Here’s what’s up in SETX,
Hurricane season opened June 1 with some genuinely good news for the Gulf Coast — NOAA is forecasting a below-normal storm year, with El Niño stepping in as the unexpected weather defense. Meanwhile, Port Arthur kicks off three weeks of Juneteenth celebrations starting Thursday with NFL champion Elandon Roberts as Grand Marshal, Beaumont's City Council is voting this week on a new dialysis clinic and food truck park, and the $8.5 billion CPChem/QatarEnergy plant in Orange — one of the largest petrochemical investments in U.S. history — is entering its commissioning phase.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
NOAA Forecasts a Quieter 2026 Hurricane Season — El Niño Runs Interference 🌀
NOAA officially opened hurricane season on June 1 with better-than-expected news for the Gulf Coast: a 55% probability of a below-normal season, projecting 8–14 named storms, 3–6 hurricanes, and 1–3 major ones. The driver is a strengthening El Niño pattern that creates atmospheric wind shear over the Atlantic — essentially breaking up developing storms before they gain traction. Average years produce around 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes, so this forecast represents a meaningful reduction in threat volume.
Below-normal doesn't mean zero risk. History is full of quiet seasons that still produced devastating storms for specific communities. For SETX, the takeaway is that the odds are in your favor this year — but any one storm can override a forecast. The window between "we're watching this" and "mandatory evacuation" can be less than 48 hours on the Gulf Coast, so a quiet season is the best time to get ready, not to stand down.
💡 The bottom line: This is the most favorable hurricane season forecast SETX has seen in years — and it's still the perfect week to check your emergency kit, secure your documents, and confirm your evacuation route before you need them.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🏗️ Beaumont City Council Votes on Dialysis Clinic, Food Truck Park, and Housing This Week — Three development projects go to a full council vote this week, all coming in with unanimous 8-0 Planning & Zoning recommendations. The headline items: a second Fresenius Medical Care dialysis clinic at 3100 N. Major Drive (24 treatment stations, hours 4am–10pm), a 3-acre food truck park on Concord Road near the Target and Modica Bros corridor, and expansion for All Saints Episcopal School plus a Habitat for Humanity contract for low-income housing. More healthcare access plus more dining variety in one vote. Read more →
🚑 Evadale Gets Its First-Ever Local Ambulance Service — Response Times Cut from 25+ Minutes to Under 10 — Until last week, Evadale residents waited 20–30 minutes for an ambulance from Orange or Jasper counties. A new contract between the Evadale Volunteer Fire Department and Allegiance Ambulance Service — funded by a sales tax voters approved last year — targets a 5–10 minute response time. Within 30 minutes of signing, the crew ran their first call. For a community without a local hospital, that gap in coverage was more than inconvenient. Read more →
🎉 Port Arthur Juneteenth Kicks Off Thursday — NFL Champion Elandon Roberts Is Grand Marshal — A three-week Juneteenth celebration starts June 4 with a flag raising at 525 Lakeshore Drive at 10:30am — free and open to all. Port Arthur native and Super Bowl champion Elandon Roberts leads the festivities as this year's Grand Marshal. The celebration builds through the month to a full parade on June 19 (Proctor Street, 3:30pm) and the 8th Annual Juneteenth Festival on June 20 at Sgt. Lucian Adams Park. All events free. Read more →
💧 Port Neches Water May Taste or Smell Different Through June 30 — Water Is Safe — The city switched to its annual free chlorine disinfection cycle on June 1, a required TCEQ maintenance process. Residents may notice taste or odor changes in tap water for the next several weeks. The city confirms the water is completely safe to drink and use — no action needed on your end. Read more →
🏢 ExxonMobil Shareholders Vote 71.3% to Move Corporate HQ to Texas — At the company's May 27 annual meeting, shareholders overwhelmingly approved redomiciling ExxonMobil's legal headquarters from New Jersey to Texas — 3.6 billion shares voting in favor. It's a registration change, not a facilities move, but it signals where the company sees its long-term home. For SETX, ExxonMobil already operates major Beaumont-area refining assets, and its Motiva joint venture runs the largest single-site crude oil refinery in North America right here in Port Arthur. Read more →
🚤 Lamar University Wins $833K TxDOT Grant for AI-Powered Waterway Safety — Lamar researcher Dr. Maryam Hamidi secured $833,000 from TxDOT to develop an AI vision system that monitors vessel traffic on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway — tracking barges by type and direction using computer vision and AIS data. The waterway runs directly through SETX, carrying enormous commercial traffic daily. A smarter monitoring system translates directly to fewer collisions and safer conditions for everyone on or near it. Read more →
🏭 CPChem/QatarEnergy's $8.5B Golden Triangle Polymers Plant Enters Commissioning Phase — One of the largest petrochemical investments in U.S. history is entering commissioning this year, with full operations expected in 2027. The plant in Orange — a joint venture between Chevron Phillips Chemical (51%) and QatarEnergy (49%) — adds an ethylene unit and two polyethylene units to a region that already knows industrial scale. The 4,500 construction jobs are winding down; 500+ permanent operations positions are coming online. Estimated economic impact to this region over 20 years: $50 billion.
