WEATHER ALERT
Texas A&M University president resigns after Black journalist’s hiring at campus unravels
Read full article: Texas A&M University president resigns after Black journalist’s hiring at campus unravelsThe president of Texas A&M University has resigned after a Black journalist’s celebrated hiring at one of the nation’s largest campuses unraveled over criticism of her diversity and inclusion work.
Source: Investigators examine ideology of man who killed 8 people at Dallas-area outlet mall
Read full article: Source: Investigators examine ideology of man who killed 8 people at Dallas-area outlet mallA law enforcement official says federal investigators are looking into whether the gunman who killed eight people at a Dallas-area mall expressed an interest in white supremacist ideology.
No vote after Uvalde parents plead for tougher gun laws
Read full article: No vote after Uvalde parents plead for tougher gun lawsLawmakers in the Texas Capitol have set aside a slate of proposed new gun restrictions without a vote after hours of emotional appeals from Uvalde families whose children were killed last year at Robb Elementary School.
Texas border cities plan for cold, busy end to Title 42
Read full article: Texas border cities plan for cold, busy end to Title 42Texas officials are preparing relocation, coordination and emergency aid plans ahead of an expected dramatic increase in the number of asylum-seekers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border as pandemic-era immigration restrictions are set to expire this week.
Federal judge strikes down Texas handgun age restriction
Read full article: Federal judge strikes down Texas handgun age restrictionA federal judge has struck down one of Texas’ few remaining firearm restrictions, finding a law that barred adults under the age of 21 from carrying a handgun was unconstitutional.
Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from states
Read full article: Abortion ruling prompts variety of reactions from statesWhen the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a right to abortion, it sparked legal changes and court challenges in states nationwide.
At LGBTQ Pride, celebration but also worry over civil rights
Read full article: At LGBTQ Pride, celebration but also worry over civil rightsLGBTQ Pride commemorations that sometimes felt like victory parties for civil rights gains are now grappling with an environment of ramped-up legislative and rhetorical battles over sexual orientation and gender identity.
Officials: Texas foster care center sex-trafficked minors
Read full article: Officials: Texas foster care center sex-trafficked minorsState officials say employees at a foster care center under a state contract to shelter children who have been trafficked for sex have been trafficking those children themselves.
Live updates: France demands masks for 11- to 6-year-olds
Read full article: Live updates: France demands masks for 11- to 6-year-oldsFrench authorities have announced that children six and older will have to wear masks in indoor places open to the public as new cases of the highly contagious omicron variant surge past 200.000 for the fourth consecutive day.
Gov. Abbott announces $17B Samsung facility coming to Texas
Read full article: Gov. Abbott announces $17B Samsung facility coming to TexasSamsung said it plans to build a $17 billion semiconductor factory in Texas amid a global shortage of chips used in phones, laptops, cars and other electronic devices.
Texas governor orders ban on private company vaccine mandate
Read full article: Texas governor orders ban on private company vaccine mandateTexas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Monday to prohibit any entity, including private business, from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on workers and called on state lawmakers to pass a similar ban into law.
Texas order reflects growing GOP vaccine mandates hostility
Read full article: Texas order reflects growing GOP vaccine mandates hostilityWith the governor of Texas leading the charge, conservative Republicans in several states are moving to block or undercut President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers before the regulations are even issued.
Abortions resume in some Texas clinics after judge halts law
Read full article: Abortions resume in some Texas clinics after judge halts lawAbortions have resumed in at least six Texas clinics after a federal judge halted the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. Amy Hagstrom Miller is the president of Whole Woman's Health, which has four clinics in Texas.
Texas utility settles over sky-high energy bills from freeze
Read full article: Texas utility settles over sky-high energy bills from freezeThe electric utility Griddy Energy has reached a settlement with Texas state officials over crushing electric bills its customers received after the deadly February winter storm and cold wave.
Bus driver shortages are latest challenge hitting US schools
Read full article: Bus driver shortages are latest challenge hitting US schoolsA shortage of bus drivers is complicating the start of a new school year already facing a surge in COVID-19 cases and conflicts over whether masks should be required in school buildings.
