Texas

$4B in losses from Texas international bridge disruptions, economists say

Published

3 years ago

April 26, 2022

B in losses from Texas international bridge disruptions, economists say

PHARR, Texas (Border Report) — Visitors disruptions at a number of worldwide bridges in Texas earlier this month, brought on by enhanced truck inspections ordered by the governor, price the state $4 billion, a Texas financial consulting agency says.

The Perryman Group estimates that the each day losses to the U.S. Gross Home Product (GDP) totaled $996.3 million with Texas shedding $470.3 million each day, because the delays led to provide chain points and had a multiplier impact all through Texas and america.

The week-long financial slowdown and shutdown at worldwide bridges alongside the border, together with a three-day closure of the Pharr-Reynosa Worldwide Bridge that started April 11, price the state $4.233 billion in gross product, the report discovered.

Nationwide, GDP was affected by a lack of almost $9 billion, in response to the Perryman report printed Wednesday.

And the report warned that the huge losses will probably be tough to make up, and in some circumstances, “unattainable.”

“The latest slowdowns as a result of further inspections disrupted these patterns, leading to not solely spoilage of perishable objects, but in addition manufacturing delays. Given the strained capability on the border in regular occasions, it will likely be tough and, in lots of situations, unattainable to ‘catch up,’” the report mentioned.

The losses in Texas are equal to shedding 36,330 job years. Nationwide, the losses are the equal of 77,019 job years. A job 12 months is one particular person working for a 12 months.

(Graphic by the Perryman Group)

The report additionally chastised the prioritizing of border safety over the nationwide provide chain.

“Inefficiencies within the circulation of imports and exports throughout the border results in notable financial losses. Whereas border safety is actually a difficulty that have to be addressed, introducing synthetic inefficiencies into an necessary, capability constrained ingredient of an already overly harassed nationwide provide chain is a expensive choice,” the report discovered.

The Pharr-Reynosa Worldwide bridge in Pharr, Texas, is the busiest land crossings for vegetables and fruit from Mexico and the three-day bridge shut down price truckers, suppliers and the group dearly.

The Metropolis of Pharr estimates $1 billion in losses in South Texas from the shutdown, which was induced when Mexican truckers in Reynosa blocked entry to the bridge. U.S. Customs and Border Safety officers then closed the bridge as a result of vehicles and vans couldn’t freely cross.

Pharr cops on April 12, 2022, block entry to the Pharr-Reynosa Worldwide Bridge in South Texas. The bridge was closed for 3 days as a result of a trucker blockade in Mexico protesting inspections by Texas troopers of all cargo. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report File Photograph)

A latest report launched by the College of Texas Rio Grande Valley mentioned the latest financial losses suffered not solely in Texas, however nationwide, tied to bridge closures ought to exemplify how necessary worldwide ports of entry are to our nation’s financial wellbeing.

“The Texas Border Area, by its very nature is very related to worldwide commerce. The latest, if momentary, resolution by the Texas Governor to institute improve inspections of Mexican vans alongside the Texas – Mexico border reminds us that worldwide commerce is far larger than the ports that oversee its flows or the vans that sit hours on finish patiently awaiting their flip to achieve a customs officer. It additionally impacts obtainable stock at our native shops and the costs we pay on the counter,” in response to the UTRGV report, “The Finish of Globalization: Texas-Mexico Border Ports Tendencies.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initiated the obligatory trucker inspections to higher patrol the Texas/Mexico borders, he mentioned. State troopers from the Division of Public Security performed intensive Stage 1 inspections lasting upwards of 1 hour every on each truck that crossed the bridges.

Abbott signed the orders for the inspections on April 6, however by April 13 he had begun to struck offers with Mexican officers in numerous border states that agreed to step up their truck inspections. That led Abbott to reduce truck inspections on the U.S. facet and truck visitors resumed flowing extra freely throughout the border.

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Texas

Tips on protecting plants and property as North Texas homeowners prepare for freeze

Published

1 hour ago

January 4, 2025

Press Room

Tips on protecting plants and property as North Texas homeowners prepare for freeze

01:41

NORTH TEXAS — In a couple of days, temperatures are expected to drastically drop. This weekend is a good time to get prepared.

Richardson homeowner Stephanie Brownell is now preparing her home for freezing temperatures while it’s still pleasant outside.

“I don’t like cold weather, so I’ve come out and I wrapped all my faucets and then put covers on them,” she said.

She’s also moved all her potted tropical plants inside.

“So for this freeze you’re going to want to bring in anything that’s tropical, tender vegetation such as house plants, and things like that,” Fort Worth Botanic Garden Senior Director of Horticulture Keith Brock said. “Most of your annuals will be fine.”

He said based on the forecast, water your plants now if you can.

“Water has insulating quality,” he said. “It also makes sure that plants are not under stress because like water, you want your plants in good shape when we get these kinds of temperatures. I would start no later than tomorrow.”

He said for the most part, outdoor plants don’t need to be covered. However, if there’s any concern based on the type of plant you have, you can always throw a frost cloth or an old sheet on it.

Brownell said her gardenias are vulnerable to the cold. She’s making the preparations now, hoping they pay off in the coming days.

