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Politics

Texas Governor Abbott, TDEM Expand COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program

Governor Abbott, TDEM Expand COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program For Front Line Workers Of Small Businesses Austin, TX (STL.News) Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today announced the expansion of the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program for front line workers at Texas small businesses by dedicating 1 million BinaxNow Rapid Tests to the program. The COVID-19 Small Business Rapid Testing Program launched in December as a pilot program and has helped small businesses throughout the state conduct rapid tests on employees to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Through this program, TDEM will provide local Chamber of Commerce organizations with COVID-19 testing supplies that will then be allocated by the Chambers of Commerce to local small businesses that choose ...

Business

Phillips 66 Receives $3 Million Grant

Phillips 66 Receives $3 Million Grant to Advance Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology HOUSTON, TX (STL.News) Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) today announced it has received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance the development of high-performance reversible solid oxide fuel cells. Phillips 66 will collaborate with the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of a low-cost and highly efficient reversible solid oxide fuel cell (RSOFC) system for hydrogen and electricity generation. The technology is one of many Phillips 66 is pursuing as part of its commitment to a sustainable, lower-carbon energy future. “Our scientists and engineers are at the forefront of solid oxide fuel cell technology,” said Ann Oglesby, ...

Entertainment

Texas Lottery: Allen Resident Claims $3 Million Prize

Austin, TX (STL.News) An Allen resident claimed a top prize winning ticket worth $3 million in the Texas Lottery® scratch ticket game 500X Loteria Spectacular. The ticket was purchased at Get and Go, located at 2001 S. Crockett St., in Sherman. The claimant elected to remain anonymous. This was the second of four top prizes worth $3 million to be claimed in this game. 500X Loteria Spectacular offers more than $200 million in total prizes. Overall odds of winning any prize in the game are one in 3.10, including break-even prizes

Politics

Texas TDEM: COVID Therapeutic Infusion Center In Lubbock

Austin, TX (STL.News) Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has established a new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion center in Lubbock. The infusion center will begin accepting patients Thursday and has been provided with Regeneron's monoclonal antibodies and Bamlanivimab to treat outpatient cases of COVID-19 who meet certain criteria and who have a referral from a hospital or doctor. The infusion center has been established through a partnership with TDEM, the City of Lubbock, Lubbock County, Covenant Health System, and UMC Health System. "This new infusion center in Lubbock will increase access to COVID-19 therapeutic treatments in the community and help us reduce hospitalizations and save lives," said Governor Abbott. "Thank you to our...

General

Texas: Hugo Gomez Sentenced on Gun and Drug Charges

Texas Man, Hugo Gomez Sentenced to 240 Months in Federal Prison on Gun and Drug Charges (STL.News) United States Attorney Brandon J. Fremin announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson sentenced Hugo Gomez, age 34, of Laredo, Texas, to 240 months in federal prison following his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. The Court further sentenced Gomez to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on February 6, 2019, Gomez possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 g...

General

American Airlines Extending Travel Waiver Through March 31, 2021

FORT WORTH, TX (STL.News) American Airlines is providing customers additional flexibility by extending its offer to waive change fees for customers booking tickets for any new travel purchased by March 31, 2021. As a reminder, effective Jan. 1, 2021, American has eliminated all change fees for first class, business class, Premium Economy and Main Cabin tickets for most domestic and international flying. This new offer applies to tickets that meet the following criteria and includes Basic Economy tickets. Any first, business, Premium Economy, Main Cabin, or Basic Economy ticket purchased on or before March 31, 2021 for future travel will not incur change fees prior to travel. Customers must pay any fare difference, if applicable, and fare rules may apply depending on the ticket. ...

