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Harris County to End Unjust OmniBase Program That Will Give Tens of Thousands of Vulnerable Residents Their Drivers Licenses Back

The Program Currently has Holds on an Estimated 550,000 Driver’s Licenses in the Greater Houston Area

For Harris County residents, having access to a car is indispensable for daily activities such as getting to work, to a doctor’s appointment, and to pick up necessities like groceries. Particularly as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, and people are increasingly at-risk of losing their jobs, having access to safe and reliable transportation is critical. A recent report, Driven by Debt: Houston, estimated that not only does this program impact hundreds of thousands of drivers in the Greater Houston area, but that those impacted are disproportionately Black and low-income residents.

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The IRS' online filing system is having problems ... on tax day

It's tax day — and the IRS is experiencing technical difficulties. The service that taxpayers use to file online is partly down, according to Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter.

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Court Blocks Texas General Land Office, From Seizing Control of City Harvey Funds

Mayor Announces That Program Will Continue Helping Houstonians Repair Harvey Damages

In a significant victory for Houstonians with homes damaged during Harvey, Mayor Sylvester Turner today announced that the City of Houston won a temporary injunction to stop the Texas General Land Office and GLO Commissioner George P. Bush from removing over $1.2 billion in Hurricane Harvey disaster relief from the City.

Mayor Turner Joined by Houston Leaders to Announce Free Screenings for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Today at a press conference, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced an upcoming free screening for prostate cancer and commemorated the launch of September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in Texas. The Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Health Department, Harris Health Systems, Hope for Families, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and District D City Councilman Dwight Boykins have partnered for the Annual Prostate Screening event on Saturday, September 28th from 9:00AM – 3:00PM at Good Hope MBC at 3015 N. MacGregor Way.

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HHSC Encourages Screenings During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Aware- ness Month and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is encouraging women to get screened regularly for the disease. “Breast cancer screenings can save a woman’s life and mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat,” said Rob Ries, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Family Health Services. “As we bring awareness to this issue, we’re urging women to make time for their health and to get screened regularly.”

Successful Gun Buyback Collects More Than 700 Firearms

THe One Safe Houston Gun Buyback collected more than 700 firearms and distributed nearly $100,000 in gift cards by 5 p.m. Saturday, July 30.

New Study Takes an Unprecedented Look at Being Black in Corporate America Despite billions spent on diversity and inclusion, new research from the Center for Talent Innovation finds that black profes

Corporate America needs to awaken to the challenges faced by black professionals, according to a new study published today by nonprofit think tank the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI).

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Who can take the newly available over-the-counter birth control pill?

The first oral contraceptive approved for over-the-counter use in the United States will become available in stores and online this month. The medication, known as Opill, has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $19.99 for a one-month supply and $49.99 for a three-month supply.

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'I'm married now': Adele Confirms Marriage to Longtime Partner at Concert

British pop star Adele has ended months of speculation by confirming that she is married.

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40% of people with HIV transmit most new infections in the US, a new analysis says. Here's the plan to stop the spread

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday detailed its new initiative to reduce new human immunodeficiency virus infections in the United States by at least 90% over 10 years.

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Should rare cases of heart inflammation put your COVID-19 vaccine plans on hold?

A possible link between some COVID-19 vaccines and heart inflammation bears close monitoring, but it's no reason for parents or their teenage children to avoid vaccination.

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How to Make Sense Of the School Choice Debate

During her time as education secretary, Betsy DeVos has made it very clear she supports educational choice. This week, she even went as far as calling opponents of the movement "flat earthers" who are holding America's children back.

Why Biden is making more progress on economic than social issues

The magnitude of the economic proposals that President Joe Biden may pass through Congress this year is drawing legitimate comparisons to Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal and Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society.

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“Mabel and Sam at Home” by Linda Urban, illustrated by Hadley Hooper

That’s what it said on the side of the box. Don’t shake it, don’t bump it, and whatever you do, don’t drop it. What’s inside there is important enough for careful lifting but, as you’ll see in the new book, “Mabel and Sam at Home” by Linda Urban, illustrated by Hadley Hooper, the box itself isn’t just a box.

Teacher shot in Uvalde massacre recalls horror inside classroom where 11 of 19 slain students were killed

A teacher who was wounded in last month's massacre at a Texas elementary school told ABC his students were watching a movie when they heard gunshots -- and asked him what was going on.

A new Google Doodle honors the history-making Native American comedian Charlie Hill

Google honored barrier-breaking comedian Charlie Hill, the first Native American comic to appear on national TV, with a Doodle on what would've been his 71st birthday.

Your Book Is Worthy of Recognition

Have you written a book, had it published, and want to bring more attention to it? We have an avenue that might be of interest to you: The International Latino Book Awards are the largest Latino book and cultural awards in the world. The Awards celebrates books by and about Latinos written in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The Awards are produced by Empowering Latino Futures/Latino Literacy Now, a 501c3 nonprofit organization I co-founded with Kirk Whisler in 1997.

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HPLQ Reading Series Presents: A Talk & Tasting Featuring Bestselling Author Chitra Divakaruni

Houston Public Library Quarterly (HPLQ) Reading Series will be featuring a A Talk and Tasting with bestselling author Chitra Divakaruni. Divakaruni will be discussing her most recent novel Before We Visit the Goddess. There will be light bites and book signing. This event is free. Reserve Your Seat Today! For details visit www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.

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Women's History Month Special Feature: Author Pamela D. Smith Uses Her Literary Talent To Evangelize, Coach, and Mentor Women

Pamela D. Smith teaches ways to live a whole life through her books, coaching, and mentoring and she teaches other women and authors to do the same.

5 Ways Families Can Reduce Summer Learning Loss for Back to School

Post-summer “brain drain” or summer learning loss for students is real, according to Harris County Department of Education Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment for Kids (CASE for Kids) Director Lisa Thompson-Caruthers. Most teachers spend at least three weeks re-teaching last year’s lessons at the beginning of each school year, she said.