Christopher Connelly
Because the COVID-19 pandemic developed, governors throughout the nation declared disasters of their respective states.
These sorts of declarations can open up funding alternatives from the federal authorities, in addition to empower govt branches to make a spending and public well being selections quicker. Decisions that may in any other case take months to approve – or that fell to metropolis or county governments – can as a substitute be executed briefly order by the governor’s workplace.
Most states have ended their catastrophe declarations associated to the pandemic. However Texas is an exception. Final week, Gov. Greg Abbott prolonged the declaration for an additional month.
Cayla Harris, Texas politics reporter for Hearst, spoke to the Texas Commonplace concerning the ripple results of the extension.
This transcript has been edited calmly for readability:
Texas Commonplace: There are 11 different states apart from Texas that also have some type of catastrophe declaration in place due to the pandemic. Have you learnt which of them?
Cayla Harris: Yeah. So the Nationwide Academy for State Well being Coverage has an enormous tracker that goes via all of the states and sees which of them nonetheless have emergency orders in impact. So different states like Georgia, Connecticut, Illinois, California – which we heard goes to finish their emergency order on Feb. 28 – Washington, states like that.
And why precisely are these declaration orders being issued or stored in place?
So in Texas, the emergency order offers Abbott tremendous, tremendous broad authority to reply to the pandemic. So this implies issues like bypassing regular bidding processes for procuring gear or one thing like that – in the course of the peak of the pandemic, keep in mind after we wanted a bunch of ventilators and masks and different private protecting gear? However now, since we’re up to now out from the pandemic begin, the reason being usually because Governor Abbott desires to maintain in place some govt orders that he issued final yr, stopping native governments from instituting masks mandates, occupancy limits and vaccine mandates in like Austin and Houston and all the large cities that have been keen on doing that.
Are we speaking about energy right here? Does this come all the way down to the authority of the governor?
Just about. I imply, Abbott and different Republicans – as you are most likely effectively conscious; a lot of listeners are effectively conscious – have lengthy feuded with native governments about who can institute roles when and the place and what they’re. Usually instances, Abbott has taken steps to extend his personal energy and take it away from native governments, particularly Democrat-controlled governments.
How will this have an effect on the coverage choices of metropolis and county governments?
It does not change a lot, actually, as a result of we have been below this catastrophe declaration since 2020. The ban on masks mandates and vaccine mandates was instituted final yr. The Legislature additionally codified the ban on vaccine mandates. So that is extra to do with the masks mandates and the occupancy restrictions. So it is just about simply the established order that we have been residing below for a yr, I suppose, two years at this level.
What’s the catastrophe declaration’s relationship to the pandemic in the best way that we’re experiencing in actual life? How do you the way do you sq. the order with what Texans are experiencing in the true world?
So such as you talked about, I imply, folks aren’t interested by COVID as a lot. I keep in mind in the course of the 2020 elections, we heard about it rather a lot on the marketing campaign path. We’re simply not listening to that as a lot anymore. That does not imply that COVID is over, although. Folks ought to nonetheless be defending themselves. Clearly, well being consultants advocate sporting masks and distancing your self from different folks – all of the issues we discovered in 2020. And with all of those new variants that we do not know a ton about, they’re saying, you understand, get vaccinated and be ready, as a result of in the course of the winter months we’re gathering inside extra. We’re in nearer contact with folks, particularly older folks, who is perhaps weak.
So in these conditions after we would possibly see a spike in COVID circumstances this winter, then in idea, Governor Abbott may use this catastrophe declaration to hurry up sources to counties that want it, make beds out there in hospitals, or, you understand, ship gear to them, get extra gear, purchase extra gear, that kind of factor.
I discover that the Hearst papers have picked up on the governor’s renewal of COVID order. Not lots of different media shops have. I ponder what affect, if any, this might need on the general public’s notion of the place we’re with the pandemic. Does this reinforce the underlying message from well being consultants, or does it shake issues up in any significant method?
Truthfully, no. I feel, like I stated earlier than, that is simply type of the established order at this level. Abbott does not have any plans to finish the order. You are seeing some whispers in different states that they’re. And so I extremely doubt we’ll see any motion on this from anybody. This would possibly come up within the legislative session subsequent yr; we’re again in January. However on a broad scale, I actually do not assume there’s going to be a lot of an affect.
