Reeling Jaguars lose Trevor Lawrence, 10th game of season as spiral continues
Read full article: Reeling Jaguars lose Trevor Lawrence, 10th game of season as spiral continuesThe Jaguars are going nowhere in a hurry and they’ll now have to do it for the foreseeable future without franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
‘This is one of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen on a QB’: Intense reaction to hit on Trevor Lawrence
Read full article: ‘This is one of the dirtiest hits I’ve ever seen on a QB’: Intense reaction to hit on Trevor LawrenceThe hit that knocked Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence from Sunday’s game against the Texans drew quite the reaction from across social media.
Jaguars sign Walker Little to 3-year contract extension
Read full article: Jaguars sign Walker Little to 3-year contract extensionThe Jaguars are keeping left tackle Walker Little in town for a few more seasons, agreeing to an extension with just hours before Sunday’s game against the Texans.
News4JAGs picks: Can slumping Jaguars end slide against Texans?
Read full article: News4JAGs picks: Can slumping Jaguars end slide against Texans?Jaguars season is back and our News4JAX sports staff is back with its predictions as well. Each week, we’ll unveil our predictions for the week’s game. Jacksonville (2-9) hosts Houston (7-5) on Sunday trying to salvage anything from a season that has gone off the rails.
State Fair of Texas is sued by state's Republican AG over new rule banning guns on premises
Read full article: State Fair of Texas is sued by state's Republican AG over new rule banning guns on premisesTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a ban on firearms at the sprawling State Fair of Texas, one of the state’s biggest annual celebrations.
What you need to know if you’re going to Jaguars vs. Bengals Monday night game
Read full article: What you need to know if you’re going to Jaguars vs. Bengals Monday night gameThe Jaguars (8-3) host the Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) at home in primetime on Monday, the first time since 2011 the team is hosting ESPN Monday Night Football.
News4JAGs predictions: Jaguars will make amends against the Texans
Read full article: News4JAGs predictions: Jaguars will make amends against the TexansJaguars season is back and our News4JAX sports staff is back with its predictions as well. Each week, we’ll unveil our predictions for the week’s game. Jacksonville (7-3) heads to Houston (6-4) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Teal the Show: Jags trying to get revenge on the Texans as AFC South race heats up
Read full article: Teal the Show: Jags trying to get revenge on the Texans as AFC South race heats upTeal the Show+ airs on Wednesday night on News4JAX.com, the News4JAX+ app and is broadcast on CW17. Fans can attend the showing at the Community First Igloo.You can also catch Jamal St. Cyr and sports analyst Frank Frangie on Teal the Show Monday at Friday nights at 11:15 p.m. on WJXT Channel 4.
Fewer Californians are moving to Texas, but more are going to Florida and Arizona
Read full article: Fewer Californians are moving to Texas, but more are going to Florida and ArizonaThe number of former Californians who became Texans dropped slightly last year, but some of that slack was picked up by Arizona and Florida.
Teal the Show+: Jaguars have growing list of problems after loss to Texans
Read full article: Teal the Show+: Jaguars have growing list of problems after loss to TexansJamal St. Cyr and Justin Barney look back at a frustrating performance and look ahead to the next game in Jacksonville in Teal the Show+.
TELL US: What do you think will happen with the Jaguars the rest of the season?
Read full article: TELL US: What do you think will happen with the Jaguars the rest of the season?Well, it’s not a victory Monday like we hoped it would be. The Jaguars had a pretty poor showing yesterday against the Texans, in a game they were expected to win. The Texans dominated with a 37-17 win at EverBank Stadium.
News4JAGs predictions: Jaguars will bounce back strong against Texans
Read full article: News4JAGs predictions: Jaguars will bounce back strong against TexansJaguars season is back and our News4JAX sports staff is back with its predictions as well. Each Friday, we’ll unveil our predictions for the week’s game. Jacksonville faces the Texans on Sunday at EverBank Stadium at 1 p.m.
Why are the Texas Rangers the only MLB team without a Pride Night?
Read full article: Why are the Texas Rangers the only MLB team without a Pride Night?The Texas Rangers are the only one of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball that aren't hosting Pride Night during a game in June as part of Pride Month.
