Houston to spend millions to relocate residents living near polluted Union Pacific rail yard
Houston's mayor says the city plans to spend millions of dollars to relocate residents from neighborhoods located near a rail yard polluted by a cancer-linked wood preservative that has been blamed for an increase in cancer cases.
Houston ISD families blast the stateโs takeover of the district as an intervention that wonโt improve student learning
Parents and students of the Houston Independent School District decried the stateโs decision to take control of the school system. Despite the news, many questions remain about how it would affect them.
Houston wanted to lead the nation in long-term affordable housing. Now itโs backpedaling.
Houstonโs community land trust was once touted as an innovative way to address its housing crisis. But city leaders slashed its funding by half as bureaucracy bogged down the program and enthusiasm dwindled.
After cancer-causing chemicals were found in Fifth Ward soil, Houston mayor says cleanup plans are inadequate
The cityโs health department found dioxins in soil samples along the fence line of a Union Pacific rail yard. Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival that plans to clean up the contamination should now include relocating residents.
NRA stages big gun show in Texas days after school massacre
The National Rifle Association begins its annual convention in Houston on Friday, and leaders of the powerful gun-rights lobbying group are gearing up to โreflect onโ -- and deflect any blame for -- the deadly shooting earlier this week of 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Mourning starts as Houston officials probe concert deaths
Mourners began building a memorial to those lost at a Texas concert as authorities said they would watch video, interview witnesses and review concert protocols to determine how eight people died when fans suddenly surged toward the stage to watch rapper Travis Scott.
Nicholas, now tropical storm, may cause deadly flash floods in parts of Texas, Louisiana
Tropical Storm Nicholas has weakened to a tropical depression as it slowed to a crawl over southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana as its heavy rains continued to drench the area, maintaining a flood threat.
Local mask mandates pop up in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbottโs executive order banning COVID-19 restrictions
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is the most recent official to defy the governorโs order. He announced Monday that the cityโs nearly 22,000 city employees will be required to mask up inside city buildings where social distancing is not doable.
Houston area getting little of $1B in Harvey flood aid
Houston area officials are expressing shock and anger after learning their communities, which suffered the brunt of damage from Hurricane Harvey, will be getting a fraction of $1 billion that Texas is awarding as part of an initial distribution of federal funding given to the state for flood mitigation.
Congress questions Texas officials about power grid failure
Congress is looking into the cause of the power blackouts across Texas last month. A House panel planned to hear Wednesday, March 24, 2021, from officials who oversee the state's energy industry and electric grid. (AP Photo/LM Otero File)DALLAS โ Congress is looking into last monthโs massive and deadly power outages across Texas and questioning officials who oversee the stateโs energy industry and electric grid. After outages in February 2011, Robbโs group recommended that Texas power plants needed better protection against winter storms. AdHouston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the Texas grid was designed for peak summer heat, and policymakers wrongly believed that the 2011 severe winter storm was an anomaly.
Houston police Chief Art Acevedo lands top Miami job; mayor calls him the Tom Brady of police chiefs
โWe went out and got what I feel is America's best chief," said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez standing alongside Acevedo at a news conference Monday after describing him to The Miami Herald as the Tom Brady or Michael Jordan of police chiefs. He is replacing Chief Jorge Colina, who retired in February, becoming Miamiโs fifth chief the past decade. And Acevedo announced a few weeks after the raid that the police department would no longer use no-knock warrants. AdOn Monday, Acevedo acknowledged the problem with bad policing and said he thought he brings a new perspective to the Miami Police Department. "Do not confuse kindness for weakness," Acevedo said regarding his gestures over the past year to advocate for police reform.
Suit seeks to stop massive $7 billion highway project in Houston
A protester holds a sign during a July 23, 2019, news conference in Houston where community advocates called for a delay in plans to expand Interstate 45. HOUSTON โ A federal lawsuit was filed Thursday to stop a massive $7 billion highway widening project in Houston that local officials and community advocates say wonโt improve the areaโs traffic congestion and will disproportionately impact minority residents who would be displaced by the proposed construction. The proposed 10-year construction project would improve 24 miles along Interstate 45 and several other roadways, with a major remaking of how these thoroughfares go through downtown Houston. This project displaces communities and the project is bad for our health,โ Hidalgo said. โThey are supposed to study and incorporate the feedback from the community before they bulldoze the community into a project that is not appropriate,โ Hidalgo said.
