DPS Announce Limited Reopening Of Driver License Offices
Press Release
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will begin a phased opening of driver license offices starting May 26th with limited service offerings. As part of this opening plan, DPS will launch a statewide driver license (DL) appointment system that allows customers to book appointments up to six months in advance. The limited services being offered will be by appointment only.
"This phased opening of our driver license offices and the launch of DPS' online appointment system prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and ensures Texans have access to the services they need at their local driver license offices," said Governor Abbott. "I thank DPS for developing this safe and strategic plan to open their offices and for launching a new appointment system to streamline our driver license services."
The four-phase plan for the opening of driver license offices is as follows:
Phase 1: Offices in DPS’ Northwest and West Texas regions will reopen with limited services beginning May 26, 2020. Customers who currently do not possess a Texas DL, CDL, learner permit or ID card, as well those who are in need of a drive test, can begin scheduling appointments in these two regions on May 22 at 1 p.m.
Phase 2: Offices in DPS’ South and Central Texas regions will reopen with limited services beginning May 29, 2020. Customers who currently do not possess a Texas DL, CDL, learner permit or ID card, as well those who are in need of a drive test, can begin scheduling appointments in these two regions on May 26 at 1 p.m.
Phase 3: Offices in DPS’ North and Southeast Texas regions will reopen with limited services beginning June 3, 2020. Customers who currently do not possess a Texas DL, CDL, learner permit or ID card, as well those who are in need of a drive test, can begin scheduling appointments in these two regions on May 29 at 1 p.m.
Phase 4 will allow customers to schedule an appointment for all DL office transactions anywhere in the state and is expected to begin midsummer. DPS will announce details on this phase at a later date. Extension for expiration dates will remain in effect until phase 4 is implemented.
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Phase Two To Open Texas
Press Release
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced the second phase of the State of Texas' ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase II, restaurants may increase their occupancy to 50% and additional services and activities that
may open with restricted occupancy levels and minimum standard health protocols laid out by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Additionally, the Governor announced that public schools in Texas have the option to provide in-person summer school so long as they follow social distancing practices and health protocols laid out by DSHS. These classes may begin as soon as June 1st."Today, tomorrow, and every day going forward is one step closer to medical discoveries that can treat and protect people from COVID-19—but until that day comes, our focus is keeping Texans safe while restoring their ability to get back to work, open their businesses, pay their bills, and put food on their tables," said Governor Abbott. "By continuing to use safe practices, we are slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting our most vulnerable. Now more than ever, we need to work together as one Texas. I ask all Texans to continue heeding the guidance of our state and federal medical experts and do their part to protect public health. If we all unite in our resolve, we will overcome this challenge."Via Executive Order, the following services and activities may open under Phase II.Child Care Centers (May 18)Massage and Personal-Care Centers (May 18)Youth Clubs (May 18)Rodeo and Equestrian Events (May 22)Bowling Alleys, Bingo Halls, Simulcast Racing, and Skating Rinks (May 22)Bars (May 22)Aquariums and Natural Caverns (May 22)Zoos (May 29)Day Youth Camps (May 31)Overnight Youth Camps (May 31)Youth Sports (May 31)Certain professional sports without in-person spectators (May 31)All sporting and camp activities are required to adhere by special safety standards, and minimum standard health protocols have been established for all newly-announced opened services and activities. Businesses located in office buildings may also open but must limit their occupancy to the greater of 10 employees or 25% of their workforce.Additionally, restaurants may expand their occupancy to 50% beginning May 22. Bars—including wine tasting rooms, craft breweries, and similar businesses—may open at 25% occupancy but like restaurants, these occupancy limits do not apply to outdoor areas that maintain safe distancing among parties.Opened services and activities under Phase II are subject to certain occupancy limits and health and safety protocols. For details and a full list of guidelines, openings, and relevant dates, visit www.gov.texas.gov/opentexas.Certain counties experiencing surges in COVID-19 cases will have their beginning date of Phase II delayed until May 29. These counties include El Paso, Randall, Potter, Moore, and Deaf Smith. Surge Response Teams are actively working in these areas to increase testing, maintain hospital capacity, and ensure that COVID-19 is contained and mitigated.
