Uncle Nearest And Jack Daniel's Join Forces To Launch The Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative To Increase Diversity In American Whiskey Industry
Together the Two Tennessee Distilleries Have Pledged $5 Million to Advance African American Leadership in Whiskey
The Jack Daniel Distillery and the Nearest Green Distillery announced today the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative to further diversity within the American whiskey industry. Both companies are supporting it equally with an initial combined pledge of $5 million to help create the Nearest Green School of Distilling, develop the Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP) for apprenticeships and establish the Business Incubation Program (BIP), focused on providing expertise and resources to African Americans entering the spirits industry as entrepreneurs.
New $2.9M grant to fund science and religion research
A new subfield of sociological research examining how identities and beliefs are related to attitudes about science and religion will be advanced by a $2.9 million grant to sociologists at Rice University and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
Report: Nursing Homes Facing Financial Crisis
Medicaid covers more than 60 percent of all nursing home residents and roughly 50 percent of costs for long-term care services and support. (The Center On Budget And Policy Priorities, 4/14/20) “Nursing homes predominantly care for two groups: short-term post-acute care patients with Medicare coverage and long-term residents with Medicaid coverage. Medicare is a relatively generous payer, whereas Medicaid often pays below the cost of caring for these frail and medically complex individuals.” David C. Grabowski, PhD, Harvard Medical School & Vincent Mor, PhD, Brown University (Journal Of American Medical Association, 5/22/20)
Fort Bend Count Has the Highest Census Response Rate in Texas
Fort Bend County has the highest response rate for the 2020 Census among all counties in Texas.
Clinical Trial Evaluating RLF-100 in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Respiratory Failure to Houston Methodist Hospital
RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding AG (SIX:RLF) “Relief” and its U.S. partner, NeuroRx, Inc. today announced that Houston Methodist Hospital is participating in their Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating RLF-100 as a research intervention for critically ill patients with COVID-19 and respiratory failure. RLF-100 is a patented formulation of Aviptadil, (synthetic human vasoactive intestinal polypeptide or VIP), which targets alveolar type 2 cells in the lungs that are a major target of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. VIP is known from numerous animal models of lung injury and lung disease to inhibit inflammatory cytokines and to protect pulmonary epithelial cells that line the air sacs (alveolae) of the lungs.
Sun Belt cities comprise nearly half of US population growth
The Sun Belt's large metro areas are growing much faster than those elsewhere in the United States, and they are adding more young and old residents than the rest of the nation, according to a new white paper from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research. But most American urban policy is still crafted -- and research is still conducted -- with traditional Northeastern and Midwestern cities in mind, the paper says.
Pastors Joel Osteen, John Gray Discuss Racism, Social Justice and the Role of the Church in the Wake of George Floyd Protests
Discussion follows ‘A Necessary Conversation’ with Pastors John Gray, Steven Furtick
Pastor John Gray, Senior Pastor of Relentless Church, continued the series A Necessary Conversation this week with Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen. Held in response to the tragic killing of George Floyd and global civil unrest, the discussion on racism, social injustice and the role of the church follows last week’s discussion on race with Pastor John Gray and Elevation Church's Pastor Steven Furtick.
HISD Board to consider $2 billion budget, pay increases for teachers and stipends for all employees
Budget calls for no increase in property tax rate
The Houston Independent School District will consider passage today of a $2 billion budget for the 2020-2021 academic year which includes a $34.4 million salary and benefits package as well as an increase in employer contribution to health insurance premiums for employees.
2U, Inc. Announces $3 Million Scholarship Fund to Expand Access to Tech Boot Camps at 30 Top Universities Nationwide
Scholarships will increase affordability of training programs for historically underrepresented communities in the tech economy experiencing recent job loss or financial hardship
Houston Launches Staycation Campaign
Houston First Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the Do Something New, #Explore HOU staycation campaign, inviting locals to unwind, relax, and enjoy the perks of vacation without the concern of travel.
