Charles Butt, H-E-B Chairman, Announced Today a $1,000,000 Personal Contribution to Prairie View A&M University in Honor of University President Ruth J. Simmons
President Simmons joined Prairie View in 2017 after retiring as President of Brown University where she served as President from 2001 to 2012. She had previously served as President of Smith College from 1995 to 2001. Born in Grapeland, Texas, she grew up in Houston’s Fifth Ward where she graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School. She holds both a Master of Arts and Ph.D. degree in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. Simmons chairs the Board of Directors of the Holdsworth Center for Excellence in Education Leadership.
DA Kim Ogg announces results of protest case review
While George Floyd was being eulogized Tuesday, prosecutors wrapped up their week-long review of protest-related charges, dismissing 796 criminal cases as a result.
Fifth Ward Nonprofit Helps Provide 21,000 Meals for the Elderly
On April 13, Julia C. Hester House became a food sorting site for the Houston Food Bank and Harris County Precinct One serving seniors living in a food desert.
Say Sí to San Antonio This Summer
Starting June 15 and all summer long, it’s time to see and say si to San Antonio. The renowned Texas escape destination is making it easier and safer to enjoy much-deserved time to relax and have fun together. The Si San Antonio campaign provides travelers more than 150 individual offers from hotels, restaurants and attractions. Plus, to ensure the comfort and make the city safer, hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses are enhancing their health and safety protocols.
A Longer School Day and Maybe Classes on Saturdays: Top Officials Discusses Pandemic Impact on Fall Semester
Texas A&M’s Study Abroad Program Put on Hold
School days will run longer, and some students might have classes on Saturdays, but all of the universities in The Texas A&M University System will open in the fall with face-to-face instruction.
Houston Used Car Prices Have Dropped 4.69% During the Pandemic
The uncertainty precipitated by COVID-19 has affected every sector of the economy, including the automotive industry. Car dealerships are experiencing sharp declines in used car sales, as much of the country still remains under lockdown. While used car sales have always been prone to fluctuations, data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that retail used car sales plummeted more than 20 percent year-over-year in March even before the full effects of stay-at-home orders were realized. The last time that used car sales fell so precipitously was at the onset of the Great Recession in 2008.
Texas Used Car Prices Have Dropped 10th Most During the Pandemic
The uncertainty precipitated by COVID-19 has affected every sector of the economy, including the automotive industry. Car dealerships are experiencing sharp declines in used car sales, as much of the country still remains under lockdown. While used car sales have always been prone to fluctuations, data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that retail used car sales plummeted more than 20 percent year-over-year in March even before the full effects of stay-at-home orders were realized. The last time that used car sales fell so precipitously was at the onset of the Great Recession in 2008.
2 Alternatives For Struggling Retirees Who Don’t Want To Drain Their Savings
Financial professionals often have this word of advice when the market takes a tumble and your 401(k) and other retirement accounts lose value:
Nonprofits Hit by 6% Decline in Giving Due to COVID-19
If Trend Continues for the Rest of 2020, Nonprofits Will Lose More than $25 Billion
Giving to charitable organizations is down by 6% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same time last year, according to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project’s 2020 First Quarter Report.
“Tyler Perry's Palace of Versailles Mansion Sells To Steve Harvey”
Inventive, creative powerhouse Tyler Perry has charmed his film fans with his acting, writing and production skills generating massive wealth over $600 million well before the age of 50. He has homes in the Bahamas, Wyoming, Texas, Mulholland Estates in Los Angeles (currently on loan to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle), but chooses to live and work in Georgia on his 1,100-acre property where his film studios are located. Partial to the Atlanta area, his longtime home was a palatial mansion in the Paces Ferry community of Buckeye, which he built in 2007 on 17acres of prime land overlooking the Chattahoochee River. When he sold it for $17.5 million in 2016, it was the highest-priced home in the history of the city. That buyer has sold it once again for $15 million - still the highest-priced home in Atlanta.
Congressman Al Green Distributes Masks to Two Local Nursing Homes
On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:
First West Nile Virus Mosquito Sample found in Northwest Harris County
Mosquito Season is back – prevent the bite!
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has confirmed its first mosquito sample of West Nile virus (WNV) for the 2020 season. The WNV mosquito sample was identified in the northwest quadrant of Harris County. HCPH Mosquito and Vector Control Division (MVCD) began treatment to the area where the disease mosquitoes found on June 9, 2020 to reduce the risk of human infection. For an interactive map of cases and to check areas being treated for mosquito borne disease, please visit: https://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/Services-Programs/All-Services/Mosquito-Control-Services.
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.
