 Experience a Different Side of the Destination LAS VEGAS (JULY 22, 2020) Beyond the neon lights of Las Vegas, a diverse landscape that offers both adventure and social distancing awaits. From hiking in picturesque canyons and kayaking down rivers to zooming though the desert in an ATV, the options – and excitement – are endless. Water Fun for Everyone An easy day trip from Las Vegas, watersports abound at Lake Mead, Lake Las Vegas and the Colorado River. The first and largest national recreation area in the United States, Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers boating, jet skiing, and rafting. Vegas Water Sports at Lake Mead specializes in watersport activities and rentals, including wakeboarding, water skiing and tubing. Boaters and jet skiers on Lake Mead will get a glimpse of the world-renowned Hoover Dam. Named one of the Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, the dam generates about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power each year for use in Nevada, Arizona and California. Lake Las Vegas provides family fun with a 40,000-square-foot floating Aqua Park. The lake’s water sports complex also offers standup paddle boarding, flyboard experiences and kayaking. For those looking for an adventure on the river, Laughlin is nestled along the banks of the Colorado River and offers an ideal location to experience a wide variety of water activities, and Vegas Glass Kayaks gives three guided tours of the Black Canyon including half day, full day and nighttime tours. Hit the (Dirt) Road Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers something for every outdoor enthusiast. With 2,000 climbing routes, Red Rock Canyon is known as one of the premier climbing destinations in the United States. This natural conservation area also offers a 13-mile scenic drive, picnic areas, cycling, hiking and 26 different hikes and trails. More than 60 miles of maintained trails wind through Mount Charleston in the scenic Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest just north of Las Vegas. Most trails start at over 6,000 ft. in elevation, with some culminating at the 11,916 ft. Charleston Peak. Spanning 40,000 acres, Valley of Fire State Park is world-renowned for its bright red Aztec sandstone and petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. Hikers visiting Nevada’s first state park can choose from 11 trails that range in length and difficulty, but all offer spectacular views. Find excitement – and a little Wild West history – underground. The Eldorado Canyon Mine Tour is a guided adventure into the Techatticup Mine, which operated from 1861 to 1942 and is the richest and oldest gold mine in Southern Nevada. For visitors looking to experience the great outdoors from the comfort of a vehicle, Pink Jeep Tours allow passengers to experience an off-road adventure to a variety of destinations, including Valley of Fire, Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Hoover Dam. With a large fleet of custom off-road vehicles including dune buggies, ATVs and UTVs, Sun Buggy Fun Rentals offers guided and non-guided tour options, as well as a high-speed chases spanning more than 15,000 acres of desert landscape. Just minutes from the Strip, a different kind of playground awaits. Dig This Las Vegas is a full-size bulldozer and excavator site that allows customers to take control of heavy equipment and move mountains of dirt, stack monster rocks, dig huge holes, crush cars, and much more. The Instagrammable Outdoors A creative expression of human presence in the desert, Seven Magic Mountainspunctuates the Mojave with a poetic burst of form and color. Located just ten miles south of Las Vegas off of Interstate 15, Seven Magic Mountains is a public art installation comprised of seven towers of colorful, stacked boulders standing more than thirty feet high. From the road to the rails, Rail Explorers in Boulder City offers three exciting tours – a 4-mile daytime ride, a sunset tour, and an evening lantern ride – that combines pedal-powered explorers and a ride on an historic train. Go “Fore” It Get into the swing of things and hit the green at any (or all) of these unique Vegas golf courses. Originally built in 2005 on the footprint of the historic Desert Inn Hotel course, the Tom Fazio-designed Wynn Golf Club was renovated and reopened in fall 2019 with eight new and 10 revamped holes. Redesigned amenities also include a new 6,500-square-foot practice putting green and netted full-swing warm-up area. For golfers looking for dramatic elevation changes, and stunning views of desert landscape, the renowned Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite is a bucket list experience. An hour and a half north of Las Vegas, this challenging 18-hole course offers unique viewpoints of green fairways