Secretary Rollins Announces Bold Plan to Combat New World Screwworm’s Northward Spread From Mexico
(Edinburg, TX, June 18, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins this morning launched an $8.5 million sterile New World screwworm (NWS) fly dispersal facility in South Texas and announced a sweeping five-pronged plan (PDF, 434 KB) to enhance USDA’s already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest. These urgent actions are necessary to finish the fight against NWS and protect the United States.
NWS is a devastating pest that causes serious and often deadly damage to livestock, wildlife, pets, and in rare cases, humans. While NWS has been eradicated from the United States for decades, recent detections in Mexico as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border, led to the immediate suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border on May 11, 2025.
“The United States has defeated NWS before and we will do it again,” said Secretary Rollins. “We do not take lightly the threat NWS poses to our livestock industry, our economy, and our food supply chain. The United States government will use all resources at its disposal to push back NWS, and today’s announcement of a domestic strategy to bolster our border defenses is just the beginning. We have the proven tools, strong domestic and international partnerships, and the grit needed to win this battle.”
Following the dispersal facility groundbreaking at Moore Air Base, Secretary Rollins will meet with APHIS’s cattle fever tick riders along the Rio Grande River. The Secretary will see firsthand the critical role tick riders provide for identifying wildlife and preventing the spread of wild disease. In the event NWS advances northward into the U.S., these tick riders will play a crucial role in spotting and combatting this pest.
Key Facets of USDA’s Five-Pronged Plan (PDF, 434 KB) to Address New World Screwworm
1. Stop the Pest from Spreading in Mexico and Ensure We Are Full Partners in Eradication
- USDA’s recent $21 million expenditure went toward renovating an existing fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico, which will provide an additional 60-100 million sterile flies a week to stop the spread, on top of the over 100 million already produced in Panama. This will result in at least 160 million flies per week.
- Over the last two weeks, USDA conducted a robust, in-person audit of Mexico’s animal health controls and will maintain close continual monitoring of these aspects moving forward and will make continuous improvements. These in-person visits have allowed a unique opportunity for APHIS to see first-hand the challenges and opportunities in Mexico toward combating NWS.
- USDA is working closely with Mexico to improve its surveillance and detection of NWS, which includes but is not limited to regularly providing traps, lures, and technical expertise to Mexico.
2. Protect the U.S. Border at All Costs
- USDA will support Mexico’s strategic trapping along our shared border and ensure we receive regular reporting as an early warning intervention.
- USDA will escalate communications and public outreach along the U.S.-Mexico border to create a “barrier zone of vigilance” and boost as close to real time as possible awareness of this pest.
- APHIS cattle fever tick riders in collaboration with U.S. Customs & Border Protection and with state partners will intercept and treat stray and illegally introduced livestock.
3. Maximize Our Readiness
- USDA will partner with state animal health officials to update and finalize emergency management plans and support federal, state, and local responders in training on and practicing for a potential response.
- USDA will ensure we have sufficient NWS treatments and will work to remove any federal regulatory hurdles for their use.
4. Take the Fight to the Screwworm
- Because sterile NWS flies are one of the most important and proven tools we have for eradicating the pest, USDA will immediately begin building a sterile insect dispersal facility at Moore Air Base, set to be completed in 2025. This facility will have the capability to disperse sterile flies in Northern Mexico.
- USDA is exploring all options to eradicate NWS, which includes potential expenditures in new technologies, new science, including possible plans to move forward with the design process of a domestic sterile fly production facility to compliment the new dispersal facility at Moore Air Base which has also been identified as the proposed location. The facility could boost domestic sterile fly production by up to 300 million flies per week and could complement current production that already exists in Panama and Mexico.
5. Innovate Our Way to Eradication
- USDA is pursuing innovative research to improve sterile insect technology, exploring development of better traps and lures, exploring next generation NWS treatments, and assessing the potential use and practicality of additional strains or genetically modified versions of the pest as well as e-beam and other radiation technology for the production of sterile flies.
- USDA will strengthen partnerships with land-grant universities in border states such as Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to facilitate local training, trap deployment, surveillance validation, and stakeholder outreach as an initial manner.
