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CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON FUGITIVE FRIDAY
HISD board approves $2,500 pay increase for teachers
Houston ISD teachers will soon receive a pay increase, according to HISD’s Board of Education.
During a Thursday night board meeting, HISD’s Board of Education unanimously approved a $2.2 billion budget for the 2021-2022 school year, which includes an amendment for a $2,500 pay raise in addition to the step increase for employees on the teacher pay scale schedule.
The budget also includes raises for elementary school principals and all assistant principals and deans.
The tax rate in the budget is slated to be a maximum of $1.1284 per $100 of property valuation, down from last year’s $1.1331.
Under the State of Texas’ formula, school districts will send some of their local property tax revenue to the state if they have excess revenue above what they are entitled to under the current school finance system.
For the 2021-2022 budget, HISD is expecting to spend about $213 million back to the Texas Education Agency, which will be re-distributed to schools across the state to fund overall public education.
Source: www.click2houston.com
59/610 West Loop northbound ramp is closed, construction currently underway
Due to all the rain, we had last week, the Texas Department of Transportation decided to postpone the major 59-610 ramp closure impacting folks traveling towards the Galleria area. Well, after much-needed drier weather, the closure kicked off Thursday evening — 9 p.m. sharp!
This massive road closure will affect thousands of drivers each day, so if you’re reading this newsletter and live in Fort Bend County or anywhere near the Sharpstown area and you use the northbound connector ramp to the West Loop northbound main lanes, that closure will happen first Thursday night. So that means you’ll need to figure out how you’re going to get to work and avoid this closure Friday morning.
Here’s a breakdown of what is happening the next couple of days into Monday night:
Two major connector ramps at the 59-610 intersection are shutting down.
First, the Southwest Freeway northbound connector ramp to the West Loop northbound main lanes close first (Thursday night at 9 p.m.).
So here’s your alternate route: Use the Furnace/Bellaire newly constructed exit ramp, continue on West Loop southbound to then make a quick U-turn under the West Loop to travel northbound. Enter the northbound main lanes on the West Loop as soon as you are able to.
Then, the following Monday, the Southwest Freeway southbound connector ramp to the West Loop northbound closes at 9 p.m. on Monday, June 14.
Source: www.click2houston.com
Gov. Greg Abbott announces Texas will begin building border wall
Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a Border Security Summit Thursday in Del Rio. During the summit, he announced that Texas will build a border wall along the state’s boundary with Mexico
Texas sheriffs, police chiefs, county judges, mayors, and landowners were invited to attend the summit to hear from state officials on the actions that Texas is taking to secure the southern border and address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, according to Abbott.
Abbott declared his plans during a press conference in Del Rio. He said he would discuss the plans next week. The Biden administration issued a proclamation that stopped border wall construction on his first day of office.
Abbott announced the news while discussing a slew of border initiatives, such as a $1 billion allocation for border security in the state budget lawmakers just passed and a plan to establish a Governor’s Task Force on Border and Homeland Security with public safety and state government officials.
“It will help all of us to work on ways to stem the flow of unlawful immigration and to stem the flow of illegal contraband,” Abbott said, while seated next to officials from the National Guard, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Division of Emergency Management.
Abbott didn’t address the ongoing conflict between himself and the Biden administration that escalated this week after federal officials threatened to sue Texas over Abbott’s order to strip certain shelters for migrant children of their state licenses, which could force the shelter operators — which operate under contracts with the federal government — to move the children elsewhere.
The 52 state-licensed shelters house roughly 8,600 children, according to data from the state. In a letter to Texas officials Monday, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services attorney Paul Rodriguez asked Texas to clarify Abbott’s order and said it could violate the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, which states that federal law overrides state laws. He gave Texas until Friday to respond.
Abbott has blamed the recent surge of migrants to the Texas-Mexico border on the Biden administration’s immigration policies, claiming in a disaster declaration this week that new federal policies have paved the way for “dangerous gangs and cartels, human traffickers, and deadly drugs like fentanyl to pour into our communities.”
Two weeks ago, Abbott deployed more than 1,000 Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and National Guard members to the border as part of Operation Lone Star — an initiative he announced in March aimed at beefing up security at the border with troopers and National Guard. Abbott later expanded those efforts to also tackle human trafficking at the border, including a plan for DPS troopers and Texas Rangers to interview unaccompanied minors that cross the border to identify potential human trafficking victims.
During his first months in office, Biden paused border wall construction started under former President Donald Trump and ordered a review of the Trump administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico until their cases could be heard in U.S. immigration courts.
The Biden Administration has referred to its new policies as a way to be more humane toward migrants.
