The Permian Basin communities of Midland and Odessa are our communities. We share their heartbreak and shock, and we will stand by them in this time of recovery and healing.

A new member with extensive real estate experience was appointed to the University Lands Advisory Board Thursday by the UT System Board of Regents.

John L. Zogg, Jr., managing director for Crescent Real Estate Equities in Dallas, was appointed to a three-year term. Zogg is a graduate of UT Austin and earned an MBA degree from UT Dallas. He also is an executive member of the Advisory Council for the Real Estate Center at the UT Austin McCombs School of Business.

UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken announced today that Ben Raimer, M.D., a physician-leader whose service to the Galveston community and the state of Texas has spanned five decades, has been appointed interim president of UT Medical Branch.

In unanimous support of the 14 UT institutions’ plans to serve more students, provide more health care and increase research activities, the UT System Board of Regents authorized a $21.1 billion expense budget for fiscal year 2020.

The new budget takes effect Sept. 1 and represents an increase of almost 7.4 percent, or $1.4 billion, over the previous fiscal year. Budgeted expenses will include $6.7 billion for UT’s eight academic institutions and $14 billion for its six health institutions.