meandering through red rock canyons. The Sky’s the Limit Take to the skies and get a bird’s eye view of Southern Nevada from a helicopter or zipline. Maverick Helicopters, Sundance Helicopters and Papillon offer high-flying adventure featuring breathtaking views of the Strip, the Grand Canyon, Red Rock and Hoover Dam. Tours span from 15-minute flights over the Las Vegas Strip, to half and full-day adventures to the scenic landmarks of the Southwest. Those looking for an outdoor adventure along the Strip can strap into a harness and go ziplining. Located 12 stories above the LINQ Promenade + Experience, Fly LINQ Ziplinegives guests the option of taking off from a seated, lie-flat or backwards experience. Adding even more fun, up to 10 people can fly at the same time. For a uniquely Downtown Las Vegas experience, thrill seekers can experience Slotzilla – the high-flying zipline and zoomline experience – with views of Fremont Street below and the largest video screen in the world, Viva Vision, playing overhead. VisitLasVegas.com ABOUT THE LVCVAThe Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center. With nearly 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 12 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA’s mission centers on attracting leisure and business visitors to the area. For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.visitlasvegas.com. |
From Neon to Nature: Outdoor Adventure Awaits in Southern Nevada
Court blocks Texas General Land Office from Seizing Control of City’s Harvey Recovery Funds.
| Mayor Announces that program will continue helping Houstonians Repair Harvey-Damaged Homes. |
| HOUSTON – In a significant victory for Houstonians with homes damaged during Harvey, Mayor Sylvester Turner today announced that the City of Houston won a temporary injunction to stop the Texas General Land Office and GLO Commissioner George P. Bush from removing over $1.2 billion in Hurricane Harvey disaster relief from the City. The injunction will remain in place until final resolution of the dispute is decided at trial. “We are pleased that the Judge acted quickly to protect Houstonians,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “The ruling today stops the GLO from taking actions that would have harmed our city’s most vulnerable populations affected by Harvey, including low income, disabled individuals and people of color, who are protected by the Fair Housing Act through the City’s programs.” The lawsuit arose in connection with funding that was specifically directed to the City of Houston by the United States Housing and Urban Development Department. The City and GLO entered into a contract providing that the City would administer the relief funds to its citizens. Despite the City’s significant progress in managing the program and being on-track to meet the contract’s deadline for the expenditure of the funds, the GLO advised that it planned to take over the funds and eliminate City programs that are helping City residents. The GLO proposed to replace only some of the City’s programs with its own. Earlier this month, the City filed a lawsuit in Travis County asking the Court to stop the GLO from taking actions with HUD to give GLO control over the funds. The City presented evidence that GLO’s actions would have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars in housing projects slated to be constructed by the City. The GLO’s new plan for the funds violated the law by disregarding the City’s community-informed and HUD-approved needs-based prioritization of seniors, disabled individuals, and families with children. Instead, the GLO’s program would have spent the money on a first-come, first-serve basis that would risk leaving the neediest people behind once the GLO spent the money. “I am grateful the judge saw through the politics of GLO’s actions and focused on the people of Houston, because they are the true winners in today’s decision,” Mayor Turner said. The Court’s granting of the temporary injunction prevents GLO from taking further actions to try to take away the City’s funding while the case proceeds to resolution at trial. |
Governor Abbott Holds Virtual Meeting On COVID-19 With Rio Grande Valley Leaders
| AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today held virtual meetings with mayors, county judges, emergency managers, hospital executives, state legislators, and other local officials from Cameron and Hidalgo Counties to discuss the unified efforts to combat COVID-19 in these communities. The Governor and local leaders discussed the ongoing needs of the Valley and the ways the State of Texas can continue to assist these communities as they fight to protect public health and mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The Governor also discussed the assets and resources that have been deployed to the Valley and asked for feedback on other needs. Additionally, the Governor and local leaders discussed the expansion of hospital capacity and staffing needs. Governor Abbott also agreed to support Hidalgo County’s efforts to contract with a hotel to provide more beds for recovering COVID-19 patients. |
