Southwest
Texas county reworks guaranteed income program after legal blow by state’s Supreme Court
Harris County, Texas leaders on Thursday approved changes to a guaranteed income program after it was challenged and struck down by the state’s Supreme Court.
“Hundreds of Harris County families were counting on $500 monthly payments back in April to help lift them out of poverty, and they were left in the lurch because of Texas state leaders’ political posturing,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a press release.
Due to the legal challenges against the guaranteed income program, Uplift Harris, the Harris County Commissioners Court placed restrictions on the program participants’ spending.
Under the new version of Uplift Harris, approximately 1,600 families who were enrolled in the program back in March will receive a preloaded $500 monthly debit card that is limited to essential needs like grocery shopping and medicine. Participants are expected to receive the debit cards in four months.
“While launching this new program instead of a guaranteed income program isn’t ideal, it’s the best way we can try to keep our promise to these families,” Hidalgo said.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo were “left in the lurch because of Texas state leaders’ political posturing” after the guaranteed income program Uplift Harris was legally challenged by the state and struck down by the Texas Supreme Court.
Uplift Harris was passed by a 4-1 vote last year. The Harris County Commissioners Court is an elected body of four policymaking actors and the county judge that meets bi-weekly to serve Harris County, Texas. The county judge serves as the county’s chief executive officer.
JUDGE PUTS PAUSE ON ST. LOUIS GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM THAT PAYS POOR FAMILIES $500 A MONTH
The program was funded with $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Houston, the largest city in Texas, makes up most of Harris County’s population.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey of Precinct 3 told Fox News Digital that “this is not the way to do it.”
“While all of us on the court want to help Harris County residents, this is not the way to do it. This court has a history of trying to rewrite the lines and rules and laws and this is just another example,” Ramsey said.
He added that “this program will benefit a very few, select people and this same amount of money could help so many more if it was used properly.”
The Uplift Harris guaranteed income program was funded with $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Houston, the largest city in Texas, makes up most of Harris County’s population. (iStock)
Ramsey went on to say, “Harris County has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. You can invest $20M in the most underserved neighborhood in Harris County and change it for 50 years. Instead, we’re spending $20M to give less than 2,000 families $500/month for 18 months.”
He continued, “We’re told what they can spend can be somewhat restricted through a debit card, but why attempt to do something we have already been told is not legal? This is bad policy.”
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Last week, the commissioners were looking to revive Uplift Harris after it was struck down by the Texas Supreme Court. Ramsey told Fox News Digital that his colleagues were trying to “sidestep” the legal challenge against the program.
Harris County officials met to discuss reviving the program and limiting the funds to approved spending categories, a move that Hidalgo said should prevent any legal challenges against the program.
The effort came after the Texas Supreme Court issued a ruling in June that prohibited Harris County from operating Uplift Harris.
The court raised “serious doubt” about the constitutional merits of the program.
Uplift Harris was never able to distribute the funds due to the court order. It would have distributed $500 per month for 18 months to selected participants, The program started on Jan. 12, and enrolled over 1,900 applicants among a pool of more than 80,000 applications.
Hidalgo’s office stated that the number of applications demonstrates “the huge need for anti-poverty programs in Harris County,” citing data that 1 in 6 people in Harris County live in poverty and 2 in 5 reported that they could not afford a $400 emergency.
A Harris County attorney defended a guaranteed income program that’s been targeted in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The Texas Supreme Court’s ruling on Uplift Harris came after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit arguing that Uplift Harris is “plainly unconstitutional.: Paxton’s lawsuit stemmed from Republican State Sen. Paul Bettencourt urged the attorney general to review Uplift Harris’ constitutional merits soon after the program launched.
In response to Harris County Commissioners Court efforts to revive Uplift Harris, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee told Fox News Digital that the original version of the program was “legal.”
“The county may create a new program with spending restrictions to address politically charged challenges brought by Republican officials. It is my hope that this new program will not bring another lawsuit from the AG, and allow Harris County residents to receive much needed relief,” Menefee told Fox News Digital.
Harris County is among many municipalities and lawmaking bodies pushing guaranteed income programs. The programs have become a trend across the U.S., with some facing legal and funding challenges.
Some studies have shown that the pilots have produced positive results, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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A person has been hospitalized after they were struck by gunfire at a Northridge gas station.
The shooting was reported at about 6:20 a.m. in the 19300 block of Parthenia Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
A person was hit at least once while at the gas station pump, though police did not detail if the shot was fired from the gas station as well.
Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that one person was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
That person’s condition has not been released, nor has any information about the suspected shooter.
Nancy Fontan and Jonathan Williams contributed to this report.
Security forces at the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland (JBSA) returned fire early Saturday on at least one drive-by suspect who is accused of firing upon the main gate at the JBSA-Chapman Training Annex, a JBSA spokesperson tells Fox News Digital.
The officers were fired upon at around 4:30 a.m. by at least one suspect in a sedan and immediately returned fire. There were no injuries reported, and the gate was shut for a number of hours.
It is unclear how many shooters were involved and how many times they fired upon the base.
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A military policeman stands guard at JBSA-Lackland Air Force Base on June 9, 2021, in San Antonio. Security officers at the base returned fire early Saturday on at least one drive-by shooter who fired on the main gate at the JBSA-Chapman Training Annex. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
“There was no active threat to the installation … and our security forces responded to mitigate the threat,” spokesperson Stefanie Antosh said, noting that the suspect or suspects did not try to breach the gates.
San Antonio police officers also arrived at the scene to assist in the investigation, Antosh said.
A motive for the shooting is not known.
The JBSA-Chapman Training Annex entry gate was closed and reopened at around 9:30 a.m. local time. Drivers were advised to use an alternate gate located north of primary on Ray Ellison Boulevard.
A pedestrian passes the main gate at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio on Feb. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
In addition to Lackland, Joint Base San Antonio includes Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston and the Camp Bulllis training camp.
Lackland is home to more than 24,000 active duty members and 10,000 Department of Defense civilians, according to the base website. It includes the 37th Training Wing; 149th Fighter Wing; 59th Medical Wing; the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency; 24th Air Force Wing, 67th Network Warfare Wing; the Cryptologic Systems Group; the National Security Agency; and 70 associated units.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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WARNING: Images and video contain graphic violence
Chilling video of a brutally violent attack on a woman at an Los Angeles Metro station in Pasadena shows the terrifying moments a man beat, punched and stomped her and tried to throw her into oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway.
The Aug. 7 incident occurred at around 5:30 a.m. at the Allen Metro station along the Metro A Line.
Footage of the incident obtained by KTLA, which is disturbing and difficult to watch, shows the victim repeatedly being dragged into the carpool lane of the busy 210 freeway as cars whiz seemingly within inches of running her over and she fights to survive.
Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department believe the attack was random, resulting from a chance encounter with the suspect, now identified as 33-year-old Juan Pablo.
The 33-year-old, who was arrested shortly after the attack, has since been charged by the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office with felony attempted murder and felony mayhem.
He is being held on $2,000,000 bail.
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Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA) -
Chilling video shows a man attacking a woman at an L.A. Metro Station in Pasadena, attempting to throw her onto oncoming traffic on the 210 Freeway on Aug. 7, 2024. (@PeopleofMetroLA)
The victim, who narrowly escaped with her life, may now suffer “long-term disfigurement, and has had to return to the hospital due to infections with her injuries, including broken bones, bruises and deep lacerations requiring stitches, according to LASD.
The incident, say some Metro riders, serves as a stark reminder of the violence that has plagued public transit in Southern California, particularly in Los Angeles.
Nandi Hughes, a young mother who depends on the train to get to and from her job as an in-home caretaker, said she feels safe most of the time, but that she stays vigilant.
“Always looking left and right, paying attention to what’s going on,” she told KTLA’s Chris Wolfe.
Another Metro rider, Dana Terrance, told KTLA that she feels safe enough on public transit, but avoids using it later in the night.
“I don’t have a car, so it’s my only means of transportation,” she explained. “I don’t go on the Metro past 10 p.m.”
Local leaders say they are working on increased safety measures for public transportation in L.A., namely with a heavier law enforcement presence and the possibility of Metro creating its own police force.
As for Flores, if convicted as charged, he could face life in prison.
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