News4JAGs predictions: Will Jaguars shake recent history against the Texans?
Read full article: News4JAGs predictions: Will Jaguars shake recent history against the Texans?The Jaguars are all in on winning the AFC South title. A Week 17 game against the Texans is just a precursor to the finale against the Titans next week. The News4JAX sports staff offers its predictions on the game.
Texans beat skidding Titans 19-14. Now Jaguars vs. Titans will decide AFC South title.
Read full article: Texans beat skidding Titans 19-14. Now Jaguars vs. Titans will decide AFC South title.In a game delayed an hour because of rolling power blackouts in Nashville, the Texans snapped a nine-game skid by beating the sliding Tennessee Titans 19-14 Saturday -- sending the Jaguars to the top of the AFC South.
News4JAGs predictions: Can Jaguars get back on track against Texans?
Read full article: News4JAGs predictions: Can Jaguars get back on track against Texans?Can Jacksonville (2-2) end its miserable streak against the Texans (eight consecutive losses) and get back on track Sunday? Each week, the News4JAX sports staff will offer predictions on the game.
Finally! Best performance in years delivers Jaguars dominant win over Colts
Read full article: Finally! Best performance in years delivers Jaguars dominant win over ColtsThe Jaguars finally put together a four-quarter performance and dominated the Colts 24-0 on Sunday at TIAA Bank Field. It gave Doug Pederson his first win as Jacksonville’s head coach and gave the home crowd something other than a moral victory to cheer about.
Four factors: How the Jaguars can beat the Jets on Sunday
Read full article: Four factors: How the Jaguars can beat the Jets on SundayLooking at the schedule the rest of the way, this is probably the Jags last chance to get a W this season. With that in mind, let’s put our optimistic hats on for Sunday's Jaguars-Jets game.
Justice Department sues Texas over new redistricting maps
Read full article: Justice Department sues Texas over new redistricting mapsThe Justice Department has sued Texas over its new redistricting maps, saying the plans discriminate against minority voters, particularly Latinos, who have fueled the state’s population boom.
Jaguars at the bye: The good, the bad and the expectations for the rest of the season
Read full article: Jaguars at the bye: The good, the bad and the expectations for the rest of the seasonWith six games down and Jacksonville hitting the bye week, the Jaguars are 1-5. Is that better or worse than expected? Who has surprised and underachieved? Justin Barney and Jamal St. Cyr break answer those bye-week questions.
Texas GOP advances new maps that would tighten slipping grip
Read full article: Texas GOP advances new maps that would tighten slipping gripTexas lawmakers are on the brink of finishing redrawn U.S. House maps that would shore up their eroding dominance as voters peel away from the GOP in the state’s booming suburbs.
Fox Network takes shot at Jacksonville, Jaguars fans
Read full article: Fox Network takes shot at Jacksonville, Jaguars fansAs if the loss to the Texans wasn’t tough enough, Fox Network and actor Anthony Anderson took a shot at Jacksonville and Jaguars fans during the pregame festivities on the network.
Mixed feelings in El Paso about looser Texas gun limits
Read full article: Mixed feelings in El Paso about looser Texas gun limitsA new Texas law allows most people age 21 or older who haven’t been convicted of a felony can carry a holstered handgun in public without undergoing any training or getting a permit.
GOP governors, school districts battle over mask mandates
Read full article: GOP governors, school districts battle over mask mandatesMillions of students in Florida, Texas and Arizona are being required to wear masks in class as school boards in mostly Democratic locales are imposing anti-COVID mandates in defiance of their Republican governors.
US says order coming this week on border asylum restrictions
Read full article: US says order coming this week on border asylum restrictionsA Justice Department attorney says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue an order this week about how migrant children are treated under a public health order that has prevented people from seeking asylum at at the nation’s borders.
Texas' Abbott leads GOP push for Trump-style border measures
Read full article: Texas' Abbott leads GOP push for Trump-style border measuresWith Vice President Kamala Harris planning to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas is trying to revive hard-line immigration measures used by the Trump administration.