| “Our ongoing collaboration with local officials in the Rio Grande Valley is critical to effectively combating COVID-19 and keeping these communities safe,” said Governor Abbott. “The State of Texas will continue to provide the support and resources that Valley leaders need to protect public health and mitigate the spread of this virus. By continuing to work together, we will overcome this challenge.” |
| Governor Abbott’s Chief of Staff Luis Saenz and Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief (TDEM) Nim Kidd attended these meetings in person. Following the virtual meeting with Cameron County and Hidalgo County leadership, Saenz continued to visit with local elected officials, and Chief Kidd visited with local emergency management and hospital personnel to discuss their ongoing needs. |
| Substantial resources have already been provided to the Rio Grande Valley with more on the way. On Sunday, Governor Abbott announced that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has deployed five U.S. Navy teams to four locations in South and Southwest Texas to help combat the spread of COVID-19. One U.S. Navy Acute Care Team is providing support at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen and four U.S. Navy Rural Rapid Response Teams are supporting hospitals in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Rio Grande City. The DOD has also deployed a U.S. Army Urban Augmentation Medical Task Force to provide medical and support professionals needed in Rio Grande Valley Hospitals. Previously, the Governor increased hospital capacity in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties by suspending elective surgeries. |
| The Texas Department of State Health Services has fulfilled several State of Texas Assistance Requests for ventilators, hospital staffing, nursing home staffing, testing teams, epidemiology staff, lab staff, test collection kits and supplies, ambulance strike teams, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, morgue trailers, assorted medical supplies and various types of personal protective equipment (PPE). Additionally, numerous cases of Remdesivir have been sent to the Rio Grande Valley. |
| TDEM has distributed PPE to Cameron and Hidalgo Counties as well. These distributions include over 3 million surgical masks, over 1.4 million pairs of medical gloves, over 280,000 face shields, over 2.1 million n95 masks, and more. |
Space Center Houston Opens with New Safety Measures and New Experiences
| HOUSTON, July 19, 2020 – Today Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center, welcomes back guests to a new enhanced guest experience with new safety measures and new exhibits. Registration is also open for the center’s Explorer Camps and Space Center U® education programs. “We are ready to welcome back everyone to a safe and sanitized environment,” said William T. Harris, president and CEO of the science and space exploration learning center. “We have reopened with limited capacity in center and have increased health and safety measures based on CDC, state and local guidelines to offer a safe and welcoming experience for everyone.” With health and safety top of mind, Space Center Houston’s educating youth with new Clean Room experiences offered through its Space Center U® and Explorer Campprograms this summer. Inspired by NASA missions, the nonprofit offers Clean Room experiences for ages 6-18 to learn how NASA prepares for a mission in an immersive way while maintaining health and safety. Youth will take part in educational activities, tour inspiring Space Center Houston exhibits, watch live presentations and films; and go behind the scenes at NASA Johnson Space Center. Register today at spacecenter.org/education. Experience the museum and education programs with limited capacity to allow everyone to follow social distancing and sanitation practices. There are top things to know before you go. *All guests, including members, must have a timed admission tickets to enable staggered, capacity-limited guest entry to the museum. *Face coverings are required for employees and guests ages two and older. *Experience new live shows in open spaces; a new “Apollo 13: Failure is not an option” exhibit summarizing the mission as it unfolded; the new permanent outdoor exhibit, a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. *A new themed guest journey experience, plus a one-directional flow through galleries. *Ample space allows for social distancing