Opinion: Abbott brings needed diversity to Texas highest criminal court by appointing Judge Jesse McClure
Brian Wice
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Harris County Criminal District Court Judge Jesse McClure was recently appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to fill the seat left open by the retirement of Judge Mike KeaslerAleksandar Radovanov - FotoliaShow MoreShow Less
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Judge Jesse McClure’s appointment fills a significant gap on the CCA’s canvas that has existed for over two decades: the absence of an African American jurist on the state’s highest criminal court.Jon Shapley, Staff photographer / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
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They are the nine most powerful judges in Texas most members of the public have never heard of. They determine whether an inmate on death row lives or dies and if and when the victim of a wrongful conviction will be set free. Yet, a typical Texan is more likely to be able to name a Kardashian sister or two than a single member of this all-impor
Louisiana bar owners fighting to keep their businesses open during coronavirus restrictions lost a battle Wednesday when a court denied their appeal.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld Gov. John Bel Edwards’ order to keep bars closed in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. Plaintiffs filed suit in federal court arguing that the order is unfair because it allows bars with food permits to remain open.
Twenty-one bar owners, including several in Houma, argued in court papers there is no evidence that shows a connection between bars and virus outbreaks.
“There is no evidence directly linking plaintiffs’ bars to the COVID-19 public health emergency,” the lawsuit says. “To plaintiffs’ knowledge, not a single COVID-19 transmission has been traced to a bar owned or operated by any of the plaintiffs.”
As Texas boots Planned Parenthood, Medicaid clients get 30 days to find new providers
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Planned Parenthood of South Texas office manger, Twila Aguilera, looks at the number of patient intakes and services provided at the San Pedro clinic location on Thursday, Aug. 22nd, 2019.Carlos Javier Sanchez | Contributor
Thousands of low-income Texans have less than a month to find new providers of birth control, cancer screenings and other non-abortion services as the state moves forward with plans to boot Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, according to a letter sent from the state health agency.
The nonprofit had asked for at least a six month extension to help recipients transition to new providers, following a November court ruling that allowed Republican officials to stop reimbursing it for Medicaid services. In the letter sent Monday, however, the health agency said it has only until Feb. 3, and is prohibited from accepting any new Medicaid patients.
1. COVID-19 pandemic
The global coronavirus pandemic hit Terrebonne Parish in March, wreaking havoc on every facet of life. By year s end, the parish had recorded more than 5,900 COVID-19 infections and 148 deaths.
State orders aimed at curbing the virus s spread restricted business and social activity. Orders mandated face masks for anyone in public and encouraged residents to stay at least six feet away from others and wash their hands regularly. Schools offered a mix of online-only and in-person classes and limited class sizes on campus.
Houma-Thibodaux lost 5,800 jobs in April, the first full month of the state’s COVID stay-at-home order. Business closures and layoffs helped elevate the area’s unemployment rate to 12.3%, its highest since the late-1980s oil bust. The area regained most of those jobs by year s end, but the November total was still down 2,000 from a year earlier. Long lines became common at area food banks.
8,000 Medicaid patients in limbo as Texas boots Planned Parenthood from program
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Planned Parenthood of South Texas office manger, Twila Aguilera, looks at the number of patient intakes and services provided at the San Pedro clinic location on Thursday, Aug. 22nd, 2019.Carlos Javier Sanchez | ContributorShow MoreShow Less
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The Planned Parenthood building at 4600 Gulf Freeway Friday, April 19, 2019, in Houston.Godofredo A Vásquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
Planned Parenthood is urging Texas health officials to give it six months to help Medicaid recipients who use its clinics for non-abortion services to find other providers after a decisive court loss that could cut off care to thousands of vulnerable Texans, many of them women of color.