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Articles by West Texas
AFD from NWS FWD
National Weather Service Raw Text Product Displaying AFOS PIL: AFDFWD Received: 2021-03-23 10:40 UTC 725 FXUS64 KFWD 231040 AFDFWD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 540 AM CDT Tue Mar 23 2021 ...New Short Term, Aviation... .SHORT TERM... /NEW/ /Today and Tonight/ Pleasant weather is expected for the next 24 hours or so as the area remains between weather systems. Abundant sunshine is expected today outside of a few lingering clouds along the Red River.
AFD from NWS FWD
National Weather Service Raw Text Product Displaying AFOS PIL: AFDFWD Received: 2021-03-13 20:48 UTC 142 FXUS64 KFWD 132048 AFDFWD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 248 PM CST Sat Mar 13 2021 ...New Long Term... .SHORT TERM... /Issued 1153 AM CST Sat Mar 13 2021/ /Through Sunday Afternoon/ A deep upper low will continue to churn across the Four Corners region today, brining substantial snow to the front range and parts of the Eastern Plains of Colorado.
AFD from NWS FWD
National Weather Service Raw Text Product Displaying AFOS PIL: AFDFWD Received: 2020-12-05 19:53 UTC 366 FXUS64 KFWD 051953 AFDFWD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 153 PM CST Sat Dec 5 2020 ...New Long Term... .SHORT TERM...
Hope Mora: Pecos — Sightlines
“Pecos” is an ongoing exploration of how the dynamic between hard labor and resilience is sustained within communities, specifically in my hometown in West Texas. My research looks into working life, regional culture, economy, and ideas of home in Pecos, a small but shifting desert town. I document how communities joyfully survive and celebrate their lives through food, family, music, dance, and fashion using photography, video, sound, text, and collage.
West Texas: military history buff enjoys WWII books
BALLINGER, Texas (AP) — Consider the lowly paperback, have you ever wondered where they came from? The Abilene Reporter-News reports they aren't that lowly to a soldier, however. They were a tonic for those desperate for something in their field pack that didn't go boom, but still took the mind elsewhere. In World War II, that was the idea behind the Armed Services Editions.
West Texas: military history buff enjoys WWII books
BALLINGER, Texas (AP) — Consider the lowly paperback, have you ever wondered where they came from? The Abilene Reporter-News reports they aren't that lowly to a soldier, however. They were a tonic for those desperate for something in their field pack that didn't go boom, but still took the mind elsewhere. In World War II, that was the idea behind the Armed Services Editions.
West Texas: military history buff enjoys WWII books
BALLINGER, Texas (AP) — Consider the lowly paperback, have you ever wondered where they came from? The Abilene Reporter-News reports they aren't that lowly to a soldier, however. They were a tonic for those desperate for something in their field pack that didn't go boom, but still took the mind elsewhere. In World War II, that was the idea behind the Armed Services Editions.
West Texas: world's largest spring-fed swimming pool reopens
BALMORHEA, Texas (AP) — An icon spring-fed swimming pool in West Texas that closed last year for repairs has reopened following $2 million in upgrades. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on Friday announced Balmorhea (bal-mor-RAY') State Park's pool is open to the public again. The pool was built in the 1930s by the federal Civilian Conservation Corps and is fed by San Solomon Springs. The pool closed last May following a partial collapse during cleaning.
West Texas: world's largest spring-fed swimming pool reopens
Posted: Friday, March 1, 2019 10:31 am | Updated: 11:00 am, Fri Mar 1, 2019. BALMORHEA, Texas (AP) — An iconic spring-fed swimming pool in West Texas that closed last year for repairs has reopened following $2 million in upgrades. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on Friday announced Balmorhea (bal-mor-RAY') State Park's pool is open to the public again. The pool was built in the 1930s by the federal Civilian Conservation Corps and is fed by San Solomon Springs.
West Texas: world's largest spring-fed swimming pool reopens
Posted: Friday, March 1, 2019 10:28 am West Texas: world's largest spring-fed swimming pool reopens Associated Press | BALMORHEA, Texas (AP) — An icon spring-fed swimming pool in West Texas that closed last year for repairs has reopened following $2 million in upgrades. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on Friday announced Balmorhea (bal-mor-RAY') State Park's pool is open to the public again.