throughout your visit, including the center’s queuing and Zero-G Diner. *Download the free Space Center Houston mobile app to select a new NASA Tram Tour virtual boarding pass to board the tram tour during your visit. The NASA Tram Tour takes guests behind the scenes at NASA Johnson Space Center. *A new concierge at the entrance is ready to support guest entry. For a complete list of the reopening procedures, guests are encouraged to review the center’s Know Before You Go Guide for tips on planning a visit and a list of what to bring and what to not bring. The center’s 250,000 square-foot facility offers ample space for social distancing with access to get up close to actual spacecraft and hardware used for historic missions. Guests will experience the new permanent outdoor exhibit, a flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is the only Falcon 9 on public display outside of SpaceX’s headquarters and is the same type of rocket that was used in the Demo-2 mission, marking the first time since 2011 that astronauts launched from American soil. Guests can also take a tour of the spacious Independence Plaza exhibit, the only place you can walk inside a shuttle replica mounted on top of the historic shuttle carrier aircraft NASA 905. The nonprofit has new protocols in place including social distancing practices; special hours for vulnerable populations from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays; a new touchless entry with self-scan turnstiles; increased hand sanitizer stations; Plexiglass shields at ticket counters; enhanced daily cleaning; and a deep sanitize to all surfaces is conducted center-wide nightly. For timed admission tickets to Space Center Houston, visit spacecenter.org. Parking fees will be waived for a limited time. Become a Space Center Houston member and experience exclusive perks including a 20 percent discount at the gift shop through the end of July, monthly member mornings and more. Ticket prices range from $24.95 for children (ages 4-11) to $29.95 for adults (12 and older) with discounts for seniors and members of the military. All Space Center Houston experiences are subject to change while the center continues to monitor state and local health and safety guidelines for reopening. |
NOSOTROS SE ASOCIA CON NBC PARA SU 2º CONCURSO ANUAL YA TU SABES MONOLOGUE SLAM
Las solicitudes nacionales para la muestra alternativa ya están abiertas a escritores y actores Latinx los cuales serán juzgados por un panel de celebridades que incluye a la nominada al Oscar Adriana Barraza, los actores Nicholas González, Adam Rodríguez, y la escritora y productora Vanessa Ramos, entre otros
Los Ángeles, CA. – Nosotros, la organización nacional sin fines de lucro más antigua del National Latinx Arts Avocacy www.nosotrosorg.com, presenta el Ya Tu Sabes Monologue Slam. Este concurso muestra el talento de escritores y actores Latinx emergentes y les brinda la oportunidad de ser asesorados por los principales ejecutivos de la industria del entretenimiento. Ya Tu Sabes es parte de una celebración de un año que consta de programas y eventos que conmemoran los 50 años de servicio de Nosotros a la comunidad artística Latinx.
Los miembros de la junta ejecutiva de Nosotros, Natalia Ochoa y JM Longoria, desarrollaron el slam de monólogos en respuesta a un estudio reciente que encontró que la voz Latinx estaba sustancialmente subrepresentada en la industria cinematográfica, tanto delante como detrás de cámaras. Nosotros reconoce que existe una grave desconexión entre la comunidad Latinx y la representación, a menudo negativa, de la gente Latinx en el cine y la televisión.
Este año, la organización se ha asociado con NBC, quien ayudará a seleccionar a los finalistas y premiará a los participantes con reuniones con directores de casting, ejecutivos creativos y escritores y productores de series de alto nivel de la cadena de televisión.
También por primera vez, un panel de embajadores seleccionará a los 12 escritores y 12 actores finalistas para interpretar monólogos originales en el Teatro Ricardo Montalbán en el corazón de Hollywood frente a profesionales de la industria el 21 de Octubre 2020. Entre ellos se encuentran Jandiz Cardoso, Directora General de Inclusión y Desarrollo de Talento de NBC, la nominada al Oscar Adriana Barraza (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Babel), Melissa Barrera (In The Heights, Vida), el escritor Rafael Casal (Blindspotting), Audrey Esparza (Blindspot), el escritor Eugene Garcia-Cross (Indebted), Nicholas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor), Jon Huertas (This is Us, Castle), la escritora y productora Vanessa Ramos (The Kenan Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) y Adam Rodriguez (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels), entre otros.
