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Space tourism company Blue Origin says it will pause launches of its New Shepard rocket for at least two years. Flights on New Shepard took passengers to the edge of space and back from the company’s launchpad north of Van Horn.
The company, owned by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, said it’s pausing the flights to focus on resources and money on its “human lunar capabilities.” In 2023, NASA awarded Blue Origin $3.4 billion to develop a spacecraft that could take humans to the surface of the moon.
To date, New Shepard has flown 38 times and carried 98 people 62 miles above the earth, including celebrities like William Shatner, Katy Perry and Gayle King.
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Alpine officials meet tomorrow (TUESDAY) for their next city council meeting.
According to an agenda for the meeting, the council will first hold a workshop meeting to discuss funding nonprofit organizations and the possible implementation of a community service grant program.
Council is also set to receive an annual report from the Alpine Police Department on profiling statistics – a yearly report required by Texas law.
You can find a copy of the meeting’s agenda online at cityofalpine.com.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration to help prevent the spread of the New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that has wreaked havoc on the state’s cattle industry in the past.
Although the fly hasn’t worked its way into the U.S., Abbott said its spread through Mexico toward the Texas’ southern border poses a “serious threat” to the state’s livestock industry and wildlife. Abbott says the declaration will open up state resources to help prevent the re-emergency of the New World Screwworm.
For almost the last year, southern ports have been closed to live cattle crossing from Mexico to help prevent the spread of the fly.
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On Friday, Guitar in the Big Bend, a classical guitar concert series, will host a free concert, featuring musician Bokyung Byun .
The event is Friday, Feb. 6 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marfa at 6 p.m.
She’ll also perform on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, beginning at 6 p.m.
For more information, visit guitarinthebigbend.com.
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Next week, the Granada Theater in Alpine will host “A Little Ray of Sunshine,” a night of music to fundraise for the Sunshine House.
Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition will perform a tribute to Ray Price, the Ole’ Cherokee Cowboy – and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Sunshine House’s meals on wheels program.
The fundraiser will be Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Granada Theater.
Tickets are $35, and a cash bar opens at 6 p.m.
Tickets sold only at the Sunshouse House, located at 402 E. Holland Ave.
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Later this month, the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute will hold their second annual Seed Swap.
To participate, bring any seeds you collected over the past year to share with others, and remember, the seeds must be native to the Trans-Pecos region, must have been harvested last fall and shouldn’t be hybrids.
The swap will be Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at CDRI.
This has been your local and area news report for KVLF 98.7 FM, 1240 AM and KALP 92.7 FM
Local news can be found on our website at bigbendradio.com.