After Vice President Kamala Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico this week, she told NBC’s Lester Holt, “We have to understand that there’s a reason people are arriving at our border and ask what is that reason and then identify the problem so we can fix it.”
During her trip, she faced backlash from progressives after she told Guatemalans: “Do not come.”
Source: www.click2houston.com
DART Celebrates 25 Years of Rail Service in North Texas
On Monday, June 14, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will celebrate 25 years of providing light rail service to the residents of North Texas.
The DART light rail system debuted on June 14, 1996. The original starter system was 11.2 miles long, with Blue Line service between Illinois Station and Pearl/Arts District Station, and Red Line service between Westmoreland Station and Pearl/Arts District Station.
Over the last 25 years, the DART light rail system has grown into a 93-mile, 65 station network – the longest light rail system in the country – improving the quality of life for all North Texas residents, and providing access to greater mobility options to jobs, health care and even educational opportunities.
As part of the celebration, DART is offering riders the opportunity to win 25 days of free rides. Participants who share a photo on social media of themselves riding DART rail or explaining how DART rail benefits them are entered to win. Be sure to include #DARTRail25 to be included in the drawings. Click here for more information.
Source: dart.org
Governor’s Committee On People With Disabilities Announces 2021 Barbara Jordan Media Award Winners
The Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) today announced the winners of the 2021 Barbara Jordan Media Awards for media content created in 2020. The Barbara Jordan Media Awards program was established in 1982 to recognize the respectful, accurate portrayal of people with disabilities by media professionals and students. Working in partnership with Baylor University’s Journalism, Public Relations and New Media program in the College of Arts and Sciences, GCPD created a virtual awards program highlighting and honoring this year’s winners and their outstanding work.
Honorees of the 2021 Barbara Jordan Media Awards are listed below, along with links to their winning pieces where available. To view the virtual award program, visit the GCPD’s YouTube channel.
2021 Barbara Jordan Media Award Winners
High School Student
Alayna Amen, Seminole High School Yearbook Freshman’s Passion to Play Outweighs Disease
College Student
André Williams, The Daily Texan (Austin) UT must be proactive in outreach for disability accommodations
Ricardo Brazziell, Austin American-Statesman Despite accident that changed his life, Bowie’s Evan Mallett has reason to be thankful
Broadcast
Amanda Henderson and John W. Henderson, News4SA (San Antonio) Football coaches learn ASL to help hearing impaired athlete in games
Special Contribution- Broadcast
Craig Davis, Texas State Independent Living Council (Austin) Counting All My Children
Radio
Shelly Brisbin, Texas Standard/KUT (Austin) Full Participation: 30 years of the ADA
Podcast
Dr. John C. Bullion and Pam Humphrey, ESC Region #12 (Waco) Don’t be afraid to be included!
Written/Print
Simone Carter, Denton Record-Chronicle Disability rights advocates’ vigil honors ‘unseen and unheard’ voices
Special Contribution- Written/Print
Texas School for the Deaf, Superintendent Claire Bugen (Austin)
Source: gov.texas.gov
El Centro Estatal de Rio Grande organiza clínicas semanales de vacunación contra el COVID-19
El Centro Estatal de Rio Grande está organizando clínicas gratuitas semanales de vacunación contra el COVID-19 que comenzarán el jueves 10 de junio.
“Estamos abriendo la clínica de vacunación contra el COVID-19 para ayudar a nuestra comunidad a tener un mayor acceso a la vacuna que salva vidas”, dijo Sonia Hernandez-Keeble, superintendente del Centro Estatal de Rio Grande. “Esperamos que quienes aún no han recibido la vacuna decidan hacerlo para protegerse a sí mismos, a sus familias y amigos y al público en general”.
El centro de salud mental ofrecerá la vacuna Moderna a personas adultas cada jueves por la tarde durante el mes de junio. La vacuna se administra en dos dosis, tomadas con cuatro semanas de separación entre una y otra. El Departamento Estatal de Servicios de Salud asignará 30 dosis al Centro Estatal de Rio Grande cada semana. Es necesario hacer una cita para recibir la vacuna.
Con el fin de ayudar a prevenir la propagación del COVID-19, se requerirá el uso de mascarillas y distanciamiento social en el evento, y el personal seguirá las normas de seguridad de los CDC.
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Clínica de vacunación contra el COVID-19
Todos los jueves Centro Estatal de Rio Grande Llame al (956) 364-8744 para programar una cita |
El Centro Estatal de Rio Grande ofrece a los texanos atención médica ambulatoria y servicios de salud mental para pacientes internos. El Centro es uno de los 10 hospitales estatales administrados por la Comisión de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Texas.
Source: www.hhs.texas.gov
Houston artist painting massive mural to show support for city’s bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup
One of Houston’s popular artists is bringing the spirit of the World Cup to the city in a new mural.
The mural called “Gateway to the World” will be painted by artist GONZO24,7 along with six other artists. The mural will be crafted a 10,000 square-foot wall at Hobby Airport, supporting Houston’s bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a news release.
Passengers flying in and out of Hobby Airport will be able to see the mural from the aircraft.
In addition to the mural, large ceramic soccer balls will be decorated and displayed inside both Houston-area airports.
Houston is currently one of 23 host cities between Canada, Mexico, and the United States with a bid for a venue spot to host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The organization will visit each bidding city, including Houston, beginning in July and selections will be revealed later this year.
Source: www.click2houston.com
178 Houston Methodist employees suspended for not complying with COVID-19 vaccine requirement
More than 170 Houston Methodist employees were suspended without pay for the next 14 days after not complying with the hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
Houston Methodist said Tuesday that 178 full-time or part-time employees who did not get fully vaccinated or were not granted an exemption or deferral were ultimately suspended for 14 days without pay.
“The small percentage of employees who did not comply with the policy are now suspended without pay for the next 14 days. We won’t have the final numbers for two weeks as employees can still get vaccinated with their second dose or with the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. I wish the number could be zero, but unfortunately, a small number of individuals have decided not to put their patients first,” Houston Methodist PR Manager Gale Smith said.
Houston Methodist added that of those 178 employees, 27 have received one dose of the vaccine. Out of all employees, 285 employees received a medical or religious exemption, and 332 were granted deferrals for pregnancy and other reasons.
In total, 24,947 of its employees are fully vaccinated, making Houston Methodist the first hospital system in the country to achieve this goal, according to the hospital.
On March 31, Houston Methodist Hospital’s President and CEO, Dr. Marc Boom, announced mandatory vaccinations for all employees. Boom gave all employees until June 7 at 12 a.m. to become fully vaccinated.
On Monday, several employees protested the vaccination job requirement on June 7 by staging a walkout at the Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown.
Also, 117 employees filed a lawsuit against Houston Methodist over its mandate for “requiring its employees to be injected with an experimental vaccine as a condition of employment,” according to the lawsuit, filed by attorney Jared R. Woodfill on May 28.
The lawsuit states that for the first time in U.S. history, an employer is forcing its employees to be vaccinated “with an experimental COVID-19 mRNA gene modification injection” or be fired.
“Methodist Hospital is forcing its employees to be human “guinea pigs” as a condition for continued employment,” the lawsuit states.
It’s not clear if the 117 people who filed the lawsuit through Woodfill are a part of the 178 employees who refused to get vaccinated.
Source: www.click2houston.com
Houston homicides up 35%
Homicide rates are rising once again across the country after last year’s spike, and Houston is faring worse than the largest U.S. cities.
Four homicides in Houston in the last 24-hours have brought the total this year to 199, a 35% increase over 2020.
Compare that to only a 5% increase in homicides so far over last year in Chicago, a 17% increase in New York, and a 23% increase in Los Angeles.
The total number of homicides is also higher in Houston than in Los Angeles, a city with nearly twice the population. It’s also higher than New York City, a city of more than eight million people.
“It requires a city-wide, holistic, comprehensive approach,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said on Wednesday in City Council when asked about the crime wave.
“You cannot piecemeal that. Now certainly, HPD is in the best position to move its resources around. But they are limited resources,” he added.
The latest slaying in Houston happened at an apartment complex along the 7000 block of Bellfort Street in southeast Houston. One man died from a gunshot wound.
Also on Wednesday, a man was found dead in northeast Houston, another downtown, and a fourth in southwest Houston. HPD said he was shot to death while pumping gas.
“It’s not anyone person’s responsibility,” the mayor said in an interview. “It’s a community responsibility. It’s not even the responsibility of just law enforcement, it’s all of us playing a part.”
Pandemic-related delays in courthouses have contributed to the rise in crime, he said, adding that the backlog in Harris County is up to 100,000.
“I mean think about that, 100,000 cases backlog, waiting to go through the criminal justice system,” said the mayor. “There are a number of people who are out on our streets who quite frankly shouldn’t be, OK?”
He also pointed to increases in gang-related activity, domestic violence, and road rage shootings, and added that “there are too many guns on the streets.”
“I’m optimistic, I’m confident, that by everybody working together, we will get our arms around this situation and the crime will come down,” he concluded.
Source: www.click2houston.com