Thursday - March 28, 2024
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Texas Newsletter for Sunday July 26, 2020 ( 43 items )  

ACLU of Texas: Barbers Hill ISD School Board Denies Grievances on Discriminatory Grooming Policies
HOUSTON, Texas, July 22 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas issued the following news release: In a public meeting Monday afternoon, the Barbers Hill ISD (BHISD) Board of Trustees unanimously voted to deny grievances filed by the ACLU of Texas and the Juvenile and Children's Advocacy Project of Texas (JCAP). The grievances challenged the district's hair policy as unconstitutional and discriminatory. "This is a disappointing setback in the families' quest to change Barbers Hill ISD's  more

AHA, AMA and ANA Urge Congress to Include Additional $100 Billion for Emergency Relief Fund in COVID-19 Relief Package
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 22 -- The American Hospital Association issued the following letter: Dear Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer: America's front line health care personnel continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic as it continues to spike in numerous states including Texas, Florida, California and Arizona. The number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase across the country at rates exceeding those during the Spring of 2020, and we are concerned additional COVID-19 spikes in other states  more

American Heart Association: First Skilled Nursing Facilities Earn New Certification for Heart Failure Care and Treatment
DALLAS, Texas, July 22 -- The American Heart Association issued the following news release: As part of an effort to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions along with gaps in care coordination both within and across settings and suboptimal outcomes for patients, the American Heart Association has awarded the first Post-Acute Care Heart Failure Center Certification to skilled nursing facilities. The Post-Acute Care Heart Failure Center Certification is the first of its kind to recognize skilled   more

American Heart Association: Fueled by COVID-19 Fears, Approximately Half of Hispanics and Black Americans Would Fear Going to the Hospital
DALLAS, Texas, July 24 -- The American Heart Association issued the following news release: As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in 44 states[1] and fear of calling 9-1-1 or going to the hospital persists, new data from a survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, found that Hispanics and Black Americans are most likely to stay home if experiencing medical emergencies  more

American Library Association: Dr. Laura E. Helton, Winner of the LHRT 2020 Donald G. Davis Award
CHICAGO, Illinois, July 23 -- The American Library Association issued the following news release: The Davis Article Award is presented by the Library History Round Table of the American Library Association every even-numbered year to recognize the best article written in English in the field of United States and Canadian library history. The award honors Donald G. Davis, longtime professor at the School of Information at the University of Texas and editor of Libraries & the Cultural Record (for  more

American Property Casualty Insurance Association Urges Texas Coastal Residents to Prepare Before Tropical Storm Hanna Arrives
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, July 25 -- The American Property Casualty Insurance Association issued the following news release: Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to bring heavy rain, potential flash flooding and tropical storm force winds to the Texas coast starting tomorrow. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) urges residents to conduct last-minute preparations and be ready to file a claim if their property is damaged. "Residents along the Texas coast should make a home inve  more

Arc: COVID-19 Hotspots Arizona and Texas Crisis Standard of Care Plans Challenged by State and National Groups in Federal Complaints
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Arc of the United States issued the following news release: A coalition of state and national disability and civil rights advocacy groups have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) challenging the crisis standard of care plans in Arizona and Texas, two states hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. These crisis plans are used to decide who receives life-saving treatment. Along with state partners, the national  more

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology Journal Issues Research Articles in August 2020 Edition
DALLAS, Texas, July 23 -- Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, a journal from the American Heart Association, published research articles, including the following topics, in its August 2020 edition: Brief Review: * Overcoming Barriers: The Endothelium As a Linchpin of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pathogenesis? Basic Sciences: * Mature Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, but Not Endothelial Cells, Serve as the Major Cellular Source of Intimal Hyperplasia in Vein Grafts Translational Sc  more

