Franchise Opportunities in Houston, TX

About 80% of Texas is currently experiencing some level of drought conditions, ranging from "moderate" to "exceptional."

The drought, which caused wildfires across the state earlier this year and prompted burn bans, is now negatively affecting farmers and ranchers.

A lack of rain during the spring resulted in lower crop production and decreased soil moisture levels, with no relief in sight.

"This is a tough situation," Tracy Tomascik from Texas Farm Bureau told Houston Matters on Monday, comparing this year to Texas' historic drought in 2011. "It's something that we hoped we'd all put in the back of our minds, but this year it has a little added sting to it."

Hay supply is down, and 78% of the wheat supply in Texas is in “poor” or “very poor” condition.

"It's as bad as it's been since 2011, if not worse," Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said about the state's wheat supply. "2011 was a wake-up call... I think that experience will be of considerable help this time around."

Tomascik said that farmers are monitoring their crops, focusing on drought-tolerant corn and grain crop varieties.

"To be in agriculture, you've got to constantly be flexible," Tomascik said.

Because of the shortage of hay, many ranchers and farmers are starting to sell their herds.

"In order to maintain good conservation practices on that land, livestock have to be reduced," Tomascik said, adding that the agricultural supply chain has faced disruptions as ingredients have been removed, straining the system.

"It's not just a Covid issue, it's a drought issue as well," Tomascik said of the supply chain troubles.

May and June are typically the wettest months of the year in Texas and are the prime months for plant growth. Hungry plants and no rain can quickly lead to a bad situation.

"It’s a flash drought," Nielsen-Gammon said about the combination of factors working together to cause Texas' current weather conditions and agricultural obstacles.

The drought is also causing water supply issues statewide as officials ask residents to conserve water.

"The way the weather pattern looks, it's going to be like that for a while," Nielsen-Gammon said.

While Houston has not been severely affected by drought conditions, Nielsen-Gammon said that could change.

"Coastal areas have been fairly dry, and with the high temperatures, the dryness is spreading over the whole area now."

Currently, more than 140 counties across Texas have implemented burn bans, including in neighboring Liberty, San Jacinto, Walker, Grimes, Waller and Galveston County.

The ultra hip café is offering the cannacurious a spot in Houston to become familiar with the many benefits of cannabis.

There is certainly a buzz around Hemp and Cannabis in Texas. Many are wondering what’s all the hype about? The Weed Spot is hoping to answer that question, providing a one-stop shop for those curious about cannabis.

With the third location opening this summer in Houston, The Weed Spot is hoping to create a space in the community where people can not only shop but connect. The new storefront will offer many of the same great products found at the locations in Dallas.

CEO and Founder April Watson takes pride in The Weed Spot’s ability to be a fun, lively space dedicated to some of the best and most luxurious products that can be sourced. “Infused coffee, tea, sodas, juices, and sno-cones are our biggest attractions. In addition, we have a flower bar and infused popcorn and cotton candy.

The Weed Spot opened their first location in December of 2019. On top of freshly designed apparel, they carry bath, beauty, and massage products along with premium edibles, infused oils, and tinctures. In addition, they offer a wide range of events from guest lectures and seminars to game nights and podcast recordings. Saturdays are a perfect time to sip cannabis coffee, relax and enjoy music from their House DJs. There is always something exciting happening at The Weed Spot.

The Weed Spot plans on continuing to grow their partnership with the best network local growers of hemp products and related goods as the industry expands. Plans are also in place for opening locations in Austin, TX and Atlanta, GA in 2023.

So come be the first to see our newest location. The grand opening is June 25 at 2pm; come say hello, try some new products and enjoy great company and food.

To learn more about The Weed Spot or for more information on attending the launch of the new store, please contact us or visit https://weedspot.us/. Our Houston storefront officially opens June 25, 2022. Houston Storefront address: 4804 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007

About The Weed Spot: At The Weed Spot, our goal is simple — to provide our customers with the best possible organic hemp products and shopping experience. Our objective is to become the best place in the U.S. to buy cannabis items and to provide an unparalleled level of customer service. To that end, we source our inventory from the most trusted brands produced and packaged in the U.S. and educate our staff in the safe, effective use of every item that we carry. Our products are all thoroughly lab tested for optimal effectiveness and most importantly, safety. Learn more here: https://weedspot.us/ Media Contact: April Watson [email protected] 469-563-1091

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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As of Tuesday, there is one more way for some people to get their hands on medical marijuana in Houston.

