WEATHER ALERT
League City family hosts socially-distant Thanksgiving celebration
Read full article: League City family hosts socially-distant Thanksgiving celebrationLeague City family hosts socially-distant Thanksgiving celebration (KPRC)After missing Easter because of the pandemic, the couple was determined to find a way to bring everyone together so that they could all find comfort and joy with family. “The gloves are right there to the right,” Lynda McKendree said to another guest looking to fill their plate. League City family hosts socially-distant Thanksgiving celebration (KPRC)Soon, the backyard was filled with stories and laughter. League City family hosts socially-distant Thanksgiving celebration (KPRC)“It takes the edge off of all of the sadness going on right now when you’re with people that you love,” said Lynda’s mother Cheryl Tolbert. League City family hosts socially-distant Thanksgiving celebration (KPRC)Sexton traveled from Ohio to be there, seeing her family for the first time in months.
3 body language mistakes you don’t even know you’re making
Read full article: 3 body language mistakes you don’t even know you’re makingIn a Covid world, with less and less human interaction, what your body language can say behind a mask or a virtual setting could speak volumes. From your facial expressions, to your posture and gestures, you might be sending the wrong signals, so watch your body language! Body language expert, Jan Hargrave shares 3 common mistakes you don’t even know you’re making. MOVEMENTS IN VIRTUAL SETTINGSYour facial expressions and body language are magnified during your virtual sessions. Never rub your left eye, left ear, left side of your nose (dishonesty gestures)3.
Are your kids doing school virtually? We want to see what your home classroom looks like
Read full article: Are your kids doing school virtually? We want to see what your home classroom looks likeWhether your children have already begun their school year or you’re still preparing, due to delays, there are many who are choosing to keep their kids home to learn as the coronavirus pandemic rages on. Parents are doing their best to adapt, and we applaud every parent for the decision they’re making -- regardless of what that is. But for those who are keeping kids home for virtual learning, we want to see exactly how you’re adapting. What does the “classroom” you’ve created look like? We’d love to see what kinds of ideas parents have come up with, and we have a feeling other parents might appreciate some good ideas, too.
Police in one country are using drones to enforce social distancing
Read full article: Police in one country are using drones to enforce social distancingPolice in Singapore have taken an extraordinary step to ensure people are following social distancing rules. In a 3 1/2-month trial, police have used 22-pound pilotless drones, developed by Israel’s Airobotics, as a way to enforce social distancing and contain the spread of COVID-19, according to Reuters. Airobotics CEO Ran Krauss told Reuters the company is simply helping police maintain normal operations, specifically related to COVID-19. “The pandemic created a situation where it might be difficult for police to maintain,” Krauss said. The trial continues on in the social distancing aspect, according to Airobotics, and Krauss said the company is in talks with other cities to deploy drones.
Shopper called a demon by woman rebuking people, ordering them out of grocery store vitamin aisle, viral video shows
Read full article: Shopper called a demon by woman rebuking people, ordering them out of grocery store vitamin aisle, viral video showsHOUSTON A maskless woman called another shopper a demon while invoking the name of Jesus Christ as she ordered people out of an aisle she was shopping in at a Washington store, video shows. As she paces up and down the vitamin aisle, the woman said, I command you in Jesus Christs name to get off this aisle. Like, is that how you think youre going to get your message across? someone can be heard saying on the video. She doesnt want anyone to go down that aisle until she can get what she wants and leave the aisle. In the last video from the store, the woman can be seen being held down on the floor by someone.
This Houston-area school district shows preview of what school reopening could look like
Read full article: This Houston-area school district shows preview of what school reopening could look likeALVIN – Alvin Independent School District, which is offering summer school, provides a preview of what schools all across of Texas are likely to look like when they open for the new school year. When walking in the hallways and in all common areas, elementary school children will be required to walk with a special rope to enforce a six-foot distance between each child. “We can tell them to social distance as much as they would like, but they need to physically see it,” Ruiz said. Each student holds on to one ball and that gives them a measurement of having social distance between them.”Once inside the classroom, children are distanced again, at least six feet apart. Children are taught a special dance to help illustrate a safe distance.
Houston-area restaurants accused of violating social distancing guidelines
Read full article: Houston-area restaurants accused of violating social distancing guidelinesA Snapchat video tagged at Bisou Restaurant in Houston shows a crowd inside with few people wearing masks. Video also shows people close together on the patio with several not wearing masks. Those cases well refer to TABC for further action.He said the city has received more than 9,000 complaints in total since March. His teams try to educate people first, but Martinez said there are limits on what he can do. The latest the inspection teams generally work is midnight, and thats just a few nights a week, he said.
