Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff visiting Texas to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations
Their Texas swing is part of a larger effort by senior administration officials who are fanning out across the country this week to encourage vaccinations ahead of the administrationโs self-imposed goal of hitting a 70% countrywide vaccination rate by July 4.
Winter weather in Texas impacts pro, college sports
NHL games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday between the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators had already been scrapped. The shuffling of pro events came amid adjustments for several men's and women's college basketball games in Texas because of frigid temperatures and icy conditions for traveling. 12 Texas men's visit to ninth-ranked Oklahoma has been moved back a day to Thursday after originally getting bumped from Tuesday to Wednesday because of the weather. Two other womenโs games scheduled for Wednesday had also been called off: Texas at TCU and Texas Tech at Oklahoma. The American Athletic Conference men's game between Tulane and SMU in Dallas scheduled for Wednesday was postponed, with no makeup date announced.
Predators-Stars postponed at city request, extreme weather
A lone vehicle drives on Victory Ave. in front of American Airlines Center which was to host the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars NHL hockey game, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Dallas. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson requested that the teams not play Monday due to a shortage of electricity in the region. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)DALLAS โ The Dallas Stars postponed their home game Monday night against the Nashville Predators after a request from city officials not to play because of the impact extreme winter weather had on the area. The NHL didn't announce the postponement until just more than a half-hour before the scheduled start of the game. โI donโt know the status of that grid, but frankly, the Stars game is not critical infrastructure,โ Hallman told the DMN.
Gov. Abbott sending state police to help combat violent crime in Dallas. A similar effort last year proved controversial.
Greg Abbott is again sending Texas state police into Dallas as the city experiences a spike in shootings. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said the swell of violent crime required an โall-hands-on-deck response.โOn Wednesday, Abbott stepped in. Community members complained of DPS troopers over-policing in poorer neighborhoods with mostly residents of color, questioning people about their immigration status and stopping people without valid reasons. In efforts across the country to cut police funding, academics have argued public safety would be better served by investing money into other social programs. โIncreased police in communities doesnโt create public safety,โ Alan Dettlaff, dean of the University of Houstonโs Graduate College of Social Work, told the Tribune in June.
A week before the election, Texas National Guard prepares to deploy troops to cities
The Texas Army National Guard said Monday that up to 1,000 troops could be dispatched to cities across Texas ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Brandon Jones, a spokesperson for the Guard, said the deployment is not related to the election and troops would not be stationed at polling places. The newspaper reported that Guard members could arrive as soon as this weekend. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has not been contacted by either Abbott or the Guard about the deployment, spokesperson Mary Benton told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday. Separately, the FBIโs field office in Dallas warned that far-right extremists could pose a violent threat in North Texas around the election.
Texas mayors warn pandemic's effects on city budgets will linger for years
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas TribuneThe mayors of Texas' most populous cities described painful budget cuts with shortfalls of tens of millions of dollars stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. But they said they're worried that future budgets could be just as difficult to balance for years to come. The temporary closure of businesses and high levels of unemployment due to the pandemic have caused sales tax revenues which make up a significant portion of cities' budgets to plummet. Turner said the city took a hit of about $162 million but was able to avoid furloughing or permanently letting go of its employees. We suspended about $200 million worth of expenses in the middle of the fiscal year that we knew would help with the fund balance moving forward, he said.
Facing budget shortfalls, nearly 100 Texas mayors plead with Congress for coronavirus relief funding
The budget calamity looming over local governments is real and it requires extraordinary measures, said a letter signed by 97 Texas mayors and directed to members of Congress. We therefore fear that state and local revenue is going to take time to rebound. But unlike the CARES Act, the proposal hasnt received bipartisan support and has stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate, according to The Washington Post. Overall, COVID-19 expenditures are vastly outpaced by the citys revenue losses, Williams said. The citys population is just under 400,000 not reaching the 500,000 threshold required to receive direct funding from the CARES Act and instead receiving funds funneled from the state.
Jessica Simpson Is Gifted Giant Crystal Butterfly for 6th Wedding Anniversary With Eric Johnson
Jessica Simpson is celebrating her wedding anniversary with a massive gift from her husband! The 39-year-old fashion designer took to Instagram on Sunday to wish Eric Johnson a happy sixth wedding anniversary and show off what he gifted her in honor of the occasion. In the sweet pic, Simpson and Johnson, 40, are all smiles as they hold up the giant, purple crystal butterfly that he gave her. "Eric Johnson, my Husband, I love you. RELATED CONTENT:Jessica Simpson Posts Cheeky Bikini Photo Ahead of 40th BirthdayInside Jessica Simpson's Quarantine Diet and Workout RegimenJessica Simpson Celebrates 10th Anniversary With 'Perfect' Husband Eric Johnson
Dallas City Council is open to reallocating public safety and police funds toward remedying segregation and poverty
The 10 council members, which did not include Mayor Eric Johnson, sent City Manager T.C. On Thursday, the Austin City Council plans to vote on proposals that would decrease their police department's funding, among other reforms. There's plenty of fat in the city budget other than just the Police Department," he said. Council members Adam McGough, Cara Mendelsohn, Jennifer Gates and David Blewett did not, according to the city manager's office. Do we want to keep libraries and the rec center open longer hours, or buy more paramilitary equipment for police officers? Kleinman said.
Texas governor to speak about continued protest violence in the state at 1 p.m.
Greg Abbott will give a briefing Tuesday afternoon in response to protests, which have ranged from peaceful to violent, in Texas. People dont talk about that. They dont talk about that. Theyre talking about a lot of other things, but they dont talk about that. Following Floyds death last week, peaceful protests in large cities have turned into chaotic violence at night.
Dallas mayor blamed "outsiders" for violence at protests. But almost everyone arrested was from North Texas.
Shelby Tauber for The Texas TribuneDallas Mayor Eric Johnson blamed outsiders Tuesday for sparking violence among peaceful protests in Dallas over the past five days in response to the death of George Floyd. She said shes from Pleasant Grove a suburb just 10 miles from the downtown area but the officers claimed she wasnt from Dallas, Lpez Estrada said. No, Im from Dallas, Lpez Estrada said she responded. Lpez Estrada said Abbotts and Johnsons comments felt drafted and that the public officials are focusing on the wrong narrative. They keep talking about the looting, but they dont talk about the protest, Lpez Estrada said.
Live updates: Dallas local officials say violence and vandalism won't be tolerated from protesters
Police officers on horseback are among a crowd gathered to protest protest the deaths of George Floyd and Mike Ramos, in Austin on May 30, 2020. Some protesters damaged properties, took from businesses and vandalized cars, according to the Dallas Morning News, while many other protesters demonstrated peacefully. On Saturday, Mayor Eric Johnson and Police Chief U. Renee Hall said the violence would not be tolerated. But we also unfortunately saw some reckless behavior from a small group of people whose agendas had nothing to do with human rights or civil rights, Johnson said, according to the Dallas Morning News. They chose to destroy things at a time when we should be building each other up, and we just cant allow that.
Texas governor activates state national guard amid George Floyd protests
AUSTIN, Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday activated the Texas National Guard and deployed state resources in response to the protests taking place regarding the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck in Minnesota. Abbott sent resources to the cities of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin to maintain public safety. DPS has sent more than 1,500 officers to assist local police departments and more resources will be provided as needed. As Texans exercise their 1st Amendment rights, it is imperative that order is maintained and private property is protected.