Response teams from TEEX and TFS assist in Hurricane Katrina aftermath; Texas A&M at Galveston training ship to be deployed
Two search and rescue teams from Texas Task Force 1, the state’s emergency response unit coordinated through the Texas Engineering Extension Service, and Texas Forest Service’s Lone Star State Incident Management Team have been in New Orleans assisting with rescue efforts following Hurricane Katrina. The USNS Sirius, the 524-foot training ship of the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston, is scheduled to leave Sept. 10 for New Orleans to assist as well.

A&M System universities welcome students affected by Hurricane Katrina
The A&M System’s nine universities and health science center are working to accommodate students in the Gulf Coast region affected by Hurricane Katrina. By Sept. 8, more than 400 students—including members of six athletic teams from Tulane University who are now at Texas A&M—had been admitted.

A&M System Board of Regents approves a $2.5 billion operating budget
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents at its August meeting approved a $2.5 billion budget that will fund operations at its nine universities, seven state agencies, health science center and central administrative offices in fiscal year 2006.

Price for some food items could increase temporarily in wake of Katrina
Consumers could see temporary price increases in some food items if the port of New Orleans is closed for an extended period, a Texas Cooperative Extension economist said.

Research targets vegetable production
Is there a better way to control weeds or grow tastier tomatoes, watermelons or snap beans? Research under way at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Lubbock seeks to answer these questions for commercial vegetable producers and home gardeners.