Editors note: Please excuse the All Caps. It's how we file news stories at KTRH News, and these updates are direct from the newsroom.
houston corona nco3pm
THERE ARE MORE THAN 15-HUNDRED CASES OF COVID 19 IN TEXAS, AND 100 HOSPITALIZED. THERE HAVE BEEN 19 DEATHS IN THE STATE.
BY EXECUTIVE ORDER GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS REQUIRING TRAVELERS ARRIVING IN TEXAS FROM THE NEW ORLEANS AIRPORT SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS DUE TO THE DRAMATIC INCREASE OF CASES IN LOUISIANA. THERE IS A SIMILAR MEASURE FOR PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM THE NEW YORK CITY AREA.
FEDERAL SUPPLIES OF NASAL SWABS AND MEDICAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ARRIVED IN HARRIS COUNTY THIS MORNING AND ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO TESTING SITES IN BAYOTWN AND KATY.
WATCH WHAT YOU FLUSH! HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS SAYS THE NUMBER OF SEWER OVERFLOWS HAS DOUBLED SINCE CORONAVIRUS HIT, REMINDING CONSUMERS NOT TO FLUSH PAPER TOWELS AND ANTIBACTERIAL WIPES DOWN THE TOILET.
MEMORIAL CITY MALL IS HOSTING TWO BLOOD DRIVES -- THE FIRST FRIDAY FROM 3 TO 7 AND ANOTHER SATURDAY FROM 11 TO 3. YOU MUST REGISTER FIRST AT THE *GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER* WEBSITE. THE MALL ITSELF IS CLOSED THROUGH MARCH 31.
THE HOUSTON 2020 COMICPALOOZA, WHICH ATTRACTS ABOUT 50,000 FANS, IS CANCELLED. IT HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MEMORIAL WEEKEND. TICKETHOLDERS WILL GET FULL REFUNDS. THE *FANDEMIC* TOUR IS ALSO CANCELLED.
VOTING IS UNDERWAY FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES 30,000 MECHANICS, FLIGHT SERVICE WORKERS AND BAGGAGE CARRIERS ON A $4.2 BILLION DOLLAR UNION CONTRACT THAT HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING THROUGH FIVE TONIGHT. DUE TO COVID 19 -- ALL VOTING IS TAKING PLACE ONLINE.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS EXTENDING THE *REAL ID* DEADLINE BY ONE YEAR DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK. THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE WAS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR. THE NEW DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2021.
BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE'S DR. PETER HOTEZ IS WARNING THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF AN EPIDEMIC AND SAYS FEDERAL LEADERS NEED TO REFRAIN FROM SETTING ARTIFICIAL DEADLINES FOR RESTRICTIONS. HE SAID REASSESSMENTS WILL BE NEEDED AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF APRIL.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS REQUESTING ACCESS TO TITLE TWELVE INTEREST-FREE FEDERAL LOANS FOR THE STATE TO PAY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS. TEXAS HAS THE SEVENTH-LOWEST RESERVE LEVELS IN THE NATION WITH LESS THAN SIX MONTHS OF RESERVE FUNDS ON HAND.
POLICE CHIEF ART ACEVEDO TELLS HOUSTON POLICE PATROLLING FOR VIOLATORS OF THE *STAY HOME, WORK SAFE* ORDER TO FIRST EDUCATE THE PERPETRATOR WITH A VERBAL WARNING; IF THE VIOLATION CONTINUES POLICE CAN ISSUE A CITATION OR MAKE AN ARREST.
HOUSTON-BASED GROUP ONE AUTOMOTIVE, THE FOURTH-LARGEST DEALERSHIP GROUP IN THE NATION, IS FURLOUGHING 3-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES IN THE US AND ANOTHER 28-HUNDRED OVERSEAS FOR 30 DAYS WITH A POSSIBLE EXTENSION NEXT MONTH.
HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INNOVATIONS LABS IN SOUTHWEST HOUSTON IS USING A 3-D PRINTER TO MAKE FACIAL SHIELDS FOR MEDICAL WORKERS. IT TAKES FIVE HOURS TO MAE ONE SHIELD.
THREE-QUARTERS-OF-A-MILLION MEDICAL MASKS ARE IN LEGAL LIMBO WHILE THE STATE DETERMINES WHAT TO DO WITH THE SUPPLIES SITTING IN A WAREHOUSE THAT THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS WERE BEING SOLD AT *PRICE-GOUGING* AMOUNTS.
FORT BEND COUNTY IS TESTING WITH OAK BEND MEDICAL CENTER THROUGH ONE THIS AFTERNOON. IF YOU ARE 65 OR OLDER OR HAVE AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION, AND HAVE SYMPTOMS, YOU MUST FIRST BE SCREENED EITHER ONLINE OR ON THE PHONE TO GET THE LOCATION. THE IS A PRIVATE COMPANY AND THERE IS A FEE...LESS IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE. RESULTS WILL TAKE A COUPLE DAYS.
H-I-S-D AND THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK ARE NOT GIVING AWAY FOOD TODAY OR TOMORROW AS THEY RE-EVALUATE SAFETY PROCEDURES. HOUSTON'S COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE PROVIDING FOOD WITH CURBSIDE PICKUP. CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 18 MUST BE PRESENT.
POLK COUNTY ISSUES STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS EFFECTIVE AT MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH APRIL 3.
IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY THE JUDGE EXTENDS RESTRICTIONS TO INCLUDE BUSINESSES LIKE NAIL SALONS AND TATTOO PARLORS. VISITATIONS AT NURSING HOMES ARE RESTRICTED. IT'S IN EFFECT THROUGH APRIL 6.