Texas A&M Forest Service Urges Caution During Fourth of July Holiday
July 1, 2025 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas— As Texans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, Texas A&M Forest Service urges everyone to use caution with outdoor activities that could ignite a wildfire.
“Wildfire potential is not expected to be high across Texas this Fourth of July weekend,” said Luke Kanclerz, Predictive Services Department Head. “Widespread rainfall in May and early June has improved fuel conditions across much of the state. While small wildfires remain possible in the eastern half of Texas as hot, dry conditions settle in, any fires that do occur are expected to remain small and exhibit low resistance to control.”
Nearly 90 percent of wildfires in Texas are human-caused, and Independence Day consistently ranks among the top days for wildfire starts. Simple precautions can help prevent holiday celebrations from turning dangerous.
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public show hosted by professionals. If you plan to set off your own fireworks, please follow these safety tips:
- Before you celebrate, always check with local government officials for any burn bans or other restrictions. Be sure to comply with all restrictions.
- Read and follow all warnings and instruction labels on fireworks.
- Use fireworks only under close adult supervision and in safe areas away from structures, dry grass and brush.
- Keep a hose, bucket of water and wet towels nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
- Dispose of used fireworks in a bucket of water.
- Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.
To help prevent wildfires during hot and dry conditions, follow these additional tips:
- Avoid parking and idling in tall, dry grass. Catalytic converters can get hot enough to ignite the grass under a vehicle.
- Ensure chains and other metal parts aren’t dragging from your vehicle—they throw sparks.
- Avoid placing your grill near flammable vegetation or materials, never leave your grill unattended, and ensure coals are completely extinguished when you are done.
Note: Burn bans and fireworks restrictions are determined by county government. Texas A&M Forest Service does not determine, set or lift these restrictions.
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Church of the Nazarene to Hold Vacation Bible School July 16th Through the 18th
July 1, 2025 – Be prepared to experience the jaw-dropping beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, the arid temperature of outback afternoons, the architectural marvels of Australia’s modern cities, and the fascinating eucalyptus forest, home of the koalas.
At Zoomerang, the newest Answers VBS, you’ll marvel at the unforgettable wildlife, culture, and beauty of Australia while exploring the wonder and value of life, from the lives of preborn babies to eternal life in the kingdom of God.
USDA Announces Phased Reopening of Southern Border for Livestock Trade
July 1, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a phased reopening of five key southern ports for livestock trade, following positive evaluations of Mexico’s response to the New World Screwworm outbreak. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) determined that Mexican authorities have effectively controlled the pest, clearing the way for a cautious resumption of cross-border animal movements.
The reopening begins July 7 at Douglas, Arizona, and will continue with additional ports reopening each week: Columbus, New Mexico on July 14; Santa Teresa, New Mexico on July 21; Del Rio, Texas on August 18; and Laredo, Texas on September 15.
“The phased approach allows USDA to closely monitor conditions after each reopening to ensure there are no adverse effects to U.S. agriculture,” the agency said in a statement.
The New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that can devastate livestock populations, prompted temporary closures earlier this year to prevent its spread into the U.S. APHIS experts have since confirmed that eradication and surveillance efforts by Mexico’s agriculture officials were successful and aligned with international standards.
Each reopened port will undergo continued monitoring, and the USDA will reassess after each phase to verify that the risk remains minimal.
The reopening is expected to restore critical livestock trade routes that support ranchers, exporters, and border economies. The USDA emphasized that it remains committed to both trade and animal health, ensuring that economic activity can resume without jeopardizing biosecurity.
Producers and transporters are advised to stay updated with USDA guidelines and coordinate with APHIS field offices as operations resume. The agency will provide further updates if conditions change or additional safeguards are needed.
This careful return to livestock trade marks a major step in supporting agricultural resilience while maintaining strict animal health protections.
