The Texas and National Leagues of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters of Texas and two Texas voters asked a federal judge in Austin to overturn the governor’s order, which forced Travis and Harris counties — two of the state’s most important Democratic strongholds — to shutter a number of drop-off sites they had already opened this week.
Voting rights advocates and civic groups have rushed to the courthouse in a bid to block Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s Oct. 1 order allowing Texas counties no more than one drop-off location for voters casting absentee ballots, calling the directive an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote that will disproportionately impact voters of color in the state’s biggest cities.
The Texas and National Leagues of United Latin American Citizens, the League of Women Voters of Texas and two Texas voters asked a federal judge in Austin in a lawsuit filed late Thursday to overturn the governor’s order, which forced Travis and Harris Counties — two of the state’s most important Democratic strongholds — to shutter a number of drop-off sites they had already opened this week.
“The impact of this eleventh-hour decisions is momentous, targets Texas’ most vulnerable voters—older voters, and voters with disabilities—and results in wild variations in access to absentee voting drop-off locations depending on the county a voter resides in,” attorneys for the groups argued. “It also results in predictable disproportionate impacts on minority communities that already hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis.”
Attorneys also pointed out that Abbott was making a major change to election procedures just weeks away from an election — an action the state and its attorneys argued was improper in a separate federal lawsuit over straight-ticket voting.
ATLANTA, Oct– The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today announced that Edward “Ted” P. Decker has been named president and chief operating officer, effective October 5, 2020. Decker, a 20-year veteran of the company, has served as executive vice president of merchandising since 2014. As the company’s chief merchant, he has been responsible for all store and online merchandising departments, merchandising strategy, services and vendor management, marketing and in-store environment. In his new role, he will assume additional responsibility for global store operations, global supply chain, and outside sales and service.
“Ted is an incredible leader who has enhanced our competitiveness and interconnected strategy by blending the art and science of retail while also driving outstanding results with both our in-store and online customer experience,” said Craig Menear, chairman and CEO of The Home Depot. “We are extremely fortunate to have what I believe to be one of the finest executive leadership teams in retail. Ted’s promotion and the additional changes we are announcing will further strengthen the team’s strategic leadership and operational efficiency, while I continue to focus over the next few years on the long-term growth and strategic positioning of the company.”
Ann-Marie Campbell has been named executive vice president of U.S. stores and international operations, adding responsibility for all operations, business functions and strategy for the company’s Canada and Mexico businesses to her current responsibilities. The presidents of The Home Depot Canada and The Home Depot Mexico will now report to her. Campbell, a 35-year veteran of The Home Depot, will now lead more than 2,200 stores and 400,000 associates.
Jeff Kinnaird has been promoted to executive vice president of merchandising, reporting to Decker. Most recently, he was president of The Home Depot Canada. He previously served as merchandising vice president of Canada, overseeing merchandising strategy, global sourcing for the division, and growth of private label brands across Canadian stores and online. Prior to that, he was regional vice president of operations for The Home Depot Canada. Kinnaird began his career at The Home Depot nearly 25 years ago as an hourly associate in the lumber aisles.
Michael Rowe has been promoted to president of The Home Depot Canada. Rowe was most recently vice president of e-commerce, marketing and contractor services, where he led all marketing and advertising efforts across Canada, as well as e-commerce, installation services, contractor services and strategy. Prior to that, he served as chief financial officer for The Home Depot Canada. Rowe joined the company in 2006.
Richard McPhail, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will assume the additional responsibility for the company’s corporate strategy and strategic business development. McPhail joined the company in 2005 and was named CFO in 2019, with responsibility for managing the company’s financial performance as well as capital allocation, investor relations, tax and treasury.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump tested positive for coronavirus, the President announced early Friday morning, an extraordinary development coming months into a global pandemic and in the final stretch of his reelection campaign.Read the note released by the White House from Sean P. Conley, the President’s physician:I release the following information with the permission of President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.This evening I received confirmation that both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.The President and First Lady are both well at this time, and they plan to remain at home within the White House during their convalescence.The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions. Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments.
Ocho partidos invictos y los Lions rugen camino a clasificar a playoffs con Óscar Pareja al mando y el juvenil Chris Mueller en alza
Un revitalizado y sensacional Orlando City SC está encaminado hacia su histórica primera clasificación a los Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, ubicado cómodamente entre los cuatro primeros de la Conferencia del Este y gozando actualmente de una racha invicta de ocho partidos, la mejor de la liga. El ascenso meteórico del mediocampista estadounidense de 24 años, Chris Mueller, y la mano del entrenador colombiano, Óscar Pareja, que ha logrado revolucionar al equipo en su primera temporada al mando de los Lions, son dos factores clave que han impulsado al equipo, desde alcanzar la final del Torneo Especial MLS is Back hasta su racha inédita actual.