“Nosotros siempre ha estado a la vanguardia cerrando la brecha entre la comunidad de actores Latinx, las cadenas de TV y los estudios. Decidimos entonces crear fuerza en números de excelente talento Latinx y ejecutarlo de una manera divertida, accesible y social, por lo que introdujimos el Ya Tu Sabes Monologue Slam. Debido a programas como este, muchos de nuestros miembros y participantes han recibido oportunidades increíbles en cadenas de TV y estudios” – afirma Joel M. Gonzales, Presidente de la Junta Directiva y Director Ejecutivo de Nosotros.
Las inscripciones de escritores están actualmente abiertas a través de FilmFreeway.com. Nosotros busca monólogos originales de 90 segundos que reflejen representaciones positivas de personajes latinos en varios géneros. Pueden participar tanto escritores Latinx establecidos como emergentes de todo el mundo.
Una vez que se hayan seleccionado los mejores monólogos, Nosotros abrirá las solicitudes en línea para los actores Latinx el 3 de agosto. Para obtener información más detallada sobre este programa y para conocer más sobre el proceso de inscripción, visite: https://nosotrosorg.com/program/ya-tu-sabes/
HOUSTON BALLET ANNOUNCES UPDATES TO ITS 2020-2021 SEASON
HOUSTON, TEXAS [July 20, 2020] — Houston Ballet joins the ranks of many performing arts groups as it announces changes for its 2020-2021 season. The nonprofit reimagines its fall offerings and launches efforts to ensure its future.
Due to the ongoing pandemic and recovery forecasting, the schedule for Houston Ballet’s fall in-theater performances has changed. Season package repertories, Love Letters (September 11-20, 2020) and Mayerling (September 24 – October 4, 2020) will not be held in person during their regularly scheduled times. Subscribers will receive fulfillment for this portion of their investment via to be determined digital fall programs and/or rescheduled in-person performances in 2021. The Nutcracker (November 27 – December 27, 2020), which generates $5 million in revenue, will not be performed as planned. The organization hopes to hold its first in-theater performance with the Margaret Alkek Williams Jubilee of Dance on December 4, followed by a limited number of performances of a holiday special. Subscribers will receive more information about these changes via email.
The nonprofit, which lost $1.3 million in revenue over three canceled ticketed productions alone, filled the remainder of its canceled 2019-2020 season with an abundance of digital content. It upheld its promise to season subscribers and single ticket holders through Brunch with Houston Ballet, delivering exclusive on-demand videos of 16 previously recorded ballets. HB at Home, a social media series of videos, welcomed viewers daily to new dancer generated content. The well-established Dance Talks lecture series reached new audiences through digital Zoom conversations entitled After the Curtain Falls and The Dancer Perspective.
“We are not finished creating,” says Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch. “We’ve demonstrated that time and time again. While the future is uncertain, this is not. We can and will bring high-quality art to this city through dance, whether you see it from the house of a theater or your living room couch.”
Houston Ballet’s staff members are diligently preparing solutions for multiple scenarios in a reimagined 2020-2021 season. They hope to know more in the coming months about alternative programming, after further discussions with artists unions and healthcare partners.
“This pandemic is not the first time we’ve had to get creative behind the scenes so our dancers and production staff can make magic happen onstage,” says Houston Ballet Marketing and PR Director Angela Lee, who is well-seasoned from canceled and reshuffled performances from natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey. “We are considering all options for the future, from how to create a safer theater to optimizing technology for virtual experiences.”
