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Tomball venue prioritizing employees’ safety after governor’s latest executive order
Read full article: Tomball venue prioritizing employees’ safety after governor’s latest executive orderGreg Abbott announced an executive order allowing businesses to operate at 100% capacity and ending the statewide mask mandate. “We do have our foyer, with the biggest Chandelier in Texas,” said Lidice Ortiz, the manager of the venue. The wedding and special event venue has multiple spaces, including a ballroom, marble ceremony space, an outdoor venue, gardens and fountains. “We will use the masks until everybody will be vaccinated and we will be safe,” Ortiz said. “We really recommend that they wear masks, they must have social distancing if they want everyone to be safe,” Ortiz said.
Congress members urge Texas to scale back reopening, give back local authority
Read full article: Congress members urge Texas to scale back reopening, give back local authorityHOUSTON On Friday, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Rep. Joaqun Castro sent a letter to Gov. The lawmakers said Texas should allow the local authority to local counties and cities to do what is in the best interest of their communities. There has also a 60% increase in COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents since the start of July, per the letter. This is not a time for polls or politics, Jackson Lee and Castro wrote in the letter. We all want to reopen Texas.
Businesses respond to new mask orders in Sugar Land, Fort Bend County
Read full article: Businesses respond to new mask orders in Sugar Land, Fort Bend CountySUGAR LAND Some business owners are asking for clarity about their responsibilities, as Sugar Land and Fort Bend County officials enact similar orders requiring facial protections in public. Both orders levy potential fines against business owners, and not customers, a $500 maximum for Fort Bend County, a $1000 maximum fine in Sugar Land. Neither the Fort Bend County nor the Sugar Land orders specifically mention gyms. But several Sugar Land gyms were requiring members to wear masks Tuesday. But patrons and employees are expected to wear masks in restaurants and bars when not engaged in those activities.
DATA: See county-by-county tracking of new COVID-19 cases, deaths in Texas
Read full article: DATA: See county-by-county tracking of new COVID-19 cases, deaths in TexasThe Texas Department of State Health Services is tracking the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in each county. The data shows a promising sign in Fort Bend County. The county went nine days without any new COVID-19 deaths. The state reports one new death on May 22, but since then, the number has dropped back to zero new deaths. See all of the Texas Department of State Health Services’ coronavirus charts and county trends here.
No mask, no service: Can businesses legally require customers to wear masks?
Read full article: No mask, no service: Can businesses legally require customers to wear masks?HOUSTON – No mask, no service: that is the policy at Trudy’s Hallmark store off Memorial Drive in Houston. “We just think it’s the right thing to do right now for the safety of not only the community but our employees,” said store owner Priya Shields. Shields said she implemented the mask policy after her employees requested it. The Skechers factory outlet store in Humble also requires customers to wear a face covering. Barth said per Texas law, mask policy is legal and enforceable – even in Adams’ case.
Houston-area water park to defy Gov. Abbott’s executive order and reopen for Memorial Day weekend
Read full article: Houston-area water park to defy Gov. Abbott’s executive order and reopen for Memorial Day weekendHowever, that is not stopping the owners of Big Rivers Waterpark in New Caney. “All of our frontline staff are gonna be required to wear masks when interacting with the public,” said Big Rivers CEO & developer Monty Galland. Social distancing is one example. “We’ve separated all of these tables in a way that they can monitor social distancing and encourage all of our guests to adhere to all the social distancing measures,” Barnett said. Typhoon Texas also plans to cap the crowds at about 2500-3000 guests.
