Regional

About ten species of termites can be found in the semi-arid and arid regions of the Ameri­can Southwest. The desert termite, Gnatham­itermes tubiformans, is one of the most common spe­cies in western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. People often mistake desert termites for subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes. Although both live in the soil, only the Reticulitermes subterranean termite is considered a structural pest. Desert termites do not damage man-made struc­tures ...

The TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) has received an application from P.O. and Nancy Leonard to construct and maintain a channel dam and reservoir, with a normal maximum capacity of 1,000 acre ft. (325 million gallons) of water on the Colorado River in Mills and San Saba Counties. That volume of water would meet the needs of about 4,000 average households.

AUSTIN − Members of the public are invited to upcoming meetings to be held at seven locations throughout the state to provide input to officials from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) and the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) as the agencies prepare a combined state plan for core workforce programs governed by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The meetings will also provide the public the opportunity to make recommendations related to the ...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making $30 million available to farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs to develop new product lines. Funding will be made available through USDA's Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Farmers and ranchers are creative people who, with a little help, can put that creativity to work and improve the bottom line for their operations,"

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is making $30 million available to farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs to develop new product lines. Funding will be made available through USDA's Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. Farmers and ranchers are creative people who, with a little help, can put that creativity to work and improve the bottom line for their operations,"

With the spring rains we are experiencing, our gardens and the countryside are ablaze with various shades of green and vibrant color. We have been blessed, and hopefully, these rains will continue into the summer months. If you have cool-season flowers such as pansies or snapdragons they are most likely looking pretty spent by now with the rising temperatures, remove them to the compost pile and plant warm-season ones.

Imaging trying to walk through concrete. Every step becomes more difficult as the concrete hardens and your legs turn from stiff to rigid. That's how organizers of Hill Country Memorial's heart screening program "SCORE" describe a rare congenital heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a stiffening of the heart muscle that traps blood in the heart and can lead to an abnormal cardiac rhythm. Every year a handful of Texas teenagers, some exhibiting no symptoms, die suddenly due to hyp ...

Memorial Day has been established as a federal holiday to remember those of our fallen service members-valiant men and women who gave what Abraham Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion" to a cause greater than self. It is only fitting that we pause to remember them and the sacrifices they made so we can enjoy the blessings of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." My brother Jay R has devoted much of his long professional career testing weapons systems for the United States m ...

Mother's Day is almost here. This occasion may have special significance for you if you've been fortunate enough to have your mother around for your adult life. So naturally, you'll want to bring Mom some flowers or another gift. But if she's planning to retire soon, you may want to think about a longer-term way to improve her life — namely, by initiating a conversation about her retirement income strategy. Of course, she may already have matters well in hand.

The Texas Well Owner Network is hosting a water well screening from 8:30–9:30 a.m., May 11 at St. James Lutheran Church, Schorlemmer Hall, 1401 Ford Street, in Llano, to give area residents the opportunity to have their well water tested. A meeting explaining screening results will be held at 6 p.m.