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Social Security Combined Trust Funds Projection Remains the Same Says Board of Trustees

Projections in 2020 Report Do Not Reflect the Potential Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the long-term financial status of the Social Security Trust Funds. The combined asset reserves of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance (OASI and DI) Trust Funds are projected to become depleted in 2035, the same as projected last year, with 79 percent of benefits payable at that time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Houston Diamond Buyer Providing Quick Cash to Bridge Financial Gap

The Coronavirus/COVID-19 has Americans bracing for impact as the repercussions of “non-essential” businesses temporarily closing their physical doors are being felt where it hurts the most – the wallet. Diamond Buyers company is helping people get quick cash by offering high market prices to those selling fine jewelry.

D.L. Hughley and Friends to Headline First-Ever Virtual Comedy Show, ‘CEEK VR presents The Laugh Experience’

Comedy’s biggest names come together for a first-of-its-kind, livestream comedy festival, “CEEK VR presents: The Laugh Experience.” The star-studded series kicks off and will be live streamed online and in VR on Friday, May 1st, at 9:00 p.m. EST exclusively on CEEK.com and on the CEEK VR app (available in the App Store and Google Play) with sets from D.L. Hughley, Chris Spencer and more. To create an account, visit www.ceek.com to register.

'Mind-blowing carnage in US oil prices makes little sense,' says Baker Institute expert

Prices for U.S. crude oil for May delivery turned negative Monday — something that has never happened since oil futures began trading in 1983.

Atlanta Public Schools Partners with I’m a Father F1rst to Deliver Free “Meals of Love” to Families in Need During COVID-19 Pandemic

Even though school is not in session, the lessons and love continue with an impactful collaboration between the Atlanta Public Schools and local nonprofit I’m a Father F1rst: The organizations are partnering to ensure families have access to nutritious chef-prepared meals. More than 500 students and family members in the Douglass and Washington High School districts have enjoyed food delivery since schools closed due to the pandemic in March.

Humble ISD Teams Up with Harris County Public Library to Modernize Reading and Literacy Through eBooks and Audiobooks

Shared goal to promote digital learning in the community

In this mobile age, technology has become increasingly valuable in supporting new generations of lifelong learners and readers. Now, Humble ISD and Harris County Public Library (HCPL) have formed an innovative new partnership using eBooks and digital audiobooks to modernize access to reading materials for students. This unique collaboration strives to promote literacy and digital learning by providing unprecedented access to both the schools’ and HCPL’s digital reading resources in one app. The combination of convenience, ease of reading on-the-go, and the inherent popularity of technology inspires students to learn anytime, anywhere.

HISD to broadcast virtual town hall meeting for students pursuing college

On Tuesday, April 28, the Houston Independent School District will broadcast a virtual town hall meeting to assist students pursuing postsecondary education options during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation Launches Emergency COVID-19 Response Fund

Kroger and The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation aim to direct $10 million to local, state and national relief organizations

The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has committed more than $6 million to date to nonprofit partners addressing urgent COVID-19 response efforts, including:

The Center for Pursuit receives grant from Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund to assist clients in need

Joint effort between United Way of Greater Houston and Greater Houston Community Foundation

The Center for Pursuit, Houston’s largest not-for-profit organization serving adults with intellectual and development disabilities (I/DD), has received a grant from the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund, a joint effort by United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The first round of the fund will distribute $1.5 million among 30 nonprofit organizations with constituents who need urgent access to food and emergency financial assistance due to COVID-19.

Organizing and Town Halls

Upcoming events include sessions on "COVID and the Class of 2020 - Black Students' Transitions to College and Work" (New America Indianapolis, Apr. 21) and “Under the Blacklight Part Five” (African American Policy Forum, Apr. 22) on ways to protect the most vulnerable populations).

The COVID-19 Racial Divide

As more states release racial demographic information (29 states so far according to The Atlantic), newly released studies show that 31% of Black adults are very concerned about getting COVID-19 compared to 18% of White adults (Pew Research Study conducted April 7 – April 12, 2020). See this Associated Press chart of 24 states and the District of Columbia showing the disproportionate effect on Black communities in each jurisdiction.

Political Studies & COVID-19

Last Wednesday, the Joint Center hosted an online briefing on accessible vote-by-mail and safe in-person voting for Black communities. The session explored safeguards to ensure an accessible vote-by-mail system that does not dilute Black votes (e.g., prepaid postage, a postmark deadline of Election Day, the ability for third parties to collect and return sealed ballots, and quick notification of and ability to remedy any signature matching issues—see this Brennan Center brief showing vote-by-mail racial disparities without these safeguards). Participants also discussed the need to maintain sanitized and uncrowded in-person polling places for those who choose not to vote-by-mail.

Economic Studies & COVID-19

Last week 5.2 million workers filed for unemployment in a single week (CNN), bringing the total number of filings near 22 million in the past four weeks. This was more than five times worse than the worst 4-week stretch of the Great Recession.

Interim COVID-19 Stimulus This Week, Larger Bill Possible Later

Right now, Members of Congress and the Trump Administration continue to negotiate a $450 billion “interim” COVID-19 bill that could be passed this week. The new bill could provide an additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses and nonprofits (the program ran out of funds last Thursday). House and Senate Democrats are pushing to direct some of the funds to minority-owned and rural businesses, and to add more for hospitals and enhanced COVID-19 testing capacity. The interim bill is smaller than the $2 trillion CARES Act signed in late March. For more, see the New York Times, CNN & Politico.

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