Michigan Soybeans: Selecting Varieties for 2019
The soybean varieties you select will directly affect your yield potential and income in 2019. Because of this, Michigan State University Extension recommends you consider yield, pest and pathogen resistance, maturity, lodging and quality when selecting varieties. Yield Yield is one of the most important characteristics to consider when selecting soybean varieties.
Year-End Fertilizer Prices Up from 2017
Liquid fertilizer containers. Photo: ©Debra L Ferguson The approximate retail prices for bulk purchases of major fertilizers per ton in December 2018 compared to December 2017, as published in the USDA Illinois Department of Agriculture Market News Report, are shown in Table 1. All fertilizers were costlier at the end of 2018 compared to 2017. This contrasts with the relatively stable and low prices in 2017. This rising trend, except for urea (Fig. 1), reflects global supply and demand.
Michigan Corn: Maximizing Nitrogen Application Efficiency
Late season nitrogen application to corn. Photo: Ricardo Costa, Michigan State University When it comes to corn production, nitrogen (N) is the most commonly applied nutrient and one of the most expensive inputs, averaging from 13 to 18 percent of the variable costs depending on the type of crop rotation. On the other hand, the nitrogen cost-to-benefit ratio usually exceeds that of other fertilizer inputs.
Iowa Soybeans: 2018 SCN-Resistant Variety Trial Results
Female soybean cyst nematodes attached to a root on right, compared to root nodules on left. Photo: University of Arkansas Iowa State University annually evaluates the agronomic performance and nematode control of hundreds of soybean varieties that are resistant to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN). A limited number of SCN-susceptible soybean varieties are included in the research to serve as a reference point for comparison.
Ag Economy: Federal Reserve Updates from Dallas, Minneapolis
An update this week from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, as well as a short paper last month from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, provide insight into portions of the U.S. agricultural economy. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas- Ag Credit Survey Earlier this week, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas released its Agricultural Credit Survey for the fourth quarter of 2018.
West Texas: Cotton Still on the Stalk in Some Areas
©Debra L Ferguson Stock Images In what some may describe as the “never-ending harvest,” cotton remains on the stalk in portions of the PCG service area, making for an exceptionally long year that already has brought its share of challenges. PCG estimates that harvest is at least 90 percent complete across the 41-county service area, with much of the current activity in eastern parts of the region. Damp weather and precipitation has delayed cotton harvest over the past couple of months.
Immigration agents arrest 23 across New Mexico, West Texas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests over the past week, according to an email from agency regional spokeswoman Nina Pruneda. She said three of the arrested individuals face criminal charges related to illegal re-entry to the United States after deportation or firearm possession or both. Of the audit notices, 68 were served on businesses across a swath of 18 counties in western Texas.
Immigration agents arrest 23 across New Mexico, West Texas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests over the past week, according to an email from agency regional spokeswoman Nina Pruneda. She said three of the arrested individuals face criminal charges related to illegal re-entry to the United States after deportation or firearm possession or both. Of the audit notices, 68 were served on businesses across a swath of 18 counties in western Texas.
Immigration agents arrest 23 across New Mexico, West Texas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests over the past week, according to an email from agency regional spokeswoman Nina Pruneda. She said three of the arrested individuals face criminal charges related to illegal re-entry to the United States after deportation or firearm possession or both. Of the audit notices, 68 were served on businesses across a swath of 18 counties in western Texas.
Immigration agents arrest 23 across New Mexico, West Texas
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents made the arrests over the past week, according to an email from agency regional spokeswoman Nina Pruneda. She said three of the arrested individuals face criminal charges related to illegal re-entry to the United States after deportation or firearm possession or both. Of the audit notices, 68 were served on businesses across a swath of 18 counties in western Texas.
National Commercial Real Estate News
The city of Edinburg, TX helped guarantee that a $150 million Hidalgo County Courthouse would end up in its back yard. Specifically, the new building will go north next to the existing courthouse at 101 N. Closner Blvd., in downtown, Edinburg. Both the city council and Hidalgo County Commissioners Court approved a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure the building will go north downtown. Edinburg is the seat of Hidalgo County.