Galveston makes parking changes along Seawall Boulevard due to COVID-19 pandemic
Read full article: Galveston makes parking changes along Seawall Boulevard due to COVID-19 pandemicHOUSTON The city of Galveston will make parking changes along Seawall Boulevard to ensure safety during the coronavirus pandemic. The changes were made in response to overcrowding and to allow visitors to remain six feet apart. Beginning Friday morning and continuing through the weekend, parking will be blocked on the north side of Seawall Boulevard between 25th Street and 37th Street, according to a press release. Parking restrictionsParking will be restricted at Diamond Beach, at the west end terminus of the Seawall near Cove View Blvd. Parking will also be restricted at Fort San Jacinto, which is at the far east end of the Seawall.
Parents says child was bullied on HISD-sanctioned chat app
Read full article: Parents says child was bullied on HISD-sanctioned chat appThe mother of a Hogg Middle School student said Monday that her son has been sexually harassed and cyberbullied on a chat app sanctioned by Houston Independent School District. “This is their verbal chat room, where the teachers are discussing their assignments,” the woman said. “Threatening to kill him, sending him porn images of rape and sodomy, homosexual and heterosexual, and this all happened on the HISD teams app,” she said. The chat app is still available to students. The Houston Independent School District released a statement regarding the incident:Acts of sexual harassment and bullying, whether in-person or online, are a serious violation of the Houston Independent School District’s Code of Student Conduct, as well as, Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.
Bar customers a little too close for comfort for county, city leaders in Houston
Read full article: Bar customers a little too close for comfort for county, city leaders in HoustonAfter 13 years in business, both Luckys Pub and Luckys Lodge are shutting down at 2 a.m. Saturday. But as loyal regulars said goodbye, they joined the type of gathering Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo just said she did not want to see. Hidalgo gave that suggestion Thursday when announcing the countys new COVID-19 threat level system. Harris County currently is in a level 2 in that threat level system. That means the threat is labeled as significant and the county asks people to minimize all contacts.
The pandemic has made a lot of social situations awkward. Heres how to handle them
Read full article: The pandemic has made a lot of social situations awkward. Heres how to handle themWe're used to warm hugs, hearty handshakes and big gatherings, which means our new safety-conscious lifestyles are bound to get a little awkward. "I might say something like, 'With all of this social distancing, I don't even know what six feet is anymore!' This is what is known as "preemptive etiquette," and it can help in a lot of situations where normal unspoken rules suddenly don't apply. Here's the bottom line: It's never been more clear why it's so important to show you care about others. But with a little kindness and a carefully chosen word or two, we can awkwardly forge our way forward, together.
Gatorland has a social distancing scheme that is so very Florida
Read full article: Gatorland has a social distancing scheme that is so very FloridaAnd this mascot's aim is to help the animal park's visitors get a little kick out of maintaining social distancing. The park, which reopened on Saturday in Orange County, has a video on YouTube introducing Social Distancing Skunk Ape (his full, proper name). Next, she awkwardly but endearingly introduces the "king of keeping away from each other, the Social Distancing Skunk Ape." So, while everything is working in the background to keep people safe, the Social Distancing Skunk Ape is fulfilling our mission of creating fun," he said. Those include limits of the number of people allowed in, social distancing signs and ground markers and lots of hand sanitizing stations.
VIDEO: Pool party at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri draws a packed crowd despite social distancing policies
Read full article: VIDEO: Pool party at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri draws a packed crowd despite social distancing policies(CNN) -- Video posted by a reporter shows partiers crowded together in a pool at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, this Memorial Day weekend. Social distancing was nonexistent. The bar posted on Facebook that this was its launch of a summer party called "Zero Ducks Given Pool Party." "The venue has worked with and taken the advice of government officials and management teams and will be following social distancing guidelines. Ed Yong, a writer at The Atlantic, cautioned that overcrowded pools may not represent the broader American public's attitude toward social distancing.
Mayor Turner gives daily briefing, encourages social distancing during Memorial Day weekend
Read full article: Mayor Turner gives daily briefing, encourages social distancing during Memorial Day weekendHOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner encouraged residents to continue social distancing during Memorial Day weekend during his daily coronavirus briefing Thursday. Turner was joined by Chief COVID-19 Recovery Czar Marvin Odum and family members of a Houston man who died of COVID-19 recently. Turner addressed Memorial Day weekend and reminded residents to do their part in saving lives by following social distancing guidelines and wearing a mask while in public. Chief COVID-19 Recovery Czar Marvin Odum reminded residents to also take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing centers across the Houston area. Turner announced that all city pools and splash pads will be kept closed over Memorial Day weekend as social distancing is difficult to enforce in pools.