This and That for July 2025 From Master Gardener David Wall
July 1, 2025 – Clip, store and hang on to this for use in 2026. Unless you’re eating organic bread, you’re consuming glyphosate, the key ingredient in roundup. While wheat may not be GMO ready, roundup will probably be sprayed on the crop to ensure the entire crop dies at the same time.
Water used in soaking beans can be used as fertilizer. The water used in soaking onions can be a useful pesticide and as a nutrient solution for plants. Sugar dissolved in water makes a great rooting agent.
Agriculture baking soda is a natural fungicide and insecticide. Mix one spoon of it with 500 grams (17 fluid ounces) of water. Spray the solution to wet vegetable leaves once a week for three weeks and forget about vegetable pests.
For a great rooting agent or root stimulant, mix 20 grams of brown sugar, 100 grams rice vinegar and 4 gallons of water. Pour on the plant surface weekly for four weeks.
Brown sugar is almost an unknown in vegetable gardens, but the literature suggests that 500 grams is the equivalent of two bags of fertilizer. Used improperly, and it does no good and may actually harm your vegetables. For a best use, mix 50 grams of brown sugar with 50 grams of liquid urea, 100 grams of rice vinegar, and four liters of water. Stir well and let ferment for 24 hours. Then spray on plant foliage.
For a great fertilizer to use on beans, mix a beer 50/50 with water, throw in a small handful of brown sugar, and pour on the plant base. Beer is a great soil stimulator, although I’m afraid to sue it full strength. So, I delete 50/50
Give your aloe plants a shot in the arm periodically by watering with a coke – Yes, the soft drink cola!
Cruz and Cornyn Want Space Shuttle Back in Texas
June 30, 2025 – Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are making a renewed push to bring the Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston by embedding their initiative—the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act”—into the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” now advancing through the U.S. Senate. The legislation, a key part of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, includes broad tax cuts, infrastructure investments, and nearly $10 billion in new NASA funding.
The shuttle provision, added by the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee chaired by Cruz, allocates $85 million toward relocating Discovery from the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The bill directs “no less than $5 million” toward transport costs and the remainder toward constructing a new facility to house the orbiter in Texas.
Sen. Cornyn touted the measure during a June 20 press conference, calling it a chance to right a historical wrong after Houston was bypassed for a shuttle display in 2011. “It would be nice if there were more to go around,” Cornyn said, “but since there are only four, we are going to get the one that we should have gotten back in 2010.”
“The White House has nothing to do with it,” Obama said in 2011. During an interview Obama further emphasized that politics did not influence the decision-making process after it was implied that the orbiters had been awarded to states that were critical for his re-election.
The effort is not without complications. Previous cost estimates for moving a shuttle have ranged from $28.8 million to upwards of $300 million. The Smithsonian has warned Congress that the true price tag could exceed $200 million—far more than the $85 million currently proposed.
To avoid running afoul of Senate rules that prohibit earmarks, the bill avoids directly naming Discovery, the Smithsonian, or Space Center Houston. Instead, it vaguely authorizes relocating a “space vehicle” to a NASA center involved in the Commercial Crew program, with a display mandated within that center’s metropolitan area—effectively narrowing options to Houston.
If passed, the legislation would require the NASA Administrator to designate the spacecraft within 30 days and complete the transfer within 18 months. The House, which passed its own version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” in May, must still agree to the Senate’s language. Texas Rep. Randy Weber has pledged to support the shuttle’s move in the House version.
The political effort signals growing confidence among Texas lawmakers that their long-held goal of hosting a shuttle could finally be realized—pending Senate approval and the challenging logistics of relocating one of America’s most iconic spacecraft.
Are You A Texas Electric Cooperative Member? You Could Win Gulf Shrimp
June 30, 2025 – Texas Gulf shrimp are harvested from the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal bay systems. Their reputation for premium quality is derived from a natural, robust flavor prized by good cooks and renowned chefs alike.
