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Uvalde school shooting video: What happened at Robb Elementary?
Hot and Dry
Texas Border Business
President and Chief Executive Officer
of The Perryman Group
Virtually all of Texas is now abnormally dry. Comparisons to the bone-dry days of 2011 have begun, and it’s not looking good. In fact, given the scope of the drought and the higher costs of inputs, agricultural losses across the state are likely to top 2011’s record $7.6 billion total.
Almost 87% of the state is in a “moderate drought” according to the US Drought Monitor, which is when dryland crops are stunted, pastures deteriorate, and wildfires become more common. Worse, about 66% of Texas is in “severe drought,” with 46% “extreme” and 16% in the worst category of “exceptional.”
About 20.0 million people are currently affected by drought, and 227 counties have disaster designations. Thus far, it’s the eighth driest year on record. Many cities have enacted water restrictions, and without beneficial rains they will intensify.
Although the statewide level of water in reservoirs is about 74%, most of those that are full are in the eastern half of the state. Many in west Texas are extremely low, and water levels in irrigation wells are dropping in many areas. Low water levels often diminish water quality as well.
There is never a good time for a drought, but the timing in this instance is particularly troubling. From the perspective of agricultural producers, many have experienced additional losses from extreme cold in 2021 as well as recent hail and dust storms. In addition, everything needed to grow crops or livestock is more expensive than usual. From seed to fuel to hay to power for irrigation wells, farmers and ranchers have seen costs rise substantially. Although crop and other insurance can provide some relief, it only goes so far. Supply chain issues are further compounding the situation.
For the economy, a poor year brings yet another contributor to inflation. Texas is an important source of beef, cotton, milk, poultry, corn, eggs, sorghum, vegetables, wheat, and many other foods and products. As the drought intensifies, yields will drop, putting upward pressure on prices.
Looking ahead, there are expectations that the La Nina pattern, which is causing the southern US to be warm and dry, may linger through the winter. If that happens, this year’s conditions will trend toward 2011, when virtually the entire state experienced the most extreme categories of drought. The economic consequences reach throughout the economy and are quite severe.
Cycles in the amount of rainfall have always been around, but this La Nina has proven particularly stubborn. Although no one wants to see the devastation of a hurricane, some less disruptive tropical moisture could be beneficial. A return of El Nino would also help. Until then, stay safe and cool! Staying dry should not be a problem!
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Dr. M. Ray Perryman is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group (www.perrymangroup.com), which has served the needs of over 2,500 clients over the past four decades.
Port of Brownsville Announces New Police Chief
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BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Port of Brownsville announces William G. Dietrich as the new Chief of Police for the port’s Police and Security Department, effective July 11, 2022.
Dietrich heads a department which includes sworn police officers, security guards, and administrative staff. He succeeds Carlos L. Garcia, who retired July 8, 2022, from the Port of Brownsville after 10 years of service as police chief.
Before joining the port, Dietrich retired from the Brownsville Police Department as Commander, after 26 years of service. Throughout that time, he served in the Uniformed Services Command, Investigative Services Command, Special Investigations Unit, and served as the Hazardous Devices Unit Commander.
Dietrich holds a bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Texas at Brownsville (now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) and is a graduate of the Canadian Police College. Dietrich’s training includes certification from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Bomb Technician School and the FBI’s Hazardous Devices School.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents arrest two sex offenders
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LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents from the Laredo South Station arrested two convicted sex offenders over a 24-hour period in ranches in south Laredo, Texas.
The first incident occurred during the early morning of July 10, when agents arrested one undocumented individual from Guatemala. Record checks revealed the individual as being Leonel Francisco Zepeda, a 48-year-old Guatemalan national. Zepeda has a felony conviction a prior felony conviction for sexual abuse & endangering the welfare of a minor out of New York City.
The second arrest occurred the next day at another nearby ranch. Record checks revealed the individual to be Samuel Luna-Estrada, a 30-year-old Mexican national. Luna-Estrada was arrested in 2018 for First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in Lexington, Nebraska and pled no contest to an amended charge of Intentional Child Abuse.
Both individuals were taken into custody pending further investigation.
Help take a stand against criminal organizations and their potentially dangerous acts by reporting suspicious activity. To report suspicious activity such as human and/or drug smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.
Multiple human smuggling stash houses discovered
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EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents disrupted human smuggling schemes and discovered multiple human stash houses, that totaled 93 migrants encountered in the last several days.
