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About a month ago while mowing my yard I noticed a strong smell of natural gas. Upon further investigation I noticed the gas riser coming up near the slab of my house was very rusted and corroded, actually to the point that gas was significantly leaking. Since it was after 5 and the city offices were closed I called 911 to report the leak. Within minutes several firemen and the city inspector showed up. All were very professional and very concerned with my situation. The city inspector along with the firemen agreed the leak needed to be fixed for our safety. I assumed it would be the next day but they said no, immediate action must be taken. The inspector called out the on call city crew who showed up and worked late into the night to mediate the risk of an explosion by plugging the pipe underground. I was so impressed with the professionalism and concern of all those involved from the Fire Chief, to the Firemen, the City Inspector and the City Crew that fixed the leak. Many of these people are my friends and neighbors who probably don’t get the recognition they deserve. So I would like to publicly say “thank you” to everyone who was involved in correcting this potentially dangerous situation in such a timely manner. It frightens me to think of the potential outcome if this dangerous issue was not addressed. Good job and thank you.
Read moreWASHINGTON - The Texas Department of State Health Services was awarded a federal grant of $227,056,156 to help bolster immunization and vaccination among children, U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced Jan. 21. The funding comes through the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the round two supplemental funding via the CARES Act, which Sen. Cornyn supported in March.
Read moreAUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) announced Jan. 25 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.
Read moreTexas House and Senate leaders appear to agree on their proposed budgets. Next, they just have to figure out how to cut $7.2 billion.
Read moreThe Texas Legislature opened quietly, which delighted everyone after the violence inside the U.S. Capitol the previous week.
Read moreI recently had a very heartwarming experience with a stranger that led to a very saddening realization of how distant we are from everyone these days. I was browsing some clothing in a store when a guy a few years older than me stood nearby, also looking at the clothing in front of me. Rather than pretend I wasn’t there and continue shopping, like most people do nowadays, he began to make casual conversation and introduced himself as Brandon, a native to the Houston area. He and I spoke about the current situation of the pandemic and how it’s affected our schooling and daily life, and although the conversation didn’t last more than a few minutes, I felt more connected to this random guy than I do to many people in my own community just down the street. Maybe it’s my fault for “not bothering” to talk to people when I’m going around town, or maybe if I tried nobody would stop to listen and carry on a conversation anyway, but thinking back on my encounter with Brandon, I realized how sad it is that a casual conversation between two strangers has become so uncommon.
Read moreThe day I am writing this, Jan. 15, marks the 92nd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read moreThe 87th session of the Texas Legislature opened Tuesday with COVID-19 encompassing every aspect of what the lawmakers do, according to new House Speaker Dade Phelan.
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