Thursday - March 28, 2024
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Texas Newsletter for Sunday February 28, 2021 ( 45 items )  

ACLU Comment on Texas Ruling Blocking Biden Deportation Pause
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 25 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following news release: A district court has granted a request by Texas to continue blocking the Biden administration's 100-day pause on some deportations. The court had previously halted the pause for 14 days, and then extended its order to 28 days. Texas groups FIEL and RAICES  more

ACLU Statement on Biden Administration Reopening Influx Facilities
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The American Civil Liberties Union, a 501(c)3 non-profit that works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S., issued the following statement: * * * The Biden administration has reopened the Carrizo Springs influx shelter in Texas and reportedly is considering plans to reopen the Homestead influx shelter in Florida to house immigrant children. Amidst reports of negligent treatment and inappropriate cond  more

American Association for Respiratory Care: Black History Month - African American Scientist Stands at the Forefront of COVID-19 Vaccine Development
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 26 -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following news on Feb. 24, 2021: Black History Month is the time for all of us to learn more about Black and African-American histories and spotlight their achievements in our country and our world. For respiratory therapists who have been battling COVID-19 on the front lines for months the past year, Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD, is an inspiration. Along with Barney Graham, MD, PhD, she has led the team of researchers  more

American Association for Respiratory Care: Industry Watch
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 26 -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following news: New COVID-19 Therapies Join ACTIV-2 Trial Promising new therapies have been added to the COVID-19 outpatient treatment study, ACTIV-2. The additional agents include: * A combination of two monoclonal antibodies (AZD8895 and AZD1061) from AstraZeneca studied as an infusion administered over 15 minutes and an intramuscular injection; * A nebulized formulation of beta interferon (SNG001) from S  more

American Board of Preventive Medicine Elects Three New Directors to Its Board
CHICAGO, Illinois, Feb. 26 (TNSPer) -- The American Board of Preventive Medicine issued the following news on Feb. 25, 2021: The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) announced today the election of three new Directors to its Board of Directors at its January 2021 meeting. Joanna Nelms, MD, MPH, will join the Board as an At-Large Member. Dr. Nelms is certified in both Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Medicine. She earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at  more

American Humanist Association Chastise Texas Public School for Indoctrinating Kindergarteners
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 -- The American Humanist Association issued the following news release on Feb. 23, 2021: The American Humanist Association (AHA)'s legal director threatened Texas school officials with legal action over ongoing religious indoctrination occurring at Round Rock Independent School District in Texas. The AHA's demand letter details that a kindergarten teacher at Chandler Oaks Elementary School repeatedly promotes prayer and church attendance to her impressionable students. AHA'  more

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology Journal Issues Research Articles in March 2021 Edition
DALLAS, Texas, Feb. 25 -- Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, a journal from the American Heart Association, published research articles, including the following topics, in its March 2021 edition: Brief Review: * Telomerase as a Therapeutic Target in Cardiovascular Disease Basic Sciences: * ODC (Ornithine Decarboxylase)-Dependent Putrescine Synthesis Maintains MerTK (MER Tyrosine-Protein Kinase) Expression to Drive Resolution * Resolvin D1 Enhances Necroptotic Cell Clearanc  more

Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth First in Tarrant County to Earn Level IV Maternal Designation
FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 24 -- Baylor Scott and White Health issued the following news release: Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center -Fort Worth, a part of Baylor Scott & White Health, is the first hospital in Tarrant County designated as a Level IV maternal care center, the top designation from the Texas Department of State Health Services. A Level IV designation is awarded to hospitals that provide the highest possible comprehensive care and underscores the facility's ability to trea  more

Biden Must Confront Texas White-Supremacist Agenda Led by Extremist Ken Paxton
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 25 -- The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services issued the following news on Feb. 24, 2021: Immigrants in Texas haven't been allowed a single day of relief. Not only has our community been denied emergency aid amid a global pandemic that last week was exacerbated by an energy and water crisis, but now some will have to endure the failures of the state with the looming threat of deportation. Today's ruling by Trump-appointed federal Judge Drew Ti  more

Black History Month: American Association for Respiratory Care Employees Highlight Their Inspirations
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 26 -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following news: We asked colleagues at the AARC to share with us their Black History Month inspirations. Employees have highlighted their family members, friends, and others who have influenced and impacted their lives. A Trip to D.C. - Erica Coleman - Staff Accountant My Black History month inspiration is my sister Mary. She encouraged me to be a part of a historical moment regarding President Barack Obama's e  more

Circulation Journal Issues Research Articles in Feb. 23, 2021 Edition
DALLAS, Texas, Feb. 22 -- Circulation, a journal from the American Heart Association, published research articles on the following topics in its Feb. 23, 2021 edition: Original Research Articles: * Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes After Addition of SGLT2 Inhibitors Versus Sulfonylureas to Baseline GLP-1RA Therapy * Central Command and the Regulation of Exercise Heart Rate Response in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction * Myocardial Infarction in th  more

Detention Watch Network: It's Detention If People are in ICE Custody, No Matter How the Agency Rebrands It
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- Detention Watch Network issued the following news release: Advocates are voicing concern in response to the news that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is rebranding two out of its three family detention centers as "reception centers." Whenever people are in ICE custody, lives are in jeopardy. The South Texas Family Residential Center (Dilley) and the Karnes County Family Residential Center (Karnes), both in Texas, share a well-documented history of negligence a  more

Environment Texas: Consumer Advice - Electricity Prices
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 24 -- Environment Texas issued the following news release: Large scale power outages and energy shortages across the state from this week's winter storm have caused wholesale electricity prices to rise more than 10,000 percent, leaving many Texans wondering if their electricity bills will increase, too. TexPIRG Education Fund and Environment Texas Research and Policy Center jointly released a guide Friday with tips to help consumers understand their electric bills, assess th  more

Environment Texas: Millions of Pounds of Air Pollution Released Because of Grid Failure, Freeze in Texas
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 24 -- Environment Texas issued the following news release: Oil refineries, petrochemical plants and other unprepared industrial facilities in Texas reported releasing an estimated 3.5 million of pounds of extra pollution into the air during the state's electric grid failure and freezing temperatures last week. Nearly 200 facilities in 54 counties reported releases of toxic chemicals between February 11 and Monday, with nearly one-fifth of the excess pollution occurring in   more

Fordham Political Review Issues Commentary on Idiocracy in Government
BRONX, New York, Feb. 23 -- The Fordham Political Review issued the following commentary by Feb. 22, 2021: * * * H.R.127 and the Idiocracy in Government By Mark Lugas Mark Lugas (FCRH '22) is a political science and history double major. He is from Weymouth, Massachusetts and has worked in both the Massachusetts State House and the New York State Assembly. He is passionate about constitutional rights, laissez-faire economics, and American values. Contact Mark at mlugas@fordham.edu H.R. 127   more

Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities Celebrates Milestone Year and Salutes Antonio R. Flores
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 27 -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities issued the following news release: For the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, 2021 marks a milestone of its founding in 1986 in San Antonio, Texas. In the past 35 years, HACU has grown from 18 charter members to more than 500 member institutions committed to the mission of championing Hispanic success in higher education. Impressively, for the past 25 years, HACU has had the leadership of Antoni  more

Houston Advanced Research Center Leads Analysis Aimed at Improving Local Conservation of Wetlands
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Feb. 27 -- Houston Advanced Research Center issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2021: The Houston-Galveston metropolitan region has a vibrant economy that is continually attracting new residents and businesses. Because of this thriving economy, the region's population is expected to grow from today's nearly 6 million people to 9 million people by 2040 with the greatest population growth expected to occur in western and northern suburban counties. Local communiti  more

Houston Advanced Research Center: Great Texas Blackout of 2021 - How Does This Not Happen Again?
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Feb. 23 -- Houston Advanced Research Center issued the following news release: Winter Storm Uri has plainly shown that the state of Texas has developed an electric power system that does not prioritize infrastructure resilience. Rather, it is a race to the bottom by generators to provide the lowest-priced power, improve efficiency, and ensure cost reductions. This is why Texas usually has some of the lowest power prices in the United States. Additionally, the low price of   more

Immigration Reform Law Institute: Victory! Court Slaps Down Deportation Ban
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Immigration Reform Law Institute issued the following news release on Feb. 24, 2021: Yesterday, in a major victory, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted the state of Texas's motion for a preliminary injunction against the new administration's 100-day moratorium on deporting aliens who--very often because of their criminal activity--are subject to a final order of removal. The Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) and Attorneys United fo  more

Institute for Energy Research: Krugman Misses on the Texas Blackout
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Institute for Energy Research issued the following commentary: * * * Krugman Misses on the Texas Blackout By Robert L. Bradley, Jr. CEO and founder In his recent New York Times column, "Texas, Land of Wind and Lies," Paul Krugman criticizes the obvious link between unreliable wind power and the state's recent power shortage. Contra-Krugman, wind, solar, and a bit of biomass--not to mention the prioritization of decarbonization for electricity writ large--is at the  more

LatinoJustice Statement on UTRGV COVID-19 Vaccine Incident
NEW YORK, Feb. 26 -- LatinoJustice PRLDEF issued the following statement: * * * On the weekend of February 20th, 2021 LatinoJustice PRLDEF was notified of an incident that took place at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) where eligible individuals were denied from receiving Coronavirus vaccines due to their immigration status. Jorge Renaud, LatinoJustice's Southwest Regional Policy Director, released the following statement on UTRGV's response after LatinoJustice and allies sen  more

League of Conservation Voters Statement on Biden-Harris Administration's Interim Social Cost of Carbon
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The League of Conservation Voters issued the following statement on Feb. 26, 2021: * * * In response to the interim social cost of carbon released today by the Biden-Harris Administration, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) issued the following statement from Matthew Davis, Legislative Director: "Nothing underscores the importance of accounting for the true cost of carbon like oil and gas executives celebrating hitting the 'jackpot' as natural gas prices surged dur  more

Livestock Marketing Association: Relationships Build Resiliency
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas, Feb. 27 -- The Livestock Marketing Association issued the following news release: While snow is melting and sunshine-filled days have recently cast across much of our nation, many communities are still facing the remnants of the unprecedented and historic winter weather faced just a short week ago, especially those in Texas. Prolonged days of below freezing temperatures and beyond normal amounts of precipitation affected nearly 245 counties in the state, spreading from t  more

Memorial Hermann and UTHealth Researching Emergency Treatment of Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 24 -- Memorial Hermann Health System issued the following joint news release with University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) recently joined more than 100 hospitals and mobile stroke units across the United States and in other countries to investigate a new emergency treatment for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or a "bleeding stroke." The   more

Memorial Hermann Appoints Marissa Kiefer as Chief Executive Officer of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital
HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 24 (TNSPer) -- Memorial Hermann Health System issued the following news release: Memorial Hermann Health System has named Marissa Kiefer as the new senior vice president and chief executive officer of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Effective March 15, 2021, Kiefer will lead the hospital's operations and multidisciplinary team of health professionals to continue providing exceptional care to children and women across the Greater Houston area. "Our priority at Childre  more

Military Officers Association: TRICARE Emergency Refill Procedures in Place After Texas Winter Storm
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news: Emergency prescription refills will be available to all TRICARE beneficiaries in Texas through March 1 as the state recovers from a deadly winter storm. The move allows TRICARE beneficiaries to take their empty prescription bottle to any in-network pharmacy to secure a refill. Find out which pharmacies are in the TRICARE network at this link (https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/find-pharmacy) or b  more

Military Officers Association: TRICARE Users Frustrated by Lack of Information on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 -- The Military Officers Association of America issued the following news: In El Paso, Texas, Fort Bliss officials have set up a second COVID-19 vaccination site for military personnel and eligible Tricare beneficiaries, including those age 65 and older, and those 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions. But at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, retirees over age 75 who received their first COVID-19 vaccine in mid-January have not been able to get their second do  more

Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Fair and Just Traffic Safety Enforcement Paramount
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 25 -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving issued the following news release on Feb. 24, 2021: Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim Survivor and Volunteer Michelle Ramsey Hawkins called on federal lawmakers today to support reforms that would address racial inequities in traffic safety enforcement while preserving the critically important work conducted by law enforcement to keep roads safe. "Efforts to ensure that enforcement is fair and just must be paramount," Hawkins testified  more

National Sorghum Producers Launches Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition Podcast
LUBBOCK, Texas, Feb. 27 -- The National Sorghum Producers issued the following news release: National Sorghum Producers (NSP) launched a new podcast Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition. The spin off of the original Sorghum Checkoff Sorghum Smart Talk podcast will focus on legislative and regulatory matters impacting sorghum farmers, answering a call for more information that can be accessed easily at home, on the road or in the tractor cab. Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition, sponsored by Richa  more

National Trauma Institute: NIH ACTIV Partnership and Operation Warp Speed Tap Trauma Network Studying Clots
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 23 -- The National Trauma Institute issued the following news: What do trauma patients have in common with people who are COVID-positive? It turns out that the incidence of blood clots in the lungs and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is very high in both these patient populations. "COVID is an inflammatory process," explained Peggy Knudson, MD, FACS, leader of the CLOTT (Consortium of Leaders in the Study of Traumatic Thromboembolism) study group, a cross-country network of  more

Ochsner Health Center - O'Neal Welcomes Pediatrician James Wayne, M.D.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, Feb. 25 (TNSPer) -- Ochsner Health System issued the following news release: Ochsner Baton Rouge welcomes pediatrician James Wayne, M.D., to Ochsner Health Center - O'Neal. After completing undergraduate studies at the U.S. Military Academy, Dr. Wayne earned a medical degree in 2000 from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed a pediatric internship and residency at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in Texas. He is boar  more

Preliminary Injunction on Biden's Deportation Moratorium, Refugee & Immigrant Center for Education & Legal Services Won't Stop Fighting
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 25 -- The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services issued the following statement on Feb. 24, 2021: * * * In response to Judge Drew Tipton's ruling granting the State of Texas a Preliminary Injunction of the January 20th DHS Memo on Biden's Immigration Enforcement Priorities, RAICES released the following statement: "Today's ruling granting the State of Texas a Preliminary Injunction of the 100-day pause on removals is undoubtedly a setback in our  more

Refugee & Immigrant Center for Education & Legal Services Statement on Changes Made to Family Detention
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 27 -- The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services issued the following statement: * * * In response to the recent news that the Biden administration has made changes to the practice of imprisoning immigrants in family detention centers, RAICES has issued the following statement: * * * As long as the family prisons are open along the Southern border, children and their parents are incarcerated and are not free to leave. With these prisons functio  more

Refugee & Immigrant Center for Education & Legal Services: Migrant Child Facilities Must Be Closed Immediately
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 25 -- The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services issued the following statement: * * * We are shocked and saddened that, after four years of widespread public condemnation to migrant children being held in cages at the border, this country is still detaining kids for nothing more than crossing a border. These children have relatives in the country and should be immediately reunited with them. The Biden administration's announcement on Monday tha  more

Respiratory Care Currents
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 26 (TNSJou) -- The American Association for Respiratory Care issued the following news: New research out of Michigan Medicine suggests some patients with severe COVID-19 have a higher risk for blood clots and an unbalanced ability to break down clots that can put them at higher risk for bleeding. The finding calls into question the universal use of high-dose anticoagulants throughout the disease. The study was conducted among 118 COVID-19 patients. They saw high levels of   more

Southwest Research Institute Scientist Captures Evidence of Dynamic Seasonal Activity on a Martian Sand Dune
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 25 (TNSJou) -- Southwest Research Institute issued the following news release: A Southwest Research Institute scientist examined 11 Mars years of image data to understand the seasonal processes that create linear gullies on the slopes of the megadune in the Russell crater on Mars. In early spring images, captured by two different cameras on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, SwRI's Dr. Cynthia Dinwiddie noticed airborne plumes of dusty material associated with the linear   more

