Allred held a telephone town hall with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins on Aug. 31. Also on the call was Dr. Trish Perl, Division Chief of Infectious Disease of UT Southwestern, and Dr. Roberto De La Cruz of Parkland Hospital.
For the full story, see our September 9 issue or subscribe online.
By Dustin Butler • [email protected]
]]>Following a public hearing, council adopted the 2021-22 budget and tax rate. However, because it is under the No-New-Revenue rate, a public hearing was not required.
The budget can be found on the city’s website.
Police Chief Bryan Sylvester presented changes to the city’s school zone ordinance that would remove the listed times to give the city better flexibility should the school district change starting and end times. The changes also removed color requirements for flashing lights at school zones and will now allow for white flashing lights. Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance.
In the last order of business, council accepted the resignation of City Secretary Michelle Lewis Sirianni, who took a position with the town of Prosper.
The next city council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at City Hall and will be streamed over the city’s website.
]]>At the time of this writing, there are over 700 persons on the vaccine waitlist.
Officials have not been provided a time timetable for future doses but will resume vaccination as soon as additional doses are received.
Due to the limited number of doses, residents should call ahead and schedule an appointment.
Vaccine providers are SandsRX and the Wylie Fire Station No. 3 in Wylie and Brookshires Pharmacy in Farmersville.
For more information on the coronavirus vaccine distribution plan, visit dshs.texas.gov.
From Staff Reports • [email protected]
]]>The crews will work southbound until they reach the Dallas County line. They will then move northbound into Wylie.
During repairs, various lanes will be closed for travel, however, at least one lane will remain open. Lanes will be closed from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Construction is expected to last several weeks, and drivers should anticipate delays.
From Staff Reports • [email protected]
]]>“I will never ask any Texan to do something that I’m not willing to do myself,” Abbott said before getting vaccinated at a televised event in Austin.
The next round of vaccines will go to people 65 and older and to those who are at greatest risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19. More than 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Texas have occurred in people 65 or older, Texas Department of State Health Services officials said in announcing the updated priority list.
“The focus on people who are age 65 and older or who have comorbidities will protect the most vulnerable populations,” said Imelda Garcia, Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel chairwoman. “This approach ensures that Texans at the most severe risk from COVID-19 can be protected across races and ethnicities and regardless of where they work.”
The state is in Phase 1A of vaccine distribution, which includes residents of long-term care centers and front-line health care workers. With an estimated 1.9 million Texans in those groups, it will likely be at least two weeks people in Phase 1B can get the vaccine.
The Phase 1B priorities are below, and additional information is available at dshs.texas.gov:
Capitol to reopen
Closed since March, the Texas Capitol will reopen Jan. 4, about a week before the 87th Legislature convenes.
In announcing the reopening, Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen said safety protocols have been put in place to maintain a safe environment for all visitors, lawmakers and staff.
“Preparations to safely conduct business in the Texas House and Senate are ongoing, and each chamber will vote upon their respective rules and protocols at the start of the legislative session,” the officials said in a statement.
The session opens at noon Jan. 12.
Also last week, Austin and Travis County officials, alarmed by a spike in cases, raised the community’s COVID-19 risk warning to its highest level since the pandemic began. Under the Stage 5 risk warning, the local officials are asking people not to gather with anyone outside their household and to limit their trips outside homes to essential ones such as going to the grocery store or work.
Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County interim health authority, said the Stage 5 warning was necessary even though the hospital system in Austin remained stable.
“When you see smoke, are you fully alarmed and call the fire department, or do you wait until the flames roll down the hallway?” he told KXAN-TV. “What we’ve learned over and over again … if you wait to pull the alarm until the hospitals are full, that surge will continue until the hospitals, and the morgues, are overwhelmed.”
State vs. local CARES money
The state of Texas is not living up to its promise of allocating federal pandemic relief funds to local governments, an advocacy group contends.
After Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act in March, Gov. Abbott said $1.85 billion of the funding Texas received would go toward supporting local governments. However, advocacy group Texas Housers said its analysis shows the state has not delivered.
The local governments are supposed to apply through a reimbursement process administered by the Texas Division of Emergency Management, according to a May 11 letter from the governor.
“Since the letter, TDEM has stymied local governments at every turn,” Houser officials said in a statement. “Although the process should have been a clean handoff of resources specifically earmarked for cities and counties, money has been complicated for local governments to access and has flowed slowly or not at all.”
A Texas emergency management official has said the largest barrier to reimbursement has been local governments not submitting the correct documents. Also, some of the CARES money has been spent on state projects that benefit cities and counties.
By Chris Cobler, board member and past president of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas • [email protected]
]]>“None of us have ever experienced ‘distance learning’ in our school system the way today’s children are,” said Tim Lee, executive director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association and its charitable partner organization, TRTF. “We’re already seeing an impact on their academic readiness and success, and we decided to take action. By partnering with peer-tutoring platform Knack, the TRTF Tutor Program aims to be the largest community of retired teacher tutors in Texas and the U.S.”
The Foundation’s tutoring service will engage retired Texas public school teachers who have the experience, time, and dependability needed to engage with students of all ages and educational needs. Retired teachers onboard the platform will be able to earn extra income to support their retirement and general costs of living. The average TRS monthly pension is $2,000 per month, and most Texas retired teachers do not receive Social Security benefits.
The Texas Retired Teachers Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to helping active and retired educators with their financial needs. The TRTF offers three programs to assist educators, and designates more than $25,000 per year towards public education.
School students using the platform will receive the educational support they need as they adapt to virtual learning environments that have quickly become the primary mode of education for most Texas families; and parents gain access to reduced cost, reliable tutoring services focused on empowering students to succeed. As part of the program launch, TRTF is currently undertaking an ambitious $10 million fundraising effort to donate 250,000 hours of tutoring to Texas schools.
“These are unprecedented times,” Lee said. “We have a responsibility to think bigger and do more than ever. Just imagine the difference we can make together by connecting thousands of Texas retired teachers with our students and schools. TRTF is also calling on all interested TRS retirees to consider being a tutor on the platform. Our belief is that demand will be very high, and we want to rise up and meet the challenge.”
To learn more and sign-up for the program, visit www.trtf.org.
For mores stories like this, see our Dec. 31 issue or subscribe online.
From Staff Reports • [email protected]
]]>First Day Hikes is an annual event at Texas’ state parks and natural areas that aims to help visitors commit to their New Year’s resolutions to get healthy. Last year, 5,242 visitors ushered in 2020 by hiking, biking and riding a total of 9,564 miles statewide.
For those in Collin County, Bonham State Park is offering a self-paced hiking event Friday, Jan. 1. Enjoy a self-paced hike along the park’s roadway or get out on the trails and see their historic CCC structures. Meet their volunteers along the way and learn about the park’s history and natural resources.
To help with social distancing, many hikes will be self-guided while guided hikes may limit the number of participants.
“If nothing else, 2020 has shown us the value of getting outdoors,” Director of Texas State Parks Rodney Franklin said. “Personally, I am looking forward to saying goodbye to 2020, having some black-eyed peas and starting out the new year with a First Day Hike. Spending time outdoors is a great way to connect with friends and family in a healthy way. While we must still recreate responsibly, I hope that everyone will join us in ushering in 2021 with a First Day Hike at your favorite state park.”
Trails at Texas State Parks range in length and difficulty levels across the state, including short, easy trails that are perfect for family-friendly scenic strolls as well as trails that are more strenuous for experienced hikers. Trail maps for all Texas State Parks can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s website and individual park webpages.
Anyone planning a trip to a Texas State Park should keep in mind that parks are operating at a limited capacity. Reserving a day pass in advance is highly recommended since some parks are expected to reach their capacity limit. Reserve day passes online through the TPWD reservation website or by calling (512) 389-8900.
The TPWD encourages visitors to practice responsible recreation and follow posted rules including wearing a mask when inside buildings or when social distancing may not be possible. Local and statewide limitations and restrictions apply and can change rapidly, so the department recommends checking social media or calling the park directly for updates before traveling.
For mores stories like this, see our Dec. 31 issue or subscribe online.
From Staff Reports • [email protected]
]]>Additionally, 121,875 doses of the Pfizer vaccine went to the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program serving staff and residents at more 300 long-term-care facilities in the first week of distribution. Vaccination under the program began in Texas Monday, Dec. 28.
Texas has been allocated about 1.2 million doses through the first three weeks of vaccine distribution and will reach providers in 199 counties.
For more information on the coronavirus vaccine distribution plan, please visit dshs.texas.gov.
From Staff Reports • [email protected]
]]>“While this is traditionally a joyous time when we gather with our friends and families to celebrate and user in the new year,” Jenkins said, “we are in a very dangerous situation with COVID-19 in our county and region.”
Jenkins asked residents of Dallas County to take personal responsibility to stop the spread of the coronavirus by following public health guidelines and avoid indoor New Year’s Eve celebrations, particularly in high-risk settings such as bars, clubs or restaurants.
“The safest way to celebrate is at home with your household,” Jenkins said.
The county judge said there are 2.7 million residents in Dallas County with limited ICU beds available. These beds are not only for COVID-19 patients, but other acute illnesses and trauma patients as well.
According to Jenkins, UT Southwestern projects a 20% increase in hospitalizations by Jan. 5 and hospital and public health officials are concerned about additional increases following the holidays.
“Hospitals are our last line of defense and they are being stretched,” Jenkins said. “Our health care heroes need your help.”
Individuals who have been in a high-risk setting may pose a risk to those around them, said Jenkins, especially if they are can’t properly quarantine following potential exposure.
From Staff Reports • [email protected]
]]>The work she does now in one of her classes can help her with science-related industries.
Some 92 certifications were earned by WHS computer maintenance and computer science students who completed exams and received an industry certification this year. More than 80 students earned the certifications – some received more than one – and more certifications will come later in the school year.
For the full story, see our Dec. 24 issue or subscribe online.
By Don Munsch • [email protected]
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