Austin officials say they'll continue requiring masks in public โ but it's unclear how they'll be able to enforce the rule
Austin Mayor Steve Adler says enforcement of the mask rule will be limited. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneAustin and Travis County public health leaders say that they will continue requiring residents to wear masks in public, even though Gov. Austin authorities acknowledged that city governments alone can't impose mask orders, but argued that public health authorities can. Escott is the appointed public health physician and expert to whom our community entrusts our public health," Adler said. In a video message posted to Facebook late Tuesday, Adler said it's a Class C misdemeanor to violate the public health order.
Join The Texas Tribune for an interview with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on the role that Texas cities play in combating climate change
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner joins The Texas Tribune for a live event on March 11Cities are key contributors to climate change, as transportation, buildings and power plants are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Join The Texas Tribune at noon Central March 11 for a live interview with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, chair of the Climate Mayors coalition. AdTheyโll discuss the role that cities play in combating climate change and preparing for climate emergencies, such as hurricanes and winter storms. Previously, Turner served in the Texas House, representing parts of Houston, for more than 20 years. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.
Biden to visit storm-ravaged Texas Friday
President Joe Biden speaks about the 500,000 Americans that died from COVID-19, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Washington. AdHouston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Sunday on CBS' โFace the Nationโ the state of Texas should bear those โexorbitant costs," rather than residents. Biden previously tweeted about Texas and the other affected states, received regular updates from his staff and declared states of emergency in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Biden spoke to the governors of the seven states most affected by the winter weather. Biden said last week that he hoped to travel to Texas but he didn't want his presence and the accompanying presidential entourage to distract from the recovery.
In Texas, attention turns to storm repairs, political peril
Her kitchen appeared mostly undamaged, but the plumber that cut into Espinozaโs wall found water had been pouring in underneath the floor. Many residents are unsure when they'll be able to make permanent repairs, what they'll have to pay out of pocket or even when they'll be able to go home. Roberto Valerio, a plumber in North Texas, said the broken pipes and other problems caused by the storm had led to โbig chaos.โโWe canโt find what we need easily,โ he said. His office encouraged out-of-state plumbers to come fix Texas pipes. A rushing sound could be heard in Espinozaโs kitchen Saturday night, when Valerio turned the water back on.
Rockets-Pacers game postponed because of Texas storm
Houston Rockets' John Wall, bottom, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Philadelphia. All rights reservedHOUSTON โ The game between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night was postponed because of continued utility shortages in the area from this weekโs winter storm. Fridayโs game against Dallas was called off on Thursday. The team said the decision was made after discussions with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and the NBA. ___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Southern cities hit hard by storms face new crisis: No water
About 260,000 homes and businesses in the Tennessee county that includes Memphis were told to boil water because of water main ruptures and pumping station problems. And water pressure problems prompted Memphis International Airport to cancel all incoming and outgoing Friday flights. Paul Lee Davis got to the front of the line at a water station set up by city officials only to have the water run out. Water service was restored Friday to two Houston Methodist community hospitals, but officials still were bringing in drinking water and some elective surgeries were canceled, spokeswoman Gale Smith said. AdMore than 192,000 Louisiana residents -- some still struggling to recover from last August's Hurricane Laura -- had no water service Friday, according to the state health department.
โA complete bungleโ: Texasโ energy pride goes out with cold
But hours after those assurances, the number of outages in Texas only rose, at one point exceeding 4 million customers. Forcing controlled outages was the only way to avert an even more dire blackout in Texas, Magness said. The outages are the widest Texas' grid has suffered but hardly a first in winter. A decade ago, another deep February freeze created power shortages in Texas the same week the Super Bowl was played in Arlington. A federal report later flagged failures in the system, including power plants that are unable to stand up to extreme cold.