On July 5, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector Intelligence Unit, Santa Teresa Station Anti-Smuggling Unit and El Paso Station agents received information of possible smuggled migrants being harbored in the Segundo Barrio area. Agents arrived at the location and encountered 13 migrants from Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador hidden inside a small property.
Later the same day, Santa Teresa Station ASU, El Paso Sector Special Operations Division and El Paso Sector Intelligence Unit agents disrupted a human smuggling scheme in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Agents discovered 10 smuggled migrants crammed into a small GMC sports utility vehicle. From this event, agents gathered information that led to the discovery of another 15 migrants hidden in a small room of an apartment complex near Chamizal Park. The smuggled migrants encountered in these events were from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
The next day, El Paso Sector Integrated Targeting Team, El Paso SIU, Santa Teresa and Las Cruces ASU, along with Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations agents encountered 25 smuggled migrants inside a house near Ascarate Park. The agents were guided to the stash house by information previously gathered from a smuggling scheme disrupted in far west El Paso earlier that morning. That event resulted in 16 smuggled migrants encountered, crowded inside two sedan vehicles.
All migrants were medically screened and evaluated. Those migrants amenable to Title 42 were expelled back to Mexico and others transported to the Central Processing Center to be processed under Title 8.
“U.S. Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector continues to bust dangerous human smuggling organizations located in residential communities throughout El Paso, Texas. Sheltering migrants in unsanitary and unsafe conditions is a common practice by Transnational Criminal Organizations that disregard the safety of the migrants they exploit,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “Community and local law enforcement support is fundamental to identify these dangerous criminal activities in our community. We appreciate the assistance we receive from the public in disrupting these criminal smuggling organizations.”
During Fiscal Year 2022, Border Patrol Agents in El Paso Sector have located more than 156 stash houses, leading to the rescue or interception of 1,684 migrants.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.
CBP Air and Marine Operations rescue hundreds
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EL PASO, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews operating in the southwest region rescued 244 people between October 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. The six-state region includes Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. These areas are known for inhospitable mountain and desert terrain as well as extreme temperatures which often lead to high-risk rescue situations as migrants attempt to make the hazardous journey across the U.S./Mexico border.
AMO crews must rapidly transition from their law enforcement mission to first responder roles when emergency circumstances exist in order to locate, extract, evaluate, and deliver distressed individuals to safety or further medical care. An example of AMO agents dynamically shifting from patrol operations into search and rescue missions occurred in early June in Laredo, Texas.
On June 4, a Laredo Air Branch AS350 helicopter crew flew four air missions while working with Cotulla, Laredo North, and Laredo South Border Patrol Stations to locate suspected migrants in the Laredo area. The aircrew landed several times while on patrol to respond to individuals in distress who suffered from complications as a result of extreme temperatures and high humidity.
A crew member was also an Air and Marine Emergency Medical Services qualified agent, trained to conduct medical evaluation and first aid. The AMO EMT rendered aid and transferred four migrants to emergency medical services and Border Patrol EMT teams for further evaluation and treatment. The aircrew then transitioned back into the law enforcement mission and facilitated the apprehension of 132 migrants by Border Patrol partners between the distress calls. Many similar cases have been documented as well.
- 911 call leads three migrants to be rescued in the Jacumba Mountains
- Air and Marine Operations ASTAR finds pair of migrants abandoned in the West Desert
- VIDEO: Air and Marine Operations aircraft rescue in Sabino Canyon
- VIDEO RELEASE: Air and Marine Operations aircraft locate and rescue a lost migrant in the Baboquivari Mountains
AMO’s Southwest Region spans more than 2,000 miles of linear border and is responsible for conducting federal aviation, maritime, and land law enforcement operations within Nevada, Oklahoma, and the four southwest border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. AMO’s SWR includes the coastal waters off Southern California and Texas. The U.S.—Mexico contiguous border provides a nexus point where three transnational threats converge: drug trafficking, inadmissible alien smuggling, and terrorism.
AMO safeguards our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO serves as the nation’s experts in airborne and maritime law enforcement.
In Fiscal Year 2021, AMO enforcement actions resulted in 1,119 arrests and 122,035 apprehensions of undocumented individuals as well as the seizure or disruption of 324,772 pounds of cocaine, 779,725 pounds of marijuana, 18,548 pounds of methamphetamine, 900 weapons and $73.3 million.