Erin Jones

Raised in Richardson, Erin Jones is proud to call North Texas home. Her passion for journalism began in elementary school. For a 5th grade graduation memory book, she was asked what do you want to be when you grow up? She wrote journalist.

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Texas expected to host Florida State transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday

Published

10 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

Texas expected to host Florida State transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday

After a quiet period in the NCAA transfer portal around the holidays, the Texas Longhorns are active again with a report from 247Sports that head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are expected to host Florida State Seminoles transfer edge Marvin Jones on Friday.

Florida State EDGE transfer Marvin Jones Jr. is expected to visit Texas today, a source tells @CBSSports/@247Sports.
The former five-star recruit, who is coming off a visit to Oklahoma, ranks as the third-best uncommitted defensive player in the portal. Had four sacks this year.… pic.twitter.com/pE8FUnd99M
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 3, 2025

The son of 10-year NFL veteran and former Florida State standout Marvin Jones, the younger Jones has one season of eligibility remaining. Jones previously took a visit to Oklahoma.

A 6’5, 255-pounder out of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage in the 2022 recruiting class, Jones was ranked as the No. 24 player nationally and the No. 3 edge, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He chose Georgia over 32 other offers, taking official visits to Alabama, Florida State, Oklahoma, and USC.

In Athens, Jones tallied 16 tackles, including 5.5 for loss with 2.0 sacks, playing in 12 games in 2023, including a start in the SEC Championship Game, recording 12 tackles, 4.5 for loss with 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry as a sophomore.

Jones transferred back to his home state to play for his father’s alma mater as a junior, but departed Tallahassee after the Seminoles finished last in the ACC with a 2-10 record overall and 1-7 mark in conference play. At Florida State, Jones started in nine of his 11 appearances despite some injury issues, totaling a career-high 25 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. Jones totaled 16 pressures and 17 defensive stops, including two sacks among four total pressures against Cal.

Texas has a need for edge at the edge position with the departure of Barryn Sorrell following the 2024 season and the entrance of junior Justice Finkley into the NCAA transfer portal. 247Sports ranks Jones as the third-best available defender in the portal.

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Texas

Memphis basketball vs North Texas: Prediction, picks, injury updates and odds

Published

19 hours ago

January 3, 2025

Press Room

Memphis basketball vs North Texas: Prediction, picks, injury updates and odds

The Memphis basketball team’s early season schedule has been one of the strongest in the country.

It has also featured an array of contrasting styles and looks. Coming off a commanding road victory over an FAU team that is more offensive-oriented, now the Tigers (11-3, 1-0 AAC) turn their attention to North Texas (11-3, 1-0), which prefers to focus more on defense.

The Mean Green travel to Memphis for a game Sunday (4 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2). It will be the only regular-season meeting between the two.

North Texas is coming off a come-from-behind win at home over UAB on Tuesday. The Blazers were the preseason favorite according to a poll of the AAC’s coaches to win the league. The Tigers earned a win over FAU on Thursday.

Here are three things to keep an eye on ahead of Sunday’s game.

The ‘blessing’ of having Dain Dainja

Memphis big man Dain Dainja feasted on FAU in the second half, scoring all 16 of his points during a 6:54 span.

The former Illinois and Baylor player is averaging 11.4 points per game (fourth on the team), and he’s doing it off the bench.

Coach Penny Hardaway has called it a “luxury” to have a player of Dainja’s caliber playing a reserve role. On Thursday, he went with a new word.

“What a blessing to have Dain Dainja coming off your bench,” he said. “At any time, he can get going. When he got his fourth foul, I left him out there and went with the two bigs (Dainja and Moussa Cisse). They did really well. Dain adds a different layer, because he can score the ball in bunches.”

How to capitalize on momentum

Memphis’ Tyrese Hunter said there was plenty of room for improvement after the FAU win.

The senior guard, who scored 20 points, rattled off a list of things: Keep the confidence level high, pay attention to the scouting report, and maintain the same energy level for a full 40 minutes.

But there was one item very clearly at the top of the list.

“Learn from your mistakes,” he said.

The Tigers committed 19 turnovers and gave up 25 points off those miscues. They also gave up 19 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points for FAU.

North Texas basketball scouting report

It’s all about the defense for North Texas.

The Mean Green are second in the nation in steal percentage (15.1%). Eight different members of the roster have registered 10 or more steals through 14 games, led by Latrell Jossell’s 23.

But the Mean Green can create turnovers in other ways. North Texas is fourth in the country in turnover percentage defense (24.4%), and its opponents are averaging 15.1 turnovers per game.

The latter is a top-50 mark in Division I. But Memphis has overcome turnover-minded teams. The Tigers committed 13 turnovers versus Ole Miss and 16 against Missouri but won both of those home games comfortably.

Scoring points is not something North Texas emphasizes. The Mean Green has put up more than 73 points just twice since early November and has only topped 80 points once this season against Mississippi Valley State. That’s partially because of personnel. But it’s also a result of coach Ross Hodge’s philosophy. North Texas plays at one of the five slowest paces in the country, which was also the case last season.

Memphis basketball score prediction vs. North Texas

Memphis 77, North Texas 68: The Mean Green can be a feisty bunch. But the Tigers at home will be more than they can handle.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X, and sign up for the Memphis Basketball Insider text group.

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