Power outages linger for millions as another icy storm looms
Nearly 3.4 million customers around the U.S. were still without electricity, and some also lost water service. More than 100 million people live in areas covered by some type of winter weather warning, watch or advisory, the weather service said. Weather-related outages have been particularly stubborn in Oregon, where some customers have been without power for almost a week. At the peak of the storm, more than 350,000 customers in the Portland area were in the dark. In Oregon, authorities confirmed Tuesday that four people died in the Portland area of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Power outages linger for millions as another icy storm looms
Weather-related outages have been particularly stubborn in Oregon, where some customers have been without power for almost a week. The worst U.S. outages by far have been in Texas, where 3 million homes and businesses remained without power as of midday Wednesday. AdThe president of the Texas power grid manager, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said he hoped many customers would see at least partial service restored by later Wednesday or Thursday. At the peak of the storm, more than 350,000 customers in the Portland area were in the dark. In Oregon, authorities confirmed Tuesday that four people died in the Portland area of carbon monoxide poisoning.
'A complete bungle': Texas' energy pride goes out with cold
AdBut hours after those assurances, the number of outages in Texas only rose, at one point exceeding 4 million customers. The outages are the widest Texas' grid has suffered but hardly a first in winter. A decade ago, another deep February freeze created power shortages in Texas the same week the Super Bowl was played in Arlington. AdOn Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Texas had requested 60 generators and that hospitals and nursing homes would get priority. โThereโs a serious lack of preparation on the part of the energy companies to not be ready,โ Murdoch said.
Texas likely to partner with FEMA for vaccine โsuper sitesโ
(AP Photo/LM Otero)AUSTIN, Texas โ Texas will likely partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to open two vaccination โsupersitesโ in Dallas and Houston, and more could be on the way, Gov. The mutated version of the virus spreads more easily, and health officials worry vaccines could be less effective against it. The governor said adding more sites is possible, but his office did not immediately release further details, including whether that meant Texas would get more vaccine doses or if those sites would pull vaccine from other areas. AdThe announcement came one month after the first new known COVID-19 variant, one first identified in the United Kingdom, was identified in Houston. Meantime, the Texas COVID-19 death toll rose to 38,700.
Street mural unveiled in Houston honoring George Floyd
HOUSTON โ A street mural honoring George Floyd was unveiled Saturday in Houston along two blocks of the street that passes in front of Jack Yates High School, where Floyd was a student. Floydโs death last year in Minneapolis after being pinned to the ground under a white officerโs knee helped spark summer long protests against police brutality. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner called the mural "another public statement that the life and death of George Floyd is not in vain.โThe mural is to spell out โBlack Lives Matterโ with Floydโs high school football jersey and the school mascot at either end. The mural was commissioned by Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Houston Society for Change and a non-profit social activism organization formed by Floydโs former high school football teammates called 88 C.H.U.M.P.
Texas to get more vaccine doses than expected this week
The Houston Health Department has said that this week it will focus its vaccine allocation on people at the highest risk for severe illness and those in vulnerable communities. The state has received nearly 2.9 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the COVID Tracking Project. Texas providers have administered nearly 2.3 million doses of vaccine, according to the state health department. On Sunday, Texas health officials reported 11,155 new and probable coronavirus cases and 171 more deaths due to the illness caused by the virus. There have been nearly 2.1 million virus cases and 36,491 deaths as a result of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to the Texas health department.
Rapper Bow Wow apologizes for attending packed Texas nightclub
FILE - Bow Wow attends WE TV's "Bridezillas" Season 11 premiere party on Feb. 22, 2018, in New York. HOUSTON โ Rapper Bow Wow apologized after Houstonโs mayor called him out for attending a crowded gathering at a city nightclub during a weekend packed with concerts as Texas continues to grapple with the coronavirus. I cant believe i get the blame for a whole weekend,โ Bow Wow tweeted Monday morning. It was my boys 30th bday weekend and i came down off the love โ Bow Wow (@smoss) January 19, 20213. โ Bow Wow (@smoss) January 19, 2021But Turner made clear that he doesnโt dislike Bow Wow and said the pandemic is not the time for concerts.
