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Texas
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2020-11-11
Texas Becomes First State to Reach 1 Million COVID-19 Cases
Following the rise in COIVD-19 cases the world is seeing recently, Texas has become the first state to reach 1 million total cases with El Paso as one of its main hotspots. California became the second state to reach 1 million cases just recently. -
2010-11-12
COVID-19 is so bad in the US we can't even decide who has it the worse
The US literally cannot determine which state has the worst COVID infections because it's all just bad. -
2020-10-25
Trapped at the Border: Asylum seekers protest Matamoros camp conditions
On October 25, 2020, over fifty of 1000+ people in the Matamoros Border Camp gathered along the barbed-wire fence to protest their living conditions. The Migrant Protection Protocols (M.P.P.), a Trump Executive Order, requires many Spanish-speaking asylum seekers to stay in Northern Mexico until granted a court date. In March 2020, the administration sealed U.S. borders and closed immigration courts as part of the COVID-19 emergency response. Many asylum seekers trapped in the camps may never get a full hearing. Although protests could provoke retaliation from Mexican and U.S. immigration officials, these families demonstrated because they felt desperate. As in much of the southern border, cartels plague the Brownsville-Matamoros region. Many South and Central American migrants have experienced kidnapping, theft, extortion, and rape on their journeys through Mexico. In the camps, bounded by a fifteen-foot fence and heavily armed security forces, they face daily threats from poisonous snakes, hurricanes, flooding, and unsanitary conditions. Because the Mexican government does not give camp occupants sufficient resources, nonprofit organizations like Catholic Charities and Team Brownsville provide food, water, and medical care. On the day of the protest, two U.S. citizens from a Methodist ministry stood with demonstrators inside the camp. The asylum seeker who organized this demonstration sent her two daughters (ages 9 and 11) across the Rio Grande, accompanied only by a cartel-affiliated coyote (guide), to turn themselves into Customs and Border Protection (CBP). While she misses her daughters every day, she believes that separation is safer for them than remaining in Mexico or returning to Honduras. She trusts that God will protect everyone in the Matamoros camp because their cause is just. After the protest, I held her hand through the gate’s wire diamonds and promised to pray. Some protesters held signs with Bible verses like Matthew 25:35-40, while others called for the protection of LGBTQ+ migrants and an end to MPP. Many protesters addressed the U.S. presidential election. Voten inteligentemente, one sign reads – vote intelligently. Joe Biden promised that, if elected, he would repeal M.P.P. within the first hundred days of his presidency. Asylum seekers realize that without a leadership change, they have very little chance of entering the U.S. I witnessed this reality while I stood in an hour-long customs line, waiting to cross the International Bridge back into Brownsville. The line held a mix of Mexican and U.S. citizens, including a family carrying spider-shaped piñatas and orange-frosted cupcakes for a Halloween party. A group of two adults and three children passed me in line. I watched them approach CBP officers, a journalist following close behind. Five minutes later, a security officer was escorting the family back to Matamoros. The journalist noticed me watching and stopped to explain: “They asked for asylum, but CBP said no. They have to wait in Mexico.” “No somos malas personas. Solo queremos vivir.” The mother repeated this phrase like a mantra as she passed us, holding her six-year-old daughter’s hand. We are not bad people. We just want to live. *This is a photograph that I took on my cell phone outside the Matamoros, Mexico border camp on Sunday, October 25, 2020. Faces are blurred to protect their privacy. -
2020-07-31
‘It’s hell living there’: Texas inmates say they are battling COVID-19 in prisons with no A/C
Conditions in Texas prisons notoriously unhealthy, these inmates face inhumane living conditions during a pandemic. -
2020-08-14
Texas prison system still tops US in virus cases, as deaths and criticism mount
A father who has been incarcerated for 30 years holds a baby prior to imprisonment; this man died in prison without seeing his family during the last months of his life. -
2019-05-10
The Penal System Today is Slavery’: Lawmakers Finally Start to Talk About Unpaid Labor in Texas Prisons
Protestors demonstrate in public against the abuse of prison inmates forced to work for slave wages in unhealthy conditions. -
2020-08
Healthcare Heroes Week Celebration
Mayor Zimmerman, Sugar Land Texas, proclaimed August 24-28, 2020 “Healthcare Heroes Week.” The community wants to show their appreciation for all the work they have done and for the sacrifices they have made. -
2020-10-29
San Antonio Family Bar
This news article is about the San Antonio Shiran family business during COVID-19. In July 2020, the family tested positive and the husband/father, Harvey, was in the ICU for the month. This forced the wife/mother, Lindsey, to take over the family business. I also attached another news article about a Bexar County grant program for bars and restaurants affected by COVID-19. -
2020-10-07
Young Doctor Dies of Covid
This doctor worked in the emergency department at a hospital and refused PPE repeatedly because there was such a shortage of it. The article addresses the fact that so many medical professionals have died because of inadequate PPE. -
