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Governor Abbott, Goldman Sachs, LiftFund Announce $50 Million in Loans For Texas Small Businesses

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Goldman Sachs and the LiftFund, along with other community development financial institutions (CDFIs), are partnering to provide $50 million in loans to small businesses in Texas that have been affected by COVID-19 as part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. These loans, made through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), will primarily be used for payroll so that employees can continue to receive paychecks and small businesses can retain their employees and will be partially or wholly forgiven.

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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Loni Love Welcomes #ClubQuarantine's D-Nice and Star of The Clark Sisters Biopic Kierra Sheard to #QuarantineWithLoni

In light of COVID-19, Emmy and 2x NAACP Image Award winner Loni Love has been providing fans an opportunity to escape for an hour a day. #QuarantineWithLoni is an Instagram Live series (via @ComicLoniLove) in which Love brings on fans to chat about how they are dealing with the 'stay at home' order. Many fans have checked in with her from around the world giving various perspectives of regulations within their country. To add some fun, fans look forward to playing the popular 'Shoutragous!' game as seen on "The Real" that requires blurting out things related to a specific topic before time runs out!

Tru by Hilton™ Lake Charles donating rooms

Lake Charles hotel participating in Hilton and American Express front-line medical professionals room donation program.

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and American Express (NYSE: AXP), recently announced in partnership with Hilton’s ownership community, will donate up to 1 million hotel room nights across the United States to front-line medical professionals leading the fight against COVID-19.

New Guidance about COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Beneficiaries from Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul

“The Treasury Department launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for eligible individuals who do not normally file a tax return, and also announced that it would begin making automatic payments. However, for some people receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration--specifically those who have dependent children under the age of 17--it is to their advantage to go to this portal to ensure they also get the $500 per dependent Economic Impact Payment. I encourage them to do this as soon as possible, and want to provide the following details:

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Quarantine And Winning Highlight: Certified Life Coach Jasmine Jackson Is Bringing A New Meaning To Being Savage

Atlanta-based Consulting firm founded by Jasmine Jackson is committed to assisting in finding their lane in quarantine and beyond.

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Astros Foundation Makes $100,000 Donation to Alex Bregman's FeedHou Campaign

Houston Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman received a $100,000 donation from the Astros Foundation to go towards his FEEDHOU fundraising campaign which benefits the Houston Food Bank.

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XFL Has No Plans For 2021 Season After Suspending Operations and Laying Off Employees

And just like that. It’s gone. Even with all the fanfare and major television backing, the XFL is no more. According to Field Yates from ESPN, the XFL is suspending all day-to-day operations and all league employees have been laid off. He spoke with XFL CEO Jeff Pollack who informed him of the decision.

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Kroger Houston Announces Partnership with Local Restaurants

Kroger Houston Division today announced their partnership with several local restaurants in an effort to support local businesses.

UNCF Update

We hope this finds you and your family well and staying safe. We write today to share a few updates and ask for your pledge to support it. To those of you who have already pledged your support, thank you. The COVID-19 crisis has certainly impacted all our lives and plans in unprecedented ways.

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Space Center Houston Provides Free Interactive Virtual Learning Experiences for the Everyday Explorer

The nonprofit Space Center Houston is adding to its wide range of virtual learning experiences for the everyday explorer to be a part of what’s happening now in space exploration. The center will take you beyond the museum walls and bring science learning to you – making science and space exploration accessible for everyone.

T.D. Jakes Presents: 'The Light,' An Easter Production

Special Production Retells Resurrection Story Through Various Music Genres

In the midst of worldwide hardship, The Potter's House will host its first digital-only Easter celebration to bring encouragement to millions around the world. A special Easter production titled The Light will be streamed online, broadcast on BET and distributed audibly through the iHeart Radio app.

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).

Ranchero King Buffet sponsors free drive-through Easter meal, grocery giveaway

Like all restaurants in Houston, Ranchero King Buffet is closed to help fight the spread of COVID-19. That isn't stopping owner Elias Duran from giving back this Easter weekend. Duran, Pepsico, Goya Foods, Cadence Bank, Hot Wings and Latino Learning Center are teaming up to give away free Easter meals and grocery items to anyone who shows up between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, April 11.

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Finding Ways to Say Goodbye in An Honorable Fashion

It’s our new normal for the unforeseeable future, standing in lines outside of grocery stores, wearing masks and gloves are now part of our daily attire, and minds are flooded with all-things coronavirus related as it is the top news story on every channel. A large population of the world is quarantined inside doing TikTok challenges, working from home, working out, stress eating, finding new hobbies, sleeping the days away, teaching their children, and worrying if they will run out of money. People are losing jobs, 401ks, and tens of thousands are being infected every other day.

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Mayor Turner Calls for a Day of Prayer in Houston

In times of crisis, no one wants to be along. We find comfort in leaning on each other. A sense of peace and protection comes over our bodies when we feel we are not alone. As more questions than answers fill our head we can become stressed, unglued, and lose our focus.

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Once Pandemic Passes, People of Conscience Must Step Up

In his famous letter from the Birmingham jail where he was arrested for demonstrating against segregation, Dr. King wrote, "I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. ... Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny."

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Texans Send Second-Round Draft Pick to The Rams In Exchange for Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks and 2022 Draft Pick

The Houston Texans are in the process of trading their second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the L.A. Rams for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 draft according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

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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.

National Education Nonprofit Offers Free Virtual Workshops during COVID-19 Pandemic

New Tech Network offers distance-learning workshops around social and emotional learning, curriculum design, student assessment and more

As communities across Texas face school closures due to the COVID-19 health crisis, New Tech Network (NTN) — a national education nonprofit and leading design partner for comprehensive K-12 school change — is offering four free virtual workshops to support teachers and school leaders to ensure academic continuity and authentic learning outside the classroom.