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Crime Stoppers of Houston Offers Resources, Safety Tips and Free Webinars for National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

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Crime Stoppers of Houston Offers Resources, Safety Tips and Free Webinars for National Human Trafficking Awareness Month

 In honor of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Crime Stoppers of Houston through its Safe Community Program will focus its January outreach efforts to educate the community at large about the realities of human trafficking. Throughout this month, the organization will work with other local experts to empower Houstonians to become more aware of this type of crime happening in their communities and their neighborhoods.

In 2020, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) celebrated its 20 year anniversary. The TVPA passed by the United States Congress 20 years ago signaled the U.S. government’s “resolve to fight human trafficking and marked a pivot from indignation to positive action” (Department of State, 2020). This was the first federal law to protect victims of sex/labor trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and prevent trafficking in the States as well as abroad. In their 20th anniversary global report, it was clearly indicated that traffickers worldwide did not slow down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the report here.

Latest Statistics:

  • There were an estimated 79,000 minor sex trafficking victims in Texas in 2019 *United Against Human Trafficking
  • The online solicitation of minors rose by 93% in 2020 *NCOSE
  • In 2019, the Department of Homeland Security opened 1024 human trafficking-related cases and the Department of Justice opened 607 human trafficking investigations.
  • In 2019, the department of justice initiated 220 federal human trafficking prosecutions and charged 343 defendants.
  • In 2019, the Department of Justice secured 475 convictions against traffickers (454 sex trafficking and 21 labor trafficking)

Crime Stoppers is inviting the community to get involved this month. Here are ways to join this critical conversation:

  • Educate yourself –
    • Download our free human trafficking safety tips available in English and Spanish at crime-stoppers.org/human-trafficking-awareness/
    • Watch Safety Hot Top Video on 4 Human Trafficking Myths:

  • Watch Episode 15 of Crime Stoppers’ Podcast, The Balanced Voice, featuring a discussion on bail reform and human trafficking:

  • Spread the Word – Follow relevant organizations, including Crime Stoppers of Houston, on social media and share the awareness resources in your community.
  • Attend one of the following free webinars:
    • January 12 – Human Trafficking Awareness Webinar

This webinar covers the basics of human trafficking including what is human trafficking, important trafficking terms to be aware of, trafficking trends near you, the growth of human trafficking due to the internet, an overview of the grooming process, signs of trafficking, and how you can get involved in the fight against human trafficking. Watch webinar here!

  • January 18 – S.A.V.E – Spotting the Signs of Human Trafficking in Adolescents

It is imperative that all school administration, educators, and anyone working directly with students understands how critical it is to address the exploitation of adolescents and frequency in which it’s occurring. This webinar will clarify human trafficking, expose traffickers, discuss victimization, review warning signs and addresses prevention. Register here!

 

  • January 19 – Cyber Safety & Human Trafficking Awareness Webinar

This webinar highlights the nexus between pornography, trafficking, and grooming techniques used by predators. Gain an understanding through examples of direct messages used to lure students away from their homes, and most importantly how to have the uneasy but necessary conversations with your student. Register here!

 

  • January 25 – S.A.V.E – Inside Look: Abuse and Exploitation

In this webinar, we sit down with an expert who works directly with families and children once abuse has occurred. Join her for an eye-opening conversation and how we can come together as a community to prevent these tragedies. Register here!

 

  • January 26 – Human Trafficking Q&A with Anti-Trafficking Experts

In this webinar, we sit down with local Houston Area Anti-Trafficking advocates for an honest discussion on the state of human trafficking. In this interview, you will have the opportunity to ask the panel of experts any questions you have about human trafficking. Register here!

 

  • Get involved with legislative efforts related to human trafficking. Crime Stoppers of Houston is also working closely with human trafficking partners at Children at Risk, Houston 20 and others, to inform the community about House/Senate Bills that have been filed surrounding human trafficking. We will share that information soon via crime-stoppers.org.

 

  • Report – If you have concerns about a potential trafficking situation, you may report to:
    • National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888
    • Houston Police Department Vice Division: 713-308-8600

If you would like to remain anonymous, please contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

For more information about human trafficking or other public safety concerns, please visit crime-stoppers.org.

Crime Stoppers of Houston Fully Supports Governor Greg Abbott’s Calling to Make Bond Reform a Legislative Priority this Session

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Crime Stoppers of Houston Fully Supports Governor Greg Abbott’s Calling to Make Bond Reform a Legislative Priority this Session

 Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott held a roundtable discussion in Austin with law enforcement and public safety advocates to discuss his legislative priorities to ensure a safer future for the Lone Star State. Crime Stoppers of Houston fully supports the Governor’s proposed initiatives to reform a ‘broken bail system’. As the leading public safety organization in Texas, Crime Stoppers of Houston identified this trend as a public safety concern early on and has been addressing this for nearly 2 years.

In late 2019, Crime Stoppers’ Director of Victim Services, Andy Kahan, noticed a concerning pattern with defendants charged with murder: many of them had been released on multiple felony bonds, bond forfeiture and/or a personal bond. He began studying the issue and in mid-March 2020 began tracking the issue based on data from court records.

