Texas

Texas counties don’t have the power to ban solar farms, attorney general finds

Published

1 year ago

August 16, 2023

Texas counties don’t have the power to ban solar farms, attorney general finds

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The Texas attorney general’s office on Wednesday dealt a blow to a rural county that has been searching for ways to keep solar farms away.

Residents in Franklin County, about a two-hour drive east of Dallas, have been fighting proposals for solar development because they don’t want to see trees cut down, grasslands scraped away or wildlife blocked with fences, among other reasons.

Residents there pushed their county commissioners last year to impose a 180-day moratorium on commercial solar development, which the county attorney warned would not be enforceable. The commissioners later rescinded it, and the county attorney in February asked the attorney general’s office to review whether they had the power to enforce such a ban.

Angela Colmenero, who is serving as provisional attorney general while Ken Paxton awaits a trial in the state Senate that will decide whether he will be removed from office, told the county that Texas law doesn’t give county governments specific authority to ban the development of solar farms. And while other laws do give counties control over roads and public health, those laws could not likely be stretched to back up a solar farm ban, she said.

Two leaders of the Franklin County group opposing solar farms had not yet seen the ruling when reached for comment.

The argument in Northeast Texas is not an isolated case. Across the nation, communities that are used to having open wild or agricultural land are seeing that property being redeveloped for wind turbines and solar panels. Others in Texas, which produces more wind power than any other state and is second in solar power production, have fought developments with lawsuits, Facebook groups and a legislative ban on companies from China, Iran, North Korea or Russia connecting to the state’s electric grid.

While wind and solar power play a significant part in slowing the emissions of greenhouse gases that are fueling climate change, they also require a lot of space. Pushback from residents has prompted discussions of where clean energy technology should best be built and how.

In Texas, some urged lawmakers earlier this year to pass strict regulation of proposed wind and solar projects, but that idea received significant opposition from renewable energy companies that called the proposals unfair and overly restrictive and pointed to the jobs and cheap, emissions-free power they provide. The bill proposing the regulations did not pass.

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Texas

Dinner at Dallas restaurant becomes holiday tradition for North Texas families

Published

6 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Dinner at Dallas restaurant becomes holiday tradition for North Texas families

Holiday traditions run the gamut in North Texas. For some, it means a yearly dinner at a popular Dallas Chinese restaurant. But not just any dinner. These are gatherings reserved months in advance. And Wednesday’s festivities just happened to fall on Christmas day and the start of Hanukkah.

Ask April Kao when they plan to close the Royal China restaurant for the night, and she’ll tell you simply whenever the last person leaves. It’s what she’s grown accustomed to. When the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, with all its excitement and frenzy, comes breezing through the front door of the Royal China restaurant off Preston Road and Royal Lane.

Kao and her husband George, both owners of the restaurant, said opening on December 25 was never part of the original business plan.

“We didn’t used to open on Christmas day,” she said. “And in 2008 after the renovation, people begged and begged, ‘Please you have to open.’”

So, they did, and there’s been a massive turnout ever since. People from surrounding neighborhoods in North Dallas and people from different faith communities rely on Royal China.

“Before we open the door, we have lines outside and it’s getting busier and busier. So we take reservations a year before,” Kao said.

One Dallas family made reservations during the summer just to be sure their 15-year tradition wouldn’t miss a beat.

“My son-in-law, Berry, was the one who first suggested that we come to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas day,” said Lynn Harnden. “And we make our reservations like in July to be sure to come.”

As the years pass, seats are added to the reservation. This year, the Hardens occupied two tables with seventeen guests.

As for upholding family traditions, the Kaos have their own wall of memories at the restaurant. It’s a reminder of how far they’ve come from 1974, when George Kao’s father came from Taiwan with a dream and a plan.

“He is very proud,” he said. “He would smile. He’s smiling from above.”

