Latest news with #Austin-AmericanStatesman
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFC South team showing interest in former Longhorn Kelvin Banks Jr.
NFC South team showing interest in former Longhorn Kelvin Banks Jr. Although offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. has seen his stock decrease lately, there still could be a way for him to be a top-15 pick. He reportedly held a private workout last week with Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris, according to Brian Davis of the Austin-American Statesman. At the moment, Atlanta owns the 15th overall pick. The meeting was a promising sign for Banks, who was projected to be the No.31 pick by Mel Kipper in his mock draft on March 18. Kipper blamed inconsistencies and injury for the decline. While some may be down on Banks, he is still coming off an impressive career at Texas that included various awards. After missing the SEC Championship game against Georgia, Banks finished the season strong against Ohio State. With him in the lineup, Texas had one of the best offenses in football. He helped give Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers plenty of time in the pocket. Due to his play, the Texas native earned Lombardi, Outland, and Jackson Blocking Trophies. He also shined at the NFL Combine, where analyst Lance Zierlein said he saw Banks as a long-term starter. "Banks has the slide quickness to deal with speed, but he must become more proactive in attacking power rushers and long-limbed attackers to prevent them from dictating the terms. He needs to improve his anchor and hand placement, but he should become a long-time NFL starter at either tackle or guard," Zierlein wrote. With the NFL Draft only weeks away, many teams will be looking for a reliable offensive lineman. While the Falcons have made their interest known, Banks has the potential to be a really good player and should be on the draft board of multiple teams.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Yahoo
Bologna Smuggling: Why Deli Meat Is Trafficked Across The US Border
The word "smuggling" is more often associated with drugs or money, and it might be difficult to picture food smuggling. But in September 2024, a woman was caught smuggling 748 pounds of bologna (that's a lot of bologna) following an inspection at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, according to the Austin-American Statesman. This is not an isolated incident. Deli meat trafficking is a fairly regular occurrence, and similar incidents are reported along the U.S. border every year. Mexican bologna tends to be trafficked as luggage in suitcases, and authorities have even found the meat stuffed inside car seats and spare tires. Bologna is derived from mortadella, an ancient type of Italian sausage, and originally hails from the city of Bologna. Today, it is produced by countries across the world, including the U.S. and Mexico. Though it is a widely mocked dish in the country and only about 35% of Americans are familiar with the deli meat, according to the South Florida Reporter, Americans eat around 800 million pounds of bologna every year. But if bologna is so common and is widely enjoyed in both the U.S. and Mexico, why is deli meat trafficking even a problem? This is because bringing meat products from other countries into the United States is not allowed — it's why the TSA cracks down on bringing food into the country from abroad. Mexican bologna in particular is a prohibited product. According to Texas Monthly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture believes these plastic-wrapped sausages, popularly known as chubs, could introduce foreign animal diseases, like foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever, affecting the country's pork industry and in turn its economy and agricultural stability. Those caught smuggling the meat across the border face fines of $1,000 or more. Yet Mexican bologna continues to be illegally smuggled into the country and even sold on platforms like Facebook and Craigslist. Read more: Ranking 12 Grocery Store Hot Dogs From Worst To Best The distinctive porky taste of Mexican bologna is a key reason for its popularity in the U.S. According to the University of Wyoming, American bologna is mostly made with a blend of chicken, pork, and beef that are deemed acceptable by USDA. But much like the traditional mortadella, which is only made with pork, Mexican bologna is pork-heavy. It has garnered a loyal following in the U.S., particularly among those who long for the once-readily available deli meat. To add to it, there is a high profit margin on smuggled bologna, even though the bologna legally available in America is so cheap. For instance, according to Texas Monthly, the most popular brand of Mexican bologna, Chimex, costs less than $15 for a single roll of chubs in Mexico but can fetch up to $120 once it crosses the border. So while some smuggle it for personal consumption, larger quantities of Mexican bologna are also tucked away in cars and trucks for resale. While a mix of cravings and, at times, nostalgia as well as a way to make profit in the black market are the primary catalysts behind the smuggling of the beloved deli meat, trafficking food comes with serious risks. Despite these concerns, the demand for it seems to keep growing, proving that food has a unique way of crossing borders -- both literally and emotionally and more often than not, with a bit of trouble. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. Read the original article on The Daily Meal.
Reuters
15-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Reports: Texas coach Vic Schaefer to receive 3-year extension
February 15 - Texas women's basketball head coach Vic Schaefer has agreed to a three-year contract extension that spans through the 2029-30 season, multiple media outlets reported on Saturday. The Texas Board of Regents will be asked to approve the new deal for Schaefer. He is expected to receive slight raises for the three additional seasons, with the final year resulting in a salary of $2.6 million, per the Austin-American Statesman. Schaefer, 63, replaced the dismissed Karen Aston in 2020 and agreed to a seven-year contract worth $13.8 million. He holds a 134-34 record during his four-plus seasons with the Longhorns, including a 25-2 overall mark (11-1 record in Southeastern Conference play) this season. Schaefer posted an 80-110 record in seven seasons at Sam Houston (1990-97) and a 221-62 mark in eight campaigns at Mississippi State (2012-20).