Defiance of Texas ban on mask mandates continues to grow
Read full article: Defiance of Texas ban on mask mandates continues to growDefiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates is continuing as another Texas school district announced plans to require students to wear face coverings and another county scored a legal victory in its efforts to issue such mandates amid a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout the state.
Texas sees most COVID-19 hospitalizations in 6 months
Read full article: Texas sees most COVID-19 hospitalizations in 6 monthsThe third wave of COVID-19 in Texas continues to tax the state's health care systems as health officials report 10,000 COVID-19 sufferers have been hospitalized for the first time since early February.
Hospitals run low on nurses as they get swamped with COVID
Read full article: Hospitals run low on nurses as they get swamped with COVIDThe surge in COVID-19 infections across the U.S. has caused a shortage of nurses and other front-line staff in virus hot spots that can no longer keep up with the flood of unvaccinated patients.
Officials say COVID cases pushing Houston health care system to near ‘breaking point’
Read full article: Officials say COVID cases pushing Houston health care system to near ‘breaking point’Houston area officials say the latest wave of COVID-19 cases is pushing the local health care system to nearly “a breaking point,” resulting in some patients having to be transferred out of the city to get medical care, including one who had to be taken to North Dakota.
Time on their side, Texas GOP waits for Democrats to return
Read full article: Time on their side, Texas GOP waits for Democrats to returnTexas Republican lawmakers are still showing up at the state Capitol even though more than 50 Democrats who bolted for Washington say they have no plans to return soon.
Despite business warnings, GOP moves ahead with voting bills
Read full article: Despite business warnings, GOP moves ahead with voting billsRepublican lawmakers around the country are pressing ahead with efforts to tighten voting laws, despite growing warnings from business leaders that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate.
Republicans trod well-worn path to court to sue Biden
Read full article: Republicans trod well-worn path to court to sue BidenThese are busy days for Republican state attorneys general, filing repeated lawsuits that claim President Joe Biden and his administration are overstepping their authority on immigration, climate change, the environment and taxes.
The Latest: Navajo Nation extends "safer at home" order
Read full article: The Latest: Navajo Nation extends "safer at home" orderThat increased the state’s totals to 839,334 confirmed cases and 16,912 confirmed deaths. Ad___RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil accounts for a quarter of the daily coronavirus global deaths, more than any other nation. AdThere have been 12.4 million confirmed cases and more than 307,000 confirmed deaths in Brazil, second only to the United States. AdPakistan has reported 649,824 total confirmed cases and 14,158 confirmed deaths. The nation of 10.7 million had 1.5 million confirmed cases with 25,639 deaths.
George Floyd’s family members speak in Austin ahead of hearing about George Floyd bill
Read full article: George Floyd’s family members speak in Austin ahead of hearing about George Floyd billAUSTIN, Texas – Outside of George Floyd’s public memorial last summer in Texas, Republican Gov. Earlier this month in Congress, House Democrats passed the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing nationwide under the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Like the legislation in Texas, the bill would ban chokeholds and address so-called qualified immunity that shields law enforcement from certain lawsuits. He quickly added that measures need to support law enforcement. Ad___Find AP’s full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
MLB's Rangers in line to be first team back to full capacity
Read full article: MLB's Rangers in line to be first team back to full capacityFILE - The Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies line the foul lines of Globe Life Field before an opening day baseball game in Arlingtn, Texas, in this Friday, July 24, 2020, file photo. Greg Abbott’s order took effect allowing businesses in the state to operate at 100% capacity, Rangers CEO Neil Leibman said Wednesday that the team hopes to be at that for the April 5 opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. AdThe Houston Astros announced in January that they would allow fans to attend games at 25% capacity this season, which would allow about 10,300 fans. A team spokesman said it was “still being worked on" when asked about capacity on Wednesday. The Rangers' stadium hosted about 50 high school graduation ceremonies last summer, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December and a college baseball tournament last month.
Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rules
Read full article: Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rulesTate Reeves decided to eliminate mask requirements, limits on seating in restaurants and most other binding restrictions. AdAlabama’s state health officer on Friday advised residents to keep following standard infection-prevention recommendations even though the governor is letting the state’s mask mandate expire next month. AdThe National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade association in the U.S., issued a statement Wednesday encouraging shoppers to wear masks. McDonald’s cook Cornejo, 43, said the end of Texas’ mask mandate next week alarms her because several of her co-workers already were lax about keeping their faces covered. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, said individuals who wear masks still risk infection from unmasked shoppers and diners.
'Who is at fault?' Investigation into Texas blackout begins
Read full article: 'Who is at fault?' Investigation into Texas blackout beginsstate Rep. Todd Hunter, a Republican, demanded of witnesses during hours of testimony at the Texas Capitol. But energy executives, including those whose companies lavishly donate to Abbott and lawmakers, made clear that the fault is far wider. “How can a power plant be at the bottom of the list of priorities?” Morgan said. Ad“You-know-what hit the fan, and everybody’s going, ‘You’re turning off my power plant?'" Of Texas' power generators that were not operational during the storm, Magness said the freeze was responsible 42% of the failures.
Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis
Read full article: Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisisAs temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas' power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas’ power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. The community deserves answers.”___Around 2 a.m. Monday, the full measure of the crisis Texas faced began to be apparent. Most people did not yet know that Texas’ power grid had been on the brink of total failure. AdThe Texas grid isn’t walled off, but there are only a few, small interconnection points with the Eastern U.S. grid and Mexico.
US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts say
Read full article: US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts sayIt was also a harbinger of what social service providers and governments say will be a surge of increased needs for society’s most vulnerable as climate and natural disasters worsen. More than 100 million people live in areas under winter weather warnings, watches or advisories, and blackouts are expected to continue in some parts of the country for days. Climate change also is hurting military readiness. “The cost associated with addressing climate change and improving our infrastructure’s resilience is always going to be less than the cost of rebuilding or failing to act,'' Carper said. Modifying the turbines slightly to withstand freezing temperatures is one step needed to confront climate change, said Roy McCann, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Some electricity restored in Texas, but water woes grow
Read full article: Some electricity restored in Texas, but water woes growHouston and several surrounding cities are under a boil water notice as many residents are still without running water in their homes. But the crisis was far from over in parts of the South, where many people still lacked safe drinking water. The next phase of the state’s disaster response will be to test drinking water from systems knocked offline by the cold. Power was cut to a New Orleans facility that pumps drinking water from the Mississippi River and generators were used until electricity was restored. Drinking water was made available at fire stations throughout Jackson and officials also planned to set up bottled water pickup sites.
US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts say
Read full article: US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts sayIt was also a harbinger of what social service providers and governments say will be a surge of increased needs for society’s most vulnerable as climate and natural disasters worsen. More than 100 million people live in areas under winter weather warnings, watches or advisories, and blackouts are expected to continue in some parts of the country for days. Climate change also is hurting military readiness. Ad“The cost associated with addressing climate change and improving our infrastructure’s resilience is always going to be less than the cost of rebuilding or failing to act,'' Carper said. Modifying the turbines slightly to withstand freezing temperatures is one step needed to confront climate change, said Roy McCann, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Texas takes on Biden but Republicans keep distance from AG
Read full article: Texas takes on Biden but Republicans keep distance from AGFILE - This Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump. That’s the real litmus test,” said Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who pointed toward the deportation lawsuit and challenges last year to mail-in ballot applications around his Houston district. Paxton's budget requests may yet force Republican lawmakers to consider the exodus from his office. Greg Abbott — who has previously said the accusations raise “serious concerns” — and Paxton did not respond to questions. He has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he defrauded investors in a tech startup before becoming attorney general.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise to move headquarters to Texas
Read full article: Hewlett Packard Enterprise to move headquarters to TexasSPRING, Texas – Tech giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it is moving its global headquarters to the Houston area from California, where the company's roots go back to the founding of Silicon Valley decades ago. Hewlett Packard Enterprise was created in 2015 when the computer hardware pioneer Hewlett-Packard Inc. broke into two parts after years of struggling to keep up with industry trends, such as consumers’ shift away from personal computers. The split left one new company, HPE, concentrated on the business of selling data center hardware and business software, while another new company, HP Inc., kept the legacy PC and printer operations. HP Inc. is still headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and remains the bigger of the two companies in terms of revenue. “We are incredibly committed to Silicon Valley,” he said.