Congress questions Texas officials about power grid failure
Read full article: Congress questions Texas officials about power grid failureCongress is looking into the cause of the power blackouts across Texas last month. A House panel planned to hear Wednesday, March 24, 2021, from officials who oversee the state's energy industry and electric grid. (AP Photo/LM Otero File)DALLAS – Congress is looking into last month’s massive and deadly power outages across Texas and questioning officials who oversee the state’s energy industry and electric grid. After outages in February 2011, Robb’s group recommended that Texas power plants needed better protection against winter storms. AdHouston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the Texas grid was designed for peak summer heat, and policymakers wrongly believed that the 2011 severe winter storm was an anomaly.
Texas schools, stores divided on masks as mandate ends
Read full article: Texas schools, stores divided on masks as mandate endsGreg Abbott says Texas is lifting a mask mandate and lifting business capacity limits next week. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)DALLAS – The end of Texas' mask mandate is giving Lucy Alanis second thoughts about one of her occasional indulgences during the coronavirus pandemic: dining in at restaurants. Businesses in Texas shed rules, city leaders plotted new safeguards and the state's 5 million schoolchildren largely remained under orders to keep wearing masks, at least for now. The mask mandate, which has been in place since July, and occupancy limits on restaurants and retail stores end March 10. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said his officers will continue wearing masks.
House panel seeks storm documents from Texas grid operator
Read full article: House panel seeks storm documents from Texas grid operatorAs temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas' power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)WASHINGTON – The House Oversight Committee is investigating the agency that operates the Texas power grid, seeking information and documents about the lack of preparation for the recent winter storm that caused millions of power outages and dozens of deaths across the state. AdSevere winter storms in Texas “have occurred repeatedly over decades, and ERCOT has been unprepared for them,” Khanna wrote in a letter to ERCOT CEO Bill Magness. Last month's storm followed similar winter storms in 1989 and 2011 that also caused massive outages, Khanna said. “It appears that lessons learned (again) in 2011 were not implemented either, leaving Texas vulnerable to extreme winter weather again in 2021,'' he wrote.
Texas becomes biggest US state to lift COVID-19 mask mandate
Read full article: Texas becomes biggest US state to lift COVID-19 mask mandateTexas is lifting a COVID-19 mask mandate that was imposed last summer but has only been lightly enforced. Greg Abbotts announcement Tuesday makes Texas the largest state to do away with a face covering order. (AP Photo/LM Otero)AUSTIN, Texas – Texas is lifting its mask mandate, Gov. Abbott, a Republican, has faced sustained criticism from his party in America's biggest red state over the statewide mask mandate — which was imposed eight months ago — as well as business occupancy limits that Texas will also scuttle next week. Target, one of the nation's biggest retailers, said it would continue requiring customers to wear masks in Texas.
Texas power company seeks bankruptcy protection after storm
Read full article: Texas power company seeks bankruptcy protection after stormBrazos Electric Power Cooperative Inc., the oldest and biggest generation and transmission power cooperative in Texas has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following last months winter storm that left millions without power. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)The largest and oldest power cooperative in Texas is filing for bankruptcy protection, citing last month’s winter storm that left millions without power, and it is unlikely to be the last utility to seek shelter in the courts. Brazos Electric Power Cooperative serves distributors that supply electricity to more than 1.5 million Texans in 68 counties from the Panhandle to Houston. Brazos said Monday that it was a “financially robust, stable company” before the Arctic freeze that hit Texas between Feb. 13 and Feb. 19. Ed Hirs, who teaches energy economics at the University of Houston, is sure there will be more power company bankruptcies.
Biden surveys Texas weather damage, encourages virus shots
Read full article: Biden surveys Texas weather damage, encourages virus shots“When a crisis hits our states, like the one that hit Texas, it’s not a Republican or Democrat that’s hurting," Biden said. With tens of thousands of Houston area residents without safe water, local officials told Biden that many are still struggling. AdThe president's first stop was the Harris County Emergency Operations Center for a briefing from acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton and state and local emergency management officials. Some state officials initially blamed the blackouts on renewable energy even though Texas relies heavily on oil and gas. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent emergency generators, bottled water, ready-to-eat meals and blankets.