Houston's first permanent medical marijuana pick-up location is now open just north of downtown.

For Frank Cano of Katy, greater access comes as a relief.

Cano says he has spent more than 20 years fighting serious infections, being in and out of the hospital dozens of times, undergoing surgeries, and taking several medications. Eventually, he was diagnosed with PTSD after all he's been through.

"I was depressed and angry, and I was in the hospital every three to four months," Cano said.

In September 2021, everything changed for him when he was prescribed medical marijuana.

"On the other medications, I would wake up, and I would be sluggish or kind of be in a stupor. I wake up in the morning just feeling great," Cano said.

He says he never thought he would be taking medical marijuana.

"If somebody saw me walking down the street, they wouldn't think, 'Oh, there's somebody that uses marijuana,' and in the circles that I run in, I think people would be surprised," Cano said.

However, he says he shares his story so that other people may benefit by taking time to learn and consider it an option.

"If you had asked me 18 months ago if I would be on medical marijuana and would be feeling this well, and my life would have had these sorts of improvements, I would not have taken that wager," Cano said.

Sept. 1, 2021, is when the state of Texas' Compassionate Use Program expanded again, making it legal for people with PTSD and cancer to be prescribed medical marijuana, in addition to the qualifying conditions including multiple sclerosis, autism, and epilepsy that were already on the list.

"This is what we hoped for. It's a long time coming," said Morris Denton, CEO of Texas Original.

Denton has been in the medical marijuana business since the beginning.

"We planted our first set of seeds on October 31 of 2017," Denton said.

On Tuesday, just north of downtown, Texas Original opened, serving THC and CBD tinctures, lozenges, and gummies to those with a prescription.

"We have virtual consultation rooms here where if they don't have a prescription, we can introduce them to a doctor, they can have a virtual consultation, wait a few minutes and pick up their prescription here, or they can do it in advance," Denton explained.

This new Houston location is all part of their growing business, which has seen a significant jump since the Compassionate Use Program's expansion.

"(Since the expansion) we've seen roughly about a 1,500-to-2,000 new patient number coming in each month," Denton said.

The company is in the process of building a much larger production facility in Bastrop, with anticipation that the program will continue to broaden.

"We are optimistic. As long as our legislative leaders are listening to their constituents, then this should be an easy decision," said Denton.

For more news updates, follow Courtney Carpenter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Town Square with Ernie Manouse airs at 3 p.m. CT. Tune in on 88.7FM, listen online or subscribe to the podcast. Join the discussion at 888-486-9677, [email protected] or @townsquaretalk.

What has caused the high gas price?

War, economy, COVID?

Some think it could be related to refineries, storms we’ve had, infrastructure, employee base, and demand.

What we also wonder about is the comparison of the price of gas to the oil and gas industries’ record profits right now. They are making good money, so how do they justify it?

To help better understand why and to speculate on what we can expect next, business and energy industry experts discuss what exactly has impacted the high prices.

We also discuss federal programs and how they can work to help people understand the policies on the table on how to stall inflation.

Maybe we will see some relief now that President Biden is calling a for 3-month suspension of gas and diesel taxes.

Also, there’s a good chance your salary has not increased at the same rate as inflation, so we take listener calls to hear tips and tricks to help us keep up and afford the things we need.

But first — an update on the Uvalde School shooting from the Texas Public Radio newsroom, where we learn Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin calls Texas Department of Public Safety director’s testimony misleading, saying state law enforcement agencies should have equal blame for the poor response.

Guests:

Camille Phillips

Dietrich von Biendenfeld

Rusty Braziel

Town Square with Ernie Manouse is a gathering space for the community to come together and discuss the day's most important and pressing issues.

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Texas Tech football's win totals are getting the Las Vegas treatment this week as oddsmakers start to release the win totals for every team in the country. The Big 12 totals have been released unsurprisingly, the Red Raiders are near the bottom of the conference totals.

At draftkings.com, the posted totals think Texas Tech will be in the bottom three of the conference with an O/U of 5.5 games. If you think Texas Tech will win six games, you'd bet the over.

With Texas, Oklahoma, Houston, and Baylor all in Lubbock, even a really tough schedule seemingly has some hope in it. First year coach Joey McGuire is in for a tall task, but I'm leaning toward the over.

Elsewhere in the conference, Iowa State lost Breece Hall, Brock Purdy, Charlie Kolar and a number of defenders and are still picked to win at least 7 games. Interesting. Baylor as well with a total of 7.5 a year after winning the Big 12 title. Will they be good? Probably, but 8 wins while replacing 70% of your production on offense and your biggest stars on defense will be a tall task.