National Commercial Real Estate News
Capital Bank opened a new branch on El Paso’s west side, replacing one it had closed several months ago, at 2800 N. Mesa St., near the University of Texas El Paso campus. The new branch is in La Villita on Mesa, a new shopping center at 6801 N. Mesa St. La Villita is anchored by the new Whole Foods Market. The new branch is one of three Capital Bank branches in El Paso. The bank is owned by Strategic Bancorp, a four-year-old regional banking company founded by El Paso businessman Bill Sanders.
Could 2017 be the Year for Permian Basin? - Connect Media: CRE
As the oil slump moves slowly toward recovery, prognosticators are noting that more rigs will likely be up and operating throughout the Permian Basin. The area, which took a huge hit when oil prices took a dive, could see anywhere from 40 rigs to 150 rigs, depending on the analyst. Joseph Triepke, founder of research firm Infill Thinking, is predicting 150 rigs added, assuming the recent OPEC oil deal holds. “Companies were going to raise spending levels anyway,” Triepke told the Odessa American.
2017: A Good Year for Laredo - Connect Media: CRE
Laredo, TX has been working hard to boost ease of entry from Mexico, and to make the town itself more of a destination location. To that end, construction has been underway on the $80 million Laredo Shopping Center. Additionally, close to $90 million worth of improvements commenced early in 2016 on Bridge I (Gateway to the Americas International Bridge) and Bridge 2 (Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge). And all of it is scheduled to be completed beginning mid-2017.
Construction Begins on $21M Potter County Complex - Connect Media: CRE
Construction is underway on Potter County’s new Law Enforcement Complex. The $21-million development is going north next to the detention center at 13100 N.E. 29th St. in Amarillo, TX, and is scheduled for delivery in January 2018. The new center will include offices, a storage unit and a building for vehicle maintenance. It replaces the current office in downtown Amarillo, which began life as a jail.
South Texas Emerges at Epicenter of LNG, Clean Energy - Connect Media: CRE
Three liquefied natural gas facilities are slated to begin construction along the Brownsville Ship Channel in 2017 and 2018. The initial capital investments of $10 billion are expected to accelerate South Texas’ emergence as an epicenter of the LNG trade and clean energy. The largest facility, involving an initial $6 billion investment, is proposed by Next Decade LLC’s Rio Grande LNG. It would be the largest proposed private investment in the state.
$62M Med Science Building Planned for Texas Tech - Connect Media: CRE
Sundt Construction, headquartered in Phoenix, will soon begin construction on the 277,000-square-foot Medical Science Building II on the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso campus. The project will include the building itself at Alameda and Concepcion, along with utility infrastructure, an increase in parking spaces and landscape improvements.
Hunt Provides Refi on 128-Unit El Paso Property - Connect Media: CRE
Hunt Mortgage Group provided a $4.2 million Freddie Mac loan to refinance the 128-unit Mesa Place Townhomes in El Paso. Hunt Mortgage placed the seven-year loan on behalf of LEDIC Realty Co. LLC. The financing has one year of interest-only payments, and a 30-year amortization schedule beginning in the loan’s second year. The borrower is using the loan to refinance existing debt, buy out its limited partner, and have some cash left over to fund future acquisitions.
Tunnels Being Built – for Ocelots - Connect Media: CRE
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Cameron County in South Texas, is building 12 underground corridors to protect endangered ocelots. The $8 million project will place the tunnels under two highways. The felines often travel throughout the county, to and from the Laguna Atascoa Wildlife Refuge, just north of Port Isabel. This is not the first such crossing that TxDOT has spearheaded throughout the Lone Star State.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Coming to Harlingen - Connect Media: CRE
The Harlingen, TX City Commission approved an incentive for development of a new, 95-unit Fairfield Inn & Suites. Developer Qube Hotel Group of Dallas will receive city-donated, right-of-way property to develop the Marriott-branded hotel, with construction anticipated to begin by early February. The franchised hotel will be on Interstate 60, between Ed Carey Drive and New Hampshire Street. Once open in winter 2018, the facility will employ 25-30 people.