Community Resource Center to offer ‘Hygiene Closet’
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WESLACO, Txas – Hidalgo County’s Progreso Community Resource Center is offering what it calls “Hygiene Closets” to local residents to help expand basic hygienic health needs of the community, Precinct 1 Commissioner David Fuentes announced.
The initiative, done with a grant from Superior Health Plan, allows Hidalgo County to buy hygiene items such as shampoo; body wash; laundry detergent; cleaning supplies; feminine hygiene items; toothbrushes; combs; and other items identified as a need. Funds may also be used to purchase shelving to store these items.
“If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of maintaining good hygiene,” Commissioner Fuentes said. “This generous grant will allow low income residents or residents with special needs to secure these basic necessities free of charge.”
The hygiene closet will be located at the Progreso Community Resource Center located at 510 FM 1015, in Progreso. People may pick up the items they need through December or until the supply is depleted.
“Every year, we work with thousands of organizations across Texas to support the communities in which we serve,” said Mark Sanders, President and CEO of Superior HealthPlan. “Now more than ever, it’s important that we’re doubling down on our commitment to serving all members equally. That means improving access to care for the disability community, including the families, caregivers and providers on the frontline.”
The White House Outlines Strategy to Manage BA.5
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The White House COVID-19 Team is announcing its strategy to manage BA.5. The strategy relies on ensuring that Americans continue to have easy and convenient access to the vaccines, treatments, tests, and other tools that protect against and treat COVID-19. These tools – even in the face of BA.5 – work to prevent serious illness, keep people out of the hospital, and save lives – and we can prevent nearly all COVID-19 deaths with them.
BA.4 and BA.5 – subvariants of the Omicron variant – now make up 80 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., with BA.5 accounting for a majority of cases. Early indications signal that BA.5 may have some increased ability to escape immunity, including from prior infections, meaning it has the potential to cause the numbers of infections to rise in the coming weeks. This potential for increase is greatest where fewer people are up to date on their vaccinations and there is increased waning of immunity from vaccines.
In January 2021, the American people had limited tools to protect themselves against COVID-19. Today, that is no longer the case. Thanks to the infrastructure that the President’s comprehensive COVID-19 response has built and the tools that the Administration has worked to make widely available over the past 18 months, the U.S. is prepared to combat the challenge of BA.5. More than 222 million Americans are fully vaccinated, over 106 million people have at least their first booster shot, and virtually every American of every age is eligible for vaccination. And, we have more courses of lifesaving treatments available and being used than ever before, as well as widely available at-home tests and high-quality masks.
The President’s comprehensive COVID-19 response has produced tremendous results for the American people: COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive force it once was, and most COVID-19 deaths are now preventable because of the vaccines, treatments, and other tools the Biden Administration has made available to the American people. Daily COVID-19 deaths are down by 90 percent since the President took office. America’s schools are open. More Americans are working in the private sector than before the pandemic started. And, the vast majority of Americans are comfortable visiting with loved ones, eating out, traveling and doing other things that they did before COVID-19.
In March, the President released his National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan – a roadmap to continue our fight against the virus and to continue minimizing its impact on our lives. Since emerging from the Omicron surge this past winter, we have worked to make sure that the tools we have remain widely available and easily accessible to Americans.
To confront BA.5, the Administration will continue mobilizing the full strength and capabilities of the federal government and working with state and local leaders, health care workers, the private sector, and community- and faith-based organizations to ensure that the American people have easy and convenient access to and use vaccines, tests, and treatments.
The Administration’s strategy to manage BA.5 includes:
Making it easy for people to get vaccines and boosters: The Administration will continue working with state and local leaders, doctors and pediatricians, pharmacies, community health centers, long-term care facilities, employers, and community- and faith-based organizations to drive additional uptake of booster shots, particularly among those age 50 and older and other at-risk populations, including long-term care facility staff and residents. Given the rise of BA.5, it is essential that Americans stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. The science is clear that COVID-19 vaccines remain our single-most important tool to protect people and prevent serious illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, and staying up to date on booster shots ensures that people have the highest level of protection possible. Based on the latest CDC data, adults who are up to date with their vaccinations are 3.5 times less likely to be hospitalized than unvaccinated adults; among those who are 50 and older, people who have received two booster shots are 42 times less likely to die from COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated. Vaccines are free and easy to access at 90,000 convenient locations nationwide. And, the guidance is clear that every American age 5 and over should receive a booster five months after their primary series, and individuals age 50 and older or those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should receive a second booster shot at least four months after their first.