Mueller se desarrolló en la academia de Sockers FC, miembro de MLS NEXT, antes de convertirse en figura y goleador de la Universidad de Wisconsin y ser seleccionado por Orlando en la sexta ronda general en el SuperDraft de la MLS 2018. Mueller, quien es bilingüe en inglés y español y ve el castellano como herramienta importante en su desarrollo cultural y futbolístico , presume de un año espectacular, liderando su club con siete goles y cinco asistencias, mientras que sus 12 tantos y pases de gol combinados lo igualan en el cuarto lugar de la liga. Con uno de los atacantes más efectivos de la MLS esta temporada, los Lions han acumulado un récord de 6V-2E-0D en partidos en los que Mueller registra un gol o una asistencia, mientras que las 26 unidades del club esta temporada están a solo cuatro del superlíder y primero en la carrera por el Supporters’ Shield, Columbus Crew SC.
El director técnico colombiano, Pareja , formado en la MLS, marcó el comienzo de un cambio completo para ofrecerle una nueva cara a Orlando, dándole vuelta a un club que había terminado con el segundo peor récord en la Conferencia del Este a posicionarlo entre los mejores de la temporada. El exentrenador de FC Dallas y Club Tijuana de la Liga MX tiene se ha ganado la reputación de apostar por los jugadores más jóvenes, y este año al frente de Orlando, hace honor a esa cualidad, al confiar en sus futuras estrellas. El poderoso ataque ofensivo de Orlando lidera la Conferencia del Este con 25 goles y los cuatro máximos goleadores de los Lions esta temporada son el ícono portugués Nani, Mueller, el delantero estadounidense de 20 años, Daryl Dike, y el delantero, Benji Michel, de 22 años.
Rumbo a la clasificación a los Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Llegó la época del año, cuando las temperaturas son más frescas, pero el calor competitivo intensifica. Con solo seis semanas en el calendario restantes y menos de 10 partidos restantes, la temporada regular está cerca de cerrar el telón con Columbus Crew SC, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC y Orlando City SC defendiendo el primer lugar en la Conferencia del Este. Mientras que Seattle Sounders FC y Portland Timbers están comenzando a hacer lo mismo en la Conferencia del Oeste. Hay 19 puntos que separan al primero del último en la Conferencia Este. El superlíder, Columbus Crew SC (30 puntos, 9V-3E-2D), lidera la contienda por el Supporters’ Shield, y ha gozado de consistencia. Philadelphia Union, con un plantel joven y con los juveniles jugando un rol clave, suma 28 unidades (8V-4E-2D) e iguala en el segundo lugar a Toronto FC (28 puntos, 8V-4E-2D) y Orlando City SC (26 puntos, 7V-5E-2D) también se afianzan en el cuarto lugar con una racha invicta de ocho partidos, la más larga en la MLS esta temporada. En la cima de la Conferencia del Oeste, Seattle Sounders FC con 24 puntos y un récord de 7V-3E-3D cuenta con la diferencia de goles más alta de la liga, y junto con Portland Timbers, el segundo clasificado (24 puntos, 7V-3E-4D), quedan cuatro puntos por delante del siguiente equipo más cercano.
Óscar Pareja entre el grupo más ganador de entrenadores de la MLS
El entrenador de Orlando City SC, Óscar Pareja, está a punto de ascender en la escala de entrenadores de todos los tiempos en Major League Soccer, ya que su equipo arriesga su racha de ocho partidos invictos el sábado por la tarde cuando se enfrente a New York Red Bulls en el Exploria Stadium. (4:30 p.m. ET FOX / FOX Deportes / FOX Sports).
Pareja ha dirigido 110 victorias en sus ocho temporadas en la MLS, ahora la décima mayor cantidad de todos los tiempos. Actualmente está a solo tres victorias de los siguientes dos entrenadores por delante de él: el exentrenador de New England Revolution, Steve Nicol (112), y el actual DT de D.C. United, Ben Olsen (113).
Máximos récords de entrenadores en MLS
Pareja ha alcanzado la marca de las 10 victorias en cada una de sus siete temporadas al frente. Orlando City SC tiene siete victorias hasta ahora en la temporada 2020, empatado en el tercer lugar en la liga esta temporada.
Entrenadores con más marcas de 10 partidos ganados en MLS
Entre los entrenadores con al menos 100 partidos dirigidos, Pareja tiene el sexto porcentaje de victorias más alto en general, el cuarto mejor entre los entrenadores activos. La mejor marca la tiene el DT actual de Seattle Sounders FC, Brian Schmetzer, con un porcentaje de victorias de .609.