In fact, top Texas chefs are fortunate to have the Gulf of Mexico and its bounty in their own backyard. They consistently choose wild-caught Gulf shrimp in their kitchens, because they are deliciously sweet, complement any occasion and offer an array of flavor in every bite!
Wild shrimp also have a unique, briny (oceanlike) flavor because of their healthy, natural diet. This is just another way Texas Gulf shrimp set themselves apart from other available species. These tantalizing flavor compounds are particularly apparent in brown shrimp.
Two lucky winners will each receive a 5-pound package of wild-caught shrimp shipped directly from the Texas Gulf Coast. The contest is open through August 31, 2025. Enter today for your chance to win!
State Fair of Texas Wins; No Guns at the Fair
June 30, 2025 – A Dallas County judge has dismissed Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit challenging the State Fair of Texas’ firearm ban, handing a win to organizers and the City of Dallas.
On June 24, Judge Emily Tobolowsky granted summary judgment in favor of the fair and the city, effectively ending the lawsuit before it reached trial. Paxton had argued that because the State Fair is held on city-owned Fair Park, licensed gun owners should be allowed to carry concealed firearms under state law. The Fair, however, operates as a private nonprofit and maintains it retains the right to restrict firearms on its property—a position upheld by both the district court and earlier denials by the Texas Supreme Court and the 15th Court of Appeals.
The firearm ban was instituted after a shooting at the 2023 fair injured three people. Fair officials stressed that the ban aligns with policies at similar large events and prioritize public safety, supplementing security with over 200 armed police officers.
Lawmakers also attempted to pass legislation forbidding such bans by entities leasing public land, but those bills failed to advance. With this dismissal, the State Fair can maintain its current gun policy ahead of the upcoming 2025 event, reinforcing its stance that as a private entity it holds the authority to enforce safety measures independently of state gun carry laws.
County Extension Agent Mario Villarino Dropped by for a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey
June 30, 2025 – Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension County Extension Agent Mario Villarino-Gutierrez dropped by to be a guest on KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. John Mark and Mario chatted about hay and it’s importance to the cattle industry, the need to provide enough calcium to your vegetable plants, the 4H members that graduated this year, and so much more! Be sure to check out this episode and learn what is going on in Hopkins County and the AgriLife Extension Office.
First United Methodist Church Welcomes Senior Pastor Rickwartz
June 30, 2025 – The First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas, welcomes their new Senior Pastor, Chris Rickwartz, and his family. Pastor Chris Rickwartz, and his family, his wife Amy, and their two daughters, Sophia and Lilly, officially join First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas, community July 1st, 2025. They will reside in the First UMC Parsonage. Be sure to give them a famous warm Sulphur Springs “Hello and welcome” next time you see them!
Texas Budget Surpluses May Be Coming to an End
June 30, 2025 – After several years of record-breaking surpluses, Texas lawmakers may soon face tighter fiscal conditions. According to budget analysts, the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds and a slowdown in sales tax revenue growth could constrain the Texas Legislature’s ability to fund major initiatives in the coming years.
Texas benefited from massive federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with surging consumer spending that drove up sales tax collections—the state’s largest source of revenue. These factors helped fuel multi-billion-dollar surpluses that enabled historic investments in infrastructure, property tax cuts, education, and border security.
But that financial cushion is shrinking. Analysts note that the last of the pandemic-era federal funding is set to dry up by 2026, and economic indicators suggest a cooling in consumer activity, slowing sales tax growth. Rising costs, inflation pressures, and population growth will further stretch state resources.
“This could mark the end of the surplus era,” said one legislative budget expert. “We’re entering a more constrained fiscal environment.”
While Texas still enjoys a robust economy and maintains a healthy Rainy Day Fund, lawmakers may face tougher choices ahead—particularly as demands increase for school funding, health care, water infrastructure, and energy grid resilience.
The next legislative session may test how well Texas can adapt to a post-surplus reality.