Why would the Legislature take this up, and in what respect?
I can not predict what the Legislature goes to do, clearly. However within the final legislative session, you will keep in mind some lawmakers have been speaking about codifying these bans on masks mandates or taking some energy away from the governor’s workplace. Some conservative lawmakers and even Democratic lawmakers have been involved concerning the stage of energy that Governor Abbott had in the course of the pandemic. However final legislative session, they declined to realign these powers. And so there is perhaps one other dialogue about that this time round. Whether or not it is going to go anyplace is a query mark.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is set to begin the 2024 college football season as the backup to Quinn Ewers. More than likely, fans will have to wait until next season to see him in action.
Despite being a backup quarterback, Manning is one of the most popular names across the nation.
A lot of his popularity comes from him being the nephew of former NFL superstars Peyton and Eli Manning. However, he has also shown massive potential for the future.
Many fans are curious about just how much the young Manning works with his uncles. Peyton Manning, especially, is viewed as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football.
In a recent quote during the Manning Pass Academy, Peyton opened up about his relationship with Arch.
“I’m well-documented on how proud we are of Arch. I try to be a resource to him. He and I worked out several weeks ago together.”
Clearly, Peyton has been a key mentor for the young quarterback. While he has been a mentor and a resource, he doesn’t seem to be taking a very active role in Arch’s development.
At this point in time, no one knows exactly what to expect from Manning’s future. Until he’s on the field and playing, no one knows if he will live up to the hype.
Even though he hasn’t played much as a college football player, he has found plenty of success.
His success has come off-the-field, in the form of the NIL market.
Right now, Manning ranks No. 3 among all NIL athletes. The only two athletes ahead of him are Shedeur Sanders and Livvy Dunne.
Currently, the young quarterback has received an NIL valuation of $2.8 million. That is an insane number for a player who has only thrown five passes as a college quarterback.
All of that being said, Manning is staying ready for an opportunity to play. He knows it likely won’t be this season, but he’s one injury or a slow start from Quinn Ewers away from possibly seeing playing time.
Expect to see the young quarterback continue racking up impressive NIL money. He has stayed the course and has handled his situation perfectly. A bright future awaits him with the Longhorns when his number is finally called.
SCHOOL: Texas
HEAD COACH: Steve Sarkisian (25-14, 4th year)
2023 RECORD: 12-1 overall, 8-1 (1st in Big 12)
RETURNING STARTERS: Offense – 5; Defense – 7, Special Teams – 1
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Quinn Ewers, RB Jaydon Blue, WR Silas Bolden, WR Isaiah Bond, LT Kelvin Banks Jr., Edge Ethan Burke, LB Anthony Hill, S Andrew Mukuba
VERSUS GEORGIA: October 19 (Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium)
Last year’s Longhorn offense averaged 36 points. Can Texas keep that up in its first season in the SEC?
The fact quarterback Quinn Ewers is back after a year that saw him complete 69 percent of his passes for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns bodes well.
So does the fact Texas returns four of its starting offensive linemen.
The team has to replace Jonathan Brooks – the first running back taken in last April’s NFL Draft – but features some excellent returnees in CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue, who combined for 1,057 yards last season.
There are some questions at wide receiver, but only because so many are new to the program.
Otherwise, Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, Houston transfer Matthew Golden, and Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden accounted for 140 receptions for 1,818 yards and 15 touchdowns combined for their former teams.
Gone are defensive tackle Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat, selected in the first and second rounds of the NFL Draft.
As they did at wide receiver, the Longhorns dipped into the transfer portal to hopefully fill the voids, adding former Georgia player (Bill Norton via Arizona), Tia Savea (Arizona), and Louisville flip Jermayne Lole.
The Longhorns also hope fifth-year player Alfred Collins will be able to make a jump, and if he can, then the unit may be able to do the job.
Still, it might be a bit unfair to expect the same production as Sweat and Murphy provided a season ago.
A Week Two trip to defending national champion Michigan will give the Longhorns an excellent early test before hosting Mississippi State in its first game as an SEC member on Sept. 28.
The two weeks that follow, however, will tell the tale.
Texas and fellow SEC newcomer Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 12, followed on the 19th by the highly-anticipated game with Georgia.
If the Longhorns can survive that, the rest of the conference schedule is certainly manageable.
