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Houston Health receives monkeypox vaccine shipment Department focusing on proactive strategy to protect at-risk individuals

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The Houston Health Department (HHD) on Friday received a shipment of 5,024 doses of the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine. The department will retain 3,516 doses and provide 1,508 doses to Harris County Public Health.

People who are contacts or presumed contacts at high risk for exposure will be prioritized for vaccinations.

The delivery of the doses – allocated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services – will allow more vaccine to become available for Houston and Harris County residents at the highest risk of disease.

Due to the limited nationwide supply, the monkeypox vaccine has not been widely available, and health officials currently do not recommend widespread vaccination.

The allocation will enable the department to serve approximately 1,758 people since monkeypox vaccination is a two-dose series, four weeks apart. The department will work with community providers to assure appropriate distributions of the limited vaccine supply.

“While the threat of monkeypox to Houston’s general population remains low, we welcome this vaccine shipment and look forward to receiving more as long as there is a need in the community,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I have asked our health department to remain vigilant in its work to educate and advocate on behalf of individuals considered most at-risk.”

“Our department has for weeks strongly advocated for an increase in the supply of monkeypox doses dedicated to the Houston area,” said Stephen Williams, the department’s director. “The shipment represents a significant step forward in protecting people at highest risk for this disease in our community.”

The department announced Houston’s first confirmed case of monkeypox June 18. The case count rose gradually over the following weeks and currently totals 36. None of Houston’s monkeypox cases have required hospitalization.

Due to the limited vaccine supply over the last several weeks, the department has focused on identifying cases and performing case investigations and contact tracing to identify contacts to ensure people are vaccinated and reduce the spread of the virus.

HHD has also been engaged in efforts to assure that organizations and medical providers are educated about monkeypox and aware of the current processes and systems for managing suspected cases and contacts.
Outreach and education initiatives undertaken by the department over the last few weeks include the sponsoring of a monkeypox community town hall for community-based organizations, non-profit agencies, and health advocates, distribution of educational materials at various community events such as the Pride Houston Festival and Parade, and education sessions and support to area Federally Qualified Health Centers.
The department organized a targeted mobile vaccination clinic over the Fourth of July weekend to vaccinate suspected contacts of two confirmed cases. The department’s staff administered 125 doses at the mobile clinic.

Monkeypox is rare and doesn’t spread easily between people without close, personal, skin-to-skin contact.
Symptoms include a rash or sores that look like pimples or blisters, fever, headache, weakness, chills and swollen lymph nodes.

Monkeypox can spread from person to person through prolonged face-to-face contact, intimate contact, and or close contact with the infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. Contact with items such as clothing or linens that previously touched the rash or body fluids is another way monkeypox spreads.
The illness usually lasts two to four weeks. It can spread from the time symptoms start until the rash fully heals, and a fresh layer of skin has formed.
People who suspect that they have monkeypox symptoms such as new unexplained rash or sores need to contact their doctor to set up a screening appointment.

The department plans to distribute vaccines to partnering providers over the next few days. It will provide vaccinations to referred clients who meet the criteria in the interim.

The City of Houston Responds to Surprise and Unwarranted Announcement about U.S. Department of Justice Investigation 

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Please attribute the following statement to Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“From day one, the City of Houston under my administration has prioritized the needs of communities of color that are historically under-resourced and underserved. My Complete Communities initiative works to lift neighborhoods using limited city resources in partnership with public and private organizations and their resources.

“This morning, the City of Houston was stunned and disappointed to learn about the investigation into illegal dumping by third parties launched by the U.S. Department of Justice. Despite the DOJ’s pronouncements, my office received no advanced notice. This investigation is absurd, baseless, and without merit.

The City of Houston prioritizes and utilizes several mechanisms to combat illegal dumping by third parties, a practice that we agree disproportionately plagues Black and Brown communities in Houston and many municipalities throughout the country. The City has spent millions and continues to spend millions of dollars in bulk waste collection as well as addressing illegal dumping caused by third-parties.

“In 2021, Houston city council doubled the fine from $2,000 to $4,000 for illegal dumping in Houston, which is the maximum allowed by state law. We have also installed surveillance cameras to catch and prosecute individuals and businesses responsible for illegal dumping. The City follows up on 311 complaints about illegal dumping and aggressively pursues those responsible for illegally discarding debris on public or private property without the owner’s consent. Houstonians can call 311 directly or submit a report of illegal dumping to 311 online, and all illegal dumping reports are routed directly to the City’s Solid Waste Management Department for action.