While many arts organizations were forced into resource conservation early on, Houston Ballet’s full-time employees and professional dancers remained employed and received full pay and benefits throughout the interrupted 2019-2020 season. Leadership made this promise in late March and upheld it through the season’s end in late June. With the dramatic toll to the fall lineup, the 2020-2021 season will show greater hardship. Approximately 30 percent of full-time staff, largely in positions where they are unable to perform normal duties during the pandemic, are laid off until further notice. Those remaining will see decreased wages, handled in tiers with the greatest pay cuts at the top of the organization. Dancers and orchestra members’ regularly scheduled layoff will extend without a specific return date.
“We’ve had to make difficult decisions for the season ahead, because of the prolonged COVID-19 crisis,” says Houston Ballet Executive Director Jim Nelson. “Every member of our Houston Ballet family will be affected at some point during the season. It’s paramount that we make these changes to safeguard the longevity of our organization.”
To ensure Houston Ballet successfully emerges from this pandemic with its world-renowned ballet company and staff who support them intact, it will take more than budget cuts. To address the devastating loss of ticket revenue, Houston Ballet has launched a $5 million fundraising campaign to restore its artists and staff.
“With strong support from the Board of Trustees, we have already raised more than $1 million towards this campaign goal, which includes a generous dollar-for-dollar challenge grant from The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts,” says Houston Ballet Chief Development Officer Angela Lane. “Even so, the pandemic presents the most significant financial challenge Houston Ballet has ever faced, and we need community-wide support to emerge from this crisis.”
The campaign is spearheaded by a committee of Houston philanthropists who are eager to keep this artform a part of the city’s community. Many of these Houstonians are longtime supporters of Houston Ballet and have watched it grow into the prestigious 61-dancer company it is today.
“Houston Ballet’s dancers comprise many of the world’s finest balletic talent, right here in our backyard,” says Jay Jones, campaign co-chair. “The devastating loss of ticket revenue threatens our ability to retain these dancers as part of our Houston community. We’re calling on the community to help us retain our dancers and the talented staff that support them through this unprecedented time.”
Beyond the art it brings to the community onstage, Houston Ballet needs support to continue its other programs while not performing. Its Education and Community Engagement (ECE) initiative offers 17 programs, 88 percent at no cost to its participants. In the 2019-2020 fiscal year alone, ECE visited 264 schools, served 30 districts and touched more than 70,000 individuals. It brings movement and expression through programs such as Adapted Dance and Dance for Parkinson’s and awarded $312,655 in Chance to Dance Scholarships, educating and inspiring generations of creatives to come.
“Houston Ballet has become quite skilled at turning adversity into creative inspiration,” says Shawn Stephens, campaign co-chair. “Even during this time of isolation, our talented dancers and creative teams continue to set new artistic standards, creating clever, hilarious and gorgeous ballets and connecting with audiences and our community in new ways. Our world-class performing arts are part of what propels Houston’s international reputation and makes it such a great place to live and work. I know the community will help ensure the ballet remains the pride of Houston.”
Individuals can ensure Houston Ballet’s return to the stage and the continuation of its many community programs by committing to donating at give.houstonballet.org/donate.
Houston Ballet’s reimagined 2020-2021 season is generously supported by Houston Methodist Hospital.
ABOUT HOUSTON BALLET
In 50 years, Houston Ballet has evolved from a Company of 16 dancers to one of 61 dancers with a budget of $33.9 million and an endowment of $79.2 million (as of June 2019), making it the country’s fifth largest ballet company. Its Center for Dance is a $46.6 million state-of-the-art performance space that opened in April 2011 and remains the largest professional dance facility in America. Houston Ballet’s reach is global, touring in renowned theaters in Dubai, London, Paris, Moscow, Spain, Montréal, Ottawa, Melbourne, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and more.
Houston Ballet attracts prestigious leaders in dance. Australian choreographer Stanton Welch AM has served as Artistic Director of Houston Ballet since 2003, raising the level of the Company’s classical technique and commissioning works from dance legends such as Julia Adam, George Balanchine, Aszure Barton, Christopher Bruce, Alexander Ekman, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Edwaard Liang, Trey McIntyre and Justin Peck. Executive Director James Nelson serves as the administrative leader of the organization, a position he assumed in February 2012 after serving as the Company’s General Manager for more than a decade.