The Latest: Japan's virus cases hit record for fourth day
Read full article: The Latest: Japan's virus cases hit record for fourth day___HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:— US reaches 12 million total coronavirus cases— Italy hits nearly 35,000 new daily virus cases— Calif Gov. ___PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon has reported a record number of coronavirus cases for the second day in a row. California had a record 13,000 new cases on Thursday and more than 1 million total confirmed cases. Overall, Russia has recorded more than 2,064,000 confirmed cases and 35,778 confirmed deaths. ___NEW DELHI — India has reported 46,232 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, with the situation particularly alarming in New Delhi.
Daily COVID-19 deaths in US reach highest level since May
Read full article: Daily COVID-19 deaths in US reach highest level since MayAnd the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 hit another all-time high at more than 80,000. California ordered a 10 p.m.-to 5-a.m. curfew starting Saturday, covering 94% of the state’s 40 million residents. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are at their highest level since late May, when the Northeast was emerging from the first wave of the crisis. “It’s really, really throwing gasoline on a fire,” said Temasamani, 52, who was skeptical that police will enforce the curfew. The move came as health officials reported more than 4,000 additional COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day.
Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127,000 Houston votes
Read full article: Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127,000 Houston votes(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – A federal judge on Monday rejected another last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston because the ballots were cast at drive-thru polling centers established during the pandemic. Another 20,000 or more voters had been expected to use drive-thru polling locations Tuesday, Hollins said earlier Monday. “I cannot in good faith encourage voters to cast their votes in tents if that puts their votes at risk,” he said. Harris County offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus. More than 40% of Harris County residents are Latino, and about one in five residents are Black.
Eyes turn to Texas as early voting surge surpasses 2016
Read full article: Eyes turn to Texas as early voting surge surpasses 2016“But on balance, yes, if we reach 12 million voters we’ll win this election.”Republicans don’t buy it. Whereas the vast majority of states are allowing widespread mail-in voting because of coronavirus fears, Texas is only one of five that refused, choosing instead to expand early voting by one week. That extended period helps explain Texas’ huge numbers so far with still a week of early voting to go. “My job, everybody’s job,” said Bailey, 60, ticking off his worries outside one of the more than 100 early voting centers around Houston, which is three times as many as a normal election year. “We’re not making a lot of money.”___AP’s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/
Eyes turn to Texas as early voting surge surpasses 2016
Read full article: Eyes turn to Texas as early voting surge surpasses 2016“But on balance, yes, if we reach 12 million voters we’ll win this election.”Republicans don’t buy it. Whereas the vast majority of states are allowing widespread mail-in voting because of coronavirus fears, Texas is only one of five that refused, choosing instead to expand early voting by one week. That extended period helps explain Texas’ huge numbers so far with still a week of early voting to go. “My job, everybody’s job,” said Bailey, 60, ticking off his worries outside one of the more than 100 early voting centers around Houston, which is three times as many as a normal election year. “We’re not making a lot of money.”___AP’s Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/
The Latest: S. Korea reports 97 new coronavirus cases
Read full article: The Latest: S. Korea reports 97 new coronavirus casesWomen peel potatoes outside a snack bar amid the new coronavirus pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. — Queen Elizabeth II honors the work of doctors, nurses, delivery drivers, fundraisers and volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. The health department on Sunday reported 613 new cases for a total of 92,833 confirmed and probable cases. ___BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia is imposing new restrictive measures in hopes of curbing a surge in coronavirus infections. This past week, Slovakia reported new highs for confirmed coronavirus cases for four straight days, with a record 1,887 Friday.