A restaurant’s new tables have huge inner tubes that make social distancing look fun
Read full article: A restaurant’s new tables have huge inner tubes that make social distancing look funFish Tales Bar & Grill in Ocean City has bought new "bumper tables" that are surrounded by large inner tubes to keep diners from getting too close. It's a great photo opportunity for them," Shawn Harman said. "If you put the two tables together, you can't get within 6 feet of each other -- and it's fun," Donna Harman said. Donna Harman said they talked about the idea for a couple of weeks and then she ordered 10 for the restaurant. It’s as simple as that,” Shawn Harman said.
Want to join my bubble? This is what your future social life could look like
Read full article: Want to join my bubble? This is what your future social life could look likeThe Belgian government has reportedly been considering allowing people to form "social bubbles" of 10 people, according to Belgium's Le Soir citing a leaked memo. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said last week that her government was looking at the social bubble as an option. William Hanage, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, also warned that social bubbles could still be significant sources of infection. Social bubbles is something that New Zealand is already trying. It would not confirm to CNN whether the idea of social bubbles was being discussed as an option.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is now paying for visitors to leave
Read full article: The Hawaii Tourism Authority is now paying for visitors to leave(CNN) – Hawaii's state agency that is dedicated to welcoming visitors to the state is temporarily helping those visitors leave. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has set aside $25,000 for the costs of sending tourists away if they refuse to abide by the state's 14-day quarantine. The Visitor Aloha Society arranges for the travel back home, and pays for the ticket if the visitor can't afford it. David Ige established a mandatory two-week self-quarantine for any out-of-state visitors and inter-island travelers on April 1. On April 6, John Monahan, president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, sent a letter to various publications asking them not to promote travel to Hawaii.
YouTube CEO says people are discovering different kinds of videos as the pandemic rages
Read full article: YouTube CEO says people are discovering different kinds of videos as the pandemic rages"We certainly have seen how our users have changed," YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said in an interview for CNN's "Reliable Sources." Videos that contradict the World Health Organization's recommendations about social distancing guidelines would also be a policy violation. The YouTube homepage for users in the United States now includes dedicated areas for CDC videos about Covid-19 as well as learning videos for children. On March 20, YouTube announced a Covid-19 "news shelf" on its homepage, surfacing news videos from mainstream sources about the virus. That's one of the keys to the site's endless fount of fresh content, Wojcicki pointed out: Many creators "were working from home even before Covid-19."
PHOTOS: Hundreds of people visit Surfside Beach, but many didn’t respect social distancing
Read full article: PHOTOS: Hundreds of people visit Surfside Beach, but many didn’t respect social distancingHOUSTON – Surfside Beach was busy with visitors Saturday. The majority of the people seem not to be respecting social distancing guidelines or didn’t wear a face mask or covering. Surfside Beach is located near Freeport, in Brazoria County, which has encouraged residents to wear a face covering when out in public, but it is not mandated. On April 7, Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta ordered the temporary closures to county parks, including Quintana Park and Stephen F. Austin Park. As of Saturday, Brazoria County has reported 573 COVID-19 cases, including three people who have died from coronavirus-related complications, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard.
This is where all 50 states stand on reopening
Read full article: This is where all 50 states stand on reopeningJared Polis extended the state's stay-at-home order, which now remains in effect until April 26. Looking to revive the state's economy, Lamont announced Thursday the formation of the "Reopen Connecticut Advisory Board." John Bel Edwards extended the state's stay-at-home order through April 30. Gina Raimondo issued an emergency declaration extending the state's stay-at-home order to last until May 8. Tony Evers has extended his state's stay-at-home order to expire May 26, according to a statement from the governor's office.
People aren’t leaving home. But they’re still buying beauty products
Read full article: People aren’t leaving home. But they’re still buying beauty productsDemand for beauty products appears to be holding up even though hundreds of millions of consumers are not leaving their homes in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic. "However, as the example of China has shown, the current situation does not call into question consumers' strong appetite for beauty products, which remains intact," it said in a statement. "What we have seen in China is a pretty quick bounce back of the consumption of beauty products." Consumers are really eager to buy all types of beauty products but they just can't do it because the stores are closed," Agon added. Still, beauty products could prove an exception to the rule.
Americans are more worried about lifting social distancing restrictions too early, poll suggests
Read full article: Americans are more worried about lifting social distancing restrictions too early, poll suggestsDespite everyone’s eagerness to get back to normalcy, Americans are concerned about getting back to normal too soon. By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans are more worried about distancing efforts being lifted too early than too late. https://t.co/ktyv3Rd7bm pic.twitter.com/X8BwhSdjg2 — Philip Bump (@pbump) April 17, 2020By a 2-to-1 margin, Americans are more concerned that distancing measures will be rescinded too quickly than too slowly, according to the the Post. Overall, more Americans are worried about social distancing restrictions being lifted too quickly. The poll is further divided by political affiliation, showing conservative republicans are slightly more concerned with restrictions not being lifted quickly enough.
