Texas
Texas firefighters battle flames stoked by strong winds as warnings are issued across the region
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Strong winds spread flames on Sunday and prompted at least one evacuation while airplanes dropped fire retardant over the northern Texas Panhandle as firefighters worked to stop the largest wildfire in state history.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Smokehouse Creek fire, which has burned more than 1 million acres (404,685 hectares), was 15% contained. Two other fires that have burned a combined 180,000 acres (72,843 hectares), were 60% contained.
Authorities have not said what ignited the fires, but strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm temperatures fed the blazes.
A cluster of fires has burned across more than 1,900 square miles (4,921 square kilometers) in rural areas surrounding Amarillo, while the largest blaze spilled into neighboring Oklahoma.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday said the federal government has devoted funds, equipment and personnel to assist with battling the fires, but warned more extreme weather could be coming.
“More than a million acres have burned. And we are in winter, and this is the largest fire in Texas history,” Mayorkas said during a CNN interview. “We, as a country and as a world, have to be ready for the increasing effects of extreme weather caused by climate change. It’s a remarkable phenomenon, and it will manifest itself in the days to come, and we have to prepare for it now.”
The National Weather Service on Sunday issued red flag warnings — signifying extreme fire risk due to warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds — across much of the central U.S., including Texas and its neighboring states of New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Red flag warnings also covered nearly all of Nebraska and Iowa, along with large swaths of Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota. Smaller portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Minnesota and Illinois also were under red flag warnings.
Strong winds spread the flames, prompting an evacuation order to be issued in Sanford, a Texas town of a little more than 100 residents, according to a post by the Amarillo office of the National Weather Service on X, formerly Twitter.
As firefighters fought the unprecedented wildfires, humanitarian organizations pivoted to victims who have lost their homes and livelihoods. Residents began clearing affected property on Saturday and by Sunday the extent of the loss began mounting.
Donations ranging from $25 to $500 have been critical for the Hutchinson County United Way Wildfire Relief Fund, which is dispersing proceeds to displaced families.
“We already know that a large group of people are uninsured who lost their homes. So without monetary assistance, it’s going to be very hard for them to start back over,” said Julie Winters, executive director for Hutchinson County United Way.
The organization has heard estimates of more than 150 homes being impacted in the county, noting the fires extend to at least five other counties, Winters said.
A steady outpouring of donated clothing, water and hot meals quickly overwhelmed one community in the affected area. The city of Borger, Texas, urged people in a social media post to redirect donation efforts from food and water to clean-up supplies including shovels, rakes, gloves and trash bags.
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Associated Press writer Thomas Strong in Washington, D.C., and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis contributed to this story.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Three hospitals in Texas received a combined $2.5 million in grant funding toward mobile stroke units aimed at increasing access to stroke care.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is blocked or reduced.
According to the governor’s office, mobile stroke units were ambulances equipped with CT scanners to help identify strokes and begin treatment faster.
“Timely stroke care can make a life-changing difference for Texans and their families,” HHS Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth said.
Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin received $1.25 million to establish a new mobile stroke unit.
To expand their existing mobile stroke units, University Medical Center of El Paso was given $500,000, and Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston received $750,000.
“Texas will ensure Texans across our state can access swift and practical medical care,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “This $2.5 million investment into mobile stroke units will enable hospitals to better provide vital care without delay in the event of a stroke. I thank HHSC for their ongoing efforts to support our hospitals and the health of all Texans, no matter where they are.”
Another $2.5 million is expected to be distributed to other hospitals in 2027, according to the governor’s office.
Any hopes the Texas Longhorns had of contending in the College World Series took a massive blow on Saturday at Charles Schwab Field in a 7-1 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs as right-hander Joey Volchko delivered the best outing of his career, striking out a career-high 15 batters in a complete game for the first Bulldogs win in Omaha since 2008.
Volchko took control early by striking out the first three batters he faced and never faltered, pouring in strikes early in the count and missing bats with the glove-side run on his four-seam fastball and electric slider. Of the 114 pitches thrown by the Stanford transfer, 84 went for strikes as Texas only managed four hits, two by sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez, who scored the only run for the Horns in the fifth inning. Volchko’s ability to fill up the strike zone resulted in Texas only drawing one walk.
The Horns went 1-for-9 (.111) with runners on and 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position as only one player in the starting lineup, junior first baseman Ashton Larson, avoided a strikeout. Larson went 0-for-3.
As Volchko worked ahead in count, Texas responded by trying to attack the first pitch, a strategy that worked as poorly as attempting to get deep in at bats. After junior right fielder Aiden Robbins worked a full count against Volchko to start the game before striking out, the Horns didn’t get to a three-ball count again until pinch-hitter Josh Livingston in the eighth inning.
The Bulldogs took advantage of early mistakes by the Longhorns as sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis struggled with his command in the first inning, walking the first batter he faced before giving up a line-drive home run off the foul pole in left field by center fielder Rylan Lujo.
Even as Volantis became more effective, it backfired when junior catcher Carson Tinney airmailed a soft throw on a swinging strikeout that allowed Georgia to put a runner on first with one out after Lujo’s homer. A soft single through the right side of the Texas infield increased the pressure on Volantis, who was able to record the second out before hitting a batter and giving up two unearned runs when Tinney made another mistake on a swinging strikeout, missing his throw to first instead of trying to get the runner out at home.
So the Bulldogs took command of the game after the first inning with the benefit of only one hit as Tinney committed his third and fourth errors of the season in an uncharacteristically shaky performance.
Volantis wasn’t always able to work in the zone over the ensuing innings, hitting two more batters, even though he didn’t allow another hit until the seventh when he gave up an RBI double and a two-run single when Georgia scored three unearned runs thanks to an error by junior third baseman Casey Borba.
If the game wasn’t already out of reach for Texas before the seventh, it certainly was afterwards as the top four batters in the lineup combined to go 0-for-15 with 11 strikeouts, including four by redshirt senior second baseman Temo Becerra.
The Horns also saw junior designated hitter Ethan Mendoza depart in the eighth inning with an injury after hitting a single up the middle.
With the season on the line, Texas faces Alabama on Monday at 1 p.m. Central in an elimination game. The Tide lost to the Sooners 9-0 in the early game on Saturday.
Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard James Harden was arrested in Harris County, Texas, early Saturday morning and charged with misdemeanor unlawful carrying of weapons, according to court documents.
A charging document filed in Texas says Harden was taken into custody at approximately 3:40 a.m. after an officer observed a handgun in plain view inside his vehicle. Harden had “unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly” carried the weapon, the document alleges.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest were not immediately clear.
Harden was released from custody following his arrest. As conditions of his bond, he has been ordered not to possess any weapons or consume alcohol or drugs and must submit to random urine tests, according to court documents.
Harden joined the Cleveland Cavaliers this year after stints with the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and the Houston Rockets. He is regarded as one of the best shooting guards in NBA history.
In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson for the Cleveland Cavaliers said the team is aware of Harden’s arrest and they are in the process of gathering more information.
“We are in contact with James and his representation and will continue to monitor developments as they become available,” said team spokesperson BJ Evans.
Harden’s agent did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Harden is scheduled to appear in court on June 22.
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