With temperatures expected to top 100 degrees today, ERCOT -- the state’s electrical grid -- is asking people to conserve electricity.
ERCOT officials expect demand today to come close to peak days last August when the order for rolling outages was given.
ERCOT is asking consumers to conserve during the peak usage hours of 3 to 7pm.
If you’re not going to be home, set you thermostat higher. Set pool pumps to run early in the morning or late at night.
And, avoid using large appliances, such as stoves and clothes dyers, during the peak demand period.
BJ Austin, KERA News
2 minor earthquakes shake North and South Texas
Two more earthquakes have been reported in the Lone Star State -- one each in the northern and southern parts of Texas.
The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.4 magnitude quake happened just before 4 a.m. Sunday near Tilden, about 100 miles northwest of Corpus Christi.
USGS says a 3.6 magnitude quake shook parts of Johnson County just before 1 p.m. near Keene, about 25 miles south of Fort Worth. That's close to where a 2.1 magnitude quake was reported early Saturday morning.
Some Johnson County residents say they could feel the ground shake and some items in their homes were knocked over Sunday.
No serious damage or injuries were immediately reported.
USGS geophysicist Don Blakeman says it's difficult to determine why quakes occur.
AP
New Homeland Security Director For Dallas County
Dallas County has hired a new director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Douglas Bass held the same post in Miami-Dade County Florida and Fairfax County Virginia.
He replaces Lisa Chambers, who was fired last fall after about a year on the job. County Judge Clay Jenkins said Chambers was replaced for performance issues. They reportedly included emails critical of fellow County managers.
Chambers told reporters her dismissal could have been connected to her rejection of a request to sweep the home of Dapheny Fain for surveillance devices after an FBI raid. Fain is the assistant to Commissioner John Wiley Price. Both are targets of an FBI investigation into corruption and fraud.
BJ Austin, KERA News
FBI Sweep of Child Prostitution Includes Dallas
Six children involved in child prostitution were “recovered” by FBI agents in Dallas last week during Operation Cross Country.
It was a three-day raid in cities throughout the United States.
A total of 79 children were recovered, and 104 “pimps” were arrested. There were no adult arrests in Dallas.
Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison praised the FBI and local law enforcement for going after those who prey on children.
Dallas shared the most child prostitute “recoveries” with five other cities; including San Francisco and Milwaukee.
BJ Austin, KERA News
Texas stand-your-ground case sentencing to resume
Attorneys for a retired Texas firefighter convicted of murder in the shooting of his unarmed neighbor over a noisy birthday party are presenting witnesses in the punishment phase of his trial.
Forty-six-year-old Raul Rodriguez argued he was within his rights under Texas' version of a stand-your-ground law when he killed Kelly Danaher in 2010.
The punishment phase in the Houston trial is resuming after more than a week's delay due to scheduling conflicts.
Rodriguez faces up to life in prison.
Prosecutors have already presented neighbors, former co-workers and Rodriguez's ex-wife. They testified Rodriguez was abusive, a bad neighbor and had once shot a dog.
Rodriguez killed Danaher, a 36-year-old elementary school teacher, and wounded two other men while telling a police dispatcher, "I'm standing my ground here."
AP
Historic Battleship Texas Leaking Again
The Battleship Texas is closed again because of a new set of leaks. It opened briefly for tours over the weekend after being off limits for two weeks to repair leaks.
The 100 year old battleship has been a tourism fixture in La Porte for years.
As a US Navy ship from 1914 to 1948, the Battleship Texas sailed more than 700,000 miles from Iceland to the Philippines. It crossed the Panama Canal 16 times.
No word yet on severity of the second round of leaks.
BJ Austin, KERA News