Politics

Texas Governor Abbott Appoints DeLoach & Johnson

Governor Abbott Appoints DeLoach And Johnson To Advisory Council On Emergency Medical Services Austin, TX (STL.News) Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed James M. “Mike” DeLoach and appointed Della Johnson to the Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services, known as GETAC for a terms set to expire on January 1, 2026. The council recommends changes to the EMS/Trauma System in order to ensure that the community receives comprehensive and efficient emergency care. James M. “Mike” DeLoach of Littlefield is owner of West Texas EMS Resources and serves as the Lamb County Judge. He is chair of South Plains EMS, a board member of the South Plains Association of Governments, and an executive board member of the Trauma Services Area B Regional Advisory Council. He is also a volunteer para...

General

Texas: Troy Anthony Smocks Charged With Making Threats

Texas Man, Troy Anthony Smocks Arrested and Charged With Making Threats Regarding Events at the U.S. Capitol WASHINGTON, D.C (STL.News) A Texas man was charged yesterday and arrested in Texas in connection with making threats regarding the riots at the U.S. Capitol last week. Troy Anthony Smocks, 58, of Dallas, Texas, was charged by criminal complaint with knowingly and willfully transmitting threats in interstate commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c). He will make an initial appearance this afternoon in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The affidavit in support of criminal complaint alleges that Smocks traveled to the Washington, D.C., area on January 5, 2021, the day before the illegal rioting. Smocks used a Parl...

General

Edinburg, TX: RGV Border Patrol Agents Arrest Sex Offender

EDINBURG, TX (STL.News) Border Patrol agents from the McAllen Border Patrol Station arrest a previously convicted rapist attempting to illegally enter the country. This morning, McAllen Border Patrol Agents working near Mission, Texas apprehended a group of five subjects who illegally entered the United States. Criminal record checks reveled one of the subjects was an Honduran national who was arrested in 2019 for 2nd degree rape by the Suffolk County Police Department in the State of New York. The subject was subsequently convicted for the crime and then removed from the country by immigration officials last year. Border Patrol processed the subject accordingly. The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863...

General

El Refugio, Texas: Border Agents Seize 350 lbs of Marijuana

EL REFUGIO, TX (STL.News) US Border and Protection Agents from the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station seized $280K in marijuana. Thursday evening, agents assigned to the Rio Grande City Border Patrol Station responded to suspected illegal activity near El Refugio, Texas. As agents arrived to the area, they observed multiple subjects carrying large bundles of suspected narcotics. Upon detection, the subjects abandoned the bundles and ran towards the Rio Grande. A search of the immediate area led to the discovery of one subject and six bundles weighing more than 350 pounds of marijuana valued at over $280K. The marijuana was turned over to the Starr County Sheriff’s Office and the subject will be processed accordingly by Border Patrol.

General

Texas: CBP Officers Seize Marijuana Worth $141K – World Trade Bridge

LAREDO, TX (STL.News) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the World Trade Bridge recently seized marijuana with a street value of over $141,000 in one enforcement action. “Although anti-terrorism is our primary mission, CBP officers continue to maintain their vigilance to ensure commercial entries are safe and free of contraband, as this narcotics seizure illustrates,” said Acting Port Director Eugene Crawford, Laredo Port of Entry. The enforcement action occurred on Wednesday, January 13th at the World Trade Bridge when CBP officers assigned to the cargo facility encountered a tractor hauling a shipment of plastic household articles arriving from Mexico. The 2003 Ford truck was referred for a canine and non-intrusive imaging system...

Business

Samuel Yates Charged with $5 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud

Individual Copied List of Names off the Internet and Claimed Them as Employees (STL.News) A Texas man has been charged in the Eastern District of Texas with allegedly filing bank loan applications fraudulently seeking more than $5 million dollars in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. David P. Burns, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Stephen J. Cox, U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Texas; Dale Forrester, Special Agent in Charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s Cybercrime Investigations Division; Donald Abram, Special Agent in Charge of the SBA Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Central Region; and Rya...