Sam’s Club Launches Curbside Pickup Nationwide
Warehouse club expedites launch of contact-free pickup experience chainwide
Sam’s Club today announced the nationwide launch of curbside pickup. The service, which provides a contact-free, order online and delivery to car shopping experience, will be free for Plus-level members and is expected to be available in all clubs by the end of June. Curbside pickup is part of a list of Plus membership benefits, which also includes early shopping hours, free shipping on most online items, 2% cash back on qualifying in-club and pickup purchases, and more.
Statement by Vice President Joe Biden on President Trump’s Visit to Dallas
More than 1,800 Texans have died as a result of COVID-19, more than 2.9 million have filed for unemployment, and people around the world are marching against systemic racism in our country. For months, we’ve seen Donald Trump botch the response to COVID-19 and the economic crisis that has followed. Texas is now facing a massive surge in positive COVID-19 cases, with the number of hospitalizations hitting an all-time high. The country, and Texas, are facing multiple crises — yet President Trump continues to demonstrate that he’s not the right leader to address any of them.
UT Austin Student Riders Launch Virtual Ride to Engage More People and Communities in the Fight Against Cancer
The Texas 4000 for Cancer 2020 summer ride has gone virtual due to risks related to Covid-19. Rather than embark on the annual 70-day ride from Austin to Alaska, the team of University of Texas at Austin students are putting on a virtual ride from May 29 through June 26, 2020, to raise awareness of cancer. Texas 4000 will broadcast live daily and invite the public to make ride dedications and join the riders cycling indoors as we share ride dedications, cancer awareness and prevention information, and feature stories of riders, individuals, families and other organizations engaged in the fight against cancer.
Congressman Al Green Distributes Masks to Two Local Nursing Homes
On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:
Weekend Repairs Prompt Bus Shuttles Along Red Line
METRORail service will be interrupted along a section of the Red Line for maintenance work on Saturday, June 13, 2020 and Sunday, June 14, 2020.
Office Of The Governor, Nolan Ryan Release New COVID-19 PSA: "Don't Be A Knucklehead"
The Office of the Governor and Baseball Hall-Of-Famer, Nolan Ryan today released a new public service announcement (PSA) entitled, "Don't Be A Knucklehead." In the PSA, Ryan encourages all Texans to follow effective health and safety protocols like washing their hands, social distancing, and wearing a mask.
Wrongful Conviction Podcasts Presents: Power to the People
Thursday, June 11th at 5 p.m. EST
In the wake of the recent protests, justice advocate and philanthropist Jason Flom has been flooded with questions from people who are looking for advice on how to use their time, energy and money to make the biggest impact in the fight for equality in our criminal legal system.
Frosted Animal Cookie Blizzard and Oreo Cheesecake Blizzards Bring Cold Front to Texas in June
The temperatures may have heated things up in Texas, but a cold front is sweeping across the state with the sweet cool taste of two treats from Texas Dairy Queen. Oreo Cheesecake and Frosted Animal Cookie are two great Blizzard flavors that have arrived in June for a limited time.
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Responds to Minneapolis Police Chief’s Plans to Cease Union Contract Negotiations
Police Unions Have Historically Been Obstacles to Reform
Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced his decision to postpone contract negotiations with the police union representing the city’s officers in order to conduct a more thorough review of the proposed contract and its provisions. Chief Arradondo intends to restructure the contract to provide more transparency and flexibility for reform. The following is a statement from Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Chevron Maker Annex Virtual Workshops
Children’s Museum Houston continues to offer free virtual 3-D design TinkerCAD interactives
Imagination, curiosity, creativity, and inspiration are not cancelled. Discovery happens at Children’s Museum Houston – A Playground for Your Mind™! The Museum (CMH) will continue to offer its popular Chevron Maker Annex Virtual Workshops. These workshops are free, streamed live, and teach children how to use TinkerCAD software to produce 3-D models of animal cells, DNA, coral reefs, buildings and more. Led by maker Education Manager, Jacob Breier, the workshops began during the stay-at-home order in March and have now become one of the Museum’s most popular virtual attractions!