In each case Andy tracks, the victims were killed by a Harris County suspect who:

  • was a defendant who had been released on multiple felony bonds; or
  • had a bond forfeiture reinstated; or
  • had a motion to revoke bond denied; and/or
  • was released on a PR Bond.

Today, we are releasing Andy’s latest report that outlines 90 people who have been killed/murdered by suspects released on a variety of bonds, including felony and personal bond(s) from Harris County.

View report here. This report includes victim names, photographs, and manner of death.

“The ramifications of bail reform have taken its toll on the citizens of Harris County, many who have paid the ultimate price with the loss of their life. We applaud and will be fully supporting Governor Abbott’s proposed legislative strategies related to the issues regarding bail reform,’ says Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services Andy Kahan “Crime Stoppers of Houston wants to make it perfectly clear: We support Misdemeanor Bond Reform. What we don’t support is when public safety is placed at a higher risk when career habitual offenders are continuously released back to the community only to re-offend time after time again.”

Crime Stoppers believes all of us who live and work in Harris County should be on the same page regarding public safety. “Improving public safety has to, and must be, a nonpartisan issue and objective.’ says Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Mankarious

As the leading public safety organization bridging the gap between citizens and law enforcement for forty years, Crime Stoppers of Houston looks forward to having critical public safety conversations as we seek to enhance public safety through positive reform.

Crime Stoppers of Houston will continue to aggressively work with Governor Greg Abbott and state legislators to ensure the uttermost safety of everyone who calls Harris County home. We encourage the community to get involved and follow the work of Andy Kahan @akahancrimesto1 and Crime Stoppers of Houston @CrimeStopHOU.

To learn more about Crime Stoppers of Houston, including their Victim Services and Advocacy Program, visit crime-stoppers.org.

LGBTQ Victory Fund Praises President Biden For

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LGBTQ Victory Fund Praises President Biden For

Ending Ban on Trans Servicemembers

 Today LGBTQ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ people to public office, praised President Joe Biden for repealing Donald Trump’s discriminatory ban on transgender people joining the military and on trans servicemembers transitioning.

Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, released the following statement about the repeal:

“Trans service members continued to serve our nation despite a president who disrespected their contributions and who reinstated discrimination for his own political gain. With that stain on our nation removed, trans service members will rise through the ranks and join the military in greater numbers, changing perceptions of trans people in the U.S. and around the world. Our history proves the military is strongest when it makes strides toward becoming more inclusive. Today will further that truth.”

________________

LGBTQ Victory Fund

LGBTQ Victory Fund works to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBTQ Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government.

victoryfund.org

HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPENING NEW COVID-19 VACCINATION APPOINTMENT SLOTS

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HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT OPENING NEW COVID-19 VACCINATION APPOINTMENT SLOTS

 

The Houston Health Department is opening 1,600 new COVID-19 vaccination appointment slots for the week of January 25, 2021. The appointments are for first doses only.

People who fall under Phase 1A or 1B of the state’s criteria can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 (or http://bit.ly/HHDvaccine) starting at 4 p.m. on January 22 to register. The appointment portal will close when the slots are full.

Appointments are only confirmed upon receipt of an email or text message and confirmation numbers will be verified on site.

The new appointments are for the department’s new drive-thru vaccination site at Delmar Stadium, operated by United Memorial Medical Center, opening Monday.

People who show up without confirmed appointments will be turned away.

The health department received an additional 9,000 doses of vaccine on Friday. In addition to the 1,600 new appointment slots, the department will transfer 800 doses to other providers, vaccinate approximately 900 people turned away from Minute Maid Park last Saturday, and fulfill existing appointments at Bayou City Event Center, its health centers and multi-service centers.

“We are pleased to operate two mass vaccination sites next week, one the city’s north and another on the south side. These two locations make the vaccine more accessible to all, complementing the health department’s health centers and multi-service centers,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “As we receive more vaccine, we will expand partnerships with pharmacies and federally qualified health centers to ensure the vaccine is available in the most vulnerable communities and deploy mobile strike teams as needed.”

The department plans to announce new appointment opportunities weekly, based on supply.

People can learn about new appointment opportunities through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notification by registering for the HoustonRecovers subscription of AlertHouston at AlertHouston.org.

Appointments are based on vaccine availability and may be adjusted based on the department’s supply.

As of January 21, the department administered a total of 29,751 doses of vaccine at locations including Minute Maid Park, Bayou City Event Center, its Northside, La Nueva Casa de Amigos, Sharpstown and Sunnyside health centers, the JW Peavy Senior Center, and its Acres Homes, Hiram Clarke and Magnolia multi-service centers.

People who received their first dose of vaccine through the health department will be contacted about scheduling their second dose before the recommended due date. Please check voicemails, text messages and emails frequently for information.

The department currently provides the Moderna vaccine. Moderna’s second dose is recommended 28 days after the first dose. Updated guidance from CDC says “the second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible. However, if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval, the second does of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be scheduled for administration up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. If the second dose is administered beyond these intervals, there is no need to restart the series.”

