Action Needed for Social Security Beneficiaries with Dependents and Who Do Not File Tax Returns to Receive $500 Per Child Payment
“Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who don’t file tax returns will start receiving their automatic Economic Impact Payments directly from the Treasury Department soon. People receiving benefits who did not file 2018 or 2019 taxes, and have qualifying children under age 17, however, should not wait for their automatic $1,200 individual payment.
COVID-19 Response Plans for Connecting More Residents, Businesses at the State and Community Level
Connected Nation (CN) is providing a new resource for state and community leaders that will help them identify immediate and simple solutions for connecting more residents and businesses during COVID-19 quarantines.
Austin nonprofit Interfaith Action of Central Texas presents 'Courage to Hope,' a virtual fundraiser and celebration of community, May 12
‘Courage to Hope’ to be live streamed via Zoom; the uplifting evening will honor Cookie Ruiz (Executive Director of Ballet Austin), The City of Austin and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and will feature a live performance by Jimmie Dale Gilmo
McDonald’s Celebrates Healthcare Workers & First Responders with Free Thank You Meals
Frontline heroes can enjoy free meals at participating U.S. McDonald’s restaurants
In appreciation for the healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters and paramedics who are committed to our health and safety, McDonald’s will offer free Thank You Meals*, between Wednesday, April 22 and Tuesday, May 5, as a token of appreciation for their selfless service.
Tune In: Aspire TV's "My Brother, My Friend" Film Block
Independent Film Series, In Partnership with Damn Write Originals, Airs Every Tuesday at 8pm ET on Aspire TV
Tomorrow night, Aspire TV, in partnership with Damn Write Originals, will present the third installment of its new weekly independent film series, the 2020 Urban Indie Film Block. The network’s 2020 programming block features the best of urban short films by up and coming filmmakers, and presents passionate stories that touch upon a variety of themes and genres including romance, friendship, drama, human connection, comedy, action and sci-fi.
Legacy Community Health Now Offering Online Vision Appointments for Existing Patients
Legacy vision specialists available via telehealth for limited services
Legacy Community Health now offers remote vision appointments via telehealth – which Legacy is calling TeleVision – for a limited list of services during the COVID-19 pandemic. While in-person vision exams are not possible at this time, existing patients can video- or teleconference with a vision specialist about eye irritation, swelling or discomfort, or other eye-related issues that may arise and can help avoid a visit to the emergency room.
Judge KP George Announces Program for PPE Donations for COVID-19
County Judge KP George announced Monday guidelines for a program to coordinate donations of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) with the most needed recipients to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. The purpose of the Fort Bend program is streamline the donation processes and ensure needed supplies get to the appropriate entities in a timely and orderly manner.
Harris Health Sees Virtual Care Success in the Midst of Coronavirus Response
As the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease wreaks havoc on our community and healthcare system, telemedicine and virtual care have quickly become important tools to safely treat patients and contain the spread of infection at hospitals and health centers. In response, Harris Health System has conducted nearly 20,000 virtual visits since mid-March using its enhanced Virtual Care Program.
Rice awards first COVID-19 research grants
Diagnostics, detection, better masks and voter safety among initial targets
The Rice University COVID-19 Research Fund Oversight and Review Committee announced it will support projects to develop affordable diagnostic tools, seals to maximize the efficiency of surgical masks, a system to identify signs of the coronavirus in Houston wastewater and methods to ensure voter safety this fall.
CAIR-Houston Trump’s ‘Divisive and Insulting’ Attempt to Target American Muslims During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemned President Trump’s promotion of a notorious anti-Muslim bigot’s tweet questioning whether U.S. mosques will be treated differently during the upcoming month of Ramadan than churches were treated during Easter amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
Governor Abbott, Texas National Guard Announce COVID-19 Mobile Testing Sites
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas National Guard will be mobilizing more than 1,200 personnel as part of COVID-19 mobile testing teams (MTT). The 45 member teams will be mobilized in various parts of the state providing greater access to medical testing. The areas for these MTTs will be identified by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) with the first two of the 25 teams deployed to Fredericksburg and Floresville, Texas. The remaining 23 teams will be deployed to additional locations based on assessments made by DSHS.