General

U.S. Attorney Releases Corporate Enforcement Memo

U.S. Attorney Releases Corporate Enforcement Memo for Eastern District of Texas BEAUMONT, TS (STL.News) The Eastern District of Texas has taken another significant step in promoting justice, fairness, and transparency in the areas of corporate and white-collar enforcement. “For the past four years, the Department of Justice has introduced and formalized policies relating to corporate and white-collar enforcement actions. These policies are good for government, good for fairness, good for transparency, good for the public, and consistent with the Department’s pursuit of justice,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox. “Today, the Eastern District of Texas makes clear that it has adopted these policies and fully commits the District to applying them in its civil and criminal white-collar an...

General

Justice Department Settles with Texas-Based Staffing Company

Justice Department Settles with Texas-Based Staffing Company to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination (STL.News) The Department of Justice announced that it reached a settlement with National Systems America LP (National Systems), a Dallas, Texas-based staffing agency. The settlement resolves the department’s claim that National Systems violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it (1) imposed unlawful citizenship restrictions on applicants for certain positions and (2) required lawful permanent resident applicants, but not U.S. citizens, to provide a specific work authorization document to receive further consideration for a job. “In the competitive and fast-paced IT staffing industry, it is critical for staffing companies not to impose unlawful hiring restriction...

General

Texas: Rodrigo Sanchez admits to smuggling over 3 dozen

Texas man, Rodrigo Sanchez admits to smuggling over 3 dozen in refrigerated truck LAREDO, TS (STL.News) A 41-year-old resident of San Antonio has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. On Oct. 20, 2020, Rodrigo Sanchez approached the I-35 Border Patrol checkpoint driving a refrigerated box truck with “JJ Produce” on the side. Soon after, a K-9 alerted to the presence of contraband in the cargo area. Authorities opened the back of the truck and discovered 37 aliens, including an unaccompanied minor, concealed behind a false wall blocked by stacks of produce. Sanchez claimed he traveled to Laredo from San Antonio to work as a delivery driver for “AA Produce.” He stated he was to be paid $100 to drive the truck to San ...

Politics

Texas Governor Abbott Appoints Seven To Medical Board District 3

Austin, TX (STL.News) Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Celeste Caballero, M.D. and Mindi McLain to the Texas Medical Board District Three Review Committee for terms set to expire on January 15, 2022. Additionally, he appointed Ogechika “Oge” Alozie, M.D., Taylor Gillig, and Gabrielle Rich, D.O. for terms set to expire on January 15, 2024 and appointed Michael Burley and Sharmila Dissanaike, M.D. for terms set to expire on January 15, 2026. Celeste Caballero, M.D. of Lubbock is a pediatrician with Covenant Medical Group. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Texas Medical Association. Caballero received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from The University of Texas at Austin and a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Min...

Politics

Texas Governor Abbott Appoints Six To Medical Board Committee

Austin, TX (STL.News) Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Ada Booth, M.D. and Walton “Boyd” Bush, Ed.D. to the Texas Medical Board District Four Review Committee for terms set to expire on January 15, 2022. Additionally, he appointed Leanne Burnett, M.D., and reappointed Philip “Phil” Worley for terms set to expire on January 15, 2024 and appointed Ruth Villarreal and Andrew “Jimmy” Widmer, M.D. for terms set to expire on January 15, 2026. Ada Booth, M.D. of Corpus Christi is a Child Abuse Pediatrician with the Child Abuse Resource & Evaluation team at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. She is a member of the Texas Pediatric Society, Nueces County Medical Society, Corpus Christi Pediatric Society, Coastal Bend Child Fatality Review Team, and the Ray E. Helfer Society. Booth received a ...

Politics

Texas First State To Administer 1 Million COVID-19 Vaccines

Austin, TX (STL.News) Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) today announced that that State of Texas has administered more than 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine—making Texas the national leader in vaccinations. This milestone comes exactly one month to the day after the first doses arrived at vaccine providers in the state on December 14. According to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, the Lone Star State has administered more doses than any other state. Among the top 20 states for doses distributed, Texas ranks number one for percentage of doses administered. “Texas is leading the way for our nation once again,” said Governor Abbott. “This is the biggest vaccination effort we have ever undertaken, and it ...