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Texas Judge Rules Against State in Power Struggle Over Masks

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3 years ago

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A state judge said she did not understand the logic of giving Texas business owners authority to mandate masks but not local health officials.

A Texas judge on Friday rejected the state’s claims Governor Greg Abbott has unlimited authority to force cities and counties to comply with his Covid-19 orders under the Texas Disaster Act.

Citing the need to help businesses struggling to stay afloat amid state-imposed Covid-19 capacity restrictions, Abbott, a Republican, issued an order effective March 10 allowing all businesses to open 100% and repealing his mandate for Texans to wear masks in public.

But the Democratic leaders of Travis County and its seat, the capital city Austin, said they would continue enforcing social distancing and mask rules they put in place last year, provoking a lawsuit from the state.

Covid-19’s siege on the state is easing as more than 9 million Texans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and Abbott said Thursday Covid hospitalizations are at their lowest level in more than five months.

Mark Escott, acting health authority for Austin and Travis County, a defendant in the lawsuit, acknowledged in Friday’s virtual hearing Travis County has seen a decline in Covid hospitalizations and new cases.

But he said the county has been in the “neighborhood of 100 new cases a day” in March and hospitalizations are going up and down. “Basically we’ve hit a wall in terms of our decline in cases,” he said.

With only around 10% of residents fully vaccinated, Escott said, “It’s clear we haven’t beaten Covid-19 yet. And it’s clear that if we are able to maintain those protections it’s going to buy us time to get more people vaccinated. And ultimately it’s going to save lives.”

He said the University of Texas-Austin’s Covid-19 Modeling Consortium recently released projections based on different scenarios. He said the researchers found if Austin kept the restrictions in place, Covid cases would go down quickly, bottom out in May and June and stay flat.

But Escott said the projections for removing the mask mandate, combined with the spread of virus among people who gathered during spring break and new Covid-19 variants circulating that may be resistant to vaccines, predicted right now Austin and Travis County would be in a plateau.

“And in the coming weeks we’ll begin to increase and we’ll continue to surge into May and into June. To me that’s unnecessary risk,” he added.

People can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable with a max $1,000 fine for not wearing a mask in Austin. Travis County’s companion order authorizes fines for mask scofflaws up to $250. But the city and county have admitted in the litigation the mask orders aren’t being enforced.

The litigation is round two of Covid-restriction battles between the state, Travis County and Austin.

The state sued the city and county late last year after they barred restaurants from offering dine-in service and ordered bars to close from 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from New Year’s Eve to Jan. 3.

The Texas Supreme Court struck down the order after it was upheld by lower courts.

Texas claims that decision and an appellate court order last fall striking down a curfew El Paso County implemented to try to slow down a spike in cases that overwhelmed area hospitals, forcing them to bring in refrigerated trucks to store the bodies of people dying from the disease, established local officials cannot supersede the governor’s authority after he has declared a state emergency under the Texas Disaster Act, which he did last spring.

Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston, a Democrat, asked state attorneys if they were saying Abbott has unlimited power once he declares a disaster.

“He could…say because he’s declared a disaster you must not wear red on Tuesdays and you may not wear red on Thursday, that is an order the governor could put in place, and we couldn’t do anything about it because under the Texas Disaster Act he has unlimited power,” she said. “Is that the position your taking?”

“Your honor, I would say it has to at least be reasonable,” Texas Assistant Attorney General Todd Dickerson said.

He said one of the Texas Disaster Act’s core purposes is to “return the situation to normal” so the Legislature was not just concerned about health and safety when it passed the law, but also individual rights.

Livingston was unpersuaded. She noted that Austin and Travis County are arguing the Texas Health and Safety Code gives local authorities power to enforce laws to protect residents’ health.

“Returning to normal would allow local health authority to determine there’s a problem and take action,” she said.

She also said she is puzzled at the state’s logic as Abbott’s latest order allows business owners to mandate customers wear masks, but does not give similar authority to local health officials.

“Why would we give effect to a law that prevents the doctors from dictating who wears a mask and who doesn’t in a public place and delegate that to an individual business owner… who must not be required to be informed by any science or any health?” she said.

Flustered by the judge’s rapid-fire questioning, Dickerson said it was a false comparison.