“This DOJ investigation is a slap in the face to the City and the many people who diligently work to address illegal dumping daily and prevent environmental injustice.

For years, the City of Houston, in collaboration with Harris County and others, has worked to assist to assist Black and Brown Houstonians living in the Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens community, where cancer-causing creosote from Union Pacific Railroad has created health concerns. Yet, the DOJ has remained silent. We have taken legal steps to advocate for people living in these community with no help from the DOJ.

Further, today’s announcement follows the DOJ’s blatant inaction when faced with the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) refusal to engage in voluntary compliance and conciliation, despite the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Formal Determination that GLO discriminated based on race and national origin against Black and Brown Houstonians in the design and operation of the CDBG-Mitigation Hurricane Harvey Competition.

“The City takes any complaint and investigation seriously and will cooperate with DOJ. We fully expect the DOJ’s investigation will determine that Houston does not discriminate in its responses to neighborhood health and safety issues.
We believe the City of Houston’s proactive measures to address environmental health and safety issues by leveraging public and private resources should be acknowledged instead of vilified. We welcome the DOJ’s support in that effort.

“I am grateful for the support of U.S. Representative Al Green, who today released the following statement, “the Office of Congressman Al Green is committed to assisting the City of Houston with the issue of illegal dumping, a form of environmental discrimination that disproportionately affects communities of color. While it regrets that the U.S. Department of Justice has taken such abrupt action without consulting with or giving any prior notice to Houston-area officials, including members of Congress, or the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, it fully supports the City of Houston and Mayor Turner’s efforts to ensure all Houstonians live in a safe and healthy environment, as well as their cooperation with the rush-to-judgment announcement of an investigation that does the City of Houston a disservice.”

CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON  FUGITIVE FRIDAY

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In an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help locating the following individuals that have active Felony and/or Misdemeanor Warrants.

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of the suspects featured. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous. Only tips and calls DIRECTLY TO Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward.

The following individuals all have active warrants as of July 22, 2022  8:30 am.

FRANCISCO ARIZMENDI MORALES

H/M      11-14-91      5’11”/272 Lbs.      Blk/Blk
Warrant # 1776535
INDECENCY W/CHILD SEXUAL CONTACT
Last known location: Tomball, Texas

JAMEKA BELL

B/F     11-22-88      5’06”/120 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1775918
THEFT <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONVS
Last known location: Houston, Texas

DAVID COLL

W/M 02/28/70  6’01”/248 Lbs.  Bro/Blu
Warrant #1767389
THEFT <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONVS
Last known location: Katy, Texas

PAULINA CUPA       AKA: PAULINA RANGEL ROBLES

H/F      08/01/74      5’01”/195 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Warrant #: 1674020, 1775683
EVADING ARREST/DETENTION W/VEHICLE x2
Last known location: Houston, Texas

MARGARET DOMINGUEZ

H/F      08/4/76     5’05”/130 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Warrant # 1776374
BURGLARY OF A BUILDING
Last known location: Texas City, Texas

WILLIAM GORDWIN

B/M      05/19/83      5’11”/160 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1766907
SOLICIT PROSTITUTION/OTHER PAYOR
Last known location: Houston, Texas

MICHAEL LOZANO

H/M      10/16/75      05’09”/165 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Warrant #: 1772050
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF >=$2,500<30K
Last known location: Pasadena, Texas

TOAN NGUYEN

A/M      10/14/74      5’0”/130 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1764868
ASLT FAM/HOUSE MEM IMPED BRTH/CIRCU
Last known location: Houston, Texas

AMY NIX

W/F      08/23/78      5’10”/185 Lbs.      Bro/Blu
Warrant #: 1766640
THEFT AGGREGATE => $30K<$150K 1CW
Last known location: Houston Texas

CHRISTIAN TORRES

H/M      03-17-00      5’07”/170 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1772012
INVASIVE VISUAL RECORDING BATH/DRESS ROOM
Last known location: Houston, Texas

REPORT A TIP NOW

City of Houston and University of Houston Offer At-Risk Young Adults a Second Chance at Success

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Getting a second chance for employment and education is not always easy for young adults who have a history of incarceration. Today, a select group of young adults began classes at the University of Houston’s Stephen Stagner Sales Excellence Institute Sales Academy, thanks to a partnership between the City of Houston, the C. T. Bauer College of Business, and funded by corporate partners supporting Hire Houston Youth (HHY).

The City of Houston, through Mayor Turner’s signature Hire Houston Youth employment initiative, has partnered with the University of Houston (UH) to offer scholarships to all 25 young people seeking a Sales certification. To ensure maximum impact, the Mayor’s Office of Education strategically conducted outreach to students who are struggling with substance abuse, are at a higher risk for future criminal justice involvement, and have limited opportunities for employment upon re-entry.
Additionally, more than half of the selected participants will be youth who have interacted with the criminal justice system, who may be otherwise ineligible for scholarship or internship opportunities.

“This would not have been possible without the Harris County Community Supervision & Corrections Department (Harris County CSCD) and we are grateful for their partnership,” said Olivera Jankovska, director of the Mayor’s Office of Education. “Harris County CSCD is committed to helping individuals on community supervision eliminate future criminal behavior and become productive citizens.”

“Employment is one of the single most important predictors of success for our young clients,” said Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department Director, Teresa May. “We are extremely excited to partner with the City of Houston to provide an opportunity for our youth to take advantage of becoming a sales certified professional, as part of Mayor Turner’s Hire Houston Youth Initiative. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and partnership.”

This initiative aligns with the City of Houston’s One Safe Houston plan, a violence reduction initiative that links research-based strategies to improve public safety and reduce the harms caused by violent crime. Upskilling is central to effective rehabilitation and successful community re-entry, and thus to upholding public safety.

“There is no one set path to success. An interaction with criminal justice system as a teenager should not determine the course of the rest of a person’s life,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “By giving these young people an opportunity to advance their skills and reach their career goals, we are creating equity in historically disadvantaged communities, we are keeping kids off the streets and away from gangs and violence, and we are literally changing the lives of the kids who go through this program. I am extremely proud of the Office of Education and Hire Houston Youth for identifying this need and finding a creative solution to address it, and I applaud UH for their commitment to fostering success for our youth.”

Launched in 2020, the Sales Academy is a unique sales training and certification program aimed at preparing early and mid-career professionals to join the workforce. The five-week certificate program is part of the University of Houston’s Stephen Stagner Sales Excellence Institute in the C.T. Bauer College of Business. During the course, participants will experience live-selling experientials, exclusive facetime with leading teach-industry executives, and instruction from the award-winning faculty at the Bauer College. Graduates of the program will leave equipped to obtain better paying jobs in Houston’s dynamic economy.

“The Sales Academy for the Hire Houston Youth program is a shining example of the Bauer College’s commitment to creating and providing practical coursework to support Houston’s booming ecosystem of technology and innovation,” Bauer College Dean and Cullen Distinguished Chair Professor Paul A. Pavlou said. “This partnership with the City of Houston demonstrates our commitment to making this unique and valuable opportunity available to all of our city’s young people.”
If you are interested in registering with Hire Houston Youth, please visit https://hirehoustonyouth.force.com/s/youth-registration.

Publicación 1242 de SAN ANTONIO – Revista Digital 21 de julio – 27 de julio / 2022

Gracias por SEGUIRNOS, este artículo contiene la revista digital de SAN ANTONIO de ¡Que Onda Magazine! De fecha 21 de julio – 27 de julio / 2022

COVID-19 spiking on South Texas border as omicron variant spreads

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Coronavirus rates on the South Texas border are spiking again and attributed to fast-spreading omicron variants, health officials tell Border Report.

In Hidalgo County, health officials reported 1,550 new COVID-19 cases from Friday to Tuesday, including 86 hospitalizations and the death of one fully vaccinated person.

Cameron County, on the Gulf Coast, had 676 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths from Saturday through Monday, health officials said.

Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Chief Administrative Officer Eduardo “Eddie” Olivarez told Border Report on Tuesday that samplings sent to the state for analysis have shown a spread of several omicron variants throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

“Omicron is impacting our community like it is across the country,” said Olivarez, who warned that these highly contagious variants spread especially quickly among the elderly population.

The virus also shows some resistance to vaccines, although vaccines are helpful in preventing the infected person from getting serious complications and having to be hospitalized, Olivarez said, adding that he urges everyone should be fully up to date on their vaccines.

“The vaccine does assist to lessen the medical impacts on a person when they contract COVID so it is very important that everyone gets the vaccine, first dose, second dose, and booster. We’ve seen an increase in pediatric cases and many of those pediatric cases are not vaccinated and we’ve seen an increase of breakthrough cases — people who are fully vaccinated and still get COVID-19,” he said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday reported 44,369 new cases on Monday in the United States. This is much more than the average new cases this time last year, however, is still far fewer than in January when nationwide cases spiked to over 400,000 new infections per day.

Olivarez said with school starting up in a few weeks, border youth should get vaccines, which are now available to children as young as six months.

“We need to understand that it’s going to take natural immunity, which we have lots of it out there, along with the vaccine to strengthen immunity and that’s the only we’re going to get control of this thing. It’s going to take the community working together,” Olivarez said.

Source: borderreport

Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis And Houston Police Department Launch Gun Buyback Program

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The City of Houston, Harris County Precinct One and the Houston Police Department (HPD) announced details of a gun buyback program today during a news conference at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Watch the full news conference here.

The first gun buyback event will allow people to exchange firearms for gift cards on July 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave.

The gun buyback program is part of the One Safe Houston initiative that Mayor Sylvester Turner launched in February.

“The City is investing $1 million for this program, and we are partnering with Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis to have the greatest impact and to get unwanted and dangerous guns off the streets,” said Mayor Turner. “This is one tool we are using to combat violent crime; there are too many guns on the streets. I encourage Houstonians to turn in their unwanted guns, which could help save a life and prevent crime. Only together will we be able to combat our current crime challenges and make our streets safer.”

With no questions asked, people who turn in their guns will receive a $50 gift card for every non-functioning gun, $100 for a rifle, $150 for a handgun, and $200 for an assault rifle. All firearms must be unloaded and inside the vehicle’s trunk.

“Harris County and the City of Houston have mobilized our resources with absolute urgency in a full-court press on reducing violence in our communities. We’ve made the largest investment in public safety in the history of Harris County, implemented innovative new programs to get at the root of gun violence, and made investments to speed up our court system and keep the wheels of justice turning,” said Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “Our gun buyback is just another way we are rolling up our sleeves and getting to work to make our community safer. I’m proud to partner with the city on this initiative and look forward to getting some guns off the street on July 30th.”

The Gun Buyback program is voluntary and anonymous. If a surrendered gun has been reported stolen, police will make every effort to return it to the registered owner.

“I thank Mayor Turner for his vision and support. Because of his One Safe Houston initiative and our partnership with Houstonians, we are seeing our year-to-year violent crime numbers decrease,” said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner.

One Safe Houston, the Mayor’s Public Safety Initiative to Combat Violent Crime is a $53.1 million investment funded by the American Rescue Plan and focuses on four key areas:

  • Violence Reduction and Crime Prevention
  • Crisis Intervention, Response and Recovery
  • Youth Outreach Opportunities
  • Key Community Partnerships

For more information on the Gun Buyback program, please visit https://www.houstontx.gov/onesafehouston/gun-buyback.html.

Source: houstontx

City Of Houston Responds To GLO Claims On Harvey Housing Funding

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The City of Houston has sent an official response to the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) July 1 letter regarding the City’s progress on providing relief and recovery to residents using Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) federal funds.

As the response notes, the City’s Housing & Community Development Department invested a tremendous amount of time and energy into administering these programs for the betterment of our entire community, including those affected by Harvey facing social and economic disadvantages, despite facing difficult economic and societal challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite GLO’s continuous efforts to hinder our success, since January 2019, when the parties signed the original GLO Contract (No. 19-14-147-001- B489), the City has accomplished numerous goals.

“Given GLO’s unfair treatment of the City and Houstonians during the Competition and over the life of the Contract, as evidenced by GLO’s most recent attempts to redirect funds away from the City, the City has grave concerns that GLO will continue to make the administration of the CDBG-DR 2017 grant allocation prohibitively burdensome because of duplicative, inefficient, inaccurate, and expensive processes and requirements,” noted Keith Bynam, HCD Director, in the letter.