US may have to endure social distancing until 2022 if no vaccine is quickly found, scientists predict
Read full article: US may have to endure social distancing until 2022 if no vaccine is quickly found, scientists predictThe US may have to endure social distancing measures -- such as stay-at-home orders and school closures -- until 2022, researchers projected on Tuesday. Though coronavirus cases in the US have been soaring, social distancing appears to be effective. Social distancing is "one of the most powerful weapons" against COVID-19, said Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "If we can just maximize that social distancing, we can limit this virus's ability," he said earlier this month. West Coast states of California, Washington and Oregon also announced they are joining forces in a plan to begin incremental release of stay-at-home orders.
Bishop who ignored social distancing guidelines dies of Covid-19
Read full article: Bishop who ignored social distancing guidelines dies of Covid-19Bishop Gerald Glenn, the pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church in Virginia has died, the church announced on Sunday. Glenn had tested positive for coronavirus, according to a video posted by his daughter Mar-Gerie Crawley. On April 4, Glenn's daughter posted a video, announcing that both he and his wife, Marcietia Glenn, had tested positive for coronavirus. The church's post announcing Gerald Glenn's death, asked that others would allow the "First Family to grieve in their own way." Final arrangements for Glenn are expected to be made within the next few days, the church said.
Limited seating and pajama bottoms: How Texas churches are preparing for a socially distant Easter
Read full article: Limited seating and pajama bottoms: How Texas churches are preparing for a socially distant EasterHe’s considering wearing his blue plaid suit — but with pajama bottoms that will be out of view of cameras capturing him leading online service. “We can’t meet as a church, but we can still be the church,” Thompson said. A normal Easter Sunday would include in-person church services, dressing in pastel colors and a family brunch. “We’ll participate in a church service online, and we’ll probably put on the clothes anyway, take some pictures and enjoy being with our family,” he said. Normal Easter Sunday plans — going to the park for an Easter egg hunt with his grandkids and in-person church services — will be put on hold.
Taco Bell will hand you a free taco on Tuesday -- following proper social distancing protocol
Read full article: Taco Bell will hand you a free taco on Tuesday -- following proper social distancing protocolIt's easy to forget which day of the week it is when you're cooped up in your home for weeks on end. But please, don't forget Taco Tuesday. Taco Bell hasn't. On March 31 (this upcoming Tuesday, if you haven't glanced at a calendar for a bit), the chain will hand out one free beef taco per customer. So go on, claim your free taco in this strange, isolated time.
How are Texans doing with social distancing? Not that bad, according to this survey
Read full article: How are Texans doing with social distancing? Not that bad, according to this surveyTexas, how are we doing in terms of social distancing from one another? According to data from unacast.com, Texas scored an average grade of "B" for social distancing statewide. Both of which recently earned an “F.”Locally, Houston-area counties scored well in social-distancing. The data was used along with guidelines from the World Health Organization and the CDC on social distancing. Devices used by unacast.com were used to determine the size and population of each county observed.
Garth Brooks accepts song requests for free virtual concert streaming Monday
Read full article: Garth Brooks accepts song requests for free virtual concert streaming MondayHOUSTON – Dozens of musicians have taken to social media to give fans an exclusive experience, as millions of people are asked to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Artists are live streaming pop-up performances from their homes and studios. Garth Brooks is up next. He is accepting song requests for his virtual concert #StudioG, which is set to stream Monday at 8 p.m.“Let’s let music connect us during this disconnected time,” Garth Brooks wrote on Instagram. Submit to Garth Brooks’ Instagram account.
Community hosts surprise parade after 7-year-old’s birthday party was canceled due to social distancing
Read full article: Community hosts surprise parade after 7-year-old’s birthday party was canceled due to social distancingHOUSTON – This is how you throw the best social distancing birthday party for a girl turning seven years old during the coronavirus crisis. A special day for Quinn Stoebner was sidetracked after local officials limited social gatherings to less than 10 people this week. Meaning the big party Quinn’s family was planning was no longer an option. Family and friends frantically organized a surprise parade Saturday morning that would pass right in front of Quinn's home. While it wasn’t exactly the birthday party that was planned to begin with, the meaning was certainly all the same.
‘I’m on a 14 day quarantine. This is what it’s like.’
Read full article: ‘I’m on a 14 day quarantine. This is what it’s like.’I have four more days to go before I’m able to begin my integration back into society, as much as that will be possible. But I did travel to South Korea and Japan with my husband between Feb. 22 and March 6. While we were in South Korea, the country had its steep spike in coronavirus cases. Wearing a mask in Seoul, South Korea, amid the novel coronavirus spread in that country in late-February. I’m fortunate to be able to work while I’m at home.