Making it easy to access COVID-19 treatments and boost provider and patient awareness: The Administration will continue working across the federal government, with state and local leaders, health care providers, as well as the public and private sectors, to take additional actions to boost access and awareness of lifesaving treatments, particularly in areas where BA.5 is spreading. Today, the U.S. has three treatments that are effective against BA.5, including Paxlovid, a lifesaving antiviral pill that has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by about 90 percent. Americans who test positive for COVID-19 should consult their health care provider about their eligibility for these treatments, or visit COVID.gov to find a Test to Treat location where they can get tested and treatments all in one place. The Administration has purchased 20 million treatment courses of Paxlovid – more than any other country in the world – and moved quickly to make these treatments widely available and to educate health care providers and patients about their availability and efficacy. Oral antivirals are now available at over 41,000 convenient locations nationwide, and nearly 90 percent of Americans live within 5 miles of a place where they can pick up a prescription. As a result of the Administration’s actions, the number of people benefiting from oral antivirals has dramatically increased over the course of this year, from about 18,000 prescriptions filled each week in January to more than 230,000 last week – a more than 12-fold increase. Each day, about one-third of confirmed and reported cases are receiving free and effective oral antiviral treatments.
Making free COVID-19 testing, including at-home tests, widely available:Testing continues to be an important tool to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including BA.4 and BA.5. In the face of BA.5, the Administration is encouraging Americans to use at-home tests before attending large, indoor gatherings, traveling, or visiting indoors with immunocompromised individuals. COVID-19 testing is now more widely available and accessible to the American people than ever before, and there are now 17 over-the-counter, at-home, rapid tests authorized for the U.S. market – up from zero when the President took office. To help ensure that Americans have tests on hand if a need arises, the Administration opened COVIDtests.gov for a third round of ordering ahead of the summer, meaning that 16 free tests have been made available to each household since the launch of the program. To ensure equitable access for visually-impaired individuals, the Administration has also made available more accessible at-home tests to households with visually-impaired individuals. To date, the Administration has delivered approximately 530 million at-home tests directly to over 75 million American households for free through COVIDtests.gov. Additionally, private health insurers, Medicare, and all Medicaid programs are required to cover at-home COVID-19 tests for free; health insurance plans now cover eight free tests per month per individual which can be easily accessed at local pharmacies and online. And, there are over 15,000 federally-supported free testing sites across the nation. This free testing program has increased equitable access to testing, and 50 percent of individuals currently served by the pharmacy free testing program are racial and ethnic minorities or live in high social vulnerability communities.
Making free high-quality masks widely available and communicate clear recommendations about when people should consider masking: Experts agree that masking in indoor, public spaces is an important tool to control the spread of COVID-19. The CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels provide individuals with clear recommendations on when to consider masking in indoor, public spaces. As BA.5 drives an increase in cases, the Administration continues to encourage Americans to visit COVID.gov to find the level of COVID-19 in their community and follow CDC’s recommendations on wearing masks in public, indoor settings. Since January 2021, the Biden Administration has taken significant action, including using the Defense Production Act, to ensure that the U.S. has ample supply of high-quality masks for health care workers and that high-quality masks are also widely available to the American public online and in stores. To further increase access, over the past seven months, the Administration has made 400 million non-surgical N95 masks from the Strategic National Stockpile available to the American people for free at tens of thousands of convenient locations nationwide – the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in U.S. history. And, the Administration will continue to make masks available for health care and other essential workers through states, building on the over 75 million masks and respirators we have already distributed to states, Tribes, and territories across the country.
Prioritizing protections for immunocompromised individuals: As BA.5 cases rise, the Administration will continue to provide support to individuals who are immunocompromised so that they have the support they need to live their lives safely. The Administration has initiated a communications campaign to ensure that immunocompromised individuals and their close contacts are up to date with COVID-19 vaccination and boosters. The availability of vaccines for kids as young as six months old also ensures that all close contacts of immunocompromised individuals can be protected by COVID-19 vaccines. The Administration also continues to make effective pre-exposure prophylactics such as Evusheld more widely available through enhanced distribution to clinicians’ offices and clinics. And, in the coming weeks, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will launch an easy-to-remember hotline to help individuals access this effective tool to prevent COVID-19.
