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The Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation Partners with City of Houston And Comp-U-Dopt to Help Close Digital Divide for Students Amid COVID-19
In response to the challenges of the digital divide and closing of schools due to COVID-19 precautions, Houston Rockets star, Russell Westbrook and his nonprofit organization, the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation has collaborated with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office of Education and Comp-U-Dopt to provide children and families with computers needed to access classwork and digital learning resources online.
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Quadvest Donates 1,500 Face Masks to Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
Quadvest, a local privately owned water and sewer utility company in Montgomery County, Texas, has taken the lead to donate 1,500 N95 surgeon masks to the Methodist Hospital in The Woodlands to help during this crisis with the COVID-19. With the communities experiencing this unprecedented time in history, Quadvest is flattening the curve and assisting healthcare providers and those who are most at risk.
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Gov. Abbott Unlawfully Exceeded Authority with Executive Order Limiting Jail Releases, Argues New Lawsuit
Governor Abbott unlawfully exceeded his constitutional authority by issuing an executive order that suspends the rights that individuals, who are presumed innocent, have while facing criminal prosecution, according to a new lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Texas, Texas Fair Defense Project, the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
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Harris County Attorney ready to take on price gouging
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan has set up a website for residents to file complaints about price gouging.
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New website gives specific location of COVID-19 cases in Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County today launched an updated website that gives the exact zip code, precinct and jurisdiction of people who test positive for COVID-19. To see the data, go to the response hub and look at the map on the right side of the dashboard. The map lands on cases by zip codes. Underneath the map, there is an arrow to toggle to jurisdiction and precinct.
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Prosecutors agree that death row inmate is not eligible to be executed because of intellectual disability
Prosecutors said Monday that a man who has been on death row for almost 20 years cannot be executed because he is intellectually disabled,
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Economic Assistance Available for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is offering two loan programs to provide small businesses immediate relief so they can keep their operations running. Both programs are being managed by the Houston-Galveston Area Local Development Corporation (H-GALDC).
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State of Emergency Declared: Coronavirus Is Airborne
Black America Sounds Alarm As Experts Reveal Cornavirus Is Airborne
Medical experts have also sounded the alarm that the virus could well be transmitted through the air. “Currently available research supports the possibility that (COVID-19) could be spread via bioaerosols generated directly by patients’ exhalation,” Harvey Fineberg, who heads a standing committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats, wrote in an April 1, 2020 letter to Kelvin Droegemeier, the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
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Mayor Turner Appoints – Mary Benton New Director of Communications
Mayor Sylvester Turner has appointed Mary Benton as the new Director of Communications effective immediately. Benton brings valuable years of experience in media relations, strategic communications, crisis communications, and social media strategy.
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Judicial Watch Sues to Force North Carolina to Clean Its Voter Rolls
Lawsuit Alleges North Carolina has Nearly One Million Inactive Voters
Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a lawsuit against North Carolina and two of its counties for failing to clean their voter rolls. According to Judicial Watch’s analysis of voter registration data, many of North Carolina’s 100 counties have large numbers of ineligible voters on their rolls. Judicial Watch also alleges that the States’ own data shows that North Carolina has nearly one million inactive voters on its rolls (Judicial Watch v. North Carolina and North Carolina State Board of Elections, et al. (No. 3:20-cv- 211)).
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The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Eighteen Harris County Elected Officials and Houston Branch of NAACP Joined Together Asking for An Investigation
The Texas Coalition of Black Democrats today joined eighteen elected state Democratic officials from Harris County and the Houston Branch of the N.A.A.C.P. in requesting that Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg and County Attorney Vince Ryan investigate the presence of a phantom candidate in the March 3rd Democratic Primary for House District 142, including empaneling a grand jury to do so, if needed.
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Frost to Donate $2 Million to Charities Across Texas & Yes to Youth Is One of Them
Funds will be spread across regions where Frost operates, helping pandemic relief efforts
Funds will be spread across regions where Frost operates, helping pandemic relief efforts
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Therapist Ashley Scott’s Workspace Incorporates Shower Curtain, Family Dog, Plenty of Patience
Reinventing her office space during COVID-19 is an exercise in creativity for Harris County Department of Education occupational therapist Ashley Scott.
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Commissioner Rodney Ellis Supports Harris County’s Decision to Close Parks on Easter Weekend
Decision Necessary to Stop Spread of COVID-19 During One of Busiest Weekends for Parks
To stop the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19, Harris County has taken a precautionary measure to close its parks during the Easter weekend.
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Houston Community College Creates Community Partnership to Address Protective Gear Shortages in Houston
Houston Community College (HCC) announced that San Jacinto College, University of Houston at Sugar Land, Fort Bend County Judge’s Office, TX/RX Labs, Alief ISD and Houston ISD have joined efforts to help address personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages for local area medical professionals and first responders in the fight against COVID-19.
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An Update from Council Member Davis
Reminder that the deadline for the 2020 census has been extended! Please fill it out here! It is important to fill it out for the City of Houston to receive the proper funding in the coming years! If you are unable to fill it out online, call 844-330-2020 for English or call 844-468-2020 for Spanish!
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METRO Active in Fight Against Spread of COVID-19
METRO is playing an active role in supporting city and county leaders as well as public health officials in the fight against COVID-19 (the coronavirus). From transporting one-third of Texas Medical Center employees to work to providing relief buses for health care workers at COVID-19 testing sites, METRO continues to adapt for the health and safety of our community.
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Mayor Turner Appoints New Director of Communications
Mayor Sylvester Turner has appointed Mary Benton as the new Director of Communications effective immediately. Benton brings valuable years of experience in media relations, strategic communications, crisis communications, and social media strategy.
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Gov. Abbott Unlawfully Exceeded Authority With Executive Order Limiting Jail Releases, Argues New Lawsuit
Governor Abbott unlawfully exceeded his constitutional authority by issuing an executive order that suspends the rights that individuals, who are presumed innocent, have while facing criminal prosecution, according to a new lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Texas, Texas Fair Defense Project, the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
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Construction Layoffs Spread Rapidly As Coronavirus Shuts Down Projects, In Contrast To Job Gains Through February In Most Metros
Association Officials Urge Quick Enactment of Infrastructure Investment, Relief for Hard-Hit Firms and Pensions in Order to Save Jobs in Construction and Supplier Industries
More than a quarter of construction firms responding to an online survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America last week reported they had furloughed or terminated jobsite workers because of the coronavirus pandemic. The finding contrasts starkly with the association’s analysis of government data released today that showed a majority of the nation’s metro areas added construction jobs through February.