Top board leaders resign after deadly Texas power outages
Read full article: Top board leaders resign after deadly Texas power outagesAdFour of the departing board members acknowledged “concerns about out-of-state board leadership" in a letter to grid members and the state's Public Utility Commission, which oversees ERCOT. The board members did not reflect on their own performance in the letter. The other board members are vice chairman Peter Cramton, Terry Bulger and Raymond Hepper. The selection of “unaffiliated” ERCOT board members — like most of those who are resigning — must be approved by the PUC. Hepper also declined comment beyond the resignation letter, and other board members did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Biden to visit storm-ravaged Texas Friday
Read full article: Biden to visit storm-ravaged Texas FridayPresident Joe Biden speaks about the 500,000 Americans that died from COVID-19, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Washington. AdHouston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Sunday on CBS' “Face the Nation” the state of Texas should bear those “exorbitant costs," rather than residents. Biden previously tweeted about Texas and the other affected states, received regular updates from his staff and declared states of emergency in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Biden spoke to the governors of the seven states most affected by the winter weather. Biden said last week that he hoped to travel to Texas but he didn't want his presence and the accompanying presidential entourage to distract from the recovery.
Hospitals confront water shortages in winter storm aftermath
Read full article: Hospitals confront water shortages in winter storm aftermathJoggers run down a street empty of cars Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Nolensville, Tenn. A second winter storm in a week is bringing more snow to much of Tennessee. A rural hospital in Anahuac, Texas, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) east of Houston, lost both water and power. Memphis, Light, Gas & Water issued a boil-water advisory on Thursday out of concern that low water pressure caused by problems at aging pumping stations and water main ruptures could lead to contamination. That hospital has a water purification system for dialysis and has water reserves for tasks such as cooking and bathing patients, he said. Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare also reported problems at some of its Memphis-area facilities due to water pressure problems and the boil advisory.
Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis
Read full article: Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisisAs temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas' power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas’ power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. The community deserves answers.”___Around 2 a.m. Monday, the full measure of the crisis Texas faced began to be apparent. Most people did not yet know that Texas’ power grid had been on the brink of total failure. AdThe Texas grid isn’t walled off, but there are only a few, small interconnection points with the Eastern U.S. grid and Mexico.
Southern cities hit hard by storms face new crisis: No water
Read full article: Southern cities hit hard by storms face new crisis: No waterAbout 260,000 homes and businesses in the Tennessee county that includes Memphis were told to boil water because of water main ruptures and pumping station problems. And water pressure problems prompted Memphis International Airport to cancel all incoming and outgoing Friday flights. Paul Lee Davis got to the front of the line at a water station set up by city officials only to have the water run out. Water service was restored Friday to two Houston Methodist community hospitals, but officials still were bringing in drinking water and some elective surgeries were canceled, spokeswoman Gale Smith said. AdMore than 192,000 Louisiana residents -- some still struggling to recover from last August's Hurricane Laura -- had no water service Friday, according to the state health department.
'Obviously a mistake': Cruz returns from Cancun after uproar
Read full article: 'Obviously a mistake': Cruz returns from Cancun after uproar(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)DALLAS – Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said his family vacation to Mexico was “obviously a mistake” as he returned stateside Thursday following an uproar over his disappearance during a deadly winter storm. Ad“Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon,” Cruz wrote. “It was obviously a mistake, and in hindsight, I wouldn't have done it," he said. While the situation will not help Cruz's political future, the two-term senator is not in any immediate political danger. Cruz checked in for his return flight Thursday afternoon in Cancun and walked briskly through the terminal pulling a roller bag to security.
The Latest: Most of a Mississippi city is without water
Read full article: The Latest: Most of a Mississippi city is without waterAnother man died at a health-care facility after a lack of water pressure made medical treatment impossible. ___OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt pleaded with residents Thursday to limit water usage after city officials said some hospitals faced what Holt called a crisis because of a sharp drop in water pressure. Integris Baptist lost water pressure at two of its hospitals, according to city utilities director Chris Browning. The drop in water pressure was due largely to customers running faucets to prevent frozen and burst water lines, and nearly tripling the amount of water used, according to city utilities director Chris Browning. She says “‘Frozen’ is always a good choice.”Ad___AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov.