Encouraging all building owners to improve indoor ventilation: Improving ventilation can help prevent the spread of BA.4 and BA.5 indoors in buildings. The Administration has provided state and local leaders hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funds that can be used in schools, public buildings, and other settings to improve indoor air quality, and the Administration will continue to advance indoor air quality in buildings, including by increasing public awareness around ventilation and filtration improvements to reduce disease spread, as well as by recognizing buildings and organizations that have taken steps to improve indoor air quality. These efforts will expand on the Administration’s “best practices” guide for improving indoor air quality and reducing the risk of spreading dangerous airborne particles and the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, which calls on all building owners and operators, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations of all kinds to adopt key strategies to improve indoor air quality in their buildings and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, CDC has released interactive tools to help individuals at home, in schools, and in other buildings to understand how air flows in their space and what they can do to help shore up air quality and improve ventilation indoors.
Empowering people with the latest information on COVID-19 and where to access vaccines, treatments, tests, and masks at COVID.Gov: The Administration will continue to communicate clearly with the American people about COVID-19 and the steps that they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration launched COVID.gov, a new one-stop shop website to help Americans find where to access lifesaving tools like vaccines, tests, treatments, and masks. People can also type in their county to find the latest updates on the level of COVID-19 in their community and related guidance. And, with a click of a button, people can access resources related to testing, ventilation, and other important COVID-19 topics. COVID.gov is available in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese and is accessible for those using assistive technologies. The Administration is also making all of these COVID-19 tools available over the phone through the National Hotline at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489), which supports over 150 languages. For individuals with disabilities who may need additional support, the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is also available to help at 1-888-677-1199 or via email at DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
Information source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/07/12/fact-sheet-biden-administration-outlines-strategy-to-manage-ba-5/
Cori Peña named President & CEO of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
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BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), Brownsville’s “type b” economic development organization, formally announces the selection of Cori Peña as the new President/CEO. In her capacity, Peña will continue to help BCIC grow economically through strategic partnerships with local businesses and organizations, as well as city managers. She will also help BCIC continue to be an active member of the community by working with other non-profit organizations and government agencies.
“The board of directors believes Ms. Peña’s skillset and long-time experience with the organization make her the clear choice to lead BCIC and continue the momentum we have built over the years, says Traci Wickett, BCIC Board Chair.
Peña began her professional career in economic development 17 years ago and began her twelve years with BCIC in 2010 when she took on the role of Project Coordinator. During her initial years with the organization, Peña oversaw numerous quality of life projects such as the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, improvements at Glady’s Porter Zoo, and the community’s nationally recognized hike and bike trail system that spans over 32 miles across Brownsville.
Join the unveiling of Webb’s first images July 12, July 16, and August 14.
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McALLEN, Texas – The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS)has joined hundreds of sites across the country to celebrate the release of the first science images from the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s next great space science observatory on July 12, 2022. IMAS will offer a range of public and virtual programs in July and August to bring the excitement of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) to the Rio Grande Valley community.
“We are thrilled that IMAS was selected as an official host site for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope community events celebrating its first stunning images,” said Ann Fortescue, IMAS President and Executive Director.
Credits: NASA/Chris Gunn
Webb is the largest and most complex space science telescope ever built – the premier observatory of the next decade. This international mission, led by NASA in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, launched Dec. 25, 2021. After unfolding in space into its final form, Webb successfully arrived at its destination nearly one million miles from Earth and began preparing for science operations.
The observatory, which is designed to see the universe in the infrared, will push the field of astronomy into a new era. Webb will be able to study light from distant parts of the universe for the very first time – the first galaxies that formed over 13.5 billion years ago – and give us insight into how our universe formed. It will also peer into dusty stellar nurseries to explore distant worlds orbiting other stars, as well as observe objects in our own solar system. Webb will extend the scientific discoveries of other NASA missions like the Hubble Space Telescope.
IMAS has partnered with McAllen Public Utility to honor this amazing feat of science while also celebrating the coming school year. Back to School Blast Off will take place at IMAS on Sunday, August 14 from 1-5 p.m. The event will feature hands-on activities, community booths, a virtual Webb Expert panel, and more. Jessica Salinas, MPU Water Education & Communications Coordinator shares, “MPU is excited to join the IMAS in this great opportunity that gives back to the community and encourages younger generations to explore science.”
To learn more about the Webb telescope, visit webb.nasa.gov and webbtelescope.org. For information about other Webb community event locations, visit webbtelescope.org/news/first-images/events.
