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Polar vortex set to test Texas grid 22 months after failure that killed 246

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Polar vortex set to test Texas grid 22 months after failure that killed 246


Texas is bracing for a polar vortex that might pose one other main check for its energy grid simply 22 months after it was hit by Winter Storm Uri, which plunged the state into darkness and killed 246 individuals.

Dallas may see temperatures as little as 8 levels Fahrenheit starting early subsequent week, whereas Houston may see temperatures within the 18-degree vary, in keeping with assessments from the Nationwide Climate Service.

Temperatures for a lot of the state are anticipated to fall under regular seasonal averages till round Dec. 29, in keeping with the climate service, with below-freezing circumstances prone to be seen throughout a lot of the Gulf Coast, together with South Texas.

The winter chill may trigger rolling blackouts.

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The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the state’s grid, has, for its half, remained comparatively optimistic about its skill to fulfill capability, saying in an announcement Thursday that it “expects ample technology” to fulfill subsequent week’s power-demand forecast.

However federal regulators have warned that an excessive winter climate occasion may majorly stress Texas’s grid, which it says nonetheless lacks ample capability to fulfill a scenario of maximum demand.

“The impact it might have on turbines, and the way in which demand can rise sharply in chilly climate, can result in load danger,” Mark Olson, a reliability supervisor on the North American Electrical Reliability Company, or NERC, instructed reporters on a name Thursday.

ERCOT has been beneath intense scrutiny within the wake of Uri in February 2021. The winter storm prompted 4.5 million Texans to lose energy, some for so long as 4 days, and resulted in 246 deaths. About 27% of outages had been wind turbines, however greater than half had been pure gas-fired models, in keeping with a overview NERC produced of the incident.

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Throughout Uri, ERCOT was compelled to order 20,000 MW of rolling blackouts to stop grid collapse in what was the biggest manually managed load-shedding occasion in U.S. historical past.

Since then, officers have made quite a few upgrades to the grid, though a report issued final month from the Sundown Advisory Fee, tasked with evaluating the efficiency and performance of state businesses, mentioned the Texas utility regulator is “woefully under-resourced” in its efforts.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

With out further employees and sources, the Sundown report mentioned, the state fee “can’t really fulfill expectations” to make sure a dependable electrical grid.

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2024 Texas Election Guide: How to register to vote and make your voice heard

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2024 Texas Election Guide: How to register to vote and make your voice heard


At ABC13 Houston, we believe our democracy works best when everyone participates.

This year, Texas voters will cast ballots for our next president and vice president, U.S. Senator, congressional and state representatives, and decide on multiple judicial races.

Your last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
Check your Texas voter registration | Register to vote (print, sign and mail)
Find your polling place

Texas does not offer online voter registration, but you can visit VoteTexas.gov to fill out, print, sign and mail your application. To be eligible to vote in the November general election, your registration form must be received or postmarked by the Oct. 7 deadline.

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You can also register to vote in person at your local Voter Registrar’s office.

Even if you’ve voted before, you should still double-check your registration.

More than a million Texans have been removed from voter rolls since 2021, and the League of Women Voters told ABC13 that some voters have been removed if they didn’t register in the last two federal elections.

Early voting will begin Monday, Oct. 21 and run through Friday, Nov. 1.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

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Voting by mail in Texas is limited to voters who are:

  • Ages 65 and older
  • Sick or disabled
  • Expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day
  • Out of the county on Election Day and during the early voting period
  • Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible
  • Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

The last day to register to vote by mail in Texas is Friday, Oct. 25.

Click here to download an application to vote by mail.

What you can (and can’t) bring to the polls

All voters must present one of the following forms of photo ID:

  • Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
  • Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
  • Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
  • Texas handgun license issued by DPS
  • United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
  • United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
  • United States passport (book or card)

You can still vote if you do not possess or cannot reasonably obtain one of these photo IDs. You will need to fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and show a copy or original of one of the following approved IDs:

  • Certified Domestic Birth Certificate or Court Admissible Birth Document
  • Current utility bill
  • Bank statement
  • Government check
  • Paycheck
  • Government document with your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate

If you need assistance, voters may request help by any person other than the voter’s employer, an agent of their employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs.

You are not permitted to use a wireless communications device or any device which records audio, images or video within 100 feet of a voting station. This includes smartphones, digital cameras or sound recorders. Election judges are authorized to require anyone to turn off or deactivate any device.

While you may be excited to vote for a particular candidate, you should not wear any campaign t-shirts, buttons, hats or other accessories to the polls. This is considered electioneering, which is not permitted within 100 feet of the voting stations.

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What’s on my ballot?

For a glance at what you’ll see at the top of your ballot, click here (PDF).

For down ballot races, see your county election authority’s website for details:

Harris Co.
Fort Bend Co.
Montgomery Co.
Galveston Co.
Chambers Co.
Liberty Co.
Waller Co.
Austin Co.
Brazoria Co.
Calhoun Co.
Colorado Co.
Grimes Co.
Jackson Co.
Matagorda Co.
Polk Co.
San Jacinto Co.
Trinity Co.
Walker Co.
Washington Co.
Wharton Co.

Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Texas Supreme Court allows State Fair of Texas gun ban to take effect

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Texas Supreme Court allows State Fair of Texas gun ban to take effect


Texas Supreme Court allows State Fair of Texas gun ban to take effect – CBS Texas

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Most visitors will not be allowed to take guns into the State Fair of Texas after the state Supreme Court turned away a last-minute request from the Office of the Attorney General. Lacey Beasley reports on what security measures fairgoers can expect.

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Texas A&M Commit Cancels Visit With Texas Longhorns

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Texas A&M Commit Cancels Visit With Texas Longhorns


After coming up short to the Texas Longhorns in the race for a pair of highly-touted players on the 2025 recruiting trail, the Texas A&M Aggies have secured a win over their heated rivals.

Per Ryan Brauninger of TexAgs, Texas A&M three-star defensive line commit Chace Sims has cancelled his official visit to Texas this weekend. The Randle High School (Richmond, TX) product was set to visit the Forty Acres for the Longhorns’ SEC opener against Mississippi State on Saturday, but has instead decided to cross Texas off his list barring a change of heart at some point down the line.

This development comes after the Aggies fell short to Texas in the recruiting races for a pair of five-star players in receiver Kaliq Lockett and safety/linebacker Jonah Williams.

Sims originally committed to Texas A&M on July 2 after taking his official visit to College Station on June 21. He also took OVs to Texas Tech (June 21), Kansas (June 14), Washington (May 31) and SMU (May 17).

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Texas A&M recruiting analyst Jaxson Callaway reported Thursday that Sims’ decision to cancel his Texas official visit “had been trending this way.”

“Pretty big development for the Aggies recruiting class, as Chace Sims has cancelled his previously scheduled official visit to Texas,” Callaway tweeted. “Had been trending this way after his trip to College Station this past weekend, but now decided upon.

The Aggies offered Sims in February. He received offers from other programs like LSU, TCU, Kansas State, Arizona, Baylor, Pittsburgh, California and more.

According to 247Sports’ rankings, Sims is the No. 69 defensive tackle and No. 91 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.

Sims is currently a part of a 2025 that’s highlighted by five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet and four-stars like cornerback Adonyss Currie, defensive linemen Kiotti Armstrong and DJ Sanders, athlete Noah Mikhail, edge Marco Jones and many more.

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During the 2023 season, Sims posted 11 sacks. He’s tallied 120 tackles (26 for loss), 12 sacks and two forced fumbles over the past two seasons combined.



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