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Pleasant Christmas weather for North Texas before storms return Thursday

Published

18 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Pleasant Christmas weather for North Texas before storms return Thursday – CBS Texas

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First Alert meteorologist Brittany Rainey has the latest forecast.

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Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction, Odds, Picks – December 27, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction, Odds, Picks – December 27, 2024

Data Skrive

The Las Vegas Bowl features a battle between the Texas A&M Aggies (who are 3.5-point favorites) and the USC Trojans on December 27, 2024 at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The over/under is set at 52.

Facing the Texas Longhorns in their most recent game, the Aggies lost 17-7. Last time out, the Trojans fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with 49-35 being the final score.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Joel Klatt explains how ‘USC is spiraling and in trouble’ | The Herd

FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt joins Colin Cowherd to discuss USC losing 19 players to the transfer portal and why it is troubling.

Texas A&M vs. USC Game Information & Odds

When: Friday, December 27, 2024 at 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada
TV: ESPN
Live Box Score on FOX Sports

More College Football Predictions

Texas A&M vs USC Betting Information updated as of December 25, 2024, 2:45 a.m. ET.
Favorite	Spread (Odds)	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Total	Over Moneyline	Under Moneyline
Texas A&M	-3.5 (-111)	-180	+149	52	-109	-111

Texas A&M vs. USC Prediction

Pick ATS:
Texas A&M (-3.5)
Pick OU: Under (52)
Prediction: Texas A&M 28, USC 24

Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.

Learn more about the Texas A&M Aggies vs. the USC Trojans game on FOX Sports!

Texas A&M vs. USC Betting Insights

Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the tilt is Aggies 28, Trojans 24.
The Aggies have a 64.3% chance to claim victory in this meeting per the moneyline’s implied probability. The Trojans hold a 40.2% implied probability.
Texas A&M has compiled a 3-9-0 record against the spread this season.
USC has put together a 7-5-0 record against the spread this season.

Texas A&M vs. USC: 2024 Stats Comparison

	Texas A&M	USC
Off. Points per Game (Rank)	30.3 (52)	29.8 (55)
Def. Points per Game (Rank)	21.2 (23)	23.5 (47)
Turnovers Allowed (Rank)	13 (28)	18 (71)
Turnovers Forced (Rank)	17 (61)	16 (69)

Texas A&M 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Marcel Reed	QB	1,572 YDS (61.1%) / 12 TD / 4 INT 501 RUSH YDS / 6 RUSH TD / 45.5 RUSH YPG
Le’Veon Moss	RB	769 YDS / 10 TD / 85.4 YPG / 6.4 YPC 10 REC / 141 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 17.6 REC YPG
Amari Daniels	RB	661 YDS / 8 TD / 55.1 YPG / 4.8 YPC
Noah Thomas	WR	34 REC / 545 YDS / 6 TD / 45.4 YPG
Taurean York	LB	57 TKL / 6 TFL / 2.5 SACK / 1 INT
Nic Scourton	DL	29 TKL / 11 TFL / 4 SACK
Will Lee III	DB	37 TKL / 0 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Dalton Brooks	DB	44 TKL / 5 TFL / 1 SACK

USC 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Jo’Quavious Marks	RB	1,133 YDS / 9 TD / 94.4 YPG / 5.7 YPC 47 REC / 321 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 29.2 REC YPG
Miller Moss	QB	2,555 YDS (64.4%) / 18 TD / 9 INT -18 RUSH YDS / 2 RUSH TD / -2 RUSH YPG
Ja’Kobi Lane	WR	36 REC / 398 YDS / 9 TD / 36.2 YPG
Jayden Maiava	QB	906 YDS (61.2%) / 7 TD / 2 INT 49 RUSH YDS / 4 RUSH TD / 5.4 RUSH YPG
Easton Mascarenas	LB	84 TKL / 4 TFL / 3 SACK / 2 INT
Kamari Ramsey	DB	44 TKL / 4 TFL / 2 SACK
Mason Cobb	LB	61 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Jaylin Smith	DB	49 TKL / 3 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD