Texas
Texas is one of the few states with a pandemic-related disaster declaration still in place | Houston Public Media
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.
Austin weather: Level 2 severe weather day
Looks like we have a slight risk of some severe storms. Zack Shields has all the details in his full forecast.
AUSTIN, Texas – Rainy, stormy and cooler times are ahead and all the ingredients are coming together for the best chances of rain we have seen in the last two months.
A cold front along with a potent upper low will collide with the warmth and moisture to turn on the spotty light rain during the day and heavy rain and storms tonight.
There is a marginal to slight risk of severe storms and localized flooding.
After the front pushes through, the weather will be wonderful for Election Day with sunny, cooler and drier conditions. Then here comes the next Pacific low to bring back the clouds and rain by the end of the week.
Buckle up, the weather pattern is turning very active all of a sudden.
Most of the rain and storms will happen tonight. The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded us to a SLIGHT risk of severe storms. This means isolated severe storms are possible generating moderate sized hail and damaging winds.
Two rounds of storms are possible:
- First round: 3 – 5pm (isolated coverage)
- Second round: 6pm – 12am (numerous coverage)
Threats will be quarter sized hail, wind gusts of 50 – 60mph and there will be a low tornado risk.
The highest risk for hail will be along I-35 corridor and the highest risk of damaging winds from Austin to La Grange.
Rain totals are expected to be about .5 to 1″ with isolated spots possibly getting 1-2″.
Minor flooding with low-water crossings possible.
Mike Elko refutes reports that comments directed at Jimbo Fisher
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko’s postgame comments caught fire on social media. But Elko says they weren’t about Jimbo Fisher or any other coach.
Texas A&M football may have lost on Saturday to South Carolina, but they’re still in the running for one of the 12 spots in the College Football Playoff.
The Aggies are one of five teams in the Southeastern Conference with one conference loss. LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Texas also have one loss, opening the teams to some very complex tiebreaking scenarios.
This Tuesday, the CFP selection committee will release its first edition of the weekly rankings and the first projection of the playoff. Texas A&M is currently ranked 10th in the AP Poll and 11th in the US LBM Coaches Poll, but their recent loss should send them a ways down the standings.
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss suffered an injury to his right leg in the first quarter versus South Carolina, pushing Amari Daniels into the starting role. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko says that Marcel Reed is the “starter now” after the game versus South Carolina, but the redshirt freshman committed multiple turnovers against the Gamecocks.
Texas A&M still has to face New Mexico State, Auburn and Texas. Even with the upcoming projections, there are a lot of different ways this could all play out.
Here’s everything you need to know about the CFP rankings reveal:
How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show
The College Football Playoff rankings show will air on ESPN, with the broadcast starting at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Fans can also stream the show on Fubo, which is offering a free trial.
College Football Playoff rankings release date
The first rankings will be announced on Nov. 5 A new rankings will be released every Tuesday through Dec. 5.
What time is CFP rankings?
The broadcast will start at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday.
Texas A&M football CFP rankings projection
Coming into Week 10, ESPN’s CFP Playoff predictor had Texas A&M with a 47% chance to make the playoff, but it hasn’t updated with the recent loss. Those odds fall to less than 40% after the defeat, per pregame projections.
If the Aggies win out and make the SEC title game, ESPN has them as the third-seed with a first-round bye, facing either sixth-seed Georgia or 11th-seed Tennessee.
Losing the title game would give Texas A&M a 67% chance to make the playoff as the 12th-seed. They would face fifth-seed Notre Dame in the first round. If the Aggies lose to the Longhorns in their final game of the season, their odds drop to 13%.
How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?
There will be 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket. The teams will consist of the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, and the next seven highest-ranked teams.
How does College Football Playoff format work?
The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.
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HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Millions of Texans will head to the polls on Tuesday, but almost half of all registered voters in the Lone Star state have already cast their ballots.
After a much-criticized election in 2022, Harris County eliminated the election administrator position and returned the authority to the county clerk, Teneshia Hudspeth. She said they are well prepared for Tuesday’s vote.
“It is going to be interesting. It is an important time in our country,” poll worker Garfield Teixeira said.
Teixeria has served on the front lines in more ways than one.
First, she served in the army for 22 years, but now, she’s on the front lines of democracy.
“We’re like Santa’s helpers. We’re like elves,” Teixeira said.
To Teixeira, a polling center is one of Santa’s many workshops.
She’s been helping out in Brazoria County during early voting.
“Friday, we had a lot of first-time voters. We welcomed them, and we tell them we should have a bell. Like, when you buy a car, to ring, to acknowledge them,” Teixeira said.
So far, 8.9 million Texans have voted early, including in-person and mail-in ballots. That’s about 47% of the 18.6 million registered voters.
It is less than the vote percentage in 2020, about 57%, but due to the pandemic, we had an extra week of early voting.
“The turnout has been tremendous,” Teixeira said.
Scrutiny of the election process has grown more intense, increasing the pressure on poll workers to perform flawlessly.
“I always pull up my information and refresh myself because… from one election to another. That is a big span of time,” Shaikil Grisham, who worked as a poll worker before moving to Texas, said.
Election monitors are tools used by the Department of Justice to keep an eye on any violations.
On Friday, top Texas election officials informed the DOJ that election monitors are not allowed in Texas polling places.
The agency had originally announced plans to dispatch machines to eight Texas counties.
The Texas secretary of state will send monitors to Harris County. The County welcomes those monitors as it has in previous elections.
For updates on this story, follow Alex Bozarjian on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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