(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reports that state sales tax revenue totaled $2.86 billion in December, 2020, 5% less than in December 2019. The majority of December sales tax revenue is based on sales made in November and remitted to the agency in December.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced recently that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program began Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019 calendar years. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021.

The Lamb County Soil and Water Conservation District is currently taking orders for the Spring Windbreak Tree and other plants sales. There is a variety of trees and other plants available, but everyone interested is strongly encouraged to get orders in as quickly as possible to ensure the variety and quantity of the trees and plants are available.

Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. will host a virtual information session on February 16, 2021 to review and discuss the numerous options available to producers for the 2021 growing season through the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Additional information, including links to register for the February 16 session will be made available in the coming weeks through this newsletter and on the PCG website located at: http://www.plainscotton.org.

South Plains College congratulates more than 300 students who were named to the Fall 2020 President’s List. The following local students are included on the President’s List: Kevin Bass, Genasis Garza, Kasidy Gonzales, Jesus Nunez Gutierrez, Jonathan Rangel, Selene Maldonado, and Lance Willard of Littlefield.

Littlefield EMS, in cooperation with West Texas EMS Resources, will be hosting an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) course in Littlefield at the EMS Station. This 324-hour course will begin January 25th and continue through June. The course will be held every Monday and Wednesday evening from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Littlefield EMS Station.

The following area students graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in a virtual commencement ceremony on Dec. 12, 2020.

RAMIREZ Roxanne and Vycent Ramirez of Littlefield, are the proud parents of their new son, Jaxson Kade Ramirez, who was born in December, 2020 in Lamb Healthcare Center in Littlefield. Welcoming him home were his siblings: Evie Martinez, Nathaniel Martinez, Evelyn Martinez, Logan Martinez, Serenity Ramirez, and Jacob Ramirez.

Lamb County Judge James Mike DeLoach has reported the numbers of COVID-19 cases in Lamb County, as of 11:27 a.m. Tuesday, Jan.