MRT: Deer Park Fire Enters 3rd Day // Nuclear Reactor Set for ACU // FAA Scrutinizes SpaceX // Rolling Furloughs to Hit Boeing in SA // A-F Grades Blocked

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak

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WEDNESDAY || 9/18/24

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• TOP NEWS

“Deer Park fire: Pipeline blaze and evacuations enter third day,” Houston Chronicle's Octavia Johnson and Caroline Wilburn — “A pipeline fire near Deer Park and La Porte was shrinking but still ablaze Wednesday, roughly 48 hours after an SUV crashed into an above-ground pipeline valve Monday morning, possibly starting the fire.

The natural gas pipeline is owned by Energy Transfer located near the border between Deer Park, La Porte and Pasadena. The energy company said it was utilizing air monitoring equipment in the area alongside Harris County's Pollution Control Services Department.

Officials reported on Monday that four people were injured. Two of the injuries were caused by the fire and two were heat-related. A Pasadena firefighter was one of the people who experienced heat stress and was treated with fluids and rested, Fire Chief Lanny Armstrong said in an email. The firefighter remained at the scene.

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Energy Transfer crews were working to manage and fix a pipeline leak Wednesday by installing stopples, which are used to temporarily block the flow in a pipeline section, according to a news release.

"Initial assessments conducted by local authorities and Energy Transfer revealed a pressure drop at the affected pipeline section," the release reads. "In response, the company immediately shut down the offsite flaring process and initiated procedures to isolate the leak."

The company deployed crews to both the north and south ends of the pipeline to rush the stopple installation process, which is expected to take roughly three hours per side. Once installed, Energy Transfer will redirect the flares to a location in front of the stopple with the goal of creating "a vacuum at the leak source" to diminish the current flame.

Local law enforcement will be present in the area to direct traffic and ensure the safety of the public.

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CenterPoint Energy assured customers that power would be restored to all eligible homes and businesses by the end of Wednesday, according to the news release. Thirty customers were without power in the La Porte and Deer Park area as of Wednesday afternoon, La Porte OEM officials said.

After initial tests revealed concerning air quality surrounding the pipeline, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo confirmed Tuesday evening that more sensitive sets of equipment confirmed the air quality was acceptable.

As evacuations continued, several residents were still waiting for the all-clear to reenter their homes early Wednesday. Impacted residents hadn't returned as of Wednesday, according to city spokesperson Maria Lawler. The area still impacted includes Willow Springs Bayou, extending from Fernrock Drive to Somerton Drive, Spencer Highway, Canada Road and Oakhaven Road/Eagle Run Street." Houston Chronicle ($)

DMN: “Nuclear reactor approved for ABilene Christian University” DMN ($)

AP: “Texas lawmakers show bipartisan support to try to stop a man's execution” AP

HOU CHRON: “SpaceX under FAA scrutiny over South Texas launch site” Houston Chronicle ($)

SA REPORT: “Boeing's 3,000 San Antonio employees face rolling furloughs as strike continues” SA Report

DMN: “Judge: Still no A-F grades for Texas schools” DMN ($)

AAS: Glenn Hegar guest column: “Rule update would bring clarity to taxing online marketplace in Texas” AAS ($)

SAEN: “Crime is down 3% amid increased police presence, SAPD says” SAEN

DALLAS EXPRESS: “Dallas officials at odds over how much taxpayer money should continue to be spent on DART” Dallas Express

FW REPORT: “Fort Worth approves flat tax rate, cuts neighborhood improvement program in 2025 budget” FW Report

DMN: “Frisco City Council approves $182 million renovation at Toyota Stadium” DMN ($)

AAS: “Travis County claims Paxton violated voter registration law, takes case to federal court” AAS ($)

• NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE   

 > TX TRIB: "Dozens of Texas school districts press state to suspend new student data reporting system" TX TRIB
 > TX TRIB: "Republicans pour money into attacking Texas Democrats on LGBTQ+ issues ahead of Election Day" TX TRIB
 > TX TRIB: "Tarrant County GOP sought an election advantage with failed effort to shutter college voting locations" TX TRIB
 > TX TRIB: "What you need to know about the Venezuelan gang that Texas is targeting" TX TRIB
 > DMN: "On-campus nuclear reactor approved for university in Texas" DMN
 > HOU CHRON: "U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz leads fight to block Democrats' IVF bill" HOU CHRON
 > FWST: "Fort Worth approves $2.79 billion budget, with flat tax rate to ease burden on homeowners" FWST
 > EP TIMES: "Religious stories in materials draw blowback at state education board" EP TIMES
 > AAS: "Federal judge orders new trial for Erik Maund in murder-for-hire plot" AAS
 > CCCT: "How to register to vote in Texas on National Voter Registration Day" CCCT
 > DMN: "Study: Collin County led nation in Asian population growth from 2022 to 2023" DMN
 > EP TIMES: "El Paso man sentenced to 170 years in prison for sexual abusing kids" EP TIMES
 > WACO TRIB: "L3Harris in Waco to work on sub-tracking Navy planes" WACO TRIB

• EXTRA POINTS   

Last night's Texas sports scores:
  > MLB: Astros 4, Padres 3
  > MLB: Rangers 13, Blue Jays 8

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
  > 5:40pm: MLB: Astros at Padres
  > 7:05pm: MLB: Blue Jays at Rangers
  > 7:30pm: MLS: Vancouver at Houston
  > 8:30pm: MLS: FC Dallas at Salt Lake
  > 9:30pm: MLS: Austin at LAFC

DALLAS COWBOYS: "Cowboys send Jordan Phillips to IR, replace with familiar DT off Commanders practice squad" DMN ($)

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Jose Altuve ejected after removing shoe, sock" Houston Chronicle ($)

HOUSTON TEXANS: "Most popular NFL jerseys: Texans' C.J. Stroud ranked No. 1" Houston Chronicle ($)

DALLAS STARS: "Stars forward Jason Robertson to miss most of training camp after offseason foot surgery" DMN ($)