Some electricity restored in Texas, but water woes grow
Read full article: Some electricity restored in Texas, but water woes growHouston and several surrounding cities are under a boil water notice as many residents are still without running water in their homes. But the crisis was far from over in parts of the South, where many people still lacked safe drinking water. The next phase of the state’s disaster response will be to test drinking water from systems knocked offline by the cold. Power was cut to a New Orleans facility that pumps drinking water from the Mississippi River and generators were used until electricity was restored. Drinking water was made available at fire stations throughout Jackson and officials also planned to set up bottled water pickup sites.
EXPLAINER: Why the power grid failed in Texas and beyond
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why the power grid failed in Texas and beyondAd“Every one of our sources of power supply underperformed," Daniel Cohan, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University in Houston, tweeted. The staggering imbalance between Texas' energy supply and demand also caused prices to skyrocket from roughly $20 per megawatt hour to $9,000 per megawatt hour in the state's freewheeling wholesale power market. Grid operators say rolling blackouts are a last resort when power demand overwhelms supply and threatens to create a wider collapse of the whole power system. In Texas this week, grid operators and utilities knew about the dire weather forecast for at least a week. Texas, which has a grid largely disconnected from others to avoid federal regulation, may have to rethink the go-it-alone strategy.
'A complete bungle': Texas' energy pride goes out with cold
Read full article: 'A complete bungle': Texas' energy pride goes out with coldBut hours after those assurances, the number of outages in Texas only rose, at one point exceeding 4 million customers. Forcing controlled outages was the only way to avert an even more dire blackout in Texas, Magness said. The outages are the widest Texas' grid has suffered but hardly a first in winter. A decade ago, another deep February freeze created power shortages in Texas the same week the Super Bowl was played in Arlington. A federal report later flagged failures in the system, including power plants that are unable to stand up to extreme cold.
The Latest: Oklahoma gov seeks federal disaster declaration
Read full article: The Latest: Oklahoma gov seeks federal disaster declaration(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)The Latest on winter weather across the U.S. (all times local):OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s disaster declaration request for all 77 Oklahoma counties comes a day after the governor spoke with Biden by phone. ___NEW ORLEANS — Rolling power blackouts necessitated by severe winter weather hit water systems in at least two Louisiana cities. He implored residents to stop running water, noting that temperatures had risen above the freezing mark___RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Gov. — The Louisiana Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed three deaths related to winter weather this week.
'A complete bungle': Texas' energy pride goes out with cold
Read full article: 'A complete bungle': Texas' energy pride goes out with coldAdBut hours after those assurances, the number of outages in Texas only rose, at one point exceeding 4 million customers. The outages are the widest Texas' grid has suffered but hardly a first in winter. A decade ago, another deep February freeze created power shortages in Texas the same week the Super Bowl was played in Arlington. AdOn Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Texas had requested 60 generators and that hospitals and nursing homes would get priority. “There’s a serious lack of preparation on the part of the energy companies to not be ready,” Murdoch said.
Texas AG whistleblowers sue for wrongful firing, retaliation
Read full article: Texas AG whistleblowers sue for wrongful firing, retaliationIn September, top employees of Paxton’s office reported him to federal authorities for alleged crimes they say he committed in assisting Austin real estate developer Nate Paul. Paxton’s office did not respond to a request for comment but broadly denied claims made by his former top aides in an interview with Austin television station KXAN. The lawsuit paints a picture of the struggle between Texas’ top law enforcement official and the employees convinced he's been breaking the law. Last week, Paul said in a deposition that Paxton recommended a woman for her job with the developer’s company. They've also asked local prosecutors to fine Paxton $15,000 for each violation of the Texas Whistleblower Act.
Texas becomes 1st state to surpass 1 million COVID-19 cases
Read full article: Texas becomes 1st state to surpass 1 million COVID-19 casesAUSTIN, Texas – Texas became America's first state Wednesday with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, as sporting events were canceled and the border city of El Paso added mobile morgues in anticipation of virus deaths overwhelming hospitals for weeks. Only Illinois has averaged more new cases than Texas over the past two weeks. Texas recently surpassed California, the most populous state, in recording the highest number of positive coronavirus tests. El Paso County officials this week announced plans to add four additional morgue trailers, bringing the total number there to 10. In Lubbock County, home of Texas Tech University, health officials reported a surge of nearly 3,400 new cases last week.