The Latest: Hawaii says scarcity hinders vaccination efforts
(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)HONOLULU โ Hawaiiโs leaders say limited supply is the main thing constraining distribution of the coronavirus vaccine in the state. He said the sites have set the vaccine doses aside and will receive replacement doses on Tuesday and Wednesday. ___TORONTO โ Canadian officials say the country wonโt be getting any Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine next week and 50% less than expected over the next month. U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer confirmed last week it would temporarily reduce deliveries to Europe and Canada of its COVID-19 vaccine while it upgrades production capacity. ___JERUSALEM โ Israelโs Cabinet on Tuesday extended an existing nationwide lockdown through the end of January as the country contends with a runaway surge in coronavirus cases.
Mayor Nirenberg joins other Texas mayors in requesting more COVID-19 vaccines from Biden administration
SAN ANTONIO โ With President-elect Joe Biden taking office in less than a week, mayors across the U.S. are already requesting more COVID-19 vaccines from his administration. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and several other mayors across the nation, including Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, penned a letter to Bidenโs administration requesting the ability to bypass the state and get a direct line of vaccines to their communities. โIโm proud to join my mayoral colleagues in requesting that the Biden Administration prioritize a direct line of vaccines to our communities,โ Mayor Nirenberg said on social media Thursday. Bidenโs plan so far is to spend $25 billion on vaccine production and disbursement, NPR reports. Mayors said in the letter that they hope to develop a plan with the Biden administration on day one that will help residents to get their COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible.
State takes over Houston's Harvey home repair program
The state took over the program this week and Torres and other residents who have applied for assistance say theyโre worried that could lead to yet more delays. A third of the funding โ nearly $428 million โ went to a program for home repair and reconstruction. Harvey dumped up to 50 inches (1.3 meters) of rain on the Houston area following landfall on Aug. 25, 2017. In the Houston area, Harvey flooded more than 150,000 homes, with more than 16,000 residents identified as potentially needing repair help. In its own program, the land office has fixed more than 2,000 homes and has approved nearly 2,900 reimbursements statewide.
Close call with storm renews debate over Houston barrier
Bill Merrell, a professor in the Marine Sciences Department at Texas A&M University at Galveston and a former president of the school, sits along Galveston Bay as he talks about the Ike Dike project Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Galveston, Texas. The Ike Dike is a coastal barrier that, when completed, would protect the Houston-Galveston region including Galveston Bay from hurricane storm surge. The project was conceived by Merrell in response to the extensive surge damage caused by Hurricane Ike in September of 2008. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Close call with storm renews debate over Houston barrier
The Ike Dike is a coastal barrier that, when completed, would protect the Houston-Galveston region including Galveston Bay from hurricane storm surge. Now the close call has renewed a debate about whether the Houston area should build a massive and expensive barrier to protect against storm surge. Galveston Bay is healthy, and fish and other animals thrive there because water circulates in and out of the gulf, said Bob Stokes, president of the Galveston Bay Foundation environmental group. โNo hurricane storm surge barrier will ever protect us from 150 mph winds. No hurricane storm surge barrier will ever protect us from rain,โ Stokes said.
Beta weakens to tropical depression, stalls over Texas coast
HOUSTON โ Beta weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday as it parked itself over the Texas coast, raising concerns of extensive flooding in Houston and areas farther inland. Beta, which made landfall late Monday as a tropical storm just north of Port OโConnor, is the first storm named for a Greek letter to make landfall in the continental United States. The storm was moving east-northeast at 5 mph (8 kilometers) and was expected to crawl inland along the coast over Texas through Wednesday. However, forecasters and officials reassured residents that Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Now a tropical storm, Paulette was expected to become a post-tropical remnant low in the next day or so.
Biggest unknown with Beta is how much rain it will bring
HOUSTON โ As Tropical Storm Beta neared the Texas coast Monday, the biggest unknown was how much rainfall it could produce in areas that have already seen their share of damaging weather during a busy hurricane season. Rain from Beta was already coming down Monday in the Houston area. Earlier predictions of up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) in some areas were downgraded Monday to up to 15 inches (38 centimeters). Forecasters and officials reassured residents Beta was not expected to be another Hurricane Harvey or Tropical Storm Imelda. Harvey in 2017 dumped more than 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain on Houston, causing $125 billion in damage in Texas.