“The real issue is going to be the comparison between Governor Abbott’s ability to make those decisions and local officials. Now local officials want the power to make that decision but they don’t have it,” he said.

Livingston issued an order after the hearing rejecting the state’s request for a temporary restraining order to block the local rules. She gave no explanation of her decision in the two-page order.

The state is expected to immediately appeal.

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Houston’s Mayor Admits His City Is Broke, Even Firefighters Aren’t Being Paid

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1 week ago

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April 16, 2024

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The Democratic mayor of Houston recently admitted that his city is suffering from a large deficit because of overspending done by previous administrations. To address the $160 million shortfall, the mayor has proposed 5% spending cuts to all non-essential city services while maintaining funding for police and fire departments.

During a recent City Council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire openly acknowledged the severe financial situation, stating, “I think we can all agree on that, we are broke.”

This admission highlights the severity of Houston’s budget deficit, showing the urgent need to take decisive action and address the city’s financial struggles.

The city of Houston is struggling with the serious budget deficit, the new Democratic Mayor underscores the seriousness of this concern. The reality of the seriousness of Houston’s financial challenges has ignited discussions regarding potential solutions and the broader implications for the city’s fiscal health. Mayor Sylvester Turner, the previous mayor, had established that he was leaving the city with a $420 million budget surplus.

Despite this, subsequent assessments have shown that Houston is faced with a $160 million deficit due to sustained overspending. Chris Hollins, the city’s Comptroller, gave insight on the ongoing financial challenges,

Saying that Houston is spending between $150 million to $200 million more annually than  it is generating in revenue. Mayor John Whitmire said, “It was broken when I got here.” He has also alluded that there may be a possible tax increase and fees to help make up the budget gap. Whitmire recently promised to give “$650 million for seven years of back pay,” to Houston firefighters.

He said, “I don’t like a 5 percent cut now, but you have to make tough decisions and the folks put me in this position to make tough decisions, and I’m going to do my job.”

Whitmire said, “I’m not going to play games with people’s lives,”  “I’m not going to play politics with people’s lives. So we have a responsibility to settle with the firefighters and protect Houstonians.”

Councilman Willie Davis said, “This is going to come down to a financial sacrifice by the city. Now we can either be $1.2 billion broke, or we can be $650 million broke.”

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11 Communication Students Awarded Scholarships at TSU’s Commweek

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1 week ago

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April 16, 2024

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Each student received $1,000 through the SOC scholarship initiative.

Scholarships alleviate financial stress and contribute to academic success, diversity, and equitable access to education. They are a valuable resource for college students, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed due to financial barriers. The 2024 Commweek – the 42nd Intercultural and Communication Conference of the School of Communication (SOC) at Texas Southern University ended Friday, April 12 with a cheerful outcome. 11 communication students walked away with a fat check as beneficiaries of the SOC Commweek Scholarship initiative.

The recipients of the 2024 Commweek scholarships are Christopher Jarmon, Rachel Frank, Benjamin Clark, Racheal Lewis, Briannah Dilworth, Courtney Roberts, Precious Johnson, Douglas Gordon, Briana Williams, Zoria Goodley, and Erin Slaughter. Each student received $1,000 from the SOC scholarship initiative, aimed at helping students overcome financial obstacles while pursuing their academic goals. The funds can be used to cover tuition, textbooks, other educational expenses, and living costs like housing, transportation, and food.

Dr. Chris Ulasi, the Interim Dean of the School of Communication, explained that the scholarship funds were made possible through grants and donations from corporate and local businesses. These contributions were specifically designated for talented and economically disadvantaged students within the School of Communication. “Many of these students rely on financial aid to support their education. Therefore, we prioritized collaborating with private and corporate partners to support this initiative,” Dr. Ulasi stated.

Themed “Amplifying Diverse Voices in Media and Communication,” Commweek kicked off on April 8 and concluded with an Awards Gala on Friday, April 12, 2024, where scholarships were presented. Throughout the week, scholars, students, professionals, and civic leaders engaged in discussions on topics with cultural, political, economic, and social significance, as well as communication dynamics.