2020-10-27
Texas social workers can no longer discriminate against LGBTQ Texans or those with disabilities
After backlash, the Texas government rescinded a recent action they proceeded with. -
2020-09-04
Precautions and Code of Student Conduct at St. Mary's University during COVID- 19 Pandemic
This email is relevant and important because it is a clear example of how life as a St. Mary's University Student has changed. The email discusses the precautions the students and faculty should be taking in order to ensure the health and safety of everyone at St. Mary's. The email also lays out the possible consequences for students (especially on campus) who aren't following the rules in the Code of Student Conduct relating to these COVID Precautions. As I am a student with all online classes, living at home- therefore I am not on campus- this email does not affect me in a huge way. I am also not going to any in-person classes however, I think it is great that these precautions be enforced and closely monitored as the health of other students and professors or faculty who are on campus may be jeopardized. It is important that students learn to respect others and that they understand that their actions can affect a large group of people and not just them. -
2020-10-21
Taking a break from the fridge
A restaurant in Texas changed their sign to reflect what many Americans are thinking eight months into social distancing. -
2020-07-07
Fall 2020 Course Format Options for Students at St. Mary’s University
This email was sent out to the St. Mary’s University community on July 7, 2020, to explain the three different formats in which courses would be offered for the Fall 2020 semester. The university would offer three different formats for the then-upcoming semester. The first format offered was online courses (OL). These courses were not taught in person, but they still follow a syllabus and have course deadlines. They could include pre-recorded lectures, video uploads, class chats, and individual meetings with professors. The next course format offered was Virtual (V). These courses would meet at an appointed time and date, similar to a normal in-person class, but on the Zoom conference platform, and they would be led by a professor who could be teaching from a variety of different environments. They would not meet in person or on campus, just virtually. Similar to online courses these courses might also include class chats, video recordings, and one on one meetings with professors. The last course format offered was In-Person Virtual (IPV). These courses were designed as hybrid courses. Students would be able to attend these courses in person in a traditional classroom environment (though class size would be limited), or they could attend the class virtually through Zoom. All of the course formats described above were offered by my university in response to the COVID19 pandemic, and they demonstrate the need for adaptation and change in the era of COVID19. The author of this post has been able to attend both virtual and in-person virtual classes at St. Mary’s University this semester. Speaking from firsthand experience, I can attest to how different being in the classroom is this semester. There are not a lot of students in the class; at most maybe three students on any given day. Those of us in the classroom, students, and teachers, sit in socially distanced seats, and we all have our masks up. Regardless, I am grateful that I have had the chance to try to forge a new normal for myself during such an abnormal time for our university and our world. -
October 14th 2020
Socially Distanced Sports Performance
Due to socially distancing guidelines at St. Mary's University the sports performance team has been forced to be creative in the ways they train their athletes. This includes having team workouts outdoors, using the spaces they have. This allows the teams to workout during the day together when the recreation and athletic center is being used by the public. The athletes are challenged by the Texas heat at times but they love a challenge. -
2020-03-29T22:23:20
When My Fever Broke
I fell seriously ill on March 23, 2020. I vividly remember my body being hit with extreme chills and my skin was hot to the touch. I remember being so cold that I needed two blankets to keep warm while experiencing a high fever. Even though I I felt deathly sick, I denied the thought of even having Covid for some reason. However, in the middle of the night I woke up coughing and I knew I had it. I immediately quarantined and contacted anyone that I had contact with to let them know that I might be infected with Covid-19. At the time, there wasn’t an easy way securing a test for Covid-19. A friend referred me to a private clinic to get tested. I was finally able to get tested on March 25, 2020 and the next day the doctor called me to tell me I tested positive with Covid-19. Fortunately for me, my worst day was the first night. I suffered a mild fever for about 7 days straight. This is the only photo I took during my whole quarantine. It’s a photo showing when my fever finally broke. When the thermometer showed a temperature 98.2 degrees, a wave of relief fell over me. It was so surreal at the time and I wanted to provide a snapshot of a moment in time of my Covid experience. -
2020-06
Graduating in a Pandemic: St. Mary's University Hosts Diploma Pick Up
The object is a post from St.Mary's University Linkedin account. The account posted pictures of seniors picking up their diplomas from campus. Amidst the first few months of COVID-19, many changes occurred, especially in academia's traditional spaces. A huge tradition and milestone for students was the spring 2020 graduation. Many Universities, including St.Mary's, held virtual commencement ceremonies that included words from faculty and a program that listed every graduate's name with their major and any awards or affiliations. To provide students their physical degrees, many schools mailed degrees to students, but St.Mary held an event where students and their families could come to campus and pick up their diploma. Hosting an event like this for students and their families was significant because not having a traditional graduation ceremony was a significant loss for those working towards walking the stage. St. Mary's University has a diverse student body of international and first-generation students. All students dream of walking on the stage to get the rewards of their hard work in college. This was not just a loss for students but also family members looking forward to a significant moment. To give students and their families the rewarding celebrity moment, St.Mary's staff and faculty hosted a diploma pickup with safety precautions. -
2020-10-10
Masks are not required at polling places in Texas
Though democracy has won two important cases in Texas, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the additional week of early voting and struck down the limit of ballot drop off boxes to one per county, Texas voters must still face unnecessary risk to exercise their right to vote. Governor Greg Abbott issued both of the orders mentioned above and also issued a state wide mask mandate in the summer of 2020 for all counties with more than 20 reported Covid-19 cases. Masks became a requirement in those counties in the case that social distancing was not possible, places like a polling place where record voter turn out will force people to be waiting in lines for long periods of time and also being with lots of people indoors. The governor's mask mandate does come with a few exception. One being polling places. Texans are not required to wear a mask at a polling place because the governor believes this presents an undue burden to anyone that does not have a mask. This is an especially bogus argument in a state that requires voters to present ID. Not to mention it would be easy enough for the state to offer masks at the polling place. -
2020-08-28
A Love Story Made Possible by Covid-19
Right as Covid-19 had seriously begun to hit the world in March of 2020 and was deemed a global pandemic, I had my heart broken by my boyfriend of a year and a half. I was not able to recover from the relationship like most people typically would by going out with friends and partying because of the lockdown. I was left all by myself. With no siblings, no friends in my area and a very small family, I had to find other ways in which to communicate with others so that I wouldn't lose my mind. In July of 2020, I joined Bumble and decided to get back in the dating game, that's when I met Jacob. Jacob and I matched because he was on vacation in Florida, however, we matched and began talking on the day that he was flying back to his home in Houston, Texas. We kept in contact though and were presented with our first Covid-related blessing: cheap plane tickets. As college students who are unable to afford most things, when we found out that a roundtrip from Houston to Florida only cost $58 we jumped on that opportunity. Jacob flew out to Florida so he could take me on our first official date, which went amazing. We continued talking when school started and that is when we realized we were presented with another Covid-19 related opportunity. Since all of my classes were online and airplane tickets were still cheap, I was able to fly out to Texas for a week and be with him. Although Covid-19 is a terrible and deadly disease, it has allowed me to find somebody that I can call my own, because without the pandemic we would not be able to afford to see each other nearly as regularly and my school schedule would not allow me to leave the state at random to be with him. love, oppurtunity, bumble app, happy, unexpected -
2020-08-21
12 Texas Nursing Homes Approved to Restart Family Visits
This is a Twitter post linking to an article about some Texas nursing homes opening to family visits. Isolation from family and friends has been a serious issue for seniors living in long term care facilities. There is a balance that must be struck between the prevention of both the spread of COVID-19 to vulnerable populations and reduction of isolation that can lead to severe mental and physical decline in older adults. With my grandfather in a similar situation and his health declining rapidly, this article really hit home how protection from COVID-19 may likely result in increased deaths of seniors suffering from isolation. -
2020-03-20
Texas family's 'staycation' recreates canceled Disney vacation at home amid COVID-19 closures
I think this is a great article that shows the resilience of people during trying times. The Hern family in Texas was all ready for their trip to Disney when Covid struck and cancelled their trip. They would not let that get them down through, this video shoes not only their love for Disney but their creativity and positive attitude while they recreated what their trip might have looked like. This is such a great depiction of not allowing social distancing to change your positive life, of going with the flow and making the best of a tough situation. -
2020-08-10
Finding Out My Grandfather Has Terminal Cancer in the COVID-19 Pandemic
In the midst of an already chaotic season, my family and I received news that my grandfather has colon cancer. It started with the doctors first finding multiple masses on his colon as well as his liver. As time passed, multiple tests, scans, etc. were done and the results came back as cancerous. When we got the phone call that it was incurable, all I wanted to do was drop everything and go see him but then I remembered.. We are in the middle of a pandemic. So then the anxious thoughts started to creep in of whether or not I would have a chance to see him before he dies. My grandfather lives in Texas, while my husband and I live just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. We had a trip scheduled toward the beginning of the summer and had already pushed back so I didn't want to reschedule this trip once more knowing it could be the last time I see him. Coming to a conclusion was very challenging. We changed our minds back and forth multiple times and almost didn't go. However, my husband and I were able to pack up a week's worth of clothing and technology (I am a full time student at the moment) and we drove down to Texas. We were given the opportunity to see my grandfather at my grandparents house while we wore masks. Overall, the trip was great. My husband and I were grateful for the chance to see my family, especially my grandfather. While the decision of if we should see him or not was a difficult one that took a lot of thought and guidance, I am glad we went in the end. -
2020-05-14
Texas is spending $45 million on new coronavirus tests that prisoners are administering to themselves
"The state purchased 300,000 oral swab tests from a months-old California company. So far, only highly-infected prisons are using them for mass testing." The test has a 10% rate of false negatives. This test was given a rapid approval by the FDA and they have said anyone with symptoms and a negative test should be retested. The worry is without accurate testing of most inmates that the virus will spread widely and quickly due to unsanitary and cramped conditions. -
2020-06-16
Texas prisons will accept county jail inmates again, three months after the coronavirus halted intake
In an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19 inside of the state of Texas correctional facilities all transfers were halted in April but in beginning July 1 Texas will begin transfers. This all happens as the states case count and positivity rate begin to sky rocket. By mid July Texas becomes one of the nations three biggest hot spots. -
2020-07-14
Thousands of Texas prisoners still have the coronavirus. More than 25% of inmates at four units are infected.
"Two Texas prisons each have more than 670 inmates with active coronavirus infections, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the highest counts seen at any state lockup since the pandemic began." What makes this Covid so scary in a prison is that if caught it can turn a short sentence into a defacto death sentence. For this reason many advocate early release for nonviolent offenders but Texas Governor Greg Abbott does not agree. -
2020-07-04
He was supposed to be in prison less than a year. Instead, he died after catching the coronavirus.
A former Texas teacher was sentenced to a few months in prison to go through a rehab program after committing repeat DWIs. While incarcerated he contracted Covid and died. Texas has the highest mortality rate in its prisons, higher than even the Federal Bureau of Prisons. -
2020-08-07
The only Texas prison reporting zero coronavirus cases is where inmates make soap. But that’s not what’s credited with protecting it.
One prison unit in all of Texas still doesn't have any confirmed Coronavirus cases in incarcerated persons or staff. The Roach Unit attributes this to being located in a community with a low population and following the rules set out by the state for corrections facilities. Ironically, this facility is also where soap and hand sanitizer is also made for prisons. Though most prisons will not allow hand sanitizer to be given to inmates because it contains alcohol, they could drink it or use it as an accelerant to start a fire. While the warden states he is just following the rules, others say it is his strict adherence to the rules that has kept everyone healthy. Other facilities could possibly use this facility to learn from. -
04/13/2020
Laura Spindler Lempke Oral History, 2020/04/13
Oral history interview with Laura Spindler who lives and works in Indianapolis, Indiana. She shares she just got married, bought a house, and a puppy. She works as a biologist at Eli Lilly and while she hasn't worked on the virus, she has assembled test kits. As an extrovert she is really missing time with family and friends but between walks with her new puppy and time spent playing games via Zoom she is managing. She also credits virtual therapy appointments with maintaining her mental health. She also discusses her mother who is alone and her grandparents who were wintering in Texas but drove back to Indiana anyway. -
07/09/2020
Chris Twing Oral History, 2020/07/09
This is an interview with Chris Twing describing her life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris lives with her husband and her teenage son, and her mother lives in an attached home. In this interview Chris discusses her unhappiness with government response to COVID-19, her hopes and worries, and describes her community’s response to the pandemic. -
2020-07-16
Mask Requirements
Science is usually something that I felt comfortable understanding at face value, in certain situations. Epidemiology, virology, and the like are areas where I would like the smartest person in the room to have the loudest microphone. It seems that this is not always the case in politics, especially with science that is less than flattering. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #florida. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it shows the disjointed response between the federal and state governments, not to mention local municipalities, over the pandemic. Link to the Washington Post article: (https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/16/coronavirus-live-updates-us/?p9w22b2p=b2p22p9w00098&no_nav=true) -
2020-07-16
Fudging the Numbers
I don't think that I can ever remember the CDC being a political entity, or one that ever really enjoyed any portion of the national spotlight. Rather than serving as a unifying, unbiased source to prevent the spread of the virus, it has become yet another battlefield in the ongoing culture war surrounding the coronavirus. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #florida. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet since Florida is one of the new virus hotspots. It also speaks towards the inherent doubt present in a significant portion of the population concerning the virus. -
2020-07-15
Teachers hold sit-in protest at Texas Capitol to demand changes on reopening schools
On Wednesday, July 16th, 2020 Austin, Texas area teachers held a sit in/protest around the state capital building to express their fear of being forced to go back to in person school this fall. School begins in one month. Having personally watched this protest be planned I know that the reason they chose this location was because they could not get onto the capital grounds. Entrance to the grounds are barricaded and National Guard troops are present. I also know that TEA, Texas Education Agency, has announced they will work from home until January 2021. How can they look out for themselves but send precious students and teachers back to work? -
2020-06-26
Judge Orders ICE To Free Detained Immigrant Children Because Of COVID-19
Excerpt from article: Citing the unrelenting spread of the coronavirus, a federal judge has ordered that all children currently held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for more than 20 days must be released by July 17. -
2020-06-24
New York imposes travel restrictions on visitors from Texas, the latest coronavirus hot spot
Early in the pandemic states like Florida wanted to force people from New York to quarantine upon arriving in the state. Now New York state New Jersey, and Connecticut want people from the states with large outbreaks now to self quarantine. These states include Texas, Florida, and California. Both Texas and Florida were two of the earliest states to reopen after almost the entire country found themselves under some variation of stay at home order in March and April. -
2020-06-24
North Texas family shaken after 18 relatives test positive for COVID-19 following family gathering
At about five months into the pandemic in the U.S. almost all states have lifted their stay at home order and many people are going back to business as usual. One north Texas family held a surprise 30th birthday party. The host, who thought his cough was due to working construction, unknowingly infected 7 people at the party of 25 attendees. Those seven people went on to infect others in the family and now 18 within the family are positive for covid. Within the family are also a couple, one an EMT and the other a doctor, who both refused to go to the party. -
2020-06-25
US coronavirus: 'Apocalyptic' surges feared in some cities
While New York City, state, and surrounding areas were hit hardest initially, five months into the pandemic it is Texas, Florida, and California that appear to be the next hardest hit areas. These states also happen to be the most populous in the nation. All three are concerned about the record breaking number of new cases each day and are putting various amounts of legislation into practice to help slow the spread of the virus but they are mainly relying on people using good judgement, which as a resident of central Texas I can tell you has been lacking. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has rolled back some of the states reopening plans but is mainly telling people to wash their hands, wear a mask, and maintain social distance. -
2020-03-29
Texas Governor Signs Executive Order to Stop Early Release from Prisons/Jails Due to Covid
In an effort to slow the spread of covid-19 inside of US prisons and jails some inmates have been release early or sent home, on house arrest. As discussions were happening across the country regarding this idea Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, signed an executive order to stop early release from the states correctional facilities. -
2020-03-16
First week of lockdown
As a historian, the past three months have seemed more of an interesting project than reality, but I've not been sick. I know a few friends who were ill, and one mural friend who died, sadly, due to COVID19. I wonder what the future historians will say about this period in global history. I'm very glad it's not as deadly as Ebola, or as easy to contract as first believed. I took these photos on March 16, the day before things closed in TX. It was amazing to see so many things shut down so quickly, and my home state, Michigan, was really hard hit so I've been mostly concerned for family there. Now that it's the middle of June I'm less concerned and just trying to do one day at a time, although it has been nice to find toilet paper again. I even created a post for the historic site where I work discussing historic toilet paper, or lack thereof, to make history a bit more relevant. The post got quite a lot of attention. It's odd times but I feel a bit closer to the people we talk about since their fear of disease has become more understandable now. -
2020-06-18
Sunbathing in a Face Mask
Face masks began to be seen on many people. This couple even wore them to the beach while they were vacationing from Houston, TX. The beaches were closed down for a period, and when they reopened, people wanted to take precautions against the Coronavirus.. -
2020-05-02
Coronavirus Wedding in a Drive In
When the virus hit, all great plans were canceled: vacations, concerts, sporting events, and weddings. This couple found a way to get married safely--at a drive in theater. The guests watched from their decorated cars, dressed in PJs. Those that couldn't attend were able to watch the festivities on social media. The bridal party practiced proper social distancing--they were 6 feet apart. -
2020-04-05
Joint DOD-USAF Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Covers
These documents outline the proper use of cloth face masks on US military installations per the US Department of Defense and the Department of the Air Force. Also included is a memo to all personnel at Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland and Randolph AFBs, and Martindale Army Airfield) from the base commander addressing the DOD's COVID-19 responses, and how they will be implemented on base. This resource also includes a tutorial on how to wear and create homemade PPE. -
2020-05-28
Isolation and the Elderly
An article discussing the adverse effects that social distancing and isolation has had on the elderly, especially those with dementia and in Elder Care facilities. -
2020-03-18
Therapy Dog Visits Seniors
Article discussing one way to cheer up and visit seniors in residence facilities. -
03/18/2020
Order take out food, get free toilet paper
As it became increasingly clear the coronavirus was going to effect the United States people began stockpiling food and other supplies, especially toilet paper. It quickly resulted in no store, online or brick and mortar, had toilet paper in stock. As restaurants tried to quickly shift to pick up and deliver as their only options for remaining open many got inventive with how to attract customers. This restaurant, on the square in Georgetown, Texas, like many others, offered customers a free roll of toilet paper with their take out order. -
03/20/2020
Virtual concert
The Tennessean Newspaper online covers the "Luck Reunion" concert -
2020-04-30
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Donates to Helping Hands
“The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas presented a donation to Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s Helping Hands program on April 29. Tribal Council Chairwoman Cecilia Flores presented the check to Sam Houston EC Chief Communications Officer Keith Stapleton. ‘The donation was made in honor of Jennifer Grubbs, and her service and dedication to our community,’ Flores said… ‘This donation is tremendously helpful, and will make an immediate impact for families in our area,’ Stapleton said. Sam Houston Electric Cooperative’s Helping Hands Program provides funding to help members in distress pay their electric bills. ‘The Helping Hands Program is especially important when so many local families have been impacted by COVID-19 and the April 22 tornado,’ Stapleton said.” #IndigenousStories -
04/09/2020
Fact Check: Yes, Texas' governor has deemed religious services essential amid pandemic
On March 31st Texas governor Greg Abbott added religious worship to the state’s list of essential services. This order allows for in-person religious gathers after other local officials had already ordered religious gatherings to be live-streamed only. The governor’s order proceeds the news of the arrest of several religious leaders for holding services with hundreds to thousands of attendees. -
2020-04-02
Texas Governor, Attorney General issue guidance for religious services during COVID-19 pandemic
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued guidance for houses of worship and religious services. In the state of Texas, churches and other houses of worship are classified as essential services. The guidance document states that institutions can provide these essential services under certain conditions. The governor is directing religious activities to be practiced at home or through audio or video services. If they cannot conduct activities remotely, houses of worship should follow White House and CDC guidelines for social distancing, personal hygiene, and sanitizing public surfaces. -
2020-04-10
What Easter Can Teach Us About Suffering
The article disscusses how this church in texas did easter during this pandemic and how they wished they could gather like they usually do. The author also talks about how families gathered on zoom but it is not the same and that is making people sad because they are people who do not have access to the internet. Finally the priest talks about how he is upset they cannot meet but advises other churches to stay home and wait till it gets better. -
2020-04-08
Cantor preparing for virtual Passover seder - Temple Emanuel, Dallas
Our congregation in Dallas, Temple Emanuel, put a huge amount of effort into creating a virtual seder. About 250 computers participated, probably about 500 people. Our clergy led, and congregants also participated by reading the Hagaddah. We don't have a collective congregational seder tradition, so this is an innovation for Covid-19. Our clergy, rabbis and cantors, put in a lot of effort organizing this. This picture is of one of our senior cantor. She has equipment at home now to lead virtual services, a reflection of the resources and effort it takes to keep a large congregation going through this time. -
2020-03-24
Texas Tech University Move to Phase IV 03/24/2020
Announcement of campus closure, meaning faculty & staff should no longer go to campus for any reason.