Texas mayors warn pandemic's effects on city budgets will linger for years
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneThe mayors of Texas' most populous cities described painful budget cuts with shortfalls of tens of millions of dollars stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. But they said they're worried that future budgets could be just as difficult to balance for years to come. The temporary closure of businesses and high levels of unemployment due to the pandemic have caused sales tax revenues which make up a significant portion of cities' budgets to plummet. Turner said the city took a hit of about $162 million but was able to avoid furloughing or permanently letting go of its employees. We suspended about $200 million worth of expenses in the middle of the fiscal year that we knew would help with the fund balance moving forward, he said.
Museum says displaying Confederate statue part of healing
John Guess Jr., CEO Emeritus of the Houston Museum of African American Culture, talks about the bronze statue "The Spirit of The Confederacy" on display at the museum, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Houston. The statue, which has been in storage following its removal, arrived at the Houston Museum of African American Culture on Monday. Guess said he believes the museum is the first African American institution in the country to house a Confederate monument. Museum officials say people will be able to see the statue up close from the courtyard at a later date. The statue sits facing a collection of eye sculptures by Bert Long Jr., a Black Houston artist.
Houston announces $15 million to assist tenants, but passes on mandatory eviction grace period for people behind on rent
Latino workers gathered for a car protest to demand economic, rental and health relief outside of Houston City Hall on Tuesday. Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a new rent relief program, but opposed a mandatory eviction grace period. They have also relied on federal benefits from a congressional pandemic relief package, eviction moratoriums and rent assistance programs to remain housed. In May, Houston's first $15 million in rent assistance ran out in 90 minutes, according to The Houston Chronicle. Dallass $13.7 million rent assistance fund reached capacity within 30 hours of opening.
โThe doors remain locked,โ: Houston mayor says federal appeals court halts in-person GOP convention
HOUSTON, Texas โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Saturday that a federal appeals court halted a judgeโs ruling on Friday, allowing for the in-person Republican Party of Texas convention to proceed. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed Fridayโs ruling allowing for the convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The City of Houston and Houston First appealed the ruling of Judge Lynn Hughes allowing the State Republican Party to proceed with an indoor convention. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed Judge Hughes ruling. RELATED: Federal judge rules Texas GOP can have in-person Houston convention, lawyers sayJudge Lynn Hughes rules the Republican party can hold the convention both this weekend and next weekend and โthat the City of Houston may not interfere with it,โ according to the Texas Tribune.
Virus deaths hit new high in Texas as governor urges masks
AUSTIN, Texas Signs in the Texas Panhandle urged voters to wear masks. By and large, most voters covered their faces, even though Texas' mask mandate exempts polling locations. On Wednesday, Texas again set a new high with nearly 10,800 new cases, along with a record 110 deaths. The rising toll includes 35 deaths that officials on the Texas-Mexico border said happened Wednesday morning alone in Hidalgo County. Although it remains too early to tell the impact since Texas' mask order was announced before the Fourth of July weekend, other former holdouts to requiring face coverings continued relenting Wednesday.
The Latest: India adds over 28,000 new coronavirus cases
(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)NEW DELHI India reported another record surge of coronavirus infections on Monday, adding 28,701 new cases over the previous 24 hours. India is third in total coronavirus caseload, behind only the United States and Brazil. A count by Johns Hopkins University has only the United States, Brazil and Britain with more confirmed deaths from the new coronavirus. Sundays rise to 35,006 confirmed deaths moved Mexico, a country with 130 million inhabitants, past Italy. Deputy Health Secretary Hugo Lpez-Gatell said the number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus rose to 299,750 on Sunday.
Court refuses to order Houston to host Texas GOP gathering
HOUSTON The Texas Supreme Court on Monday upheld Houston's refusal to allow the state Republican convention to hold in-person events in the city due to the coronavirus pandemic. The court dismissed an appeal of a state district judges denial of a temporary restraining order sought by the state Republican Party. The state GOP convention had been scheduled to begin Thursday at Houstons downtown convention center and was expected to draw thousands of participants. The Texas Medical Association withdrew its sponsorship of the state GOP convention and asked organizers to cancel in-person gatherings. But state Republican chair James Dickey has insisted that organizers can hold the event safely.