Additionally, to solicit input from stakeholders and to best inform the finalization of future plans, USDA will hold four public listening sessions to get feedback on the following topics: sterile fly production technology, eradication tools and technologies aside from sterile fly production, the benefits and barriers including timelines and costs of enhanced domestic vs international sterile fly production, and other innovative ideas. The Department of Agriculture has and remains committed to working in close coordination with our federal, state, local and private sector partners to defeat this pest once and for all.
“Texas is on the front lines of the threat posed by the New World Screwworm. Proactive measures like this dispersal facility are a critical step to ensure our state and nation are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to this challenge. We are grateful for the Trump Administration and Secretary Rollins’ continued support of Texas in safeguarding the economic vitality of our farming and ranching communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to eliminate this threat,” said Governor Greg Abbott.
“If we do not take action now, the New World Screwworm will devastate Texas livestock and wildlife. Thank you, Secretary Rollins, for swiftly accepting my proposal to establish this critical facility in Hidalgo County. I am committed to working alongside the Administration to put Texas farmers and ranchers first and safeguard our agriculture industry,” said Representative Monica De La Cruz.
“Today’s policy changes represent a huge step forward to eradicating the screwworm and protecting American livestock— especially the opening of a U.S.-based eradication facility in South Texas. This facility has been one of my top priorities in Congress. From introducing the STOP Screwworms Act to leading funding efforts through my seat on the House Appropriations Committee, I am determined to do everything possible to eliminate this deadly parasite. Thank you, Secretary Rollins, for your partnership and commitment to deliver for our farmers and ranchers in Texas and across the nation,” said Representative Tony Gonzales.
“The return of the New World Screwworm is a glaring potential threat to South Texas ranchers, wildlife, and communities as a whole. If it reaches our country, this pest could wreak havoc on our economy and food supply chain. It must be eradicated. I look forward to working with USDA and other partners on innovative solutions right here at Moore Air Base to ensure the safety of our agricultural industry and South Texans’ wellbeing,” said Representative Vicente Gonzalez.
“The New World screwworm poses a serious threat to our cattle, economy, and food supply, but with Secretary Rollins’ leadership and USDA’s new 5-Prong Strategy, we’re taking aggressive action to stop it and protect America’s farmers and ranchers. As the Representative for the largest cattle-feeding district, I am committed to working closely with the Secretary to ensure we have every necessary tool to safeguard our livestock producers and feeders and their way of life,” said Representative Ronny Jackson.
“I’m proud to partner with decisive leaders such as USDA Secretary Rollins and our Texas congressional delegation in combating the New World Screwworm. This is a significant threat, and it’s critical we stay ahead of it. Texas has historically been at the forefront of American agriculture, and we are prepared to assist Secretary Rollins and the USDA in protecting our livestock, economy, and food supply. I look forward to implementing a robust, effective plan to protect Texas agriculture from this dangerous pest,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller.
“Curbing the spread of the destructive New World screwworm is critical to protecting the Texas agriculture and livestock industry, and this new sterile fly distribution facility in Edinburg is a significant step in the right direction,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I will continue to work alongside Secretary Rollins and my colleagues in Congress to halt the spread of New World screwworm and increase our sterile fly production capacity through my STOP Screwworms Act.”
“The only way to protect the American cattle herd from the devastating threat of New World screwworm is by having a sufficient supply of sterile flies to push this pest away from our border,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman. “To accomplish that, we need a sterile fly production facility of our own in the United States. Moore Air Base was previously part of our nation’s screwworm eradication effort in the 1960s and now this base will be the cornerstone of our renewed fight against this parasite. NCBA, and state affiliate partners including the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association, have been pushing for a facility like this since the start of the year. We appreciate Secretary Rollins’ continued work to protect American agriculture from the New World screwworm. It’s an honor to join her in Texas for this important event.”
“Texas Farm Bureau applauds U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for advancing the construction of a sterile insect production and distribution facility at Moore Air Base. This investment is a critical step in protecting Texas livestock, wildlife and our food supply from the devastating threat of the New World screwworm (NWS). As the screwworm threat has moved north from Panama into Mexico, Texas Farm Bureau made the establishment of a domestic sterile insect facility one of our highest priorities. A robust, science-based defense, anchored by a U.S.-based facility, is essential to combatting this destructive pest. We’re grateful to the Congressional leaders who have championed this effort and to USDA for its commitment to proactive, long-term solutions. We look forward to continued collaboration to ensure our producers, rural communities and consumers are protected from this threat,” said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening.