Porcentaje más alto de victorias (entrenadores)
Calendario de conferencias de prensa y atenciones a los medios
Los clubes de la MLS continúan el acceso a los medios de comunicación con jugadores y entrenadores de manera virtual. A lo largo de la temporada, los clubes organizarán conferencias de prensa previas a los partidos, dos días antes de sus respectivos enfrentamientos. Cada club también organizará conferencias de prensa postpartido en vivo desde el estadio.
Puede encontrar un calendario completo de atenciones a medios y conferencias de prensa en el centro de medios de la MLS, haciendo clic AQUÍ.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday declared that counties can designate only one location to collect completed mail ballots from voters, forcing Harris County to abandon 11 sites set up for that purpose.
Abbott’s proclamation also said counties must allow poll watchers to “observe any activity conducted at the early voting clerk’s office” related to the delivery of marked ballots. He said the measure was designed to improve ballot security.
“The state of Texas has a duty to voters to maintain the integrity of our election,” Abbott said in a statement. “These enhanced security protocols will ensure greater transparency and will help stop attempts at illegal voting.”
Abbott did not cite any examples of voter fraud, which election law experts say is exceedingly rare.
The proclamation drew swift accusations of voter suppression in a state that already has among the strictest eligibility rules for mail-in voting.
“Republicans are on the verge of losing, so Governor Abbott is trying to adjust the rules at the last minute,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement.
Texas is one of a handful of states that requires residents to provide an excuse to qualify for a mail ballot. Still, counties have seen an exponential increase in mail ballot requests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harris County Clerk Christopher Hollins had set up 12 locations — 11 of them county clerk annex offices — throughout the 1,777-square-mile county to collect mail ballots. They offered residents an alternative to placing their ballots in the mail, amid concerns that the U.S. Postal Service would struggle to deliver ballots on time.
The county now will only be able to accept ballots only at its election headquarters at NRG Arena.
Hollins accused Abbott of going back on his word in a July proclamation intended to make voting easier during the pandemic. He said Harris County for weeks has advertised its dropoff locations.
“To force hundreds of thousands of seniors and voters with disabilities to use a single dropoff location in a county that stretches nearly 2,000 square miles is prejudicial and dangerous.”
Assistant County Attorney Douglas Ray said the governor’s claim that limiting mail ballot collection to one site will combat fraud makes no sense. At each location the Harris County set up, voters had to deliver their own ballots, sign in, speak with an assistant clerk and provide identification.
Consolidating that process to one site will make dropping off a ballot more cumbersome, he said.
“It’s a bit like saying we had a hurricane and everybody needs water, so we’re going to have everybody go to a single location,” Ray said. “We’re not going to distribute it around town.”
State leaders also are attempting to prevent Hollins from sending mail ballot applications to all 2.4 million registered voter. The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to halt Harris County’s plan.
More than 207,000 Harris County residents have requested mail ballots so far, far more than in any previous election. As of Thurday, 404 had already been returned.
The language of Abbott’s proclamation was similar to that used in a lawsuit filed by Houston conservative activist Steve Hotze with the Texas Supreme Court. Hotze argued that Harris County was violating the Texas Election Code by setting up multiple locations to collect mail ballots, accepting mail ballots before in-person voting began and extending the early voting period.
It was Abbott, however, who added an extra week of early voting in an effort to ensure residents could vote safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hotze, a litigious champion of far-right causes, filed a series of lawsuits challenging restrictions Abbott and local leaders issued during the early months of the pandemic.
October is here! Just five short years ago, the 2.3-mile stretch of Buffalo Bayou from Shepherd Drive to the Sabine Street Bridge officially opened to the public. Throughout this month, BBP will present Artful Anniversary, a series of five virtual and visual art programs that will animate Buffalo Bayou Park with dance, music, and temporary installations. Highlights include an exhibition of public sculptures by renowned, 105-year-old artist Carmen Herrera, as well as performances by Houston Grand Opera, DACAMERA, and Urban Souls Dance Company. Tune in online or visit the park on your own to experience the exhibitions. Check out the full line-up below.
As we commemorate the 5th Anniversary of Buffalo Bayou Park, BBP sincerely thanks the Kinder Foundation and all of the generous donors who made this transformational project possible along with our many partners including the City of Houston through Houston Parks & Recreation, Harris County Flood Control District, and Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #3.
Please join us for the 2020 Buffalo Bayou Partnership Picnic, Celebrating Five Years of Buffalo Bayou Park, on Thursday, November 5th. Guests will be treated to a seated picnic basket dinner on The Brown Foundation Lawn of The Water Works. For a socially distanced dining experience, only you and your guests will be seated together at a table. Or, we will deliver a picnic for you to enjoy at home while tuning into our virtual program. Proceeds from BBP’s fall fundraising event cover a significant portion of the organization’s operating budget and your support is needed now more than ever. Your contribution will allow BBP to continue maintaining Buffalo Bayou Park; developing the trail system; planning for new green spaces east of downtown; operating a waterway clean-up program; and presenting tours, public art, volunteer activities, and recreational opportunities that improve the quality of life in our city. We sincerely hope you will make plans to participate in this year’s picnic honoring the essential role that Buffalo Bayou Park plays in our community.