If contact information has changed since a person received their first dose from the health department, please alert the COVID-19 call center at 832-393-4220.

“We understand the anxiety about the second dose and appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue working together to achieve the largest mass vaccination effort ever,” said Stephen L. Williams, director of the health department. “Please be assured that if you were vaccinated by the Houston Health Department, we will reach out to you within the appropriate timeframe to schedule your second dose.”

Even when vaccinated, everyone still needs to take precautions like masking up, practicing social distancing, washing hands and getting tested to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as people get vaccinated and we learn more about the immunity produced by the vaccines.

“Please encourage your family and community to ‘Take Your Best Shot’ as vaccine becomes more widely available,” Williams said.

Visit the vaccine page of HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for the latest information about COVID-19 vaccinations through the Houston Health Department.

Governor Abbott Surges State Resources To Support COVID-19 Response In Laredo

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Governor Abbott Surges State Resources To Support COVID-19 Response In Laredo

 

The State Of Texas Governor Seal

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) have surged medical personnel, equipment, testing supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to Laredo to help combat COVID-19 and support hospitals in the region.

DSHS has deployed a total of 470 staff to Laredo and delivered ventilators, infusers, oxygen concentrators, hospital beds, cardiac monitors, oxygen flowmeters, IV poles, BiPAP machines, and more. Over 87,000 COVID-19 test kits have been provided to the City of Laredo Health Department and the Laredo Fire Department. DSHS has supplied 8 auxiliary medical units and ambulances as requested. Additionally, the State of Texas has provided over 29,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to date with more on the way.

TDEM and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have provided Laredo and Webb County with over 33.9 million pieces of PPE, including over 5.9 million masks, over 25.4 million gloves, 260,000 face shields, and nearly one million gowns and coveralls. State testing teams, coordinated by TDEM, have tested over 38,000 specimens at 29 locations throughout Laredo and Webb County.

“The State of Texas is working closely with Laredo officials to provide the support that will help bring hospitalizations down, treat COVID-positive patients, and mitigate the spread of the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We will continue to ensure that communities across the Lone Star State have what they need to effectively respond to COVID-19.”

Publicación 1189 de SAN ANTONIO – Revista Digital 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

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Publicación 1189 de SAN ANTONIO – Revista Digital 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de SAN ANTONIO de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

Publicación 1189 de DALLAS – Revista Digital 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

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Publicación 1189 de DALLAS – Revista Digital 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de DALLAS de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

Publicación 1189 de HOUSTON – Revista Digital 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

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Publicación 1189 de HOUSTON – Revista Digital 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de HOUSTON de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 21 de enero – 27 de enero / 2021

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Issues Statement Applauding The Biden- Harris Administration’s Executive Orders Prioritizing Immigration Reform And National Healing   

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Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Issues Statement Applauding The Biden- Harris Administration’s Executive Orders Prioritizing Immigration Reform And National Healing   

Today, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement in support of the Biden- Harris administration’s executive orders and legislative initiatives:

 

“Over the past four years our country has witnessed and endured a tremendous amount of pain and struggle. While there is a lot of work to be done to right the wrongs of the Trump administration, today’s executive orders signed by President Joe Biden are a testament to the hard work that lays ahead, and the progress that will follow.

 

“The Biden administration’s executive order to move towards a more equitable and just immigration system that calls on Congress to enact legislation providing a path to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of our Dreamers marks the first step of many in our path towards healing and growth.

 

“I look forward to joining this administration and my colleagues in the fight to work tirelessly to improve the lives of our most vulnerable communities and all hard-working Americans. From addressing economic inequality and systemic discrimination, while prioritizing the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, to working with our global partners by rejoining the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords, we are ready for the work ahead.”

 

Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Statement on the State’s Cancer Cluster Investigations In Fifth Ward

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Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Statement on the State’s Cancer Cluster Investigations In Fifth Ward

 

City of Houston
Mayor Sylvester Turner issued the following statement today about the newly-released State Department of Health and Human Services’ Cancer Cluster Investigations that included findings related to the former railroad creosote treatment facility in Kashmere Gardens.

“The finding of another cancer cluster in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens area highlights the significant adverse health impacts that have plagued areas of our city for decades. Even more distressing, this cluster involves children sickened with leukemia at nearly five times the expected rate.

“Late last year, the city’s first-ever cancer cluster was identified in the same area with greater-than-expected incidences of adult cancers of the lung, esophagus, and throat. Both cancer clusters are near legacy creosote contamination at a facility now owned by Union Pacific.

“Without the grassroots efforts of the community and the relentless support of the Houston Health Department, this cancer analysis may have never been conducted, and the community may have continued to suffer in silence.

“It is our responsibility to protect the interests of the families and children living in the immediate area. All Houstonians have the right to a safe and healthy environment no matter where they live.
The City of Houston will aggressively explore all possible avenues to bring meaningful relief to this suffering community.

“I am requesting that Union Pacific help to relocate affected residents and create a buffer between contaminated areas and homes in the neighborhood. The EPA and TCEQ must declare the area a Super Fund site. Someone needs to be held accountable for the healthcare costs of these families and specifically these children. ”

 

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