Oklahoma State, even at 8.5, seems like a safe over to me. They return a ton of talent and have the best pass rush in the Big 12.

It's fun to say Texas will hit the under, and with a flat 8, a push seems like the ceiling.

I'm big time fading both TCU and West Viriginia this season who will both miss bowl games while my lock of the year is Kansas State getting to 7 wins.

The biggest mystery I think will be Oklahoma, who has a new coach, quarterback and coordinators, but the QB and OC are really just reuniting from earlier in their careers. OU has been more talented than anyone else over the last decade in the Big 12, but 9.5 wins seems steep in 2022.

Ranking the 10 Best Texas Tech Quarterbacks Since 2000

10: Davis Webb

Davis Webb was a quarterback that got the short end of a couple of sticks. The first coaching staff that Kliff Kingsbury brought to Texas Tech was really inexperienced. They've all excelled in their careers, but they were all learning on the job in 2013. Add to that the drama with Baker Mayfield and injuries in his sophomore year that opened the door for Patrick Mahomes, and Webb just kind of got squeezed. Man did he throw a pretty deep ball though.

9: Taylor Potts

To say Taylor Potts was the worst quarterback of the Leach era in Lubbock really isn't a negative. The rest of the guys were just flat-out better than he was. 9b in the rankings is Nick. If you know, you know.

Also, only one of two Texas Tech quarterbacks on the list with Multiple Bowl wins as the starting quarterback.

8: Nic Shimonek

Nic Shimonek had the unenviable task of following Patrick Mahomes. At the time, I didn't appreciate Shimonek, but looking back I would have loved for Shimonek to return in 2018 for another year at the helm. Most of his mistakes, like throwing the ball away against TCU, were due to inexperience. One of the problems of being a one-year starter.

7: Cody Hodges

In a lot of ways, Hodges and Cumbie are tied for me. Both would have benefitted from a second season. Is it as simple as Cumbie won his bowl game and Cumbie didn't? I don't know. Hodges also beat Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Nebraska in the same season and went to the Cotton Bowl. He also set the foundation for what Harrell did over the next three seasons.

6: Sonny Cumbie

The story of a Snyder Tiger walking on at Texas Tech then biding his time before winning the starting quarterback job and going through the adversity early of the crowd wanting his back up instead to ultimately beating Aaron Rodgers in the Holiday Bowl is the stuff of legends.

5: Seth Doege

If the top four weren't the top four, Seth Doege could make a serious case. One of the most underrated players in Texas Tech history, Doege also took down number three Oklahoma in Norman in 2011 and number 5 West Virginia in Lubbock in 2012. His best game, besides the big wins, was an afternoon game against New Mexico where he went 40-44 for 401 yards and 5 touchdowns. Doege finished his career with 69 touchdowns.

4: Kliff Kingsbury

Throw out the coaching tenure, I didn't include it with Cumbie and he had multiple. What makes Kingsbury special is that he bridged the gap between Dykes and Leach. He also got hit... a lot. Even so, Kingsbury always got back up and still ranks in the top 10 in the NCAA in attempts and completions 20 years later. He's also second in school history in yards and touchdowns behind Graham Harrell.

3: BJ Symons

Before Bailey Zappe and Zach Kittley rewrote the record books this past season, BJ Symons had the single greatest season in QB history. More yards and more touchdowns in a single season than everyone else ever. If Symons had another year, he'd easily be number one. Unfortunately, he only had 2003. Number 3 on the list, number 1 in my heart.

2: Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes has to go down as the biggest what could have been in Texas Tech history. His offenses were stacked with talent, but the defenses of 2015 and 2016 rank among the worst in the history of college football. Mahomes' offense scored more than 42 points per game while he dotted 93 touchdowns across two full seasons as the starter. With no Bowl Wins and a losing overall record (that wasn't his fault), it's impossible to name Mahomes as the number one QB.

1: Graham Harrell

Number one in touchdowns, yards, and pretty much every other quarterback stat over his career. He also has two of the top 11 season passing yard totals in NCAA history. His connection with Michael Crabtree is absolutely legendary. Harrell has the numbers, comebacks, and big moments. His single-season numbers stack up against anyone else in college football history. He also won a lot of games for Texas Tech, including two dramatic Bowl Victories. Did he get the benefit of three full years as the starter and some of the best rosters in Texas Tech history? Yes. Did he make the most of it? Hell yes.