Same Story in Odessa: Economic Index Continues Decline - Connect Media: CRE
Despite the higher crude oil prices in October and an increase in Permian Basin activity, the Odessa Economic Index continued its decline. The index fell to 193.6 for October, down from the 194.1 reported in September, with an 11.3% drop from the 218.1 of October 2015. The reason for the decline, according to economist Kar Ingham, is due to economic indicators other than oil rig counts, oil prices and activity increase.
Midland to Get 58K-SF Indoor Gun Range - Connect Media: CRE
Ground clearing has begun on a new, indoor gun range for Midland, TX. Named Ally Outdoors, the range will be 58,000 square feet, and include a sports retail center, on-site restaurant and VIP lounge, along with (24) 25-yard lanes, (5) 100-yard lanes, and an archery range. Actual construction on the project will launch in January, with completion set for fall. The development is at 241 Spring Park Dr., with Cata-Mount Construction the general contractor.
Abilene FedEx Sells for $8M - Connect Media: CRE
Double Run LP, based in La Habra Heights, CA, acquired a 67,704-square-foot FedEx Ground distribution facility in Abilene, TX. The buyer paid the developer (and seller – Devron Abilene LLC ) $7.5 million for the facility at 801 N. Arnold Blvd. Allen Buchanan and Joshua Harper with Lee & Associates’ Orange County, CA office represented the buyer. Douglas Longyear of Cushman & Wakefield advised the seller. FedEx has a long-term lease in place, with expiration in 2025.
Cary Westin Promoted to El Paso Deputy City Manager - Connect Media: CRE
Cary Westin, who served as managing director of the city of El Paso’s Economic and International Development Department for more than two years, has been promoted to deputy city manager for economic development and tourism. In his new position, Westin will be responsible for seven city departments, including economic development. Also under his direction will be El Paso International Airport, Community and Human Development, Destination El Paso and International Bridges.
Odessa, TX; Home of a . . . Nuclear Reactor? - Connect Media: CRE
The Odessa City Council recently approved a resolution to support a project proposed by University of Texas-Permian Basin (UTPB). The proposed project is a $1 billion nuclear power reactor in Ector County. The resolution authorizes an agreement between UTPB and X-Energy, a Maryland company developing a non-emission nuclear reactor that produces energy and less greenhouse gas than other reactors.
$77M Hotel/Conference Scheduled for March Groundbreaking - Connect Media: CRE
Eofficial Enterprises and the city of Odessa, TX targeted March 2017 for groundbreaking on a $77 million downtown hotel and conference center. Eofficial Enterprises is building the 200-key Marriott-branded facility at a $40 million cost. Aimbridge Hospitality will run both the hotel and conference center, which are targeted for an early 2019 opening. Eofficial is finishing the design for the hotel, and expects to be completed in January.
RightQuest Moves on Bella Vista, Phase II - Connect Media: CRE
RightQuest LLC broke ground on the second phase of Bella Vista Apartments in Brownsville, TX. The project marks the Addison, TX-based developer’s fifth Class A apartment project in the Rio Grande Valley. Bella Vista Phase II will offer 144 units, with a laguna-style pool, limited-access control system, detached garages and a large and small-breed dog park.
Dallas Fed: Good News, Kind of, for Permian Basin - Connect Media: CRE
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ recent economic report on the Permian Basin was mixed. On the one hand, the Midland-Odessa job market still struggles; the combined unemployment rate stood at 5.5% in October, well above the state’s 4.8% and the U.S. rate of 5.1%. Furthermore, jobs in the mining, logging and construction sector grew two months in a row, at a 5.1% annualized rate, even as trade, transportation and utilities dropped by 4.5% year to date, annualized.
Montecillo Shifting to Single-Family Houses - Connect Media: CRE
The Montecillo Smart Growth community, located in West El Paso, is moving into developing single-family houses, following more than four years of apartment construction. Forty-seven houses are planned for acreage off Montecillo Drive, in the center of the 229-acre community. A 106-unit townhouse complex will also be built near the single-family area.
Proposed Port System for Bridges - Connect Media: CRE
The state of Texas Legislature will sit for its 85th bi-annual session in January, and already has a slate of proposed laws to examine. And one request that McAllen, TX Mayor Jim Darling is putting before the legislature is to help fund a study on placing Hidalgo County’s five international bridges under a port system. Darling said placing the Anzalduas, Hildago, Pharr, Donna and Progreso bridges under a single entity would lead to greater efficiencies and better control of customs.
