If you happen to visit a high-traffic area in one of the largest cities in the state, you might encounter people wearing sandwich panels, as seen during tax season or mattress sales. The Texas Department of Transportation adopted this marketing device to promote its “Be Safe. Drive Smart” pedestrian safety campaign this month.
Pedestrians account for one in five road fatalities in the state. Last year, 5,366 traffic accidents involving pedestrians occurred, resulting in 841 deaths. TxDOT uses the highly visible sandwich panels to remind drivers and pedestrians to follow the rules of the road and look out for each other. The boards are carried by members of TxDOT’s street teams.
“Only 1% of traffic crashes in Texas involve pedestrians, but pedestrians account for 19% of all traffic fatalities,” said TxDOT executive director Marc Williams. “This is because pedestrians do not have the protective equipment (airbags, seat belts and bumpers) common to vehicles. To ensure the safety of our most vulnerable road users, we urge motorists to always be on the lookout for passers-by. Pedestrians also have a responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and to follow the rules of the road.
Deadline of July 31 for registration of newborns in the TTPF
The deadline to open a Texas Tuition Promise Fund college savings account for a child under one is July 31, according to the state comptroller’s office. Entrants can lock in 2021-2022 tuition and fees for their little ones at public colleges and universities in Texas by creating an account by then.
The comptroller’s report states, “According to the 2020 edition of Sallie Mae’s Higher Ambitions: How America Plans for Post-secondary Education, planners save twice as much for college as non-planners. Planners are also more likely to start investing for college when their child is young, which is associated with less expected student loan debt.
Contributions to so-called 529 plans, such as the TTPF, are partially exempt from federal gift tax. Up to $16,000 per year ($32,000 for married couples) can be given without triggering gift tax.
Wildfire risk remains high across the state
As the near-statewide drought shows no signs of abating, wildfire danger continues to spread across the state. The Chalk Mountain Fire in Somervell County and the 1148 Fire in Palo Pinto County have prompted local authorities to urge residents to evacuate. Several lakefront homes were destroyed around Possum Kingdom Lake last week following the 1148 fire, which covered 457 acres and was about 50% contained Sunday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
There have been 16 active wildfires statewide, the largest being the Chalk Mountain Fire involving 6,705 acres. It was 10% contained on Sunday. A total of 215 Texas counties now have burning bans in place.
Tree Killer Beetle Expands to More Counties
Invasive Emerald Ash bore was confirmed in two additional counties this month, according to the Forest Service. The invasive wood pest is now confirmed in 11 counties in Texas, with the addition of Morris and Rusk counties. It has killed millions of trees in 35 states since arriving in the United States 20 years ago.
“The pest is a major threat to urban, suburban and rural forests because it aggressively kills ash trees within two to three years of infestation,” said Demian Gomez of the forest service.
Counties where the emerald ash bore has been detected have quarantined their timber and ash wood to prevent the spread of the pest. The beetle was first detected in Texas in 2016 in Harrison County. Since then, the emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Bowie, Cass, Dallas, Denton, Marion, Morris, Rusk, Wise, Parker and Tarrant counties.
The state once again posts a major job gain
Texas added 82,500 nonfarm payrolls in June, the largest gain this year. The state again set new employment highs as total non-farm employment soared. 13.43 million, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
“This kind of sustainable economic success is only possible when employers and job seekers have maximum opportunities to reach their full potential, and TWC works hard to support those opportunities,” said Bryan Daniel, president of TWC.
Jobs in the oil and gas industry led the rise with 4,900 new jobs, while the construction sector lost 3,000 workers. The state’s unemployment rate fell a tick to 4.1% from 4.2% in May.
Nearly 90,000 Texans have died from COVID-19
About two and a half years after COVID-19 began sweeping the country, nearly 90,000 Texans have died from the disease, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, with more than 6 million cases reported since 2020. The BA.5 variant is now responsible for most infections, with a seven-day rolling average of 11,905 cases reported daily. The number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas on Sunday totaled 3,454, according to DSHS, up slightly from the previous week.
A Camet
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