June 30, 2020

Alaska's governor and attorney general say Anchorage's mask mandate doesn't apply to state offices.

Alaska’s largest city is requiring face coverings in most indoor public settings, but Anchorage and the state of Alaska disagree on whether that mandate applies to state buildings.

In a memo distributed to state employees, Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson wrote on Friday that Anchorage’s new coronavirus masking mandate does not apply to state offices, the people who visit them, or employees in those offices.

Anchorage municipal attorney Kate Vogel responded Monday by saying Clarkson provided “inaccurate legal advice” and is “undermining a local health order.”

The Alaska Department of Law said later that Clarkson stands by his memo. The city, through spokeswoman Carolyn Hall, said it is evaluating its options when it comes to a next step.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2020/06/29/alaskas-governor-and-attorney-general-say-anchorages-mask-mandate-doesnt-apply-to-state-offices-the-city-disagrees/

June 30, 2020

The Texas GOP convention will gather thousands of people indoors without a mask requirement. One of

The Texas GOP convention will gather thousands of people indoors without a mask requirement. One of its sponsors is the Texas Medical Association.

by Meena Venkataramanan, Texas Tribune


The Texas Medical Association is encouraging Texans to practice social distancing, stay home when possible and wear masks to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. But despite the potential mixed message it may send, the state’s largest medical organization said Monday it is not reconsidering its sponsorship of the Texas Republican convention next month. Some 6,000 people from across the state are expected to gather indoors without a mask mandate at the convention in Houston, one of the nation’s fastest-growing COVID-19 hot spots.

A spokesperson for TMA, which represents more than 53,000 Texas physicians and medical students, told The Texas Tribune that it will honor its commitment to the event.

“The agreement will not be revisited,” Brent Annear said in an email Monday.

He added that despite the fact that the GOP organizers won’t require attendees to wear masks, TMA “encourages everyone who goes anywhere to wear masks.”

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/29/texas-gop-convention-coronavirus-harris/

June 30, 2020

Torchy's Tacos removed the Republican, Independent from the menu ⁠-- but don't read into it

The people voted, and the Republicans and Independents got the boot. At least, the Republican and Independent tacos at Torchy's Tacos did.

Some eagle-eyed taco lovers noticed the chain removed the Independent and the Republican tacos from its menu, leaving the Democrat as the lone politically inclined taco available.

For the uninitiated, the Republican was/is a grilled jalapeno sausage taco with shredded cheese, pico de gallo and poblano sauce on a flour tortilla. The Independent was a vegetarian offering with portobello mushrooms, refried black beans, corn, carrots, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro and ancho aioli on a flour tortilla.

The decision to remove these tacos from the menu was not a political statement, Torchy's said in a Facebook post.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/life/food/article/Torchy-s-Tacos-removed-the-Republican-15374257.php

June 30, 2020

El Paso bar owners shocked by Gov. Greg Abbott order to close all bars, one vows to stay open

One El Paso bar owner will keep his doors open until authorities tell him otherwise, in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Friday order to close all bars.

“It’s a celebration,” Frank Ricci Jr., owner of the Rockin’ Cigar Bar & Grill in the Cincinnati Entertainment District, said. “We’re just going to wait and act like Americans and do our thing until they come.”

As coronavirus cases climb to record highs in Texas and hospitals reach their capacities, Abbott ordered all bars to close again, after they had been allowed to reopen May 22. This order required bars closed by noon Friday, but allowed them to remain open for takeout. It follows one day after Abbott paused Texas’ reopening.

“It is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars,” Abbott said in a statement.

Read more: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2020/06/26/coronavirus-el-paso-bars-open-texas-order-close-covid-19/3267057001/

June 30, 2020

For the fourth straight day, Dallas County reports record new coronavirus cases at 572

Dallas County continued a four-day trend of record coronavirus daily cases Monday — reporting 572 new cases.

The county also reported one additional death, an Irving man in his 40s who had underlying high-risk health conditions but had not been hospitalized.

Dallas County has now seen 20,737 cases — 7.9 for every thousand residents — and 353 deaths. The county does not report a number of recoveries.

The number of people hospitalized in Dallas County with COVID-19 grew to a new high of 611.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2020/06/29/for-the-fourth-day-dallas-county-reports-record-new-coronavirus-cases-at-572/

June 30, 2020

Dallas bar owners plan to sue Gov. Greg Abbott for shutting them down

A group of several dozen bar owners in Dallas, Frisco, Fort Worth and more say they want to file a lawsuit this week after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered bars to close June 26.

“We believe the governor’s order is vague, it’s ambiguous, and it violates the rights of these bars as it relates to the Texas constitution,” says Dallas attorney Jason Friedman.

The co-owner of Dallas bars The Whippersnapper, High Fives and Tiny Victories is spearheading the effort, saying the owners of Bottled Blonde, STIRR, Vidorra, Clutch bar and others are joining him in the yet-to-be-filed lawsuit. Their opinion is that restaurants and bars should be treated the same during the coronavirus pandemic