Mark Brunell: Jaguars season starting to feel like a broken record
Read full article: Mark Brunell: Jaguars season starting to feel like a broken recordJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The phrase that keeps running through my head as I break down another Jaguars loss is the same as it was last week. The Texans came into this game winless and averaging 20 points per game. The Jaguars made an 0-4 team look good. Jacksonville made a winless Cincinnati team with a rookie quarterback and a terrible offensive line look good. It would be one thing if Jacksonville was losing games during 35-30 shootouts week after week.
Texas governor gives OK for bars to begin reopening
Read full article: Texas governor gives OK for bars to begin reopeningHowever, the move doesn't allow Texas bars to fully reopen, nor everywhere. Texas' largest counties are controlled by Democrats, many of whom have accused Abbott of reopening the state too quickly. Hundreds of Texas bars have added kitchens or food service during the lockdown as a way of getting around the closure order. An industry group for Texas bar owners blasted the move, accusing Abbott of punting the tough decision on bar reopenings to counties. He’s officially passed the buck,” the Texas Bar & Nightclub Alliance said in a statement.
Chiefs, Texans fine-tuning for NFL opener Thursday night
Read full article: Chiefs, Texans fine-tuning for NFL opener Thursday nightListen, the first game is always that way, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, because you're never quite sure what they're going to do. Even with preseason games, the first few games are up in the air. If we would have had our four normal preseason games then we wouldve seen 25 to 30 snaps of their first group. But the speed of practice never quite matches that of a preseason game, and the speed of a preseason game never quite matches a regular-season one. But without preseason games to work on such fundamentals, the Chiefs had to tweak the way they approached tackling.
Texas governor issues mask order to fight coronovirus
Read full article: Texas governor issues mask order to fight coronovirusAUSTIN, Texas Texas Gov. Abbott, who had pushed Texas' aggressive reopening of the state economy in May, had previously said the government could not order individuals to wear masks. But faced with dramatically rising numbers of both newly confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus and the number of patients so sick they needed to be hospitalized, Abbott changed course with the mask order. The move to mandate facemasks comes far too little, far too late for Governor Abbott," Texas Democratic Party Communications Director Abhi Rahman said. ___This story has been corrected to remove references to it being a statewide mask order.
Bar owners worry as virus surges in their workplaces
Read full article: Bar owners worry as virus surges in their workplacesHostess Carla Alexander disinfects a table at the Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Friday, June 26, 2020, in Houston. Texas was a terrible, terrible experiment because it experimented with peoples lives and this is where we are, Neff said. During a news conference Monday, Abbott said the goal has always been to reduce cases and keep people out of hospitals. But the first operation by the state to suspend the alcohol permits of establishments that ignored rules didnt happen until a week ago. Neff said he is worried about losing his bar and has worked to find other revenue streams, including selling cocktails to go, starting a podcast and holding a nightly virtual bar livestream.
Texas putting reopening on 'pause' as virus cases soar
Read full article: Texas putting reopening on 'pause' as virus cases soarCases of COVID-19 have spiked in Texas and the governor of Texas is encouraging people to wear masks in public and stay home if possible. Greg Abbott on Thursday halted elective surgeries in Texas' biggest counties and said the state would pause its aggressive re-opening as it deals with a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations that has made it one of the nation's virus hotspots. The suspension of elective surgeries is designed to protect hospital space in the Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio areas. Texas has reported more than 11,000 new cases in the previous two days alone. The pause on further re-openings does not roll back previous orders that already allowed much of the economy to reopen.
Texas court holds first US jury trial via videoconferencing
Read full article: Texas court holds first US jury trial via videoconferencingThey confirmed their names and told the judge how they were connecting to the court: on laptops, tablets and iPhones. The coronavirus pandemic has crippled courts nationwide, putting many cases on indefinite hold and leaving judges trying to manage some hearings via videoconferencing. According to the National Center for State Courts, which has tracked court functions during the pandemic, its the first remote jury trial ever in the United States. It would just be too difficult, too many constitutional hurdles to clear for a defendant to be brought to a virtual trial, said Randy Gioia of Massachusetts public defender agency. And Miskel suggested courts might blend in-person and online doing trials over video but bringing jurors into to court to deliberate.