As One-Year Mark of Hate-Fueled El Paso Mass Shooting Approaches, Texas GOP Chooses Gun Extremist With a History of Racist Remarks as Their Leader
MANHATTAN, New York, July 23 -- Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a campaign of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued the following news: Texas Republicans elected NRA board member Lt. Col. Allen West as Chairman at their convention Monday. West, a gun extremist who has a history of making racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic remarks, has been an outspoken conspiracy theorist and critic of the Black Lives Matter movement. He has suggested that gun laws were responsible for the Holocaust,   more

Autistic Self Advocacy Network: COVID-19 Hotspots Crisis Standard of Care Plans Challenged
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Autistic Self Advocacy Network issued the following news release: A coalition of state and national disability and civil rights advocacy groups have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) challenging the crisis standard of care plans in Arizona and Texas, two states hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. These crisis plans are used to decide who receives life-saving treatment. Along with state partners, the na  more

Baylor Scott & White Research Institute Expands Efforts in the Fight Against COVID-19
DALLAS, Texas, July 24 -- Baylor Scott and White Health issued the following news release: As the global response to the SARS-COV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 approaches 200 days, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the research and development arm of Baylor Scott & White Health, is accelerating its pace of bringing clinical trials online. Baylor Scott & White Research Institute continues to mobilize staff and resources, including components needed to integrate critical patient-safety me  more

Center for Excellence in Education: Medalists Named at USA Biolympiad Finals
MCLEAN, Virginia, July 22 -- The Center for Excellence in Education issued the following news release: The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announces the names of the high school biology scholars who earned medals at the 18th Annual USA Biolympiad (USABO) National Finals. Nearly 10,000 students from 500 schools, 43 states, and 11 International Schools registered in the nationwide high school competition. 2020 USABO Gold Medalists are: Judson Lam, Naperville Central High School, Napervi  more

Center for Strategic & International Studies: A Conversation With Sen. Mitt Romney on U.S.-China Relations and Great Power Competition
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following transcript of an interview on July 22 with Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah: John J. Hamre: Good afternoon, everybody. This is John Hamre at CSIS, and we're very pleased to welcome you all for a very special session of the Schieffer Series. The Schieffer Series, of course, is made possibly the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. They allow us to present this venue on an ongoing basis. We're very proud to have their   more

Center for Strategic & International Studies: Strategic Competition and the U.S. Semiconductor Industry
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following transcript of an interview on July 24 with Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Mark Warner, D-Virginia: James Andrew Lewis: Thanks to everyone for joining us today. We have a pretty big audience on the call. It's an important topic, and I think one of the things we're going to do is showcase an important and really precedential bill for the United States in its technology contest with China. Let me intro  more

COVID-19 Hotspots Arizona and Texas Crisis Standard of Care Plans Challenged by State, National Groups in Federal Complaints
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law issued the following news release: A coalition of state and national disability and civil rights advocacy groups have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) challenging the crisis standard of care plans in Arizona and Texas, two states hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. These crisis plans are used to decide who receives life-saving treatment. Along with state partners  more

Crisis Standard of Care Plans in COVID-19 Hotspots Arizona and Texas Challenged by CPR and Partners
NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts, July 23 -- The Center for Public Representation issued the following news: CPR, together with a coalition of national disability and civil rights advocacy groups that include The Arc, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, and Justice in Aging, as well as state partners, has filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) challeng  more

Democrats for Education Reform: Education Reform Now Advocacy and Voto Latino Partner on Continuing Voter Outreach
WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Democrats for Education Reform issued the following news release: Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), an affiliate of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), and Voto Latino are excited to announce a matching donation campaign aimed at amplifying Voto Latino's voter engagement efforts in Texas, Colorado, and Florida. The $300,000 partnership will go towards engaging, educating, and empowering any and all eligible voters in those states, registering them to vote and then   more

Direct Relief: Tropical Storms Hanna, Gonzalo Roil Gulf, Caribbean Waters
SANTA BARBARA, California, July 25 -- Direct Relief issued the following news: Tropical Storm Gonzalo is continuing its path across the Atlantic Ocean, aiming for the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles as soon as Saturday. Gonzalo formed late Tuesday, making it the earliest date in history a seventh named storm has emerged in the Atlantic Ocean. The previous record was set in 2005. An eighth storm, Tropical Storm Hanna, is expected to make landfall in Texas tomorrow. The most recent NOAA report from   more

Disability Equality Index Names Baylor Scott & White 'Best Places To Work'
DALLAS, Texas, July 21 -- Baylor Scott and White Health issued the following news release: Baylor Scott & White Health has been recognized in the 2020 Disability Equality Index (DEI), a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN as a "Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion." "Having a diverse workforce is central to our ability to effectively care for the communities we serve," said Guwan Jones, chief diversity officer, Baylor Scott   more

Economic Policy Institute: A Broken Union Election System - Report Takes an Inside Look at How Employers Bust Unions
WASHINGTON, July 24 -- The Economic Policy Institute issued the following news release: EPI released a new report providing an inside account of how employers routinely threaten, intimidate, and harass workers to stop them from exercising their right to collective bargaining. Specifically, the authors take a deep dive into unionization drives at Kumho Tire in Georgia and DISH TV corporation branches in Texas to illustrate what employer opposition campaigns look like on the ground. The report d  more

El Paso Police Must Release Recordings of Deadly Border Patrol Crash, Demands ACLU of Texas
EL PASO, Texas, July 23 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas issued the following news release: The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas Border Rights Center filed a Public Information Act request with the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) requesting "any and all records depicting or reporting the vehicle chase conducted by Border Patrol agents on June 25, 2020 that culminated in a crash that killed seven people on Paisano Avenue." The local Border Patrol sector chief initially den  more

Environment Texas Issues Statement on House Passes Major Public Lands Bill
WASHINGTON, July 23 -- Environment Texas issued the following statement by Executive Director Luke Metzger: The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to pass the Great American Outdoors Act, a bill to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually and provide $9.5 billion over five years to fix maintenance problems that are plaguing America's public lands. The bill garnered considerable bipartisan support, and now heads to the President's desk. *   more

Environment Texas Research and Policy Center: Are Texas Beaches Safe for Swimming?
AUSTIN, Texas, July 24 -- Environment Texas Research and Policy Center issued the following news release: As we turn to the great outdoors in the midst of social-distancing, a 2020 report finds that water pollution at Texas beaches is putting people's health at risk. In 2019, bacteria levels at 55 Texas beaches indicated that water was potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one day, according to the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center's report Safe for Swimming? "No one should be  more

Environmental Defense Fund: With Initial Data Showing Permian Flaring on Rise Again, New Survey Finds 1 in 10 Flares Malfunctioning or Unlit, Venting Unburned Methane Into Air
AUSTIN, Texas, July 23 -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release: A new aerial survey reveals that the percentage of malfunctioning flares at oil and gas facilities across the Permian region remains stubbornly high, at the same time that preliminary analysis of federal satellite data shows flaring activity in the basin is on the rise. Together the results suggest that one of the industry's biggest challenges in the basin is poised for resurgence. Researchers with Envi  more

Institute for Policy Innovation Opposes IPI: Problems With a Prescription Drug Pricing Index
DALLAS, Texas, July 25 -- The Institute for Policy Innovation issued the following news release: The Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI), a 33 year-old free market public policy research organization, released this statement in opposition to the Trump administration's International Pricing Indexing (IPI) plan for prescription drugs: President Donald Trump reportedly plans to sign an executive order setting up an International Pricing Index for certain prescription drugs--an idea he, along w  more

Insurance Information Institute: Tropical Storm Hanna Could Impact Texas, Louisiana
NEW YORK, July 25 -- The Insurance Information Institute issued the following news release: Tropical Storm Hanna has the potential to cause property damage along the Texas and Louisiana coasts as a Saturday landfall is expected near Corpus Christi, Texas. Impacts of this tropical cyclone, the earliest eighth named Atlantic basin storm on record, are covered under different insurance policies, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). Wind-caused property damage is covered u  more

Intercultural Development Research Association Analysis Shows Texas Public Schools Could Lose Out to Private Schools Under Education Rule
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 18 -- The Intercultural Development Research Association issued the following news release: New analysis by IDRA shows that 185 Texas public school districts may have to give up a total of over $44.2 million of their federal CARES Act relief funds to private schools within their district boundaries under a new rule from the U.S. Department of Education. The rule increases the funding districts would usually reserve for private schools by more than $38.7 million. Federa  more

Join ACE, ACUE, and Campus Leaders for Conversations on Student Success Through Strategic Planning and Effective Teaching
WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The American Council on Education issued the following news release: ACE is partnering with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) to offer two webinars at the end of July: "Conversations on Student Success: Meeting Student Success Goals During a Crisis" and "Conversations on Student Success: Supporting Students Through Faculty Professional Development." "Conversations on Student Success: Meeting Student Success Goals During a Crisis" will take place   more

Journal of School Health Issues Research Articles in August 2020 Edition
CINCINNATI, Ohio, July 21 -- The Journal of School Health, a peer-reviewed journal from the American School Health Association that says it features health and well-being of school-aged youth, published research articles on the following topics in its August 2020 edition: RESEARCH ARTICLES: * Integrating Health Literacy Into Core Curriculum: A Teacher-Driven Pilot Initiative for Second Graders * Dissemination of Evidence-Based School Asthma Management Programs: Piloting Asthma 411 in an Urba  more

National Treasury Employees Union: Key House Committee Challenges Need for Texas Border Deployments
WASHINGTON, July 25 -- The National Treasury Employees Union issued the following news release: The Department of Homeland Security cannot justify spending $21.3 million to send extra federal officers to the Texas border, according to the House Appropriations Committee, a conclusion backed by the National Treasury Employees Union. DHS wants 810 Customs and Border Protection Officers to deploy to the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo to assist Border Patrol in two 60-day tours scheduled to begin in   more

Northwell Health: Five Northwell Nurses Answer Governor Cuomo's Call
GREAT NECK, New York, July 21 -- Northwell Health issued the following news: In response to Governor Andrew Cuomo's appeal for health care workers to provide assistance to other cities and states currently battling an uptick in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, five Northwell Health nurses answered the call and travelled to Houston to lend a hand. Speaking via Zoom, the five nurses (four from North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset and one from Long Island Jewish Medical Center i  more

Public Citizen, Landowners Sue Texas Railroad Commission Over Illegally Suspending Environmental Protections
AUSTIN, Texas, July 24 -- Public Citizen issued the following news release: Public Citizen and two Texas landowners sued the Railroad Commission of Texas in state district court on Thursday for illegally suspending state rules that protect public health and the environment from the oil and gas industry. During a May 5 hearing, the Railroad Commission of Texas - without public notice and using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover - suspended four important oil and gas industry rules based on statutes  more

Santa Fe Institute: Coronavirus Models Tap SFI Innovations
SANTA FE, New Mexico, July 23 -- Santa Fe Institute issued the following news release: As a child, Lauren Meyers devoured books about deadly plagues. She had nightmares about the big one that was going to wipe out Earth as we know it. Earlier this year on Jan. 23, Meyers, a Santa Fe Institute external faculty member and a professor of integrative biology and statistics at the University of Texas, thought that day might have arrived. She was working with researchers from the U.S. Centers for D  more

Scientist Who Joined Texas Biomed's Leading Roster of Scientists Early in the Pandemic is Moving COVID-19 Research Forward
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 22 -- Texas Biomedical Research Institute issued the following news release: Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) welcomed virologist Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Ph.D. to its roster of leading faculty in February of 2020, just prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. Having pioneered several key developments involving influenza (commonly known as the flu), SARS, arenavirus and Zika, Dr. Martinez-Sobrido looks to scale his research at Texas Biomed, where he says acces  more

SwRI Awarded Contract to Develop Solar Wind Plasma Sensor
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 23 -- Southwest Research Institute issued the following news release: A joint NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) team has awarded Southwest Research Institute a contract to develop the Solar Wind Plasma Sensor (SWiPS) for a satellite mission dedicated to tracking space weather. SWiPS will measure the properties of solar wind ions originating from the Sun, including the very fast ions associated with coronal mass ejections that interact with   more