Southwest Research Institute Scientists Image a Bright Meteoroid Explosion in Jupiter's Atmosphere
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 23 (TNSRes) -- Southwest Research Institute issued the following news release: From aboard the Juno spacecraft, a Southwest Research Institute-led instrument observing auroras serendipitously spotted a bright flash above Jupiter's clouds last spring. The Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) team studied the data and determined that they had captured a bolide, an extremely bright meteoroid explosion in the gas giant's upper atmosphere. "Jupiter undergoes a huge number of impa  more

Teamsters Donate Drinking Water to Texas Families
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters issued the following news release: On Friday, members of the Teamsters National Pipeline Labor-Management Cooperation Trust brought hundreds of gallons of drinking water to churches in the Jacksonville, Texas area in order to help the many families in need. Due to the inclement weather in Texas, communities have been without electricity and access to fresh water for over a week. "We wanted to help the residents of Texas in what  more

Texas Biomedical Research Institute: Understanding COVID-19 Variants
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 26 -- Texas Biomedical Research Institute issued the following news release: The United States reached another solemn milestone this week. 500 thousand people have lost their lives to COVID-19. This pandemic has drastically changed our world in ways no one could have imagined. And, every day it seems we are learning something new about the virus SARS-CoV-2. A critical component to all viruses is that they mutate. And, when they mutate they form a variant. When a viru  more

Texas Farm Bureau Statement on Vilsack Confirmation
WACO, Texas, Feb. 24 -- Texas Farm Bureau issued the following statement on Feb. 23, 2021: * * * The following statement may be attributed to Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening on Tom Vilsack's confirmation today by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. "Texas Farm Bureau congratulates Tom Vilsack on his confirmation as the 32nd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. During his eight years as secretary in the Obama administration, Vilsack worked with our country's farmers and ran  more

Texas Home Sales, Median Price Break Records While Housing Inventory Hits All-Time Low
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25 (TNSRep) -- The Texas Association of Realtors issued the following news release on Feb. 24, 2021: For the sixth consecutive year, the Texas housing market broke records in terms of the number of homes sold and median price, while inventory levels hit a critical all-time low, according to the 2020 Texas Real Estate Year in Review report released today by Texas REALTORS(R). "Texas real estate sales broke records despite being in the middle of a pandemic," said Marvin Jolly  more

Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association Releases 'Texas Oil and Natural Gas Industry Hiring and Workforce Trends Report'
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 26 -- Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2021: The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) published the next installment of its "Texas Oil and Natural Gas Industry Hiring and Workforce Trends Report." The new study examines employment trends in the Texas upstream, midstream and downstream sectors for the months of November 2020 through January 2021, including industry job postings  more

Texas Public Policy Foundation: Common Sense Reforms Needed in Texas's 'Law of Parties' Statute
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 26 -- Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release on Feb. 25, 2021: The Texas Public Policy Foundation published the paper Inviting Common Sense into the Texas Law of Parties Doctrine. "Texas's conspirator-party statute creates an end-run around the culpability requirement that is the foundation of Texas criminal sentencing," said Amanda Marzullo, the paper's author. "Measures should be taken to limit its application, particularly in murder cases where   more

Turtle Island Restoration Network: More Than 10,000 Sea Turtles Recorded During Largest Cold Stunning Event in U.S. History
FOREST KNOLLS, California, Feb. 25 -- The Turtle Island Restoration Network issued the following news release: Right now Texas is experiencing the largest cold stunning event ever recorded in the United States. Cold stunning occurs when sea turtles are exposed to cold water for an extended period of time. Because they are reptiles and rely on external sources of heat to maintain their body temperatures, they experience a decrease in heart rate and circulation causing them to become lethargic an  more

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Announces Phase One Concepts of Its College Sports Sustainability Think Tank
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, Feb. 23 -- The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2021: The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee today announced phase one priorities for the USOPC College Sports Sustainability Think Tank, which includes three concepts focused on sport sustainability, sport structure and vertical partnerships. The concepts were generated through three working groups, which convened during the fall of 2020 and were chaired by G  more