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is excited to collaborate with New York’s Public Art Fund to present Estructuras Monumentales, a major exhibition of outdoor sculptures by 105-year-old artist Carmen Herrera (b. 1915, Havana, Cuba). Featuring four newly-created sculptures that were first envisioned nearly five decades ago, Estructuras Monumentales is Herrera’s first public art exhibition in Houston and only the second time that these works have been presented globally. Ranging from seven feet in height to over twelve feet in width, the colorful sculptures will enliven Buffalo Bayou Park at a monumental scale.
New York-based Herrera is known for her vibrant, abstract geometric paintings, and first began conceiving her Estructuras series — the physical manifestation of her painted forms in three dimensions — in the 1960s. The resulting aluminum structures feature strong lines and shapes, with bold monochromatic colors. Concurrent with this presentation is an exhibition of Herrera’s paintings and objects at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Explore 40 stops along the trails of Buffalo Bayou, as ROCO provides a soundtrack to Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s landmarks and public art. Scan the QR codes located on special signs at each of the 40 sites and you’ll be directed to an online selection from ROCO’s fifteen years of live performance recordings, curated by the ROCO team. View the map of landmarks and each musical piece here.
Tours of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern and Private Pontoon Boat Tours have resumed. All other BBP programs, tours and events are canceled through October 31.
The following are closed to the public until further notice:
Johnny Steele Dog Park
Lost Lake Visitor Center and The Kitchen at The Dunlavy
Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de DALLAS de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 01 de octubre hasta el 07 de octubre del 2020.
Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de SAN ANTONIO de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 01 de octubre hasta el 07 de octubre del 2020.
The company and its former Crosby plant manager still face charges for reckless emission of air pollutants.
Defense attorney Tim Johnson, left, and Richard Rowe, Arkema CEO, right, are shown during the Arkema Inc. criminal trial at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse.
A Harris County judge has dropped CEO Richard Rowe from the Arkema criminal case over a fire that erupted at a Crosby chemical plant during Hurricane Harvey.
Visiting Judge Belinda Hill issued a directed verdict ending the case against Rowe, meaning there wasn’t enough legal evidence for a reasonable jury to reach a different conclusion.
Tim Johnson, Rowe’s defense lawyer, said his client was relieved.
“It’s always a gift,” Johnson said. “Judges rarely grant directed verdicts, but it was appropriate in this case because there was absolutely no evidence of Mr. Rowe’s guilt.”
A spokesperson from the Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg’s office said the DA had minimal comment as the trial is still underway, and that the ruling doesn’t change the facts regarding what the company allegedly did.
Two criminal charges remain against the company and its former Crosby plant manager Leslie Comardelle for reckless emission of air pollutants.
Earlier in the month, two charges for assault of a public servant against the company and its former vice president of logistics were dropped.
In the motion to dismiss the charges, the DA’s office indicated that probable cause exists, but not beyond a reasonable doubt.
After more than five feet of water flooded Arkema’s Crosby plant during Hurricane Harvey, trailers of organic peroxides burst into flames. The fire lasted for days and sent thick plumes of hazardous smoke into the air.
Twenty-one people sought medical attention after exposure to the fumes and 200 people in the surrounding area were evacuated from their homes for a week.
HOUSTON – The Mayor’s Task Force on Policing Reform today released a highly anticipated 153-page report with a list of recommendations proposed by the 45 member citizen group.
Led by Chairman Larry Payne, the task force spent months listening to Houstonians and organizations about the type and kind of police department they desire and demand. The task force engaged in extensive research on issues and best practices around the country and received more than 7,000 responses from a community survey.
“In the events of recent months, it is clear in Houston and across the nation that our community, mayor, city council, police chief, officers, and the union must all work together to protect and serve the constitutional rights of all citizens,” Chairman Payne wrote in the report’s introduction.
The recommendations are divided into six categories: Community Policing, Independent Oversight, Power dynamics, Crisis Intervention, Field Readiness, and Clear Expectations.
“We have worked hard on this being a document that is not going to sit on a shelf. It has actionable items that can be implemented,” Payne said. “We are also going to stay committed to the mayor. As a task force, we are not going away.”
The 104 recommendations are available online. (Click the image below.)
Mayor Turner said he plans to take time to thoroughly review the report before making decisions about implementing any or all of the task force’s recommendations.
“I know people in our community recognize the importance of our police officers, want good policing, accountability, and transparency within the Houston Police Department,” said Mayor Turner. “This is a transformational moment for our city as we seek to improve how policing is done in our community in a time when people are calling for reform and demanding we address racial and social injustices.”