Home games against Florida and Kentucky highlight the remaining part of the conference schedule, before closing at arch-rival Texas A&M on Nov. 30.
BALTIMORE — A philosophical question: If a closer doesn’t hit 100 mph, can he still get noticed? You know, kind of like a tree falling in the woods. If nobody sees it, did it actually happen?
We may get an answer to that question in the next week when All-Star rosters are revealed. Rangers closer Kirby Yates has seemingly done everything necessary to make the AL All-Star team, other than light up a radar gun.
As players wrap up their voting for the All-Star pitching staffs this weekend, choosing three relievers, it’s hard to make a convincing case against Yates reaching the medal stand. Unless, of course, you factor in his fastball. It doesn’t light up Statcast metrics. It’s only good for getting him ahead in counts and setting up his devastating forkball. Among qualified relievers, Yates’ 93.1 mph average fastball ranks only 60th in the AL. The guys getting all the national buzz are Oakland’s Mason Miller and his 100.8 mph fastball and AL saves leader Emmanuel Clase with his 99.8 mph heater.
“I know I don’t have a fastball that lights up the radar guns,” Yates said. “But the league is filled with stuff and guys who are throwers. Guys who pitch are the outliers. But if you pitch and execute your pitches, you can be successful. I don’t think that will ever go away.”
He has pitched exceptionally well. There is not a performance-based stat in which he is weak. He began Saturday perfect in his 11 save chances this year, the only AL reliever with at least 10 opportunities and no blown saves. His ERA (0.99) was second. His batting average allowed (.134) was second. He had a WHIP below 1.00 (0.95).
Put this another way. He is the only pitcher in baseball — regardless of league — to begin the statistical second-half of the season perfect on at least 10 save chances, with a WHIP and ERA both below 1.00. There is more. He’s averaging 12.07 strikeouts per nine innings thanks to a filthy splitter and hasn’t allowed a homer.
The closest comp to Yates from a year ago was Minnesota’s Jhoan Duran, who ended June with 11 saves in 13 chances, a 1.91 ERA and a 0.94 ERA. Perhaps, it’s not best to bring this up. Duran still didn’t make the All-Star team. There were six relievers either selected or named as replacements. It included each of the top five in saves and Baltimore’s Yennier Cano, who had a 1.14 ERA and 0.86 WHIP entering July. Moral of the story: Yates’ relatively low number of saves may work against him.
If other players rely on a singular number such as saves or WAR, Yates may get overlooked. He is tied for 11th in the AL in saves and is eighth in WAR among AL relievers at 1.0, though only three-tenths of a win separates him from the No. 2 spot, which belongs to Clase.
On the other hand, if AL manager Bruce Bochy has any input, Yates will get a firm endorsement. That doesn’t carry the weight it once did. Once upon a time, the manager had a big hand in selecting the pitching staff. Now, it’s almost entirely reliant on peer votes. Bochy said this week that he would heartily endorse Yates as a reliever.
So, too, will David Robertson, the AL’s senior reliever at age 39. Robertson was an All-Star in 2010 as a setup man with the New York Yankees.
“His case is great,” said Robertson, who has a pretty solid case of his own. “His WHIP is good. His strikeouts are high. If you aren’t giving up walks and hits and you are striking out guys, what else are you supposed to do? I hope he goes.”
Yates admits it, he’d like to. He’s been an All-Star before and was even named the NL’s closer in 2019. Only problem: NL didn’t have a lead. He didn’t pitch. Since then: He missed most of three seasons with elbow issues and eventually surgery.
“I think making the team would validate a lot of things,” Yates said. “I’d love a chance to pitch, but the fact that I was named the closer that year was a real sign of respect and I appreciated that. In a perfect world, you’d get a chance to do both.”
And if everybody sees it, well, then it definitely happened.
Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Click or tap here to sign up for our Rangers newsletter.
Tracking a Single Day at the National Domestic Violence Hotline
Is Israel’s Smotrich fulfilling his dream of annexing the West Bank?
Israel accepts bilateral meeting with EU, but with conditions
Supreme Court upholds law barring domestic abusers from owning guns in major Second Amendment ruling | CNN Politics
Supreme Court upholds federal gun ban for those under domestic violence restraining orders
Trump classified docs judge to weigh alleged 'unlawful' appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith
New Caledonia independence activists sent to France for detention
A Florida family is suing NASA after a piece of space debris crashed through their home
