Texas
‘Crisis on top of a crisis’ | High fuel prices has Texas shrimping industry at virtual standstill
A minimum of one longtime shrimper says the problems aren’t restricted to Texas.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — The worth of diesel is so excessive proper now that many Texas shrimpers are struggling, not getting cash, fearing that they’ll lose their crews in the event that they’re docked for much longer.
If the costs of gasoline don’t go down, business consultants and advocates inform KENS 5, shrimping in Texas will probably be in disaster.
“The vast majority of the vessels within the gulf, I might think about they’re both tied up on the dock proper now or they’re headed again to the dock, as a result of they’ve run out of a budget gasoline,” stated Andrea Hance, govt director of the Texas Shrimp Affiliation. “And it [fuel prices] jumps round each day. Should you do the maths on that, that comes out anyplace from $60,000 to $100,000 simply to refill one among these boats for possibly a 60-day journey. We will be unable to generate profits on that.”
“The gasoline is outrageous,” stated Leonard Leyva, who manages a fleet of shrimp boats on the Port of Brownsville. “We will’t afford to go fishing with these costs.”
Leyva isn’t alone. He informed KENS 5 the worth of diesel is being felt by others within the shrimping enterprise.
“I used to be speaking to a man that’s in Alabama, and he says, ‘Our gasoline was nearly at $4.90.’ He says, ‘We will not go.’ He says, ‘There is not any method I can afford to exit with that worth.’”
Leyva informed KENS 5 the fleet he manages could be out on the water shrimping proper about now.
“We will’t afford it, so we’re making an attempt to carry the fellows again,” he stated. “Our largest worry is that they go to the island or elsewhere and so they get jobs right here on land. They make a good residing and now when it is time to go shrimping, you already know, they’re making an attempt to attend issues out, going, ‘I actually do not assume I need to return shrimping.’ That’s our largest worry, as a result of the place am I going to search out captains and rig males?”
Hance is anxious about the identical factor.
“We’re this proper now as a disaster on prime of a disaster,” Hance stated. “The issue is, if these boats sit right here very for much longer, we’ll have to start out letting these guys go. And we most likely will not get them again.”
Her job, she stated, is to guard the business. She’s been doing that by making an attempt to attach with anybody who’d pay attention.
“I’ve reached out to the Division of Agriculture, our governor, a few of the native and state representatives,” Hance stated. “Numerous the replies coming again to me is, ‘We’re conscious y’all are just like the farming business, blah, blah, blah,’ and we’re actually not!”
Hance informed KENS 5, the shrimp is at its most worth. The business can’t cross the additional gasoline price to the buyer.
“We’d like that gasoline worth to get all the way down to $3.25, to $3 to ensure that us to make any cash,” she stated. “So, nearly all of the vessels are tied up. I do not foresee many of those vessels going out to fish with excessive gasoline costs. I simply do not see why they might.”
Hance stated she was involved that if companies swap to farm-raised imported shrimp, will probably be “an epic street to journey” to get them again.
Leyva is doing what he can to remain in enterprise, staying prepared to return out into the gulf any minute.
“Proper now we’re doing loads of upkeep,” he stated. “If that gasoline goes down – when it does – we received to go fishing fast, as a result of I do not need these guys right here too lengthy.”
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.
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.
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.
NM Gameday: Jan. 3
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