Texas Legislature
Today kicks off the 87th session of the Texas State Legislature. Social distancing, mask wearing and COVID testing are expected to play a big role. The final session rules won’t be hammered out until after they gavel in.
“That’s going to limit the work and the lieutenant governor is going to limit the number of bills that he sends to committees,” says State Senator John Whitmire.
He expects the Senate to adjourn for a couple weeks to allow for vaccinations. Rice University political scientist Mark Jones says there are only big issues this session.
“The budget,redistricting, if possible. Some basic high priority reform items, something related to the George Floyd Act,” says Jones
COVID-19 update
For the first time in a while, Travis County has seen a pretty good sized drop in its total number of hospitalized COVID patients. Today, there are 564 and while that number is still very high, it’s 22 to less than one day ago. Another positive for today, 5,795 active cases. That’s 249 less than a day ago. Almost 50,500 people have recovered out of a total of 56,825 cases found since March.
Austin is getting a bit of extra help as the city continues to work to prop up the Austin Convention Center is an alternate care site.
“We’re moving forward with standing up the alternate care site at the convention center. The state is providing us staffing for that for which we are greatly appreciative,” says Mayor Adler.
Mayor Steve Adler says the convention center will be used for less serious COVID cases, and he hopes it will ease the load for local hospitals. It is expected to be ready for patients by the end of this week.
COVID and school districts
After the snow prompted the Austin school district to teach all kids virtually yesterday. Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde is now asking as many students as possible to remain home throughout the week.
“Especially over the next four days. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, which would give us that 10 day window which doctor Escott thinks would be really helpful,” says Elizalde.
Exceptions will be made for students with parents who cannot accommodate the work from home request or for students with special needs. Buses equipped with WiFi will also stay available for students who need Internet access.
The Del Valle district will shift all classes to a virtual setting beginning tomorrow. The 100% remote classes will be conducted through Friday and the district will meet with health officials on Friday to figure out how classes will be conducted for the next week.
Vaccines being distributed
Governor Greg Abbott provides an update on vaccines following his tour this week of a vaccination hub in Arlington. He says about 1.8 million doses have been distributed, with more than 700,000 others ready to be given out.
“Texas has also provided 487,500 doses for nursing and for long term care centers,” says Abbott.
States should be getting 310,000 doses every week this month, and Abbott expects that number to increase over time.
HEB now has an online registration portal for COVID vaccines. Officials say pharmacies will begin accepting appointments as soon as the vaccine supplies are replenished. Once more is on hand, people in Phase 1A and 1B can register. HEB stores have so far only been getting about 100 doses per shipment.
Strong mayor system proposed
A new Austin grassroots group is formed to oppose a petition that would give the mayor’s office more power. Some self professed progressives are pushing to change the city’s government into a strong mayor system. But the group Austin for All People’s Catherine Moore says they won’t stand for it.
“There are serious issues that we need to work through in Austin, but our group believes that 10-1 best enables us to address Austin’s current and future issues,” says Moore.
Proponents of the strong mayor proposals say it’s to promote democracy. Moore questions what’s so Democratic progressive about consolidating power?
New DA makes moves
José Garza has only been Travis County’s district attorney for a handful of days now. Already, he’s indicted an Austin Cop officer, Lando Hall. He was charged with misuse of official information, but specifics about that charge are not known. Hall was booked into the county jail last week and released the same day, but he could face a decade in prison for that charge.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-1-12-21