“We commend Secretary Rollins for prioritizing efforts to combat New World Screwworm by establishing sterile fly dispersal and production facilities in South Texas which will significantly enhance our capabilities to contain the screwworm in Southern Mexico,” said Texas Cattle Feeders Association chairman-elect Laphe LaRoe. “These additional resources, combined with robust implementation of surveillance, sampling, reporting and enhanced treatment protocols provide a strong foundation for the U.S. to continue fighting the screwworm fly where it is today and ensure continued confidence in cattle and beef trade between the U.S. and Mexico.”
“Today’s announcement is pivotal in protecting the U.S. cattle industry. Sterile flies are the only known way to stop the reproduction and continued expansion of New World screwworm, and it’s assuring to see Secretary Rollins follow through her early commitments to increasing production of sterile flies domestically,” said Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association First Vice President Stephen Diebel.
Guardrails Aren’t Free
June 20, 2025 – By Tila Grant – DALLAS — Guardrails are built to save lives, but repairing them comes at a steep cost, one that ultimately impacts every Texas taxpayer.
Every week, TxDOT crews respond to damaged guardrails across the state, deploying emergency repair teams to repair them alongside our highways. These repairs are essential — but they can come with a hefty price tag, as well. Motorists should also know that, should damage occur, TxDOT will seek reimbursement to help defray those costs.
The cost to taxpayers
In Dallas County alone, more than $4.9 million has been spent on guardrail-related repairs. The majority, over $4.6 million, went toward replacing Guardrail End Treatment Systems, which are designed to absorb crash impact and reduce the severity of collisions. These systems have been used more than 200 times in Dallas County this year — each replacement funded by public dollars.
In Denton County, monthly repair costs range from $90,000 to $100,000, with over $600,000 in damage claims submitted this fiscal year. One crash involving an 18-wheeler that crashed on FM 428 caused extensive damage and a hefty repair bill.
Across Texas, labor costs alone have surpassed $800,000 so far this year a figure that doesn’t include materials, equipment, or contractor overhead.
What these repairs cost
- Narrow attenuator repair: $4,200
- Wide attenuator repair: $57,512
- Replacing 28 Gibraltar posts after a single crash cost: $11,200
These aren’t just numbers, they’re taxpayer dollars at work.
What drivers can do
While TxDOT does pursue reimbursement from insurance companies when possible, not all costs are recoverable. That means every crash into a guardrail is a potential hit to the public budget.
To help protect lives, and your wallet, we urge all Texans to:
- Slow down, especially in wet or icy conditions
- Avoid distractions behind the wheel
- Stay alert in construction zones and high-speed areas
Every damaged guardrail is a reminder of a crash that could have ended far worse, but also a reminder that preventable accidents come with a public price tag.
Let’s work together to keep our roads safe — and our tax dollars focused more on building and maintaining, and less on repairing.
Designer Handbag Bingo Table Sales Begin Monday at Midnight
June 19, 2025 – Sulphur Springs, Texas – Tables for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Designer Handbag Bingo go on sale this Monday, June 23rd. Seats at this event are highly coveted, so we recommend having a game plan with your tablemates to ensure you get to play.
Luxury handbags from designers such as Louis Vuitton, Staud, Chloe, Tori Burch, Stella McCartney, Consuela, Brighton, Strathberry, and Kate Spade will make all the planning worth it. Consider spending a fun evening with friends and funding a free mammography clinic the cherry on top!
Tables are $615 and include seating for 8 people, with each guest receiving a packet containing 10 rounds of regular bingo, a drink ticket, and a door prize entry. Bookmark the website, handbagbingo25.GiveSmart.com, and be ready to save your spot. August 7th will be a night to remember!
Our title sponsor, Alliance Bank, Alliance Bank Financial Services, and Galyean Insurance always brings the fun and an unforgettable bag.
The Foundation is an IRS designated 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997. The Foundation is expanding healthcare opportunities in Hopkins County by offering clinics and programs to the public, as well as funding equipment for the local hospital and Hospital District.