The School of Communication (SOC) at Texas Southern University is a dynamic academic institution that fosters interdisciplinary learning. With four departments and two graduate programs – Communication Studies, Entertainment Recording Industry Management (ERIM), Journalism, and Radio, Television, and Film (RTF), along with a Master of Arts (MA) in Communication and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Professional Communication and Digital Media (PCDM) – SOC has been a leader in training culturally responsive professionals and scholars for nearly five decades. Graduates are equipped to navigate diverse urban and international environments with inclusivity and a deep understanding of historical context.

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TSU Announces 2024 Annual Communication Week

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4 weeks ago

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March 25, 2024

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TEXAS INTERNATIONAL GUARDIAN, HOUSTON, TX – The representation of diverse racial and ethnic groups, as well as sexual and gender identities in the media, is critically important because it accurately shapes decency, fairness, and unity in the community. When media lacks or portrays insensitive representations, it can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and discrimination, further marginalizing these identities.

The School of Communication (SOC) at the Texas Southern University (TSU) has announced its 2024 Commweek, signifying the 42nd Intercultural and Communication Conference. Themed “Amplifying Diverse Voices in Media and Communication”, the conference will be held April 8 – 12, 2024, and will culminate with an Awards Gala on Friday, April 12, 2024, at the University’s Tiger Room.

Ensuring a diversity of voices in the media requires holistic monitoring systems and the wider application of target-based measures for both public and private media. Amplifying diverse perspectives can instigate a richer and more inclusive media landscape that benefits the entire populace. The Intercultural Communication Conference provides a forum for scholars, students, professionals, and civic-minded leaders to explore topics with cultural, political, economic, and social implications as well as communication dynamics. But the theme is necessary and also, it is coming at the right time.

The challenges posed by a lack of diverse voices in media and communication can be seen across social, political, economic, and cultural spheres of influence. These issues can influence the views represented in news coverage and dissemination. Indeed, the diversity of perspectives is key to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

According to Dr. Chris Ulasi, the Interim Dean of the School of Communication, “The 2024 event will be special because we are equally raising scholarship funds for gifted and economically disadvantaged students in the School of Communication.  Traditionally, a majority of our students rely on some form of financial assistance to fund their education. This is why I am using this opportunity to appeal to individuals, corporations, and community organizations to support this cause.”

According to a release made available to our newsroom, proceeds from this event will,

  • Help SOC students break down financial barriers while pursuing their academic prospects.
  • Help SOC students cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other educational expenses.
  • Help SOC students supplement the cost-of-living expenses such as housing, transportation, and food.
  • Create retention possibilities for students who might drop out for financial reasons.
  • Act as incentives and encouragement to students in general.
  • This financial sponsorship will be a catalyst for expanding SOC’s ongoing professional relationship with corporate businesses, community organizations, and individual sponsors.

Dr. Anthony Ogbo, co-chaired by Professor Ladonia Randle, and Ms. Michele Jones, is joined by a team of very engaging and supportive members who meet regularly to finalize the machinery for a successful event.  According to Dr. Ogbo, “The 2024 Commweek is expected to draw a line-up of dignitaries from the business, academic, and government sectors. For instance, the City of Houston’s Vice Mayor Pro-Tem, Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum will lead the conference opening ceremony on Monday, April 8. Also, Dr. Kathleen McElroy, renowned Journalist and Professor at the School of Journalism and Media at The University of Texas at Austin will lead the opening session of the intercultural conference on Thursday, April 10.”

The School of Communication (SOC) at Texas Southern University is a transformational, interdisciplinary academic school with four departments and two graduate programs: Communication Studies; Entertainment Recording Industry Management (ERIM); Journalism; Radio, Television, and Film (RTF); and Master of Arts (MA) in Communication and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Professional Communication and Digital Media (PCDM). For 48 years, the school has been at the forefront of training culturally responsive professionals and scholars who can navigate urban and international settings with a deep sense of inclusivity and an understanding of historical legacy.

Texas Southern University possesses an impressive array of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations, a diverse faculty, 80-plus student organizations, and an extensive alumni network comprised of educators, entrepreneurs, public servants, lawyers, pilots, artists, and more, many of whom are change agents on the local, national and international stage. Nestled upon a sprawling 150-acre campus, Texas Southern University is one of the nation’s largest historically black universities.

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