‘Aggressive’ hurricane forecast for Gulf Coast
Colorado State University researchers are calling this year’s hurricane season forecast “the most aggressive” ever, the Texas Standard reported. They say there is a 54% chance a hurricane will strike the Texas coast, and a 25% chance it will be major. Justin Ballard, the Houston Chronicle’s newsroom meteorologist, told the Texas Standard that the last hurricane to make landfall was Nicholas in 2021. The last major hurricane to land was Harvey in 2017, which caused $125 billion worth of damage. “These storms are becoming, yes, more common, more intense, but they’re also becoming more destructive with the amount of damage that they can cause just because things are more expensive,” Ballard said. Ballard is urging Texas residents, especially those new to the coast who have never experienced a hurricane, to consider gradually stocking up on nonperishable items such as water and canned goods, rather than waiting until a hurricane threatens the Gulf of Mexico. TPWD sued in attempt to block land swap with SpaceX The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is being sued in an attempt to block a land swap deal with SpaceX in South Texas, kut.org reported. TPWD in March approved pursuing an exchange of 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park to the company in exchange for nearly 500 acres of land that is now privately owned. SpaceX is negotiating to buy the land in order to make the swap with TPWD. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network, the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas and Save RGV filed the lawsuit in a Travis County district court in early April. SpaceX wants the land swap in order to expand its launch facility near the state park. The suit alleges TPWD violated statutory requirements to ensure mitigating harm to the land and considering alternatives to giving up park land. Patrick lists legislative priorities for 2025 session Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has a to-do list of 57 items for senators in the next legislative session, The Texas Tribune reported, including improving housing affordability, fighting antisemitism on college campuses, and examining charitable bail organizations. “Come January 2025, the Senate will hit the ground running at the start of the 89th Legislative Session,” Patrick said in a statement. “The priorities of the conservative majority of Texans will be accomplished, including school choice, continued property tax relief, and strengthening the power grid.” Patrick said he wants his chamber to recommend how to “reduce regulatory barriers” and “strengthen property rights,” that could possibly reduce city land use and zoning rules. He also wants the criminal justice committee to examine the practices of charitable bail organizations, which pay bonds to release defendants unable to do so on their own. Additionally, he wants senators to review university policies to ensure they prevent antisemitism while preserving free speech rights, The Tribune reported. Law requiring voter registration in high schools ignored Texas high schools are required to distribute voter registration forms to teens who turn 18 or are about to do so, but only about a fourth of schools are doing so, according to an estimate from the University of Houston’s Election Lab. The law was passed in 1983, according to The Tribune, but many administrators are unaware of its existence. The state has about 409,000 18-year-old citizens, according to 2022 census data. The secretary of state’s office, which was tasked with creating the instructions to implement the law, does not track compliance. Schools who fail to comply are not penalized. State oil, gas production his record highs in 2023 The state set new records for oil and gas production last year, according to the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the industries and tallies production reports submitted by the state’s operators. In 2023, the state produced 1.92 billion barrels of oil, eclipsing the record set in 2019 of 1.86 billion barrels. Gas production totaled 12.01 trillion cubic feet in 2023, breaking the previous record of 10.61 trillion cubic feet set in 2021. “These production records are beyond impressive and reflect how Texas continues to provide reliable domestic production for the nation,” said Wei Wang, RRC executive director. “As the state’s oil and gas regulator, the RRC is committed to our critical mission supporting Texas’ economic growth that benefits Texans. Production taxes collected from the oil and gas industry pay for our schools, highways and the state’s Rainy Day Fund.”
Wanting to go onwards, towards California
Our pastor always garners my attention. Yesterday morning he mentioned that during the week, he flew to New Mexico to attend to a medical emergency involving his dad. His flight on Southwest Airlines took him first to Phoenix, AZ. Despite his intent to call early enough to get in the A-boarding group on Southwest Airlines, he disappointingly found himself in the C-boarding group. That significantly reduces choices of seating. Yet from the story he shared, I’d say he got lucky. The precocious 4-year-old sitting in the window seat on the aisle where he found a seat, was seated separate from his family. The four-year-old broke out in song as soon as the plane broke through the clouds. He made the melody and song up as he went along, but the words were repetitious: “We are on our way to California. I want to go to California.” By the time he changed planes in Phoenix, our pastor was certain that everyone on the plane wanted to go with that little boy to California. The joy in his anticipation was contagious. I immediately thought of my grandson Jake. At the age of four, he likely would have done the same thing. He was a musical kid at that age, and he sang all the time. Jake has never been at a loss for words either while talking or while singing. I, too, found myself wanting to go to California. The most scenic stretch of roadway that I’ve ever driven on is in California. It is the stretch of roadway that goes past the Pebble Beach Golf Course. There is a toll for taking that road, but it is well worth the price of admission. The views of the Pacific Ocean are amazing. I found myself momentarily lost in thought and my thoughts had to do with California rather the content of the pastor’s sermon. I probably shouldn’t say that, but it is true. In my momentary day dreaming, I envisioned the General and I were looking through antique stores in Carmel, California. That too is a most wonderful Pacific Coast setting and we have been there several times. The pastor drew me back in when he asked: “What is the song of your life?” His message carried a post resurrection theme and the peace and joy that is available to us. During his message, he mentioned a book that I intuitively knew I wanted to read. Pastor Lonny reads good books, and he always has stories to share. Where he finds the time to read, I don’t know. At the same time, isn’t it true that failure to find the time to read is a waste of one’s time? The book he mentioned is about a kid from a hard place who grows up hearing the message that he is no good. The character in the book goes by the name Nub Taylor. He ex-wife said he was no good. His daughter has the same perception. He is watching a party at his daughter’s home. He is parked across the street and looking through binoculars. He isn’t welcome. I gathered from what I subsequently learned about the book, “Kinfolk”, written by Sean Dietrich, is that although the book is fictitious, in many respects the story of his life is woven throughout the pages. His father committed suicide early in Sean’s childhood. His father’s death had a profound impact on his son’s life. His self-image was that of an underprivileged child. As a kid, he loved music, and he used music to negotiate dealing with getting through the rough spots in his life. It is said of the book, "Beloved Southern writer Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, once again brings people and places to life in this lyrical song-turned-story about found family, second chances, country music, and the poignant power of love and forgiveness." I’m ordering the book today. All My Best!