Fifth Circuit allows Texas to once again enforce ban on elective procedures against chemical abortions
As part of an ongoing legal battle, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has once again rebuked a lower federal district court, allowing Texas to enforce a ban on elective medical procedures against chemical abortions as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. This ruling effectively prohibits 98.5% of elective abortions in Texas until further notice in an effort to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and hospital capacity to respond to the coronavirus.
HISD, Houston Food Bank distribute over 280,000 pounds of food Saturday at NRG
When HISD Nutrition Services Senior Operations Manager Keith Lewis drove up to NRG Stadium Saturday for the massive food distribution effort, he wasn’t nervous. He was excited.
Young readers are invited to follow the adventures of ‘Frances The Magical Fairy and the Baby Gosling’
Tom Nelson sets a new marketing push for his 2019 children's book
Multi-published author Tom Nelson launches a new press campaign for “Frances the Magical Fairy and the Baby Gosling” (published by iUniverse), the second volume of a children’s book series that follows the adventures of a magical fairy who spends her life providing magic to help those in need of help.
New memoir follows the lives of an American family in South America during the 1960s
Ginny Tschanz announces the publication of ‘Under the Condor’s Wing’
The adventures of an American family in South America are recounted through their letters written during the 1960s in the new memoir “Under the Condor’s Wing: A Memoir of South America” (published by Lulu) by Ginny Tschanz. The memoir is the portrait of a marriage in which husband and wife adapt differently to extreme changes in culture, language and geography.
FIREDISC® Donates Cookers in Support of Katy, Texas, Fire Departments
During the difficult times our country is currently facing, firefighters continue to risk their lives and health in order to provide the communities they serve with primary fire and emergency medical services. From Thursday, April 16 through Monday, April 20, Griff and Hunter Jaggard, co-founders of FIREDISC® Cookers, visited fire stations in their hometown of Katy, Texas, to deliver brand-new cookers for the crews to enjoy.
Burrell Communications Group Launches New "Black is Human" Campaign to Address the Disparity of COVID-19 Impact on the African American Community
"For Jason" PSA Honors Detroit Transit Hero Whose Life Was Cut Short Due to COVID-19 Complications
In response to the devastating impact COVID-19 continues to have on the African American community, Burrell Communications Group will release a video PSA entitled "For Jason" as part of its "Black is Human" initiative. The PSA pays tribute to Detroit Transit Authority veteran, Jason Hargrove, who died in late March from COVID-19 complications after posting an impassioned plea for public safety via (Facebook) social media.
Beyond Walls Gospel Radio (BWGR) Station Launches New Interactive Website for Listeners to Connect with Christian Music and Sermons During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Offers a Platform for Pastors and Artists to Gain Worldwide Exposure
In this scary and uncertain time, people are trapped at home practicing social distancing due to the new COVID-19 aka coronavirus pandemic. In most parts of the world, citizens are not able to attend their church services in a physical building. Not being able to worship, connect and interact with other church members can cause anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Sekou Andrews Adds Independent Music Awards To List Of Accolades
GRAMMY® award-nominated and renowned poet SEKOU ANDREWS adds two (2) nominations to his growing list of awards from Independent Music Awards for the inspirational "BE VOICEFUL," which receives a nomination for "Best Spoken Word Song," and for his EP SEKOU ANDREWS & THE STRING THEORY, which snags a nod for "Best Spoken Word Album." Sekou joins a list of luminary nominees, including Lucinda Williams, Steven Van Zandt, and more.
11-Year- Old African-American Girl Publishes Self-Illustrated Activity Book aimed to Instill Confidence in Young Girls
Little Black Pearls For Little Black Girls, Activity Book Now Available for Purchase on Amazon
Your Hair is a SuperPower and you should love and celebrate it. So shares 11-year-old author, illustrator, YouTuber and motivational sensation Kennedy Jordan Turner. This pearl of wisdom is just one of the featured parts of Turner’s new book: Little Black Pearls for Little Black Girls which she illustrated herself and is now available for order on Amazon.