Western Refining Sold for $6.4B - Connect Media: CRE
Western Refining, based in El Paso, is being sold to San Antonio-headquartered Tesoro Corp. in a deal valued at $6.4 billion. The deal comes five months after Western acquired Phoenix-area Northern Tier Energy for $1.6 billion. Tesoro operates seven refineries in the western United States, with a combined capacity of more than 895,000 barrels of oil per day. Western Refining has refineries in El Paso, Gallup, NM and St. Paul Park, MN.
Which Which Decides Which Midland Location to Open - Connect Media: CRE
A second Which Which sandwich shop is ready to open in mid-December in the Borgata Shopping Center at 3415 N. Loop 250 W. in Midland, TX. The Permian franchisee of Dallas-based Which Which already has a Midland location operational at the Wall Street Lofts, 100 N. Main St., and is planning more throughout the region. Franchisee Quattro FS LLC, headquartered in San Angelo, TX, opened a store in San Angelo at the same time as its first Midland store.
Permian Rig Count and Oil Production Increasing - Connect Media: CRE
Many analysts have noted it, and now the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has quantified it. “It” being oil production and rig count in the Permian basin, both of which have increased month over month. The EIA’s Drilling Productivity Report shows the Permian pumping out 2.038 million barrels a day for November, with the forecast increasing output to 2.065 million barrels a day in December.
Post-Election Border Economics - Connect Media: CRE
Another “morning-after” discussion of the presidential election – this one in McAllen, TX, took place at the Rio Grande Valley’s annual Border Economics, Development and Entrepreneurship Symposium on Nov. 9. Bankers on a panel acknowledged uncertainty as to the impact of Donald Trump’s election. But all were in agreement that relief from some of the industry regulations would be a welcome thing.
Magnetar to Invest in Midland Basin Buys - Connect Media: CRE
Magnetar Capital has inked a deal to invest up to $450 million of equity and delayed draw unsecured debt capital for Double Eagle Energy Permian LLC. Double Eagle Energy Permian, a pure-play Midland energy and production company, currently owns more than 60,000 Midland Basin net acres in Midland, Martin, Howard, Glasscock, Upton and Reagan counties. The extra capital provided by Magnetar will help boost Double Eagle’s drilling program, as well as support more well and land acquisitions.
Alamo 7 Solar Farm Coming Online - Connect Media: CRE
Alamo 7, the under-construction solar farm in Haskell County, TX will be ready to go online later this year. When it goes live, Alamo 7 will be the largest dual-axis solar farm in the United States, based on its electricity-producing capacity. Situated on Farm Road 600 south of Lake Stamford, the solar farm will consist of 10,080 dual-axis trackers on a site the size of approximately 1,000 football fields.
Nuevo Laredo Says Yes to More Lanes - Connect Media: CRE
The city council of Nuevo Laredo in Tamaulipas, Mexico, unanimously voted to support adding eight lanes to the World Trade Bridge linking the city with its Texas counterpart, Laredo. The plan would extend the current eight lanes of the bridge to 16, making it the largest bridge in the world. A first phase toward widening is underway on the U.S. side.
National Commercial Real Estate News
The city of Amarillo, TX began demolition on an old Coca-Cola plant at 701 S. Lincoln. The removal of the 75,000-square-foot plant is expected to last about 8-10 weeks, and the city hopes it can entice a Major League Baseball-affiliated team to make a home there.
National Commercial Real Estate News
An increase in employment and trade, along with a robust housing market, helped the El Paso Business-Cycle Index increase by 2.7% annually in September. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the metro’s annualized 4% job growth was the major contributing factor to the business cycle index boost. Annualized total trade in August stood at $79 billion, representing a 14.5% increase from July. Imports increased 11.4%, while exports were 19.2% higher.
Permian Basin Economy Bottoming Out - Connect Media: CRE
Although the Odessa, TX economic index continued sluggish in September, one piece of okay news is that the Permian Basin regional oil and gas economy is “in the process of bottoming out,” according to economist Karr Ingham. As such, Ingham, in his monthly report to the Odessa Development Corp., indicated a few more months of contraction in the current cycle.
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