San Marcos officer involved shooting
The San Marcos Police Department is working with the Texas Rangers on an investigation into an officer involved shooting last night shortly before 9:30 p.m. Police say this happened at the 7-11 on Wonder World drive and I-35. However, San Marcos PD say it was a Department of Public Safety trooper who fired the shots and not any officer from San Marcos. Not much else is known about the shooting. DPS, says the other person involved in the shooting was hurt, but no word on that person’s condition, and no officers were said to be hit by any gunfire.
Online classes will not lose state funding
The Texas Education Agency will now allow districts to offer online-only classes without losing state funding. Governor Greg Abbott tells CBS Austin it’s a good idea to take things very slowly. However, district’s should remain flexible and ready to open when it’s safe to do so.
“I know the educators know, I know that pediatricians say, I know parents understand, the best environment for the child to learn, if it all possible, is going to be in a classroom,” Says Abbot.
Along with federal funding, Abbott says districts are getting an abundance of PPE and tools to help with the challenges of distance learning.
COVID-19 update
Hospitalizations in Travis County have climbed by 23 from a day ago, now at 492. 159 of those patients require a ventilator, Austin Mayor Steve Adler said recently that is becoming an increasingly important metric to follow. Overall, 16,570 cases have been confirmed. 183 of those have resulted in a person dying, but 12,871 have recovered. That’s about 470 more than this same time yesterday.
Williamson County has seen its coronavirus numbers jump up across the board for the most part. 1,113 cases are active. That’s just under 100 more from yesterday. The reported 107 hospital patients are an increase of nine from a day ago. However, recoveries have also climbed by almost 150 from yesterday’s count, now totaling 3,153.
The vast majority of COVID-19 tests in Hays County continue to be negative. Almost 15,000 have been conducted, 11,000 come back negative. As of today, 2,974 cases are considered to be active. 22 of which require hospitalization. 14 people have died, and 781 have recovered.
Austin Convention Center as hospital alternative
As Travis County Hospital patient count is climbing, the Austin Convention Center is being prepped as an offsite alternative to hospital rooms. Jason Pickett with Austin Public Health says plans are to have that ready on Tuesday.
“We’re not planning to run an ICU in the convention center. We don’t think that’s practical and folks who are critically ill, that need that level of care, are best served in the hospitals,” Pickett says .
It’s still not known whether they’ll have to admit patients on Tuesday, in part because there’s been a glimmer of hope. Hospitalizations appear to be plateauing over the past few days. Mayor Steve Adler says the city’s been prepping the convention center for the past three weeks.
COVID rules for construction sites
Austin Public Health has issued some new orders for construction sides. APH wants to see worksites keep their crews no larger than 10. Have each person screened for COVID-19 and its symptoms daily, as well as clean their tools. It’s that, or face a lawsuit or $2,000 fine. APH is Stephanie Hayden says they will continue to focus on workforce testing
“If they go to work, it is fine for them to be tested. We don’t want them to just feel obligated to go into work, and they know that they’re not feeling well or they may have a family member that’s home that is COVID positive,” says Hayden.
Texas Republican Party online convention
The Texas Republican Party kicks off its online state convention today. KLBJ Chris Fox reports the party had to make a quick change after learning the in-person event was canceled last week. Party Chairman James Dickey was working with the delegates on the transition of how their online convention will work. Their in-person convention that was to be held in Houston was cancelled due to the pandemic.
“The mayor of Houston tried to shut us down. But nothing will stand in the way of Texas Republicans handling the business of our state convention to elect our presidential electors for President Donald J. Trump,” says Dickey.
The convention’s first general meeting is set to begin at 9 a.m.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-7-16-20
