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$1B lost due to South Texas bridge closure, truck inspections, city officials say

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PHARR, Texas (Border Report) — The trucker shutdown and elevated wait occasions for industrial automobiles crossing into South Texas final week through the Pharr-Reynosa Worldwide Bridge — the nation’s No. 1 port for vegatables and fruits from Mexico — brought on an financial toll the exceeds $1 billion, Pharr metropolis officers stated.

Financial losses had been estimated at $202 million per day and commenced mounting on April 8 after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered enhanced state inspections of all industrial vans crossing the worldwide bridge from Reynosa, Mexico.

Abbott ordered the stepped-up inspections after the Biden administration introduced it was lifting Title 42 on the finish of Might, which Abbott believes will ship a surge of migrants to illegally enter the nation from Mexico by Texas.

The stepped-up inspections brought on wait occasions of as much as 20 hours and contours of as much as 10 miles lengthy snaking by Reynosa, and ultimately prompted truckers to protest and type a blockade that prevented entry to the bridge beginning April 11. The Pharr bridge closure lasted three days.

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Site visitors was flowing once more Thursday, though a lot lower than regular. Nevertheless it has picked up considerably after Abbott on Friday signed a pact with Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca, who agreed to “enhanced border safety enforcement measures” on the Mexico facet to assist curb unlawful crossings into Texas.

In alternate, Abbott promised to ease inspections by Division of Public Security officers again to extra manageable ranges.

Abbott additionally signed related agreements on Wednesday in Laredo with Nuevo Leon Gov. Samuel Garcia, and Thursday in Austin with the governors from the Mexican states of Coahuila and Chihuahua.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, proper, indicators a memorandum of understanding in Laredo, Texas, April 13, 2022, with Nuevo Leon Gov. Samuel Garcia who has agreed to elevated police inspections of vans heading north from Mexico into South Texas in alternate for a discount of truck inspections on the U.S. facet. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report)

Usually, solely about 2% of all industrial vans that cross from Mexico are subjected to Stage 1 complete security inspections by DPS troopers.

Critics stated the improved screenings had been pointless since U.S. Customs and Border Safety officers display all incoming automobiles, and U.S. Division of Agriculture officers additionally open each industrial truck carrying produce and examine the contents. And since DPS troopers are solely allowed to examine the mechanics of the vans, akin to brakes, engine components and tires, and usually are not allowed to open or examine contained in the trailers except they believe nefarious exercise.

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A Texas Division of Public Security officer on April 14, 2022, talks with truckers as he inspects industrial automobiles exterior the Pharr-Reynosa Worldwide Bridge in Pharr, Texas. Stage 1 inspections had been imposed on all industrial automobiles however Friday an settlement was reached with Mexican officers in Tamaulipas to reduce inspections. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report)

The Stage 1 DPS screenings that 100% of all incoming vans confronted final week took 45 minutes to an hour to finish per truck, leading to truckers idling for days with hundreds and placing an financial hardship on the trucking and produce trade in South Texas, consultants advised Border Report.

“We utterly perceive the necessity for security and safety on the border. After we noticed the affect that the governor’s directive was having on our worldwide commerce, inflicting important delays and tens of millions in financial losses, we knew we needed to take instant motion and work with our companions to advertise a swift decision of the problem,” Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez stated in a press release.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was the primary Republican to brazenly break with Abbott final week calling the state of affairs a “disaster” and asking Abbott to halt inspections with a purpose to get vans transferring and produce to markets and dinner tables.

“You can not resolve a border disaster by creating one other disaster on the border. These Stage 1 inspections function a ‘clog within the drain’ and divert commerce and jobs to extra western ports of entry,” Miller stated.

Miller stated that the delays and bridge closure got here because the U.S. Labor Division reported the symptoms for power, gasoline, pure gasoline and electrical energy elevated 32%, 48%, 21.6% and 11.1% respectively over final 12 months.

The Labor Division additionally reported that wholesale meals costs are up 12.8% since March 2021. Wholesale meals costs jumped 2.4% from February to March, with the price of recent and dry greens climbing by 42%.

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Sandra Sanchez will be reached at Ssanchez@borderreport.com



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Texas

2025 4-Star OT Lamont Rogers Commits to Missouri over Texas

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2025 4-Star OT Lamont Rogers Commits to Missouri over Texas


The Texas Longhorns are looking to bolster their o-line for the future in order to provide necessary protection for quarterbacks Trey Owens, K.J. Lacey and Dia Bell, but they’ll have to search elsewhere after missing out on securing one of the nation’s top offensive tackles. 

After losing to Oregon for the privilege to secure a pledge from five-star receiver Dakorien Moore, the Longhorns have also lost the chance at landing the valuable in-state services of four-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers.

He chose the Missouri Tigers and coach Eli Drinkwitz on Saturday among a final group that also included Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, announcing his decision on his Instagram.

A Mesquite (Dallas) native, Rogers, who stands about 6-6, 311 pounds is the No. 7 offensive tackle in the country, per 247’s composite rankings.

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Lamont Rogers

Lamont Rogers / @TheLamontRogers

He took his official visit to Texas on June 14, the same weekend that Moore and a slew of others made a trip to campus. Rogers also officially visited SMU, Mizzou, Florida State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. He fielded offers from other big-name programs like Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and Penn State. 