Source: houstontx

Juez frena la extradición de Rafael Caro Quintero a EE.UU. y ordena que se realice proceso previo

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Un juez de México suspendió la extradición a Estados Unidos de Rafael Caro Quintero, uno de los hombres más buscados por el FBI y quien fue detenido el pasado 15 de julio, según un fallo que conoció CNN. En su contra pesaba una orden para extraditarlo.

  • ¿Quién es Rafael Caro Quintero?

La decisión judicial responde a una demanda de amparo, que pidió garantizar el procedimiento previo de extradición para Caro Quintero antes de que se ejecute la medida, de acuerdo a lo que establece el tratado entre México y Estados Unidos. Con este argumento, el juez concedió la “suspensión de plano” de la extradición hasta que se cumpla dicho proceso. También determinó que Caro Quintero deberá permanecer en el penal de máxima seguridad del Estado de México donde se encuentra y que queda a disposición del juzgado.

  • La detención de Caro Quintero, uno de los más buscados por el FBI

Caro Quintero, de 69 años, conocido como el “narco de narcos”, es considerado por las autoridades mexicanas como el fundador del cartel de Guadalajara. Lo acusan de tráfico de metanfetamina, heroína, cocaína y marihuana. También es una de las 10 personas más buscadas por el FBI. La justicia de Estados Unidos lo buscaba, entre otros delitos, por el secuestro, tortura y asesinato en 1985 de Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, agente de la Administración de Control de Drogas estadounidense (DEA, por sus siglas en inglés).

Los amparos para evitar la extradición de Caro Quintero

El presidente de México, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, dijo este lunes en su conferencia matutina que desde el sábado se han presentado amparos que intentan frenar la entrega de Caro Quintero a Estados Unidos.

“El sábado se presentaron amparos que se están tramitando y las autoridades están respondiendo a jueces, tanto la Fiscalía como la Secretaría de Marina, pero sí se está pidiendo la protección del señor Caro Quintero mediante recursos de amparo. Se está viendo el proceso, se va a actuar desde luego, como siempre, de manera legal. Lo que se decida en el procedimiento, pero vamos a cuidar que no haya corrupción”, señaló el mandatario.

Caro Quintero tuvo su primera audiencia el sábado pasado, donde se calificó como legal su arresto del 15 de julio en el municipio de Choix, Sinaloa. Además, se le notificó la orden de aprehensión en su contra con fines de extradición a EE.UU., un proceso que podría tomar años, de acuerdo con expertos consultados por CNN.

AMLO dice que la DEA no tuvo “injerencia directa” en la captura de Caro Quintero

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, presidente de México, confirmó este lunes en su conferencia de prensa matutina que la DEA no tuvo “injerencia directa” en la captura de Rafael Cano Quintero, dijo que fue un trabajo de inteligencia de la Fiscalía con apoyo de la Secretaría de Marina.

El mandatario indicó que la DEA no ubicó a Caro Quintero. López Obrador, lamentó el fallecimiento de 14 miembros de la Marina cuando un helicóptero, que hacia parte del operativo, se desplomó.

Source: CNN

TILMAN FERTITTA OFFERS $25,000 REWARD IN SHOOTING DEATH OF ARLENE ALVAREZ

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A Harris County Grand Jury on Tuesday declined to indict Tony Earls in the fatal shooting of 9-year-old Arlene Alvarez, announced District Attorney Kim Ogg.

“Our hearts go out to the Alvarez family because Arlene’s death is a tragedy that is unimaginable,” Ogg said. “We are focusing all of our efforts on finding the suspect who set this chain of events in motion and bringing him to justice.”

Ogg noted that grand juries are composed of randomly selected citizens who hear all of the evidence in a case in secret. Grand jurors have presented all the evidence and asked to determine if there was sufficient evidence for a criminal charge. Grand jury proceedings are secret by law.

There will be a press conference today, July 19, at 3:15 p.m. at Crime Stoppers of Houston, 3001 Main St, Houston, TX 77002 to publicize a $25,000 donation from Houston businessman Tilman Fertitta to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of the original robbery suspect.

Among those scheduled to attend are DA Kim Ogg, members of the Alvarez family, prosecutors, investigators, Crime Stoppers representatives, and others.