Florida forges ahead in lifting curbs amid virus concerns
Read full article: Florida forges ahead in lifting curbs amid virus concernsRon DeSantis lifted limits on indoor seating at restaurants, saying they can operate at 100% in municipalities with no restrictions and that other local governments can't restrict indoor seating by more than 50%. Greg Abbott’s orders, and restaurants can hold up to 75% of their capacity, while face covers are required throughout the state. Though Florida’s governor generally wears a mask when arriving at public appearances and has allowed municipalities to impose mask rules, he has declined to impose a statewide mandate. Gimenez has been consulting with attorneys and staff on what rules local governments could continue to enforce without violating new state orders. Store managers told him some customers have been defying their mask rules after DeSantis’ new order and he hasn’t seen any local enforcement in the past week.
Police departments seeing modest cuts, but not 'defunding'
Read full article: Police departments seeing modest cuts, but not 'defunding'A review by The Associated Press finds that while local governments have trimmed police budgets over the past four months, the cuts have been mostly modest. Soon after Floyd was killed, the majority of the City Council pledged to dismantle the police department. The City Council approved something much more modest — cuts equal to less than 1% of the police budget and shifts of some money to community programs. In North Carolina, the Asheville City Council this past summer gave police and other city departments only one-fourth of their annual funding. Larger cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have settled on relatively small police budget reductions and boosts to other programs.
Family of slain Texas soldier pushes for change near Capitol
Read full article: Family of slain Texas soldier pushes for change near CapitolGloria Guillen, the mother of slain Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Washington.
Trump says he'll help with funeral costs for slain soldier
Read full article: Trump says he'll help with funeral costs for slain soldierVanessa Guillen, meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Washington. The truth will come out whether they like it or not, said Lupe Guillen, the younger sister of Vanessa Guillen, said ahead of the meeting with the president. John Wittman, a spokesperson for Abbott, said the governors office has not heard from the Guillen family but is prepared to help. Governor Abbott's heart aches for the Guillen family and he and the First Lady keep them in their prayers, Wittman said in a text message. And if I can help you out with the funeral, Ill help you out, financially, Ill help you, Trump said.
Cleanup from Hanna spurs fear amid COVID-19 surge in Texas
Read full article: Cleanup from Hanna spurs fear amid COVID-19 surge in TexasThe Garcia's home was flooded by Hurricane Hanna as it passed through the area dropping heavy rains which caused flooding. Its remnants still threatened to bring rainfall and flash flooding to waterlogged parts of South Texas and Northern Mexico. Border communities hit by Hanna were already strained by COVID-19 cases — with some patients being airlifted to larger cities. By Monday evening, 50,600 customers remained without power throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, Harlingen and McAllen, utility officials said. Officials throughout South Texas were still assessing damage from Hanna on Monday.
Arizona faces new closures as hospitals prep for virus surge
Read full article: Arizona faces new closures as hospitals prep for virus surgeIn contrast, Ducey shut down all bars for 30 days, including in Scottsdale, where employees and young customers crammed into nightclubs without wearing masks or practicing social distancing. Arizona has seen skyrocketing infections this month after Ducey allowed his stay-at-home order to expire on May 15. Preparing for an influx of patients, hospitals are activating plans to add more beds and staff. Nurses caring for coronavirus patients take a significant amount of time suiting up to protect themselves and can't quickly jump from room to room, he said. Its bringing nurses from underutilized hospitals in its system to Arizona and hiring traveling nurses and respiratory therapists throughout July.
American Airlines will book flights to full capacity
Read full article: American Airlines will book flights to full capacityDALLAS American Airlines will start booking flights to full capacity next week, ending any effort to promote social distancing on its planes while the United States sets records for new reported cases of the coronavirus. Since April, American has limited bookings to about 85% of a plane's capacity by leaving about half the middle seats open. As more people continue to travel, customers may notice that flights are booked to capacity starting July 1, American said. If someone contracts the COVID-19 virus on a 100% full plane, theyre going to sue American Airlines, Harteveldt said. American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said the airline has been considering booking to full capacity for a few weeks as passenger numbers have risen.