Texas Supreme Court denies Texas GOP's appeal to hold in-person convention this week in Houston
The Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth in 2012. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneThe Texas Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the Republican Party of Texas seeking to host its in-person convention this week in Houston. Justices also denied a similar petition spearheaded by other party officials and Houston activist Steve Hotze. Last week, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner directed the city's legal department to work with Houston First Corp., the operator of the convention center, to review its contract with the party. A Harris County judge denied a request by the party that would have let them proceed with the convention, and, soon after, the party said it would file an appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.
Houston leaders call for city lockdown amid virus case surge
HOUSTON Top officials in Houston are calling for the city to lock back down as area hospitals strain to accommodate the onslaught of patients sick with the new coronavirus. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, both Democrats, said this weekend that a stay-at-home order is needed for America's fourth largest city to cope with the surge of COVID-19 cases. State health officials reported 8,196 new cases Sunday, another 80 deaths and a total of 10,410 people hospitalized due to the virus. On Friday, Abbott extended a statewide disaster order that warned Texans another shutdown might be needed if the virus spread isnt contained. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Texas GOP sues Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over canceling in-person convention
Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth in 2014. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneThe Republican Party of Texas is suing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and others involved with the canceling of the party's in-person convention, which was scheduled to happen next week. "Mayor Turner may not treat the [Republican Party of Texas] convention differently from that of the recent public protests that the Mayor supported," the petition reads. The party's biennial convention was expected to draw roughly 6,000 people to a city that is a hotspot for the coronavirus. A spokesperson for Turner told the Houston Chronicle that the mayor would address the lawsuit at a previously-scheduled 3 p.m. news conference.
Texas GOP sues city of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner after in-person state convention canceled
HOUSTON, Texas The Republican Party of Texas is suing the City of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner, and the Houston First Corporation after officials canceled the partys convention due to the coronavirus pandemic. The lawsuit was filed Thursday morning, according to officials, and is claiming the cancellation of the event is a breach of contract. The three-day event was set to take place July 16 - July 18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Mayor Turner canceled the convention because he wanted to, not due to any act of God - only due to his desire to do so and to hold the Republican Party of Texas to a different standard than other entities. Further, Mayor Turners mandate far exceeded the requirements in the Governors Executive Order, the Republican Party of Texas said in a release.
Texas hits new record for virus deaths as hospitals scramble
We really needed a 1,000-bed field hospital from the federal government yesterday, said Wesley Robinson, the assistant chief nursing officer of the South Texas Health System. Nearly 60% of the roughly 1,200 medical staff that Texas health officials have deployed to stretched-thin hospitals have been sent to the Rio Grande Valley, said Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texas health officials say more than 11,000 beds remain open in Texas, although availability varies by region. Texas reported more than 9,600 coronavirus patients in Texas hospitals on Thursday. "The State of Texas continues to implement strategies to help ensure ample supply of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, Abbott said in a statement.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner directs city to explore legal options for canceling in-person GOP convention
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Wednesday directed city staff to find a legal way to cancel the Republican Party of Texas' in-person convention in the city next week. Pu Ying Huang for The Texas TribuneAs the Republican Party of Texas moves forward with plans for an in-person convention during a surge of coronavirus cases, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he has directed his administration to explore ways to cancel the event. During a virtual City Council meeting Wednesday, Turner said he has asked the city's legal department to work with the Houston First Corporation, which operates the George R. Brown Convention Center, to review the contract with the state party. "Where there are provisions that would allow us to cancel this convention we will exercise those provisions," Turner said. "And the plan is to exercise those provisions to cancel this agreement, this contract, today to not go forward with this convention."
