Easing back into the saddle.
Democrats will kill the Texas Special Session today. @GovAbbott called a new session to start Saturday and added covid and school funding to the agenda. @RafaelAnchia said don’t expect there to be a quorum this weekend or Monday. @FOX4 #txlegehttps://t.co/EcaHOfbrRM pic.twitter.com/yq7RY5AmWQ
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) August 6, 2021
This post will have more than the usual focus on human mortality.
A hearse w/ copies of bills to bury voting rights, a higher federal minimum wage & immigrant rights now leading 151 cars from #Georgetown to the state Capitol in #Austin in honor of 151 yrs since passage of the 15th amendment. #PoorPeoplesCampaign Watch: https://t.co/4FJfoYIFRi pic.twitter.com/Ci50MvPz0E
— Poor People's Campaign (@UniteThePoor) July 31, 2021
Well, mortality human and otherwise.
This is perverse: we are about to reopen schools during a covid surge, and @GovAbbott is now calling a special session to prohibit schools from mandating masks where necessary. Does Covid have a great lobbyist at the Capitol or is Abbott just pro-Covid as a hobby? #txlege https://t.co/xEYScLMVEj
— James Slattery (@jcslattery) August 5, 2021
“We know that we are going to get pushback for this. We are not going to be able to please everybody. But what we have to understand is: If we have an opportunity to save one life, it is what we should be doing." https://t.co/4ehguuaw0M
— Mike Morris (@mmorris011) August 6, 2021
Experts: Houston's fourth COVID-19 wave to be the largest yet just as we enter peak hurricane season. Public officials should start planning for rules, regulations and guidance for best practices during hurricane preparedness and post disaster situations. https://t.co/QLJeRpGseH
— bryan parras (@HighTechAztec) August 4, 2021
Editorial: Race to the top between Abbott and DeSantis is a race to the death for Texas and Florida as delta surges. https://t.co/8WfEAIjSuh) via @houstonchron
— Lisa Falkenberg (@ChronFalkenberg) August 6, 2021
COVID-19 cases are increasing due to the delta variant and staffing issues are causing limited ICU beds in hospitals across the state. As hospitals continue to see an increase in COVID-19 patients, they may soon have to turn some away. https://t.co/IFhiaATIBH
— Spectrum News 1 Texas (@SpectrumNews1TX) August 5, 2021
Why care about COVID-19 hospitalizations? Houston Public Health Authority Dr. David Persse says at 1pm today, 26 of 104 HFD ambulances were waiting to offload patients at local ER's. Four had waited more than 2 hours...meaning they weren't heading to the next 911 call. #khou
— The Bishop (@BillBishopKHOU) August 5, 2021
Texas officials deny hospitals' requests for hundreds of emergency staff to help with COVID surgehttps://t.co/dAVQUQ4OOi
— Rio Slade lives on land stolen from the Mvskoke (@RioSlade) August 3, 2021
So much to overcome, and with needless hurdles thrown in the path.
“We live in an era of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs and expertise. But we’re also stymied by the forces of misinformation that undermine the true knowledge that is out there.” - Dr. Laolu Fayanju
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) August 5, 2021
The Galveston County GOP activist made anti-mask and anti-vaccine posts as recently as Friday, when he shared a meme saying vaccines are useless. He died on a ventilator this week. #TexasCOVID #TexasGOP #DeltaVariant #COVID19https://t.co/NMyg9MDG2F
— San Antonio Current (@SAcurrent) August 5, 2021
Local Flat Earther is a prime example of why. pic.twitter.com/0lvAGkXS6A
— 🌊Political Musings Amy Manuel 🌊 (@proudtxlib) August 2, 2021
Winding down with a few more notable passings, and perhaps another post on the other goings-on ... if I can get to it.
The Austin Chronicle talked to Billy Gibbons about the death of Dusty Hill and the future of ZZ Top. Glasstire eulogized Tejano artist Ruben Cubillos, who designed Selena's iconic logo. And union leaders across the country reflected on the life of AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.
In this essay, @AubreyCalaway writes about how in Deer Park and other chemical corridor communities, the slow seepage of toxics can affect families like hers for generations. https://t.co/ijAVX4SZSA
— Texas Observer (@TexasObserver) August 2, 2021
Life and Death in the Esperanza Community, A Texas Homeless Camp https://t.co/tO1GuMuamu
— IDKWhatsNext (@JeanGenevie1) August 3, 2021
“Otis Thornton changed the way our community addressed homelessness and his impact is still felt today,” the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition said. https://t.co/yLAVOJOdOC
— Fort Worth Star-Telegram (@startelegram) August 2, 2021
At 6'8", J.R. Richard was an intimidating right hander who led the MLB in strikeouts in 1978 and 1979 and started the 1980 All-Star Game for the NL.
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) August 5, 2021
He spent his entire 10-year career with the @Astros.
RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sKLXNVorMa
A fading headstone among a field of bluebonnets in the old cemetery in Livingston, Texas. A reminder that in the end each of us will be gone but that the flowers will continue to unfurl. I'm curiously comforted by that notion.
— Traces of Texas (@TracesofTexas) August 2, 2021
Photo by Carol Highsmith. pic.twitter.com/moD64NHJqA
