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Wildfires rage in Texas, Florida, forcing evacuations and road closures

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Wildfires rage in Texas, Florida, forcing evacuations and road closures


Wildfires driven by dry weather and strong winds spread across parts of the southern United States on Thursday, leading to evacuations in Texas and road closures in Florida amid peak spring break travel.

A helicopter drops a bucket to gather water to battle the Pauline Road wildfire Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Cleveland, Texas.(AP)

In Texas, a wildfire in Sam Houston National Forest, near Houston, forced around 900 households to evacuate and led to school closures. The National Weather Service issued heightened fire risk warnings in the region, including around Houston, the country’s fourth-largest city.

The fire, which ignited on Wednesday, had scorched roughly 3.1 square miles (8 square kilometers) by Thursday morning and was only 10 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

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So far, no injuries or property damage have been reported. However, as a precaution, the Cleveland Independent School District, which serves around 12,000 students, suspended classes for the day.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough praised emergency responders for their efforts in preventing losses. “Firefighters and law enforcement did an incredible job yesterday protecting homes, animals, livestock, and people. It’s hard to believe we’ve lost basically nothing,” he said.

Despite containment efforts, officials remain on high alert. Keough warned that increasing wind gusts and falling humidity levels could worsen conditions. “We’re asking evacuees to remain away from their homes for now,” he said.

Florida Keys fire disrupts travel

A large brush fire that ignited on Tuesday in the Florida Keys led to intermittent closures of US 1, the main highway connecting the islands to the mainland. Authorities also shut down one of the two access roads as crews moved firefighting equipment.

The fire comes as Florida experiences peak spring break travel. US 1 remains a vital route for tourists and local workers commuting to hotels and restaurants in Key Largo and beyond.

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Arkansas battles dozens of fires

In Arkansas, firefighters responded to more than 50 wildfires on Wednesday, driven by strong winds. The fires forced road closures, including a section of Interstate 530 near Little Rock, due to heavy smoke.

Flames caused structural damage in multiple cities, including North Little Rock, where the roof of St. Joseph’s, a 115-year-old building that once served as an orphanage, collapsed. The building now houses a nonprofit focused on urban farming.

Drought and winds fuel the fires

Dry and cold weather, followed by gusting winds, has created conditions ripe for wildfires across the South.

In Texas, fire risks stretch from the northern Panhandle, where frozen vegetation has dried out, to the coastal regions. South Florida, which has seen little rain in recent weeks, is expected to experience another dry cold front on Thursday night, meteorologist Donal Harrigan of the National Weather Service in Miami said.

With AP inputs

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Texas

Texas Longhorns Set Spring Visit with ‘Elite’ Five-Star Tight End Kaiden Prothro

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Texas Longhorns Set Spring Visit with ‘Elite’ Five-Star Tight End Kaiden Prothro


Fresh off signing the nation’s No. 1 ranked 2025 class, the Texas Longhorns will be looking to make it two in a row with a top-ranked 2026 class. And despite a slow start to the class so far, where the Longhorns have just three commits, there is still plenty of time before signing day.

And that time could prove especially valuable for Texas in their recruitment of “elite” tight-end prospect Kaiden Prothro. The Bowdon, Georgia, native has locked in his visit schedule for the spring, as first reported by ON3.com’s Chad Simmons. Texas will be one of the five programs to host Prothro on a visit.

Prothro’s visit schedule will look as follows for the spring according to Simmons:

Steve Sarkisian

Texas Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian speaks during the Coaches’ Press Conference at AT&T Stadium, Jan. 9, 2024. Both coaches answered questions from the media during the conference, and will face each other in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semi-final game on Friday. / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Prothro ranks as the nation’s No. 30 prospect nationally by ON3, who rate him as a five-star prospect and the No. 3 tight end in the class. Meanwhile he ranks as the No. 3 prospect from Georgia and tight end in the class according to the 247Sports Composite, which also ranks him as the 22nd-best prospect nationally.

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The five-star tight end in the composite rankings is one of the nation’s most highly touted prospects in the class. Which is evidenced by his visit list and his offer list, where he holds over three dozen offers.

Not only does the Georgia native have his spring visit schedule set. But he also has his official visit schedule set for the summer. Prothro will visit Georgia on May 30th, Alabama on June 6th, Auburn on June 10th, Florida on June 13th, and Texas on June 20th.

No decision date has been set by Prothro. Yet, with two visits set, the Longhorns are in contention to land the five-star tight end.



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North Texas moms fight against fentanyl overdoses, share stories of loss

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North Texas moms fight against fentanyl overdoses, share stories of loss



North Texas moms fight against fentanyl overdoses, share stories of loss – CBS Texas

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A group of North Texas moms are stressing a fentanyl overdose can happen to anyone. They’re speaking from experience. This weekend, they’ll be sharing their personal stories during a special event.

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309 cases reported in Texas measles outbreak, state health department says

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309 cases reported in Texas measles outbreak, state health department says


HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Measles cases continue to spike in Texas, with a total of 14 counties reporting cases.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 30 more people have tested positive since their last update on Tuesday, making the new total 309.

The video above is from a previous report: Houston health officials confirm 3rd measles case; Unvaccinated infant’s illness linked to travel

The state gives updates on the outbreak on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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Most of the cases are in West Texas, centered around Gaines County, which currently reports 211 cases.

READ MORE: Measles cases reach nearly 300 total in Texas and New Mexico. Here’s what you should know

The state health department said 40 of the cases have been hospitalized, four more than the last update on Tuesday. Two of the cases are vaccinated, and the remainder are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, officials have said.

One unvaccinated, school-aged child who lived in the West Texas outbreak area and had no underlying conditions died.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. An infected person can spread it to up to nine out of 10 people around them if those people aren’t vaccinated. Measles can also linger in the air for up to two hours.

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Health officials said that because the disease is highly contagious, additional cases are expected in the outbreak area and surrounding communities.

Authorities urge people to get vaccinated to prevent getting sick, adding that two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.

SEE ALSO: 5 key questions about measles answered amid outbreak

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