Houston scraps Texas GOPs in-person convention due to virus
HOUSTON Houston officials on Wednesday canceled the Texas Republican Partys in-person convention, saying the spread of the coronavirus made it impossible to hold the event as scheduled. Greg Abbott, the states top Republican, had publicly deferred to state party leaders who last week voted by a 2-to-1 margin to go forward with an in-person event. But even Patrick, who is chairman of Trumps reelection campaign in Texas, expressed misgivings about his party pressing forward with the convention. The Texas Medical Center, a consortium of Houston hospitals, has moved into surge capacity for its intensive-care beds. Texas Democrats held an online convention in June, and national Democrats plan to hold an almost entirely virtual convention in August.
Texas GOP convention will happen in person โ but Republican leaders will speak via video
The Republican Party of Texas is moving forward with its controversial in-person convention during the coronavirus pandemic โ but elected officials including Gov. โAll the elected officials are switching from a live, in-person speech to videos,โ Kyle Whatley, the partyโs executive director, said during a town hall live streamed Tuesday night. As the state has seen a surge in coronavirus cases, calls have been growing over the past week for the party to cancel its event. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday asked the State Republican Executive Committee to cancel the gathering and warning that health inspectors would have the authority to shut down the event if certain guidelines are not followed. Shortly before Whatley made the announcement, Abbott was noncommittal in a TV interview when asked if he'd attend the convention in person.
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Texas continue to rise
AUSTIN, Texas Hospitalizations across Texas have more than doubled in the last two weeks, rising to 8,698 people in hospitals on Monday. Local officials across Texas say their hospitals are becoming increasingly stretched and are in danger of becoming overrun as cases of the coronavirus surge. State health officials reported Monday that more than 12,000 beds remained available throughout Texas but the numbers differ locally. On Monday, Texas reported 5,318 new cases, after a record high of 8,258 on Saturday. Texas also reported 18 additional deaths Monday, bringing the totals to 2,655 reported deaths and 200,557 confirmed cases.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urges Texas GOP to cancel its convention
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Monday encouraged the Republican Party of Texas to cancel its in-person convention in Houston next week and warned that should the event continue, health inspectors would have the authority to shut down the gathering if certain guidelines are not followed. โI am asking them to have a virtual event.โA spokesperson for the state party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, the SREC voted 40-20 to proceed with the in-person convention July 16 to 18 at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center. According to the Houston Chronicle, Turner recently removed language from an executive order and effectively took away his own authority to cancel the convention. Last week, the Texas Girls Coaches Association also canceled its in-person convention scheduled for this Monday through Thursday in Arlington.
Texas Republican Party has contingency plan to move convention online if necessary, GOP chairman says
A committee hearing at the second day of the the 2018 Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio. I think its a horrible idea to proceed with holding the in-person convention, Davis told The Tribune on Tuesday. The Texas Democratic Party, which held a virtual convention earlier this month, has criticized its Republican counterpart repeatedly over moving ahead with plans to host an in-person event. Dickey said Tuesday that party officials have been working on ensuring encrypted secret ballot voting and credentialed verification could happen, should the convention move to an online setting. West told The Tribune on Tuesday that he did not plan to weigh in on whether an in-person convention should happen until after party officials decide next steps.
Officials in Texas' big cities say their public testing sites are being strained. Austin has begun to limit who can be tested.
In Travis County, interim County Judge Sam Biscoe said the countys public testing is now being rationed to only people with symptoms. In Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said his city's two public testing sites, where testing is still available to people who are symptomatic or asymptomatic, reached their maximum capacities before noon. In these sites, testing is restricted to symptomatic patients, high-risk people, first responders, essential workers and asymptomatic patients who have engaged in large group settings. Community testing sites have seen increasingly long wait times as more than 38,000 positive cases were reported in the last week in Texas. The city and county sites are part of a longer list of options Texans have to get tested.
US is still in the first wave of the pandemic and experts raise concern for several states
CNN With half of US states reporting a rise in new cases, one expert warns of 'danger signs' in some parts of the US. And public health measures meant to control infection aren't quite up to speed -- a problem the country has consistently faced in past months. According to Florida's health department, the state surpassed 100,000 total cases Monday and experts say it could be the next US coronavirus epicenter. Houston is "moving very fast in the wrong direction," said Mayor Sylvester Turner after the city recorded a new high of daily coronavirus cases, according to CNN affiliate KTRK. But experts say while testing is partly contributing, cases of the virus are also on the rise.