Texans Say 2 Ro 1 That Coronavirus Spread Is 'Out Of Control,' Governor's Ratings Drop in Quinnipiac University Texas Poll
HAMDEN, Connecticut, July 23 -- The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute issued the following news release: With Texas as one of the biggest hot spots in the coronavirus pandemic, voters say 65 - 31 percent that the spread of coronavirus is "out of control," according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in Texas released. Nearly three-quarters, 74 - 25 percent, think the spread of the coronavirus in the state is a serious problem. Two-thirds, 66 percent,   more

Texas Medical Association Chart Shows COVID-19 Risks for Various Activities
AUSTIN, Texas, July 23 -- The Texas Medical Association issued the following news release: How risky is going grocery shopping versus working out in a gym or other activities, in terms of potentially contracting COVID-19? Texas Medical Association (TMA) physician experts recently created a chart to help Texans make informed choices about which activities are safest to do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physician members of the TMA COVID-19 Task Force and the TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases  more

Texas Public Policy Foundation Victorious in Michigan Private Property Rights Case
AUSTIN, Texas, July 21 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release: The Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan on Friday held that the Township of Canton's tree ordinance is an unconstitutional taking and seizure of private property and dismissed Canton's claims against the Texas Public Policy Foundation's clients, Matt and Gary Percy. "The court rightly recognized that it is the Percys, not the government, that own the trees on their property," said TPPF's General Coun  more

Texas Public Policy Foundation: Budget Shortfall Highlights Importance of Reining in Government Spending Without Raising Taxes
AUSTIN, Texas, July 21 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on July 20: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar revised the Certification Revenue Estimate (CRE) to project a fiscal 2021 ending shortfall of $4.58 billion which Hegar attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent volatility in oil prices. "Today's update by Texas Comptroller Hegar on the budget shortfall shows the importance of reining in government spending without raising taxes as families across the state  more

Texas Public Policy Foundation: Trump Regulatory Reform Spurs Growth and Prosperity
AUSTIN, Texas, July 18 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on July 16: The Texas Public Policy Foundation applauds the historic efforts of the Trump Administration to put in place innovative regulatory reforms that will have lasting effects throughout the economy. The administration announced updates to the National Environmental Policy Act to remove ineffective and burdensome regulations that destroy jobs, raise costs for Americans, and create unnecessary delays  more

TSTA Sues Education Commissioner Over Charter Rules That Illegally Remove Teacher Certification, Contractual Requirements
AUSTIN, Texas, July 23 -- The Texas State Teachers Association issued the following news release: The Texas State Teachers Association sued state Education Commissioner Mike Morath for adopting charter school partnership rules that illegally deprive public school teachers of contractual and other employment rights and allow corporate charter chains to operate in Texas without certified teachers. The lawsuit, filed in state district court in Travis County, seeks a declaratory judgment invalidin  more

University of Texas's Southwestern Medical Center: Surgery Restores Eye Muscle Function to Patients With Facial Paralysis
DALLAS, Texas, July 23 -- The University of Texas's Southwestern Medical Center issued the following news: Surgeons at UT Southwestern have developed and analyzed the benefits of a cutting-edge technique that provides patients with facial paralysis the ability to close their eyes. They concluded that the surgery - which is only performed at a handful of institutions around the world, including UTSW - not only allowed patients to blink and voluntarily close their eyes, but also protected them ag  more

University of Texas's Southwestern Medical: Triple Negative Breast Cancer Meets Its Match
DALLAS, Texas, July 23 -- The University of Texas's Southwestern Medical Center issued the following news: One member of a larger family of oxygen sensing enzymes could offer a viable target for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), UTSW researchers report in a new study. The findings, published online this week in Cancer Discovery, might offer hope to this subset of patients who have few effective treatment options and often face a poor prognosis. TNBC - so called because it lacks estrogen re  more