During his remarks, the Governor also presented information on the state's hospitalization and positivity rates—two metrics the Governor and his team of medical experts have used to inform the state's ongoing plan to safely and strategically open. Details on these metrics can be found in presentation slides here and here.
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TAMUK Offers Free Lunch to Students through June 30
Press Release
Texas A&M University-Kingsville and their food service provider, Aramark, will continue to provide a free lunch to students beginning during intersession Saturday, May 16, through Thursday, May 28, and continuing through Tuesday, June 30. The meals are provided on a to-go basis only at the Javelina Dining Hall in order to ensure social distancing.
Free lunch will be provided from 11 a.m. to 1 p,m. Monday through Sunday at the dining hall. Students must show a valid A&M-Kingsville identification card. Meals must be to-go only and all social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Students from the Irma Rangel College of Pharmacy also are welcome to use their ID cards to get a free lunch.
The free lunch will be served daily except Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, when the dining hall and the university are closed in observance of Memorial Day.
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College of Business Administration faculty plan COVID-19 research
Press Release
Dr. Ruth Chatelain-Jardon, associate professor, and Dr. Jose Daniel, assistant professor, both in the management, marketing and information systems department, will look at the moderating effect of technological skill on job demands and employee outcomes. Because of COVID-19, thousands of employees had to conduct their work activities from home, thus considerably increasing their use of technology.
“We expect that for some employees these abnormal job demands will not be as difficult to handle due to their superior technological expertise” Chatelain-Jardon said. “For others, it will be more complex, difficult and time consuming due to their lower ability to use and manage technology. We expect that these two scenarios will yield significantly different results for employee’s performance, innovative behavior, organizational commitment and job satisfaction.”
They have begun work to identify scales for each variable involved and they expect to collect data using hard copy and electronic versions of the survey, said Chatelain-Jardon.
This research is still in the early stages as they await approval from the university’s Institutional Review Board and must collect data. However, they expect to have the paper ready to be sent to a journal in about six months.
“We expect to confirm that the influence of these harshen job demands on performance, innovative behavior, organizational commitment and job satisfaction, will be lower for employees who exhibit a higher degree of technological skills,” Chatelain-Jardon said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gijs Van Oort, adjunct professor in the marketing, management and computer science department, has proposed research that will compare time-based trending patterns of COVID-19 impacted citizens of the Coastal Bend region with those of an urban location. The findings, Van Oort said, will be matched to data from economic development organizations to assess the economic impact of the disease on the regional economy.
“My overall intent is to identify and evaluate a time-based and region-specific response to current and future disasters,” he said. “The study will draw from clinical data from HASA, a regional Health Information Exchange, covering the Central Texas and Gulf Coast regions, surveillance data from area public health departments and data from regional economic councils.”
Van Oort said he hopes the results of this project will establish Texas A&M-Kingsville as a valuable data aggregator and collaborator for the region. He expects the project to offer key insights into the impact of the COVID-19 spread to rural and urban Texas communities.
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Shelly Luther Salon Owner Jailed for Working
Press Release
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today sent a letter to a Dallas County judge, stating that he abused his authority by putting Shelley Luther, owner of a hair salon, in jail for opening her salon to feed her family.
“I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge, in a county that actually released hardened criminals for fear of contracting COVID-19, would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The trial judge did not need to lock up Shelley Luther. His order is a shameful abuse of judicial discretion, which seems like another political stunt in Dallas. He should release Ms. Luther immediately.”
Read a copy of the letter here.
Governor Greg Abbott also released the following statement on the jailing of Dallas Salon Owner, Shelley Luther:
"I join the Attorney General in disagreeing with the excessive action by the Dallas Judge, putting Shelley Luther in jail for seven days. As I have made clear through prior pronouncements, jailing Texans for non-compliance with executive orders should always be the last available option. Compliance with executive orders during this pandemic is important to ensure public safety; however, surely there are less restrictive means to achieving that goal than jailing a Texas mother."