📬 Which story caught your eye?
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Head to the Juneteenth Flag Raising — Thursday, June 4 — Free ceremony at 525 Lakeshore Drive, Port Arthur, 10:30am. NFL champion Elandon Roberts kicks off three weeks of celebrations. Bring the family.
✅ Get Your Hurricane Season Kit Ready — Season opened June 1 and NOAA is forecasting a quieter year, but quiet years still produce storms. Now is the right time: three-day water supply, medications, important documents, communication plan. Start at ready.gov.
✅ Grab Tickets for the Juneteenth Boxing Showdown — June 6 — $15 at the door, Max Bowl Event Center in Port Arthur, first bout at 1pm. Lion Hearted Boxing Academy is bringing USA-sanctioned amateur talent from across the country.
✅ Port Neches Residents: Your Water Is Safe — The annual free chlorine switch runs June 1 to 30. Taste or odor changes are expected and completely normal. No action needed — just a heads-up so you're not caught off guard.
✅ Running a small business or thinking about starting one? — Tailored Financial Solutions offers bookkeeping, CFO-level guidance, and financial clarity for local entrepreneurs. tailoredfinsolutions.com 💰
📅 COMMUNITY EVENTS
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
THIS WEEK
Jun 3: Orange Public Library Summer Reading Program — First Session | Orange Public Library, Orange. Free summer reading program kicks off its first Tuesday event — open to all ages. Runs every Tuesday through summer.
Jun 4: Juneteenth Flag Raising Celebration | 525 Lakeshore Dr, Port Arthur. Port Arthur Cultural Coalition opens three weeks of Juneteenth events honoring 161 years of freedom — 10:30 AM, free and open to the public.
Jun 4: Cajun & Creole Jam | Port Arthur. Bring your instruments or just come to listen — a free live music gathering celebrating Port Arthur's deep Cajun and Creole heritage.
Jun 4: Ribbon Cutting — Prado Place | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber ribbon cutting for a new local business. Details at bmtcoc.org.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
June 12 - To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar @ 7 p.m.
June 18 - Selma @ 7 p.m.
THIS WEEKEND
Jun 6: Juneteenth Showdown in Port Town — Boxing | Max Bowl Event Center, Port Arthur. Lion Hearted presents an Olympic amateur boxing showcase featuring national-level competitors. First bout 1:00 PM. $15 general admission.
Jun 6: Garden Festival at Buu Mon Buddhist Temple | Port Arthur. Family-friendly floral and garden celebration at the colorful Buu Mon Temple grounds — free to attend.
Jun 6–7: Perfect Game Baseball — Last Chance Qualifier | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Youth baseball qualifier tournament hosted at Ford Park's multi-field complex.
COMING UP
Jun 8: GBCOC Annual Golf Tournament 2026 | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce annual golf tournament. Register at bmtcoc.org.
Jun 9–14: Perfect Game Baseball — End of Season Championships | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Week-long youth baseball championship tournament.
Jun 12: Jefferson Theatre Classic Movie Night — "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar" | Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. Drag icon Wanda Lust makes a special guest appearance in the lobby before the film. Doors 6 PM, film 7 PM. Tickets at Beaumont Civic Center box office or online.
Jun 13: Beaumont Farmers Market + Storytime | 6525 College St (Beaumont Athletic Complex), Beaumont. Weekly Saturday market 8–11 AM with local produce, baked goods, and artisan vendors — plus a special Storytime session for kids this week.
Jun 13: Miss Juneteenth Beauty Pageant | Port Arthur. Free community pageant for ages 3–18 in four categories, presented by Port Arthur Cultural Coalition. Part of the month-long Juneteenth series.
Jun 14: Big Bang Boom Dance Showcase | Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Local dance teams perform standout pieces from the season, with a meet-and-greet after the show. Doors 2 PM, show 3 PM. Tickets online or at the box office.
Jun 15 & 17: The Music Man | Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, Orange. Classic Broadway musical production — both performances at 6:00 PM.
Jun 16: Mix and Mingle — Dugood Credit Union | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce networking mixer hosted by Dugood Credit Union. Details at bmtcoc.org.
Jun 19: Juneteenth Brunch | Opulence Lounge, Port Arthur. Part of Port Arthur Cultural Coalition's Juneteenth series. Date unconfirmed — verify at visitportarthurtx.com before attending.
Jun 20: City of Beaumont Juneteenth Celebration | Beaumont Civic Center, Beaumont. Annual Juneteenth celebration with live entertainment, cultural performances, and community programming. 4–9 PM. Free.
Jun 20: 8th Annual Juneteenth Parade & Festival | Downtown Port Arthur. Port Arthur Cultural Coalition's signature event, with Grand Marshal Elandon Roberts — Port Arthur native and NFL Super Bowl champion. Free and open to the public.
Jun 20: Beaumont Renegades vs. Oceanside Bombers | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. Home game at Ford Park.
Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉
🍽️ FOOD CORNER
☕ The Golden Cup — Nederland
Twenty-two flavors of coffee, a 4.8-star rating, and a loyal following that owner Janna Bartz has built the old-fashioned way: by being really good at what she does. The Golden Cup on Nederland Avenue serves hot, iced, and frozen versions of its full coffee menu — plus teas, smoothies, Italian sodas, pastries, muffins, and croissants. Dairy-free and lower-sugar options are on the menu without apology. It's the kind of neighborhood coffee bar where you stop in for a quick iced coffee and find yourself staying for another, and it's earned every one of those 107 reviews.
📍 2423 Nederland Ave, Nederland, TX 77627
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SETX's Marketing Networking Group
In 2025, Emily Rhine started an informal, free networking group for marketing professionals across Southeast Texas because there wasn't one.
The group meets regularly at local spots around the Golden Triangle and the conversations are open: AI in marketing, what's actually working, business development, shared challenges. Every industry is welcome from financial services to construction to entertainment. No dues, no strict agenda. Miss a meetup? No worries, you're always welcome at the next one.
Members have built real connections and launched ideas that grew out of these conversations. It's a genuinely good group of people doing interesting work across SETX. If you work in marketing and want a community to grow with, this one's worth checking out.
👉 Reach out to Emily Rhine on LinkedIn if you work in marketing and want in.
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We built TFS on two things that matter most in finance: intelligence and trust. Accurate numbers, clear reporting, and a team that is invested in your growth, not just your paperwork.
When you are ready for a financial partner who works as hard as you do, TFS is ready for you.
👉 Visit us at www.tailoredfinsolutions.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
🎣 Sabine Lake Fishing — June Is Prime Season for Redfish and Speckled Trout
If you've been meaning to get on the water, this is the month. June's warming temps push redfish into the shallow flats and drive speckled trout toward the grass beds along the marsh edges — both species are aggressive and plentiful right now. You don't need a boat: wade the shallows near the causeway pilings, or launch from the free public ramps at Pleasure Island in Port Arthur for easy access. For a more remote experience, Highway 87 takes you out to Sea Rim State Park, where the crowds thin out and the shoreline stretches for miles.
For redfish, follow the birds — where you see egrets and herons wading the flats, the fish are usually right below them. Speckled trout respond well to soft plastics and topwater lures in the early morning before the sun gets high. A Texas fishing license is required for residents 17 and older; pick one up at tpwd.texas.gov or at most sporting goods stores. Check current bag limits before you go — coastal regulations update regularly.
📍 Big Thicket National Preserve: Kountze/Silsbee area, approx. 25 miles north of Beaumont | Village Creek State Park: 8294 FM 418, Lumberton, TX 77657
🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.
💼 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The CPChem/QatarEnergy Golden Triangle Polymers plant in Orange is entering its commissioning phase this year, with 500+ permanent operations and maintenance positions expected as the facility ramps toward full 2027 startup.
No formal postings are live yet — watch cpchem.com/careers for announcements. Closer to home, Allegiance Ambulance may be growing its local team following the new Evadale service contract — check allegiance-ems.com for openings in the Jasper County area.
🏥 Multiple Open Positions — Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas | Beaumont
200+ open roles in nursing, medical assisting, medical imaging, billing, and security. Forbes America's Best Employers 2026.
How to apply: bhset.net/careers
💼 Tax Professional Lead — Tailored Financial Solutions | Remote
Detail-oriented tax pro needed for a growing local firm. Fully remote. Ideal for a CPA, enrolled agent, or experienced tax preparer looking for flexible work with real local roots.
How to apply: Apply: tailoredfinsolutions.com | [email protected]
👷 Blue-Collar Skilled Trades — Port Arthur / Sabine Pass
Patriot Security EOC is hiring 60+ positions across Port Arthur and Sabine Pass. Strong market region-wide for welders, operators, and industrial support roles. Ask about openings at your nearest WorkForce Solutions SETX location or check local job boards.
🏥 Healthcare Careers — CHRISTUS Southeast Texas | Beaumont
CHRISTUS is actively recruiting clinical and support staff heading into summer — registered nurses, technicians, and patient care roles are in demand.
How to apply: Apply at christushealth.org/careers
👩🏫 Teachers & Support Staff — Vidor ISD / Lumberton ISD / Hardin-Jefferson ISD
Three area school districts are running job fairs this week with on-the-spot offers — Vidor ISD has 20–30 openings (teachers, sped, bus drivers, custodial, food service), Lumberton and H-J ISD are seeking teachers, aides, transportation, and nutrition staff. Show up ready. Details →
🤝 Community Relations Coordinator for What’s Up SETX
We're looking for a local SETX connector — part community ambassador, part relationship builder. If you're already in the room at networking events and love sharing good news about this region, this role is for you.
Interested? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]
💼 General SETX Openings
Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas posts current openings across industries — manufacturing, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
How to apply: Browse the full board at setworks.org or stop by a local office in Beaumont or Port Arthur.
🌿 Tailored Lawn Care
Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.
Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887
💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.
📣 Your Turn
With NOAA forecasting a below-normal hurricane season, how does your prep stack up — fully stocked, somewhat ready, or starting from scratch?
See you next week neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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