Reopening Texas: Bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls among businesses that can reopen Friday
Read full article: Reopening Texas: Bars, bowling alleys, bingo halls among businesses that can reopen FridayGreg Abbott is allowing businesses to reopen after being closed for months in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Here’s a closer look at the businesses that are allowed to reopen and when. Abbott has said that just because the business is allowed to reopen does not mean it is required to reopen. He said business owners can use their judgment about when it is best to reopen. May 22Bars, breweries and wine tasting establishments at 25% capacityBowling alleysAquariumsRodeo and equestrian eventsBingo hallsSimulcast racingSkating rinksNatural cavernsRestaurants can operate at 50% capacityMay 29ZoosMay 31Day Youth CampsOvernight Youth CampsYouth SportsCertain professional sports without in-person spectatorsWhat’s already allowed to reopen
Houston-area bar owners share emotional video to encourage President Trump, Gov. Abbott to reopen industry
Read full article: Houston-area bar owners share emotional video to encourage President Trump, Gov. Abbott to reopen industryHOUSTON – Local business owners are sending a message to President Donald Trump and Gov. We have video here showing that is exactly what we can do,” Two Mules Tavern owner Colin Chapman said in the video. On May 1, Abbott allowed restaurants to reopen dining rooms at 25% capacity, followed by salons and barbershops on May 8. In the 11-minute YouTube video, bar owners, employees and supporters urged lawmakers to outline reopening plans for the industry. Check out the full video “Dear President Trump and Governor Abbott."
Federal judge rules Club Onyx may only operate as restaurant without ‘entertainers’
Read full article: Federal judge rules Club Onyx may only operate as restaurant without ‘entertainers’HOUSTON – A federal judge ruled Friday that Club Onyx Houston can only operate as a restaurant without adult entertainment, even if they were fully clothed, according to court documents. This decision represents the latest legal decision between Trump Inc., the company that operates the club, and the city of Houston. Greg Abbot clarified Tuesday that sexually oriented businesses may only offer restaurant services and prohibited from providing any other services, according to court documents. Since Onyx Houston operates as a “sexually oriented business, they are prohibited from offering both restaurant services and entertaining, even if the entertainers are fully clothed,” U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore wrote in the order Friday. The suit also named — the Houston Police Department, the Houston Fire Department, and unnamed police officers and fire department officers — as co-defendants, according to court documents.
Local hair salons and barbershops prepare to open
Read full article: Local hair salons and barbershops prepare to openHOUSTON – At the stroke of midnight, Neri Hair Salon in Pearland will welcome back its first customers in weeks. They’re all in so we’re like let’s do it.”Like other hair salons across Texas, they have been closed by Gov. As the state continues to re-open businesses in phases, hair salons and barbershops are on the list to get back to work on Friday. I’m going to be able to take care of you guys’,” he said. Although it’ll be a late night for Neri and his staff, he said they are happy to be doing hair again.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reportedly says in recorded phone call that reopening state will increase coronavirus spread
Read full article: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reportedly says in recorded phone call that reopening state will increase coronavirus spreadGreg Abbott apparently said in a recent phone call that reopening the state will escalate coronavirus spread. Newsweek reported the call recording was made on the same day Abbott decided to reopen businesses. The recording was posted on Tuesday by the group Progress Texas, but reportedly was recorded during a May 1 call Abbott held with state legislators to discuss reopening businesses closed by the coronavirus pandemic. A Progress Texas spokeswoman told The San Antonio Current the recording was supplied by a person on the call to the Texas Democratic Party. "How do we know reopening businesses won't result in the faster spread and more cases of COVID-19?
Houston-area salon owners urge for the Texas governor to allow their businesses to reopen
Read full article: Houston-area salon owners urge for the Texas governor to allow their businesses to reopenHOUSTON – As Texas prepares for the first phase of reopening Friday, some in the cosmetology industry are sending a strong message. Greg Abbott announced that restaurants, malls, retail shops, and movie theaters can open in the state with limited capacity. People in the cosmetology and beauty industry rallied outside of Farouk Systems headquarters on Thursday. CEO Farouk Shami said what is happening to his industry isn't fair, and he believes that people in the business already follow stringent guidelines. Kemah salon owner Anna Cantu said that being a hairdresser is her passion, but it is also her livelihood.