From the Desk of HCDE Board President Eric Dick “Harris County is fortunate enough to have a Department of Education,” says Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Board Chairman Eric Dick. “Though the various businesses HCDE owns, we are able to take a nominal tax rate and turn it into serious money. We turn $1 of tax revenues into $5 of governmental services. We love education and use the profits to support our local school […]
Pandemic
Veterans Memorial Wall Unveiled at Parkway Place Senior Living Community
Senior adults honored the service of resident and employee military veterans in a socially distanced ceremony streamed throughout the community. Two days ahead of Veteran’s Day, Buckner Parkway Place unveiled its Veterans Memorial Wall inside the senior living community. The unveiling ceremony featured resident and employee military veterans in front of a small, socially distanced crowd of senior adults. The ceremony was also streamed throughout the community on the Parkway Place TV channel. The Parkway Place Veterans […]
Oakbend Medical Center’S 2020 Patchwork Of Life Event Raises Funds And Honors First Responders
OakBend Medical Center’s eighth annual Patchwork of Life event went virtual this year and not only raised money for the hospital but honored First Responders around the county and named the recipient of the Jeff Council Award. Complying with the CDC recommendations for the COVID pandemic and State and County restrictions, the hospital reinvented this year’s event to become a virtual telethon à la Jerry Lewis. Several of the communities first responders were honored during […]
Harris County Issues New $40 Million COVID-19 Relief Fund, To Be Administered by Catholic Charities
Fund Will Provide $1200 Payments to 33,000+ Families; Open Enrollment for Harris County Residents November 2-6 (Not a first-come, first-served program) A new $40 million COVID-19 relief fund, issued by Harris County, opens Monday, November 2, and will accept applications through Friday, November 6. The Harris County COVID-19 Emergency Direct Assistance Fund will be administered by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and will provide one-time payments of $1200 to up to 33,333 families […]
Ford Fund, Elena Ford Expand Support for Reading; Invest $200,000 to Keep Young Students Learning During Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted traditional school life, but Ford Motor Company wants to make sure children keep reading and learning. As champion of a Ford Motor Company Fund initiative aimed at increasing literacy among young people, Elena Ford is announcing a $200,000 investment that will provide 30,000 books and other critically needed school supplies for 1,500 educators and their students hard hit by COVID-19 in Dallas, Houston and Phoenix. The effort is part […]
Cullinan Park Conservancy Announces 2020 (Picnic) Skip-nic Online Fundraiser
Cullinan Park Conservancy is hosting its first ever online event! Because of the need for social distancing, the annual Picnic for the Park will be ‘skipped’ and the online “Skip-nic” will be held in its place. An online auction will be held from October 14th to 16th to raise funds for support of Phase II park improvements, including additional trail systems and natural exploration areas. Since Phase I park improvements were completed and the COVID-19 pandemic […]
State Sales Tax Revenue Totaled $2.6 Billion in September
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $2.57 billion in September, 6.1 percent less than in September 2019. The majority of September sales tax revenue is based on sales made in August and remitted to the agency in September. “The COVID-19 pandemic and low price of crude oil continue to weigh on the Texas economy and sales tax revenue,” Hegar said. “As was the case the last month, state sales tax receipts […]
Texas Opera Companies Rally Together to Create Texas Opera Alliance
In midst of the global pandemic, five opera companies develop Texas Opera Alliance to ensure the future and accessibility of opera in the Lone Star State Houston Grand Opera (HGO), Austin Opera (AO), The Dallas Opera (TDO), Fort Worth Opera (FWO), and OPERA San Antonio (OSA) are pleased to announce the creation of the Texas Opera Alliance (TOA), a new partnership of the five companies, designed to advance and protect the future of the art form in Texas. Facing the […]
HHS Urges Long-Term Care Facilities to Update Emergency Preparedness Plans Amid Hurricane Season, Pandemic
AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services is working with long-term care providers to prepare for natural disasters ahead of a busy hurricane season forecasted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Texas HHS is reminding providers across the state to review their emergency preparedness and response plans and make updates if necessary. Long-term care providers include nursing and assisted living facilities, hospices, intermediate care facilities and group homes. These facilities regularly prepare for natural […]
Council Applauds Phased Reopening of Local Businesses
By George Slaughter Katy City Council members Monday applauded the phased reopening of business in Texas, set for Friday, as efforts continue to get through the global coronavirus pandemic. Under the guidelines issued by the governor today, all libraries, malls, museums, restaurants, retail, and theatres can reopen Friday at 25% capacity. “I’m looking forward to going and visiting some of our small businesses in Katy,” Ward A Council Member Frank Carroll said. “This is great […]