have the ability to provide temperature control for hot food during a cookout, hot food can be kept at ambient temperatures for up to four hours if the food is 135°F or higher when being removed from temperature control. Mark the time the food is removed from temperature control, so you can determine when it should be discarded. After four hours, discard any leftover food.
Governor Greg Abbott released a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to protect the lives of all unborn babies in America. Image for illustration purposes
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AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott released a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to protect the lives of all unborn babies in America.
“The U.S. Supreme Court correctly overturned Roe v. Wade and reinstated the right of states to protect innocent, unborn children. Texas is a pro-life state, and we have taken significant action to protect the sanctity of life. Texas has also prioritized supporting women’s healthcare and expectant mothers in need to give them the necessary resources so that they can choose life for their child. I signed laws that extended Medicaid health care coverage to six months post-partum, appropriated $345 million for women’s health programs, and invested more than $100 million toward our Alternatives to Abortion program. This critical program provides counseling, mentoring, care coordination, and material assistance, such as car seats, diapers, and housing to mothers in need.Texas will always fight for the innocent unborn, and I will continue working with the Texas legislature and all Texans to save every child from the ravages of abortion and help our expectant mothers in need.”
The City of McAllen will be installing drainage facilities along North Main Street between Ash Avenue and Cedar Avenue June 27th – August 10th. Image for illustration purposes
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The City of McAllen will be installing drainage facilities along North Main Street between Ash Avenue and Cedar Avenue. Demolition work along with roadway paving will be affecting the thru traffic along North Main Street.
The project will be done in two phases, with phase one beginning on June 27 to July 27, 2022 with both north and southbound lanes to be closed to thru traffic. Phase two will be closed to thru traffic from July 27 to August 10, 2022.
Motorists are urged to exercise extreme caution and patience when traveling along in the area. Motorists should expect some delays and congestion.
For status on this project, please visit the City of McAllen Engineering Department website at https://mcallen.net/bondupdates and click on the projects link.
Four Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) teachers recently earned Master Degrees in Mathematics through the Harvard Extension School Math for Teaching Graduate Program Cohort VI & VII in partnership with the Texas Graduate Center (TGC). (Pictured) Albesa Pedraza. Courtesy Image
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PHARR, Texas – Four Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) teachers recently earned Master Degrees in Mathematics through the Harvard Extension School Math for Teaching Graduate Program Cohort VI & VII in partnership with the Texas Graduate Center (TGC).
Moises Diaz with his family. Courtesy Image
Albesa A. Pedraza from PSJA Memorial Early College High School, Evan A. Curtis from PSJA Early College High School, Moises Diaz from PSJA T-STEM Early College High School, and Karina Bazan from PSJA Early College High School were among two cohorts of Rio Grande Valley teachers who recently graduated with a Master of Liberal Arts in Mathematics for Teaching from Harvard Extension School.
Karina-Bazan. Courtesy Image
“The program gave me a different perspective to teaching because I had not been challenged before the way that I was throughout the program, with that challenge I was able to gain a different appreciation for my students,” said Bazan.
Pedraza and Curtis were among seven educators who graduated apart of cohort VI in 2020. Most recently, Diaz and Bazan graduated as part of cohort VII in 2022.
“I am beyond grateful to PSJA for all the opportunities they have provided in my education. PSJA has opened many doors for me, such as being a part of Gear Up to being a part of this program,” Pedraza said. “These things have enabled me to gain knowledge and insight on different teaching strategies.”
The Harvard Math for Teaching Graduate Program is designed for secondary mathematics (or related field) teachers in Region One GEAR UP high schools. It is a rigorous course of study that allows teachers to complete a master’s degree within a three-year time frame.
Evan Curtis Courtesy Image
“I am very grateful to my school district for offering this program that has made me a better math teacher for my students,” said Curtis. “I have gained so much knowledge and experience in how to think about problems and insight into the art of teaching. I believe when the district invests in their teachers, it pays off through a higher quality of education for our students. By making me a better teacher, our students benefit.”