Here’s part of what 247Sports’ scouting report has to say about Rogers:

“Bona fide high-major O-line prospect with tackle traits,” 247Sports writes. “Could become a quality multi-year starter at the P5 level with an NFL Draft ceiling.”

As it stands, the 2025 class features four-star talents like defensive lineman Lance Jackson, linebacker Elijah Barnes, quarterback KJ Lacey, tight end Emaree Winston and running back James Simon. Texas is also awaiting the potential commitments of five-star receivers Kaliq Lockett and Jaime Ffrench along with five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi.



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Beryl moves into the Gulf of Mexico after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, takes aim at Texas

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Beryl moves into the Gulf of Mexico after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, takes aim at Texas


Beryl moved into the the Gulf of Mexico Friday and took aim at the south Texas coast after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Texas officials issued disaster declarations and urge coastal residents to prepare as the storm headed their way.

Beryl hit Tulum as a Category 2 hurricane and toppled trees but caused no injuries or deaths before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula. The U.S. National Hurricane Center expects the storm to regain hurricane strength in the warm waters of the Gulf and hit south Texas by late Sunday or early Monday.

Beryl, the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, caused at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean islands earlier in the week.

The storm’s center Friday afternoon was in the Gulf just off Mexico, about 615 miles (995 kilometers) southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas. It was moving west-northwest at 13 mph (about 20 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph), the hurricane center said.

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Once in the Gulf, Beryl could regain wind speed of 90 mph (150 kph) before hitting Texas, though it is hard to tell now where it could make landfall, forecasters said. Hurricane watches were in effect from the Rio Grande north, covering most of the Texas coast.

Some Texas counties have already issued voluntary evacuation orders in low-lying areas, and Texas officials urged coastal residents to prepare.

Along the Texas coast in Corpus Christi, city officials announced it had distributed 10,000 sandbags in less than two hours Friday, exhausting its supply.

“This is a determined storm that is still strong,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a news conference.

Patrick issued a pre-emptive disaster declaration for 40 counties that allows state and local authorities to start planning and contracting for response.

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Nim Kidd, chief of state emergency operations, said oil companies have started moving employees off rigs along the coast that may be in the path of the storm.

Northeastern Mexico and southern Texas were already soaked by Tropical Storm Alberto just a couple of weeks ago.

Beryl spread destruction in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados this week. Three people have been reported dead in Grenada, three in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, three in Venezuela and two in Jamaica, officials said.

The head of Mexico’s civil defense agency, Laura Velázquez, said Beryl hadn’t caused any deaths or injuries there and that “damages were minor,” though tens of thousands of people remained without power.

Tulum was plunged into darkness when the storm knocked out power as it came ashore. Screeching winds set off car alarms across the town. Wind and rain continued to whip the seaside city and surrounding areas Friday morning. Army brigades roved the streets of the tourist city, clearing fallen trees and power lines.

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After seeing Beryl tear through the Caribbean, 37-year-old Lucía Nagera Balcaza was among those who stocked up on food and hid away in their homes.

“Thank god, we woke up this morning and everything was all right,” she said. “The streets are a disaster, but we’re out here cleaning up.”

Before the storm hit Mexico, official had set up shelters in schools and hotels. When the wind began gusting over Tulum’s beaches Thursday, officials on four-wheelers with megaphones rolled along the sand telling people to leave and authorities evacuated beachside hotels. Sea turtle eggs were even moved off beaches threatened by storm surge.

Tourists also took precautions. Lara Marsters, 54, a therapist visiting Tulum from Boise, Idaho, said she had filled up empty water bottles from the tap.

“We’re going to hunker down and stay safe,” she said.

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While many in the Yucatan Peninsula took a deep breath, Jamaica and other islands ravaged by the hurricane were still reeling. As of Friday morning, 55% of Jamaica still without electricity and most of the country was without running water, according to government figures.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness promised swift relief for residents affected by Hurricane Beryl after visiting one of the worst-affected areas of the island, the southern parish of St Elizabeth on Thursday afternoon.

“I know some of you are experiencing discomfort and displacement, and I want to assure you that the government will move as quickly as we can to get you the help you need,” he said.

Earlier in the week, the hurricane damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and ripped off roofs and knocked out electricity in Jamaica.

On Union Island, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a man who identified himself as Captain Baga described the storm’s impact, including how he had filled two 2,000-gallon (7,570-liter) rubber water tanks in preparation.

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“I strapped them down securely on six sides; and I watched the wind lift those tanks and take them away — filled with water,” he said Thursday. “I’m a sailor and I never believed wind could do what I saw it do. If anyone (had) ever told me wind could do that, I would have told them they lie!”

The island was littered with debris from homes that looked like they had exploded.



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LIVE UPDATE: South Texas braces for Tropical Storm Beryl

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LIVE UPDATE: South Texas braces for Tropical Storm Beryl


CORPUS CHRISTI, TexasFRIDAY, JULY 3 – 9 P.M. CT – As Tropical Storm Beryl enters the Gulf of Mexico, the once Category 5 hurricane is expected to re-intensify before making a final landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.

KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding is LIVE in Corpus Christi, Texas as the community prepares just two weeks after Tropical Storm Alberto battered the region.

While some locals are preparing by using the more than 14,000 sandbags made by Corpus Christi city workers, vacationers to the barrier islands are soaking in every bit of sun they can get.

This story will be updated to bring the latest reports from KPRC2′s Gage Goulding along the Texas Gulf Coast.

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