Wildfires continue across state

Firefighters are looking to the skies for much-needed rain this week as crews continue battling wildfires across the state. Fires reported Sunday by the Texas A&M Forest Service were being fought in Brown, Taylor, Wilbarger, Llano, Schleicher and San Saba counties.

“Minimal rainfall, hot and dry conditions and an intensifying drought continue to support wildfire activity across the state,” said Wes Moorehead, TFS fire chief. “Due to conditions, these wildfires are requiring more time and resources to contain. Texas A&M Forest Service continues to support local fire departments and has situated additional resources to the areas of concern.”

Burn bans are in effect in 131 counties, covering nearly all regions of the state with the exception of East Texas.

Number of COVID-19 cases remains steady

The number of new cases of COVID-19 cases reported in Texas during the past week stayed steady at 26,798, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University, with 58 deaths reported in the state. The number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state rose slightly to 859, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@ texaspress.com.