Beyond its stage presence, Houston Ballet maintains a strong foothold in continuing to foster a love for dance in future generations. Its Education and Community Engagement program reaches more than 70,000 individuals in the Houston area annually. Houston Ballet Academy trains more than 1,000 students every year, producing more than 50 percent of the elite athletes that comprise Houston
Houston Health Department, partners announce free COVID-19 testing schedule for week of July 20
HOUSTON – The Houston Health Department and its agency partners are announcing the schedule for sites offering free COVID-19 tests the week of July 20, 2020.
| Texas Division of Emergency Management The Texas Division of Emergency Management and the department will operate drive-thru testing sites at: Sinclair Elementary School, 6410 Grovewood Lane,Eden Event Center, 7450 N. WaysideCrosby Community Center, 409 Hare Road, CrosbyCrump Stadium, 12321 High Star Dr.,HCC-Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Dr., andHCC – South Campus, 1990 Airport Blvd.TDEM sites require appointments, available by calling 844-778-255 or visiting txcovidtest.org. TDEM will also operate a walk-up site that doesn’t require appointments at the Merfish Teen Center, 9000 S. Rice Ave, weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. United Memorial Medical Center United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) will offer weekday testing at drive-thru test sites at the Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star, Houston Community College-Southeast, 6815 Rustic, and Houston Community College-Felix Fraga, 301 N. Drennan St. The sites don’t require appointments and offer testing from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. or until reaching its daily capacity of 250 tests. Other UMMC drive-thru sites opening weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. are:UMMC Tidwell, 510 W Tidwell Rd., Forest Brook Middle School, 7525 Tidwell Rd,Cullen Middle School, 6900 Scott St., andGriggs School, 801 Regional Park Dr.People needing information about UMMC test sites can call 1-866-333-COVID or visit ummcscreening.com. New York State Walk-up sites set up by New York state will offer test weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon at two local churches:Fallbrook Church, 12512 Walters Rd, 77014 andHigher Dimension Church, 9800 Club Creek Dr.Appointments are available by calling 1-833-697-4839. Ibn Sina Foundation The Iba Sina Foundation will offer rapid result testing at two of its clinics, located at 11226 S Wilcrest Dr and 11226 S Wilcrest Dr. The sites require appointments by calling 832-426-3760 and will run through September 30. Houston Health Department/FEMA The department operates two free drive-thru COVID-19 community-based testing sites open to anyone, regardless of symptoms. Each site has capacity for 650 tests per day and operates Monday through Saturday. People can call the department’s COVID-19 Call Center at 832-393-4220 between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive an access code and directions to the nearest community-based site. Federally Qualified Health Centers The health department is providing test kits, lab access and equipment to four local Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) so they can expand their COVID-19 testing capacity. The centers and phone numbers people can call to set up testing appointments are: HOPE Clinic: 713-773-0803Spring Branch Community Health Center, 713-462-6565El Centro de Corazon, 713-660-1880Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, 713-426-0027Lone Star Circle of Care at the University of Houston, 346-348-1200, andScarsdale Family Health Center: 281-824-1480.FQHC patients pay what they can afford, based on income and family size, and are not denied services due to inability to pay or lack of insurance. The department and its agency partners may shift locations and schedules of test sites to better meet community needs. Houstonians can visit HoustonEmergency.org/covid19 for current Houston test sites and information about stopping the spread of the virus. Information obtained through testing, treatment or services will not be used against immigrants in their public charge evaluation. Flyer: Houston Free Testing Sites, Week of July 2020 |
Governor Abbott Announces U.S. Navy Support In Rio Grande Valley, Southwest Texas To Help Combat COVID-19
| AUSTIN – Governor Abbott today announced that the U.S. Department of Defense has sent five U.S. Navy teams to four locations in South and Southwest Texas to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Beginning today, one U.S. Navy Acute Care Team will provide support at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen and four U.S. Navy Rural Rapid Response Teams will support hospitals in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Rio Grande City. These teams consist of medical and support professionals which are being deployed to help meet medical needs in hospitals throughout the state. “The support from our federal partners is crucial in our work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our communities throughout Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “I am grateful for this ongoing partnership with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy, and the State of Texas will continue to utilize every resource available to protect public health and keep Texans in every community safe.” |
FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE KP GEORGE LAUNCHES PARENT SURVEY
FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS- To better understand how Fort Bend County can support its residents with school-age children as they prepare for the upcoming semester, Fort Bend County Judge KP George is gathering community input through a parent survey.