Since the program’s inception in 2015, 12 PSJA ISD Educators have earned master’s degrees.
“Congratulations to our four educators for completing this rigorous program,” said PSJA Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. “We commend you for your dedication and drive to continue growing as educators to help further impact student academic success.”
WASHINGTON – Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statements after the Senate passed his Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, targeted legislation that addresses the specific problems that have led to recent mass shootings and helps ensure schools are safe without placing new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. Video is available here.
“Tomorrow will mark one month since the tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas.”
“The American people were shocked, outraged, and devastated by this attack and collectively asked, how can we prevent this from happening again?”
“While the discussions surrounding this topic causes emotions to run high, and I understand why. For too long some politicians have tried to pit the right to live in a safe community against the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. They make it seem like the country can only have one or the other: either the Second Amendment or safe schools, and churches, and grocery stores. And, of course, this is a false choice. Law-abiding gun owners are not the problem.”
“I don’t believe in doing nothing in the face of what we saw in Uvalde and we’ve seen in far too many communities. Doing nothing is an abdication of our responsibility.”
“At the same time, I reiterated my bottom line, which is I would not support any provisions that infringed on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Again, they are not the problem. But I knew that this effort was about the art of the possible, looking at areas where we could agree and setting aside those areas where we could not.”
“This legislation will protect our schools, protect our communities, and safeguard the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: no parent should ever fear for the safety of their child at school, and no child should be afraid to go to school.”
“Passing good public policy and supporting the Constitution are not mutually exclusive.”
“I believe we have in the gallery tonight people who have suffered unthinkable losses of loved ones in some of these mass shooting incidents. But I want to tell them that their advocacy has turned their pain into something positive.”
“Many have come to doubt whether we’re capable of making our institutions work.”
“We proved that we can, when sufficiently inspired by the people in the gallery and others when they say, ‘Do something,’ to come together and find common ground that will help keep our communities safer, protect our children, and save lives.”
Background:
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is targeted legislation addressing the specific problems that have led to recent mass shootings and the need for additional mental health and school safety resources. It includes:
Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders
● Provides resources to states to implement crisis intervention court programs, which could include mental health courts, drug courts, Veterans’ Courts, and Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) programs.
○ Every state would receive funding based on an existing formula and have the flexibility to choose whichever crisis intervention programs would work best for them. There are no mandates, incentives, penalties, or set-asides.
○ If a state chooses to use any of this funding to implement an extreme risk protection order program, it would be required to meet strict and expansive due process, evidentiary, and standard of proof requirements.
Investments in Children and Family Mental Health Services
● Expands the community behavioral health center model nationwide and makes major investments to increase access to mental health and suicide prevention programs and other support services available in the community, including crisis and trauma intervention.
Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
· Updates the definition of misdemeanor crime of domestic violence to include those who have or have had a current or recent continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with their victim.
● Individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence against a person with whom they have or have had a current or recent continuing serious relationship of a romantic or intimate nature would have their right to purchase and possess firearms automatically restored after five years elapsed from the end of their criminal sentence if they had committed no further crimes of violence.
Funding for School-Based Mental Health and Supportive Services
● Invests in programs to expand mental health and supportive services in schools, including early identification and intervention.
Funding for School Safety Resources
● Invests in programs to help institute safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools, supports school violence prevention efforts and provides training to school personnel and students.
Clarification of the Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer
● Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements.
Telehealth Investments
● Invests in programs that increase access to mental and behavioral health services for youth and families in crisis via telehealth.
Under-21 Enhanced Review Process
● For buyers under 21 years of age whose background checks are flagged for cause, the bill allows up to seven additional days for the FBI to conduct an enhanced review into the possibly disqualifying juvenile and mental health adjudication records.
Penalties for Straw Purchasing
● Cracks down on criminals, cartel members, and terrorists who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns.
The Senators’ Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is fully offset. Text of the Senators’ legislation is available here.
The legislation is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Psychological Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Rural Health Association, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Electronic Security Association, and the Security Industry Association, along with other national and state domestic violence, mental health, and education organizations.
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.