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Kleberg County Art Contest
Kleberg County Commissioners Court has invited childern in Kleberg county to create an original art project with the theme "
“Kleberg County Working Together to Slow the Spread of the Coronavirus”.
Students can use crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint or other art medium to create an artwork for The Kleberg County Strong Art Contest.
All artwork entries will be displayed in the Kleberg County Courthouse.
See flyer below for more info.
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Governor Abbott Announces Phase One To Open Texas
Press Release
File photo
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott today announced the first phase of the State of Texas' ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase I, certain services and activities are allowed to open with limited occupancy, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow. The Governor also outlined special guidance for Texans over 65 and detailed a comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes in Texas. The Governor also announced a statewide testing and tracing program developed by DSHS that will help public health officials quickly identify and test Texans who contract COVID-19 and mitigate further spread of the virus.
The Governor's announcement is accompanied by
Governor's Report to Open Texas
.
This detailed report, available on the strike force website, helps Texans understand phase one by outlining the new protocols, guidance, and recommendations. The report also includes a series of Open Texas Checklists that outline DSHS' minimum standard health protocols for all Texans.
"This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows the guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts," said Governor Abbott. "Now more than ever, Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19, and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans' livelihoods. We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19. If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans, we can continue to open the Lone Star State."
By way of Executive Order (GA-18)
, all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls are permitted to reopen on Friday, May 1. These services must limit their capacity to 25% of their listed occupancy. Within shopping malls, the food-court dining areas, play areas, and interactive displays and settings must remain closed.
All museums and libraries may open under the same 25% occupancy limitation, but interactive areas of museums must remain closed. State libraries and museums will open by May 1, and local public museums and libraries may reopen only if permitted by the local government. Single-person offices may reopen as well.
Churches and places of worship remain open. Outdoor sports are allowed to resume so long as no more than four participants are playing together at one time. Certain social distancing practices must also be followed. Local government operations, including county and municipal government operations relating to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, may reopen as determined by the local government.
DSHS has recommended minimum standard health protocols for all individuals, all employers and employees, as well as industry-specific protocols for retailers, retail customers, restaurants, restaurant patrons, movie theaters, movie theater customers, museums and libraries, museum and library visitors, outdoor sports participants, single-person offices, and low COVID-19 counties. These protocols are outlined in the Open Texas Checklists within the
beginning on page 20.
Essential services such as farmers and ranchers, grocery and drug stores, banks, and gas stations will continue to operate. Public swimming pools, bars, gyms, cosmetology salons, massage establishments, interactive amusement venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, and tattoo and piercing studios will remain closed through Phase I. Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities must remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance.
The Governor also established increased occupancy protocols for certain counties with five or fewer laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19. Those counties may, on an individualized basis, increase occupancy limits to up to 50% for restaurants, retail, shopping malls, museums and libraries, and movie theaters if they meet certain criteria. The county judge must certify and affirm to DSHS that the following standards have been investigated and confirmed to be met:
The county had five or fewer COVID-19 laboratory confirmed cases on April 30, 2020 or, at a later date, five or fewer active COVID-19 cases as verified by DSHS.
The county has created a list of testing opportunities in the county or the area.
The county has been in contact with its designated regional advisory council to ensure the community is prepared for any needed health care transfers.
The county has provided public notice to the residents of the county, including: Signs and symptoms of COVID-19: Recommended health and safety protocols in line with CDC guidance; Information regarding how residents can get tested in the area; A link to the DSHS website where residents can go to learn about community spread in nearby communities, in order to help county residents understand their risk to exposure if they travel regularly outside of the county.
The county has contacted each of the following types of facilities located in the county to ensure they are complying with Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding COVID-19: Nursing homes; Assisted living facilities; Industrial, agricultural, or business facilities with a significant number of employees; and City or county jails.
The county is equipped and prepared to protect vulnerable populations, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
The county has documented procedures to be activated if a resident becomes COVID-19 positive, including procedures to take appropriate measures as necessary in line with the plan to open Texas.