The quick survey consists of questions measuring parents’ feelings about their children’s return to school, and about their access to child care and the internet.
“As the father of three young people, the husband of a teacher, and a former school board member, I know firsthand the tough decisions that schools and families face as they prepare for the upcoming semester,” said Fort Bend County Judge KP George. “We will use the responses to this survey as we advocate respectively and collaborate creatively with our partners to provide as many resources as possible to our residents during the fall 2020 semester.”
English Survey – https://arcg.is/1ifO1n0
Spanish Survey – https://arcg.is/zfKyP
To learn more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Fort Bend County, please visit https://www.fbchealth.org/ncov/ & http://www.coronavirusfortbend.gov.
Federal $600 Unemployment Payments to End July 25 State Unemployment Benefits to Continue
| TWC Reminds Public that Funding Expires Due to Congressional Timeline |
WHAT: Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Payments Ends this week.
WHO: Unemployment Benefits Claimants
WHEN: July 25, 2020
WHERE: Statewide
| AUSTIN –The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program is part of the CARES Act that provides an additional $600 to benefit payments, and based on TWC’s contract with the US Department of Labor, the last payable week for FPUC is the week ending July 25, 2020. The other parts of the CARES Act will be available until the week ending December 26, 2020. This includes Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) which allows self-employed to be eligible for unemployment up to 39 weeks and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program (PEUC) provides an additional 13 weeks of unemployment. Regular unemployment insurance does not have an expiration date and can provide up to 26 weeks of unemployment during your benefit year. |
| Based on TWC’s contract with the US Department of Labor, FPUC is available for the week ending April 04, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020. FPUC was authorized by federal law in the CARES Act. While TWC is responsible for overseeing these payments, only the U.S. Congress can extend or make changes to FPUC. This expiration date was set by federal law, and cannot be appealed, waived, or modified by TWC. |
| The reason that the last payable week for FPUC is the week ending July 25 and not July 31 is because by law, TWC can not pay partial week benefits. A full benefit week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday. July 31 is a Friday, and as a result, the last payable week for July is the week ending July 25 because it’s a Saturday. |
| Payment requests are made every two weeks. |
| * If you are eligible for benefits and request payment for the weeks of July 18 and July 25, you will receive the additional $600 for both weeks.· * If you are eligible for benefits and request payment for the weeks of July 25 and August 1, you will receive the additional $600 for the week of July 25 only. |
| For people that were eligible to receive FPUC for all 17 weeks, the amount of benefits paid adds up to approximately $10,200. While the state has triggered additional benefit including an additional 13 weeks of benefits through State Extended Benefits (EB) and an additional 7 weeks of benefits through High Unemployment Period (HUP), a person on regular unemployment benefits could potentially receive up to 59 weeks of benefits. The average weekly benefit payments for regular unemployment is $349 per week. If you add up the benefit payments for 59 weeks, that total is approximately $20,591. |
| Unemployment benefits are not intended to replace work, but intended to help Texans during a period of transition and need. TWC will continue to look for opportunities to help Texans. For more information on unemployment insurance services, please visit twc.texas.gov. |