Texas-Mexico cities strained ahead of expected migrant surge
Cities along the U.S.-Mexico border are setting in motion humanitarian efforts including emergency shelter, food and transportation services ahead of an expected dramatic increase in the number of asylum-seekers as pandemic-era immigration restrictions are set to expire this week.
Defiance of Texas ban on mask mandates continues to grow
Defiance of Gov. Greg Abbottโs ban on mask mandates is continuing as another Texas school district announced plans to require students to wear face coverings and another county scored a legal victory in its efforts to issue such mandates amid a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout the state.
The Latest: Navajo Nation extends "safer at home" order
That increased the stateโs totals to 839,334 confirmed cases and 16,912 confirmed deaths. Ad___RIO DE JANEIRO โ Brazil accounts for a quarter of the daily coronavirus global deaths, more than any other nation. AdThere have been 12.4 million confirmed cases and more than 307,000 confirmed deaths in Brazil, second only to the United States. AdPakistan has reported 649,824 total confirmed cases and 14,158 confirmed deaths. The nation of 10.7 million had 1.5 million confirmed cases with 25,639 deaths.
Reforms pushed in Texas as trial nears in George Floyd death
FILE - In this Monday, June 8, 2020, file photo, local residents and alumni of Jack Yates High School take part in a candlelight vigil to honor George Floyd, in Houston. The George Floyd Act was scheduled to get its first hearing in the Texas Capitol on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)AUSTIN, Texas โ Outside of George Floyd's public memorial last summer in Texas, Republican Gov. Earlier this month in Congress, House Democrats passed the most ambitious effort in decades to overhaul policing nationwide under the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Ad___Find APโs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd
Texas Rangers in line to be first MLB team back to full capacity
FILE - The Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies line the foul lines of Globe Life Field before an opening day baseball game in Arlingtn, Texas, in this Friday, July 24, 2020, file photo. The Texas Rangers could have a full house for their home opener next month after debuting their new 40,518-seat stadium without fans in the stands for their games last season. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter, File)ARLINGTON, Texas โ The Texas Rangers are on track to become the first team in Major League Baseball or any major U.S.-based sports league to have a full-capacity crowd since the coronavirus pandemic started altering the sports landscape a year ago. Leibman, who is part of the Rangers' ownership group, said MLB allows teams to operate under local capacity policy, as long as adequate protection for players is in place. The Rangers' stadium hosted about 50 high school graduation ceremonies last summer, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December and a college baseball tournament last month.
Workers worry about safety, stress as states ease mask rules
Tate Reeves decided to eliminate mask requirements, limits on seating in restaurants and most other binding restrictions. AdAlabamaโs state health officer on Friday advised residents to keep following standard infection-prevention recommendations even though the governor is letting the stateโs mask mandate expire next month. AdThe National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade association in the U.S., issued a statement Wednesday encouraging shoppers to wear masks. McDonaldโs cook Cornejo, 43, said the end of Texasโ mask mandate next week alarms her because several of her co-workers already were lax about keeping their faces covered. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, said individuals who wear masks still risk infection from unmasked shoppers and diners.
Watch live: ERCOT subcommittee holds meeting a day after grid CEO was fired following deadly Texas blackouts
AUSTIN, Texas โ The Electric Reliability Council of Texas will have a subcommittee meeting on Thursday morning, a day after CEO Bill Magness was fired. The Reliability and Operations Subcommittee is expected to address a variety of concerns, such as the stateโs power generators, in the meeting. In the wake of Februaryโs deadly blackouts that left millions of people without electricity and heat for days in subfreezing temperatures. Magness became the second senior official to depart the power grid. AdAt the Texas Capitol last week, lawmakers investigating the outages laid into Magness for his handling of the storm.
'Who is at fault?' Investigation into Texas blackout begins
state Rep. Todd Hunter, a Republican, demanded of witnesses during hours of testimony at the Texas Capitol. But energy executives, including those whose companies lavishly donate to Abbott and lawmakers, made clear that the fault is far wider. โHow can a power plant be at the bottom of the list of priorities?โ Morgan said. AdโYou-know-what hit the fan, and everybodyโs going, โYouโre turning off my power plant?'" Of Texas' power generators that were not operational during the storm, Magness said the freeze was responsible 42% of the failures.
Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis
As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas' power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texasโ power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. The community deserves answers.โ___Around 2 a.m. Monday, the full measure of the crisis Texas faced began to be apparent. Most people did not yet know that Texasโ power grid had been on the brink of total failure. AdThe Texas grid isnโt walled off, but there are only a few, small interconnection points with the Eastern U.S. grid and Mexico.
US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts say
It was also a harbinger of what social service providers and governments say will be a surge of increased needs for societyโs most vulnerable as climate and natural disasters worsen. More than 100 million people live in areas under winter weather warnings, watches or advisories, and blackouts are expected to continue in some parts of the country for days. Climate change also is hurting military readiness. โThe cost associated with addressing climate change and improving our infrastructureโs resilience is always going to be less than the cost of rebuilding or failing to act,'' Carper said. Modifying the turbines slightly to withstand freezing temperatures is one step needed to confront climate change, said Roy McCann, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Some electricity restored in Texas, but water woes grow
Houston and several surrounding cities are under a boil water notice as many residents are still without running water in their homes. But the crisis was far from over in parts of the South, where many people still lacked safe drinking water. The next phase of the stateโs disaster response will be to test drinking water from systems knocked offline by the cold. Power was cut to a New Orleans facility that pumps drinking water from the Mississippi River and generators were used until electricity was restored. Drinking water was made available at fire stations throughout Jackson and officials also planned to set up bottled water pickup sites.
US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts say
It was also a harbinger of what social service providers and governments say will be a surge of increased needs for societyโs most vulnerable as climate and natural disasters worsen. More than 100 million people live in areas under winter weather warnings, watches or advisories, and blackouts are expected to continue in some parts of the country for days. Climate change also is hurting military readiness. AdโThe cost associated with addressing climate change and improving our infrastructureโs resilience is always going to be less than the cost of rebuilding or failing to act,'' Carper said. Modifying the turbines slightly to withstand freezing temperatures is one step needed to confront climate change, said Roy McCann, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Texas takes on Biden but Republicans keep distance from AG
FILE - This Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump. Thatโs the real litmus test,โ said Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, who pointed toward the deportation lawsuit and challenges last year to mail-in ballot applications around his Houston district. Paxton's budget requests may yet force Republican lawmakers to consider the exodus from his office. Greg Abbott โ who has previously said the accusations raise โserious concernsโ โ and Paxton also did not respond to questions. He has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he defrauded investors in a tech startup before becoming attorney general.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise to move headquarters to Texas
SPRING, Texas โ Tech giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise said it is moving its global headquarters to the Houston area from California, where the company's roots go back to the founding of Silicon Valley decades ago. Hewlett Packard Enterprise was created in 2015 when the computer hardware pioneer Hewlett-Packard Inc. broke into two parts after years of struggling to keep up with industry trends, such as consumersโ shift away from personal computers. The split left one new company, HPE, concentrated on the business of selling data center hardware and business software, while another new company, HP Inc., kept the legacy PC and printer operations. HP Inc. is still headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and remains the bigger of the two companies in terms of revenue. โWe are incredibly committed to Silicon Valley,โ he said.
The Latest: Japan's virus cases hit record for fourth day
___HEREโS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:โ US reaches 12 million total coronavirus casesโ Italy hits nearly 35,000 new daily virus casesโ Calif Gov. ___PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon has reported a record number of coronavirus cases for the second day in a row. California had a record 13,000 new cases on Thursday and more than 1 million total confirmed cases. Overall, Russia has recorded more than 2,064,000 confirmed cases and 35,778 confirmed deaths. ___NEW DELHI โ India has reported 46,232 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, with the situation particularly alarming in New Delhi.
Daily COVID-19 deaths in US reach highest level since May
And the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 hit another all-time high at more than 80,000. COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are at their highest level since late May, when the Northeast was emerging from the first wave of the crisis. Gavin Newsom imposed in March and which he credited with flattening the rate of COVID-19 cases. The move came as health officials reported more than 4,000 additional COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day. โIn New Mexico, where hospitals are facing a crunch, the state reopened a vacated former hospital in Albuquerque for use by COVID-19 patients.
Texas governor backs GOP Rep. Dade Phelan for House speaker
AUSTIN, Texas โ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday threw his support behind a Texas House speaker candidate who Texas' GOP chairman called a โpolitical traitor" for aligning with Democrats. Republican state Rep. Dade Phelan has claimed he has overwhelming support to become the new speaker when the Texas Legislature reconvenes in January. Abbott called Phelan is a โstrong conservativeโ and praised his role in authoring and passing disaster relief legislation following Hurricane Harvey. His support came a day after Texas GOP Chairman Allen West claimed the party would โnot support, nor acceptโ Phelan.
Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127,000 Houston votes
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON โ A federal judge on Monday rejected another last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston because the ballots were cast at drive-thru polling centers established during the pandemic. Another 20,000 or more voters had been expected to use drive-thru polling locations Tuesday, Hollins said earlier Monday. โI cannot in good faith encourage voters to cast their votes in tents if that puts their votes at risk,โ he said. Harris County offered 10 drive-thru locations as an option for its nearly 5 million residents amid worries of spreading the coronavirus. More than 40% of Harris County residents are Latino, and about one in five residents are Black.
Eyes turn to Texas as early voting surge surpasses 2016
โBut on balance, yes, if we reach 12 million voters weโll win this election.โRepublicans donโt buy it. Whereas the vast majority of states are allowing widespread mail-in voting because of coronavirus fears, Texas is only one of five that refused, choosing instead to expand early voting by one week. That extended period helps explain Texasโ huge numbers so far with still a week of early voting to go. โMy job, everybodyโs job,โ said Bailey, 60, ticking off his worries outside one of the more than 100 early voting centers around Houston, which is three times as many as a normal election year. โWeโre not making a lot of money.โ___APโs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/
Eyes turn to Texas as early voting surge surpasses 2016
โBut on balance, yes, if we reach 12 million voters weโll win this election.โRepublicans donโt buy it. Whereas the vast majority of states are allowing widespread mail-in voting because of coronavirus fears, Texas is only one of five that refused, choosing instead to expand early voting by one week. That extended period helps explain Texasโ huge numbers so far with still a week of early voting to go. โMy job, everybodyโs job,โ said Bailey, 60, ticking off his worries outside one of the more than 100 early voting centers around Houston, which is three times as many as a normal election year. โWeโre not making a lot of money.โ___APโs Advance Voting guide brings you the facts about voting early, by mail or absentee from each state: https://interactives.ap.org/advance-voting-2020/
Trump says virus spike โgoneโ in Texas while El Paso surges
โThere was a very big spike in Texas, itโs now gone,โ Trump said. But in the border city of El Paso, COVID-19 is the worst itโs been since the pandemic began. โThe spike in El Paso has continued,โ Ocaranza said, noting that other Texas metropolitan areas aren't seeing the same surge. โEl Paso, we are in a different situation and we continue to see the rise.โEl Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said because the county is isolated from other metropolitan areas, it is easy for the rest of the Texas to be blind to El Paso. Cecilia Sobalvarro, 57, lives in El Paso and said it was difficult for her to not be with her brother and nephews when her sister-in-law died of cancer on Monday.
The Latest: S. Korea reports 97 new coronavirus cases
Women peel potatoes outside a snack bar amid the new coronavirus pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. โ Queen Elizabeth II honors the work of doctors, nurses, delivery drivers, fundraisers and volunteers during the coronavirus pandemic. The health department on Sunday reported 613 new cases for a total of 92,833 confirmed and probable cases. ___BRATISLAVA, Slovakia โ Slovakia is imposing new restrictive measures in hopes of curbing a surge in coronavirus infections. This past week, Slovakia reported new highs for confirmed coronavirus cases for four straight days, with a record 1,887 Friday.
Florida forges ahead in lifting curbs amid virus concerns
Ron DeSantis lifted limits on indoor seating at restaurants, saying they can operate at 100% in municipalities with no restrictions and that other local governments can't restrict indoor seating by more than 50%. Greg Abbottโs orders, and restaurants can hold up to 75% of their capacity, while face covers are required throughout the state. Though Floridaโs governor generally wears a mask when arriving at public appearances and has allowed municipalities to impose mask rules, he has declined to impose a statewide mandate. Gimenez has been consulting with attorneys and staff on what rules local governments could continue to enforce without violating new state orders. Store managers told him some customers have been defying their mask rules after DeSantisโ new order and he hasnโt seen any local enforcement in the past week.
Police departments seeing modest cuts, but not 'defunding'
A review by The Associated Press finds that while local governments have trimmed police budgets over the past four months, the cuts have been mostly modest. Soon after Floyd was killed, the majority of the City Council pledged to dismantle the police department. The City Council approved something much more modest โ cuts equal to less than 1% of the police budget and shifts of some money to community programs. In North Carolina, the Asheville City Council this past summer gave police and other city departments only one-fourth of their annual funding. Larger cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have settled on relatively small police budget reductions and boosts to other programs.
Judge blocks Texas' repeal of straight-ticket voting
AUSTIN, Texas โ A federal judge Friday blocked Texas from eliminating straight-ticket voting, a decision that would allow for choosing one party's entire slate of candidates in the November election that is now less than six weeks away. Most states don't offer straight-ticket voting. Abbott signed the law repealing straight-ticket voting in 2017, a year after President Donald Trump won the state by 9 points. The lawsuit was one of several voting challenges filed by Democrats in Texas leading up to November. โTexas Democrats will have to continue to win at the ballot box to protect the right vote,โ said Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.
Trump says he'll help with funeral costs for slain soldier
Vanessa Guillen, meets with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, July 30, 2020, in Washington. The truth will come out whether they like it or not, said Lupe Guillen, the younger sister of Vanessa Guillen, said ahead of the meeting with the president. John Wittman, a spokesperson for Abbott, said the governors office has not heard from the Guillen family but is prepared to help. Governor Abbott's heart aches for the Guillen family and he and the First Lady keep them in their prayers, Wittman said in a text message. And if I can help you out with the funeral, Ill help you out, financially, Ill help you, Trump said.
Flooding threat continues as Hanna drops rain on borderland
Allen Heath surveys the damage to a private marina after it was hit by Hurricane Hanna, Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Corpus Christi, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas A downgraded Hanna continued charging across the borderland of South Texas and northeastern Mexico, where flooding remained the biggest threat Monday in a region that was already reeling from a surge in cases of the coronavirus. Myrle Tucker, 83, tried to ride out the storm in a powerboat docked in a Corpus Christi marina. They carried me like a box of napkins.More than 150,000 customers lost power Sunday throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Brownsville, utility officials said. Corpus Christi is in Nueces County, where 60 babies tested positive for COVID-19 from July 1 to July 16.
Houston scraps Texas GOPs in-person convention due to virus
HOUSTON Houston officials on Wednesday canceled the Texas Republican Partys in-person convention, saying the spread of the coronavirus made it impossible to hold the event as scheduled. Greg Abbott, the states top Republican, had publicly deferred to state party leaders who last week voted by a 2-to-1 margin to go forward with an in-person event. But even Patrick, who is chairman of Trumps reelection campaign in Texas, expressed misgivings about his party pressing forward with the convention. The Texas Medical Center, a consortium of Houston hospitals, has moved into surge capacity for its intensive-care beds. Texas Democrats held an online convention in June, and national Democrats plan to hold an almost entirely virtual convention in August.
Doctors urge GOP to halt Texas convention as virus surges
The request came as Texas set a new record high for COVID-19 cases Tuesday. The state's GOP leaders have maintained that the three-day convention, which typically draws thousands of attendees, will go forward and that face coverings will not be mandated, even as Republican Gov. In Florida, doctors have also called for pushing back the Republican National Convention that is scheduled for August, when President Donald Trump is expected to accept the GOP nomination. The organization is also a sponsor of the convention, which is scheduled to begin July 16. We are taking all input from those involved with our Convention, including that from our Party leadership and our delegates, very seriously, Dickey said.
Arizona faces new closures as hospitals prep for virus surge
In contrast, Ducey shut down all bars for 30 days, including in Scottsdale, where employees and young customers crammed into nightclubs without wearing masks or practicing social distancing. Arizona has seen skyrocketing infections this month after Ducey allowed his stay-at-home order to expire on May 15. Preparing for an influx of patients, hospitals are activating plans to add more beds and staff. Nurses caring for coronavirus patients take a significant amount of time suiting up to protect themselves and can't quickly jump from room to room, he said. Its bringing nurses from underutilized hospitals in its system to Arizona and hiring traveling nurses and respiratory therapists throughout July.