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Local Corvette Club Donates Fans to Senior Citizen Center
June 19, 2025 – As summer approaches, the heat inside the homes of local seniors will be on the rise. Being able to move a little air becomes a huge benefit to help keep seniors cool and keep their electricity costs down. Several members of the Sulphur Springs Corvette Club zoomed on over delivering fans to Dawna Pryor, director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Center.
Dinner Bell for June 25, 2025
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
SPONSOR: Money Law and Title
First United Methodist Messengers Sunday School Class
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
Money Law and Title relocated its Sulphur Springs office to the spacious red brick building on the Southeast corner of the downtown square and Oak Avenue.
Real estate transactions and closings require legal expertise and Money Law opened in 2013 with the title fee office open ing in 2016; and, in 2022 the law and title companies became one agency known as Money Law and Title.
They also have offices located in Greenville, Sulphur Springs, Terrell, Emory, Prosper and Sherman, Texas to serve the needs of the people of the North and Eastern areas of the state.
We also welcome our second partner for June 25th Dinner Bell Ministry, First United Methodist Church, Messengers Sunday School Class. In mid-summer, 1955, a small band of young couples and a few singles bonded together to form a new Sunday school class. They chose the name “Messengers”. The class exists today, but has dwindled in membership from a high of over 100 to the mid-20’s.
Jackie Brice and Martha Kate Brem Chapman are the only original members alive today, but they are inactive. Christine Payne was a very loved teacher, but Kearney Brim, Laurine Garrison, Phil Morgan and Tom Young filled rolls as teachers of the Bible-based curriculum throughout the years. As the years passed, this class provided many leaders for the First United Methodist Church.
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
MENU:
- Chicken Thighs in a Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- Rice Cooked in Chicken Stock
- Arkansas Green Beans
- Garden Salad
- Banana Pudding
The Dinner Bell Ministry
First United Methodist Church
Take care of YOURSELF!
Wash your hands often! Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Texas Hemp and THC Bill In Limbo
June 18, 2025 – With just days remaining until the signing deadline, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has not publicly indicated whether he will approve or veto Senate Bill 3, a highly controversial measure that would ban products containing THC, including hemp-derived items like Delta-8 and Delta-9. The uncertainty has left the state’s booming legal hemp industry in limbo, as businesses, consumers, and industry advocates anxiously await Abbott’s decision.
The bill has been aggressively championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has pushed for stricter regulation of THC products, arguing they pose safety risks and bypass the state’s restrictions on marijuana. Patrick’s office has applied significant political pressure on Abbott to sign the bill, framing it as a matter of public health and law enforcement.
On the other side, the legal hemp industry—which has grown into a multibillion-dollar sector in Texas—is fighting to preserve access to THC products that have become widely available in stores since the federal legalization of hemp in 2018. Industry leaders warn that the ban would shutter thousands of small businesses, eliminate jobs, and push consumers toward illicit markets. Supporters of the industry also argue that hemp-derived THC products provide therapeutic benefits and that Texans should retain the freedom to purchase them legally.
Governor Abbott’s silence on the issue has only intensified speculation. He has historically walked a careful line on cannabis-related legislation, supporting limited medical use while opposing broader legalization. Whether he sides with Patrick’s hardline stance or responds to industry and consumer pushback remains to be seen.
If Abbott neither signs nor vetoes the bill by the deadline, it will automatically become law, potentially triggering swift legal challenges. For now, Texas businesses and consumers are left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting the governor’s next move.
Cooper Lake Supervisor Aron Maib On Second Cup Of Coffee
June 18, 2025 – Cooper Lake State Park Supervisor Aron Maib stopped by for a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey to chat about what’s going on at Cooper Lake. John Mark and Aron discussed the new improvement construction projects planned for the park such as a new fishing pier, new roofs, and much more. They also talked about the Skin and Skulls event and Art in the Park both taking place at Cooper Lake on June 21st. They also discussed the Stargazing Event planned for June 28th, 2025. The two discussed the water level at the lake as well, and so much more. Be sure to check out this episode below and learn what’s happening at Cooper Lake State Park!
Brian Crump ED of CANHelp On Second Cup of Coffee With John Mark Discuss Give Back Day and Back to School Fair
June 18, 2025 – Brian Crump, the Executive Director of CANHelp, sat down and had a Second Cup Of Coffee chat with KSST’s John Mark Dempsey. The two talked about CANHelp’s fundraiser Giveback Day with Dutch Bros in Sulphur Springs, Texas, taking place June 20th, 2025. The two also discussed CANHelp’s Back to School Fair coming up August 7th, 2025, at the ROC downtown Sulphur Springs. They talked about how registration for the backpacks is underway right now. Watch this episode of KSST”s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey below and learn how you can participate in the Giveback Day and what you need to do to register for the Back to School Fair. “Together we CAN Help!”
Real Lives, Real Losses of Drunk Driving
June 17, 2025 – One quarter of the total traffic fatalities in Texas in 2024 were DUI-alcohol related
PARIS – Marcus Nalepa and his 8-year-old daughter Kelsey were on the way to her softball practice in League City when their lives changed forever.
Just feet from Kelsey’s elementary school, a drunk driver slammed into the family car at a stop light. Kelsey suffered brain injuries and died two days later.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is sharing Kelsey’s story to remind Texans that every life on the road is a friend, a family member and a neighbor who deserves the same respect we would show them in person.
A family’s plea
“It’s not hard to make arrangements ahead of time,” said Nicole Nalepa, Kelsey’s mother. “There are so many other alternatives to help prevent a tragedy—like the one that happened to my family—from happening to yours.”
TxDOT put a sign near the site where Kelsey died that reads, “Please don’t drink and drive. In honor of Kelsey Nalepa who was killed in 2017.” The family continues to plead with Texans not to drink and drive and hopes the sign can make a difference.
“If that sign saves one family, it is well worth it in my opinion,” Marcus Nalepa said.
Despite the risk, some drivers still choose to drink
Most people know that drunk driving is dangerous, yet there were more than 1,000 deaths in Texas from DUI/alcohol-related crashes in 2024. That means three Texans were lost every day because a driver ignored the risks.
- In the Paris District in 2024, there were 6,217 traffic crashes, resulting in 102 fatalities and 447 serious injuries.
- In the Paris District in 2024, there were 341 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes, resulting in 26 fatalities and 65 serious injuries.
- In the Paris District during the 2024 July Fourth holiday time period, there were 8 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes, resulting in no fatalities and 2 serious injuries.
“Making the choice to drive drunk instead of finding a sober ride home can and does lead to serious consequences,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “No one wants to live the rest of their life knowing they caused the death of another person on the road, and no one is impervious to the dangers of driving impaired.”
TxDOT’s Drive Sober. No Regrets. campaign and the traveling Faces of Drunk Driving video exhibit will showcase first-person testimonials from drunk-driving offenders and survivors. These emotional stories demonstrate the real, tangible consequences associated with drunk driving and remind Texans that every choice on the road can impact friends, families and neighbors.
Increased law enforcement period
Timed with the official start of summer and the Fourth of July weekend, TxDOT’s Drive Sober. No Regrets. campaign is aligned with an increased law enforcement effort to keep Texas roads safe. From June 26 through July 13, officers will be on a heightened lookout for drunk drivers to reduce DUI crashes, injuries and fatalities across the state.
Drive Sober. No Regrets. is an important part of TxDOT’s Drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe. initiative. Drive like a Texan is about embracing the pride, camaraderie and responsibility of being a Texan on the road. By making thoughtful choices, we can all help keep each other safe. Learn more at DriveLikeATexan.com.
Relive the Excitement of the 64th Annual Dairy Fest Pageant with KSST’s Coverage of the Event
June 17, 2025 – Relive the excitement, joy, and wonder of the 64th Annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival Pageant with KSST’s coverage of the exciting event down below. Experience the laughter, sweat, and tears of the climax of the 2025 Hopkins County Dairy Festival as you go “Udder The Big Top!” See Coryn Young perform one last time as the 2024 Queen. Watch the excitement as Lucy McKenzie is crowned the new 2025 Dairy Festival Queen! And, if you’ve never been to a Dairy Festival Pageant, watch this and learn why you MUST attend next year! It wasn’t just a show, it was… an experience!