The county has contacted DSHS in order to create a plan to ensure contact tracing will occur within 48 hours of a positive test reported to DSHS.
Phase I will begin Friday May 1 and continue until at least May 18. The Governor will continue to evaluate next steps for the state.
The Governor's Report to Open Texas
also outlines a long-term comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes in Texas. Eight recommendations have been developed by HHSC to help mitigate the further spread of COVID-19 and decrease the risk of infection in these facilities. A summary of the recommendations is below, and full recommendations are in
the Governor's report beginning on page 9
:
Quantify the extent of infection immediately
Establish a comprehensive mitigation plan
Re-evaluate current COVID-19 positive facilities
Appropriate isolation and placement of COVID-19 patients
Implement enhanced access controls
Enhance control of staff access
Effective notifications
Continue containment efforts
During the press conference, the Governor also announced a new statewide testing and contact tracing program. Developed and implemented by DSHS, this program will help identify individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and those who may need to quarantine or be tested due to potential exposure. This phased implementation will allow Texans to box in the virus and slow, or even stop, further spread. Phase I of the tracing program has been completed, and Phase II begins today. Phase III begins May 11. More details about the contact tracing program are available in the Governor's Report to Open Texas beginning on page 16.
Governor Abbott today also relaxed certain restrictions related to health care professionals and issued amended requirements related to hospital capacity.
Under an Executive Order (GA-19)
issued today:
All licensed health care professionals shall be limited in their practice by, and must comply with, any emergency rules promulgated by their respective licensing agencies dictating minimum standards for safe practice during the COVID-19 disaster.
Every hospital licensed under Chapter 241 of the Texas Health & Safety Code shall reserve at least 15% of its hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients, accounting for the range of clinical severity of COVID-19 patients, as determined by HHSC.
Additionally, the Governor issued an
to eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for individuals traveling from Louisiana. Under GA-20, the mandated 14-day quarantine for travelers from the following areas remains in place: California; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan, and Miami, Florida.
View
Texans Helping Texans: The Governor's Report to Open Texas
.
View the Governor's Executive Orders issued today:
GA-18: Relating to the expanded reopening of services as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster.
GA-19: Relating to hospital capacity during the COVID-19 disaster.
GA-20: Relating to expanding travel without restrictions as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster.
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Price Gouging by Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.
Press Release
AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a lawsuit against Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., the dominant egg supplier in Texas, for taking unfair advantage of the Governor’s COVID-19 disaster declaration and raising the price of eggs by around 300 percent without any supply issues or significant disruptions. Price gouging laws apply to any person or entity selling necessities, such as food, at an exorbitant or excessive price after a disaster has been declared by the Governor or the President. This prohibition includes those who supply retailers.
“No one is exempt from price gouging laws in Texas, including suppliers of grocery stores and pharmacies,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office will not tolerate any person or business taking advantage of hardworking Texans. Those who violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act will be met with the full force of the law.”
Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, any price-gougers may be required to reimburse consumers and may be held liable for civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, with an additional penalty of up to $250,000 if the affected consumers are elderly.
Texans who believe they have encountered price gouging or disaster scams should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or
. For additional information on disaster scams, please visit our
.
Read a
.
For information on the spread or treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the
Texas Department of State Health Services
website.
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Texas Receives Approval for SNAP Online Grocery Purchases
Press Release
AUSTIN –Texas Health and Human Services recently received federal approval to allow Texans to purchase groceries online using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pilot program is expected to start by May 18 statewide.
"By allowing SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online throughout the COVID-19 response, we are removing barriers to healthy and nutritious food for many families in Texas," said Governor Greg Abbott. "I am grateful to our federal partners at the USDA for approving this request. As the Lone Star State continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are exhausting all avenues to both protect the health and safety of Texans while ensuring families, including recipients of SNAP, have the ability to provide for their families during this challenging time."
“Because families, including SNAP recipients, have had to adjust to social distancing and staying home when possible, some homes have encountered challenges when finding certain grocery items,” said HHS Access and Eligibility Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter. “Adding another option for Texans using SNAP to get the healthy and nutritious food their families need helps ease the minds of families and limit their exposure to COVID-19.”
With approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, HHSC is implementing a pilot program to allow online grocery purchasing for SNAP clients in Texas. Walmart and Amazon are the first retailers to join the pilot in Texas, scheduled to start by May 18.
This announcement is the latest change Gov. Abbott and HHSC has made to the SNAP program in response to COVID-19, and SNAP clients are now receiving their maximum eligible allotment and have also had renewal requirements temporarily waived.
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Crisis Over the Demands of Prisoners
Press Release
AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today applauded the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for ordering a stay that blocks a lower court order sharply limiting state officials’ ability to respond to the rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic in Texas prisons and across the State. The district court’s injunction imposed limits on the transfer of inmates, required unrestricted access to face masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies for each inmate, and imposed a plan for testing every single inmate for COVID-19. The Fifth Circuit also expedited arguments in this case.
“I thank the Fifth Circuit for prioritizing the needs of medical professionals and blocking the unreasonable demands the district court imposed on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). TDCJ has already diligently implemented measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and our medical professionals and those suffering from this health crisis are in desperate need of personal protective equipment, supplies and testing kits,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The district court has no authority to overrule Texas’s decisions about how to manage its scarce resources, and my office will continue to defend the prioritization of medical professionals on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.”
Read a copy of the order here.
For information on the spread or treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website.
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$54 Million To Support Older Texans During COVID-19 Pandemic
Press Release
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will receive nearly $54 million in federal funds to support older Texans and people with disabilities during the COVID-19 response. The funding will be used to support programs and services administered by the state’s 28 Area Agencies on Aging such as home delivered meals, help with household chores, assistance with groceries, and respite care or other services for family caregivers.
"Older Texans and Texans with disabilities face a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and they need continued support during these trying times,” said Governor Abbott. “These federal funds will help provide higher risk Texans with additional support and resources to meet their everyday needs while allowing them to stay at home and stay safe. I thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for providing Texas with this crucial financial support so that we can continue to serve our fellow Texans."
"With Governor Abbott’s continued leadership, we’re committed to supporting and assisting the state’s most vulnerable population during the difficult time," said HHS Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson.
Funding will also be used to support the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, which provides advocacy and complaint resolution services on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living awarded Texas nearly $54 million in funds through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic (CARES) Act recently signed into law by President Trump.
For more information on the state’s Area Agencies on Aging, visit the HHS website.
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Promoting False Cures for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Press Release
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today partnered with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to warn Resurgence Medical Spa LLC that baselessly claiming that their vitamin C intravenous infusions can prevent and cure Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a direct violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and federal consumer protection law.
“As communities work together to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure that those suffering receive the potentially life-saving treatment they need, my office is working diligently to stop deceptive claims and false cures,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I will not allow anyone or any business to take advantage of Texans during this national health crisis.”
The current disaster declaration is effective across the entire state, and under Texas consumer protection statutes, it is illegal for a person to take advantage of a disaster declaration by engaging in deceptive trade practices.
Texans who believe they have encountered deceptive trade practices should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or
. For additional information on disaster scams, please visit our
.
Read a
copy of the warning letter here
.
For information on the spread or treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the
Texas Department of State Health Services
.
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AG Paxton Asks Fifth Circuit to Once Again Uphold Governor’s Order
Press Release
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a second, immediate appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to once again enforce Governor Abbott’s Executive Order (GA 09) postponing any unnecessary medical procedures to preserve desperately needed medical supplies for the health professionals combating the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Abortion facilities continue to demand special treatment not available to any other health care provider in Texas. Under the Governor’s Executive Order, all health care facilities and professionals in Texas must cease and delay elective medical procedures to ensure that hospitals and their staff have access to urgently needed personal protective equipment and hospital beds during this unprecedented crisis. By demanding special treatment to continue to provide medical procedures deemed unnecessary during this health crisis, abortion providers are withholding desperately needed medical supplies for those combating the Coronavirus across the state.
“For years, abortion has been touted as a ‘choice’ by the same groups now attempting to claim it is an essential procedure, and they decided to press forward despite a higher court ruling entered just days ago that a district court cannot block an Executive Order that protects public health during a crisis,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office will steadfastly defend Governor Abbott’s Order and the rule of law to ensure that hardworking medical professionals receive the supplies and personal protective gear they need to successfully combat this health crisis.”
A few abortion providers obtained yet another temporary restraining order (TRO) from a U.S. District Court in Austin to block the Executive Order as it applies to them only and certain types of medication and surgical abortions. The Executive Order remains binding on all other abortion providers in Texas who are not parties to the case and to all other abortions not specifically identified in the district court’s order. Just three days ago, the
Fifth Circuit vacated a similar TRO
by the same district court.
Read a copy of
.
Read a
.
For information on the spread or treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the
Texas Department of State Health Services
website.
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Nueces County Park and Beach Closures for Easter Weekend
Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – In adherence with State and local “stay at home” guidelines and to maintain the safest environment for residents and visitors during the Easter weekend, Nueces County and the City of Corpus Christi have acted to temporarily close the following County and City Parks, Bay and Gulf Beaches to vehicular access. The temporary closure is from Friday, April 10, 2020 through Sunday, April 12, 2020. The Parks and Beaches will reopen on Monday, April 13, 2020.
City Parks Closed
Bill Witt Park
West Guth Park
Manuel Q. Salinas Park
The Water’s Edge
Cole Park
Labonte Park
Lakeview Park
Parker Park
County Parks Closed
Hazel Bazemore Park
Lyondell Baseball Park
Hilltop Park
San Juan Park
Oscar Ortiz Park
John Sablatura Park
Barber Lane Park
Sandy Hallow Park
Lone Oak Park
Amistad Veterans Memorial Park
Bobby Ray & Opal Younts Park
Banquete Park
Lost Creek Park
83 Yard Park
Fairground Stadium
Bay Beaches Closed
McGee Beach
North Beach
Gulf Beaches Closed
City and County Gulf Beaches from Access Road 2 thru County Road 6 (Access Road 2, Beach Marker 62, Newport Pass Road, Zahn Road, Access Road 3A, Windward Parking Lot, White Cap Beach, County Road 4, County Road 5, Bob Hall Park and Pier, and County Road 6).
For more information, call (361) 826-3460 or visit www.ccparkandrec.com.
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Temporary Closure Of State Parks And Historic Sites
Press Release
AUSTIN - Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to close all state parks and historic sites as part of the state’s efforts to strengthen social distancing practices and prevent gatherings of large groups of people. Historic sites and state parks will close to the public starting at 5:00 PM this evening and will reopen at the direction of the Governor.
"Social distancing is our best tool to curb the spread of COVID-19 and save lives," said Governor Abbott. "The temporary closure of our state parks and historic sites will help us achieve this goal by preventing the gathering of large groups of people. I urge all Texans to continue to stay at home except for essential services as we respond to COVID-19. By following these social distance practices, we will overcome this challenge together."
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Joint Guidance for Houses of Worship in Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2020
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued joint guidance regarding the effect of Executive Order GA 14 on religious services conducted in congregations and houses of worship.
“All Texans must work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, and houses of worship face a particular challenge as we work to combat this pandemic,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This guidance provides clear direction for houses of worship to protect the health and safety of Texans as they continue to hold religious services, exercise their religious liberty, and serve their faith communities.”
The Executive Order GA 14 defines essential services to include “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.” Orders given by state or local governments prohibiting people from providing or obtaining certain services must ensure that the orders do not violate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, Article I of the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protect the rights of Texans to freely exercise their religion.
Read the joint guidance document here.
For information on the spread or treatment of Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website.
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Texas COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line - FREE
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has launched a statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress, or other emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource offers support for all Texans and can be reached any time day or night at 833-986-1919.
The line is operated by the
Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
, and offers trauma-informed support and psychological first aid to those experiencing mental health symptoms related to COVID-19. Counseling services are confidential and free of charge.
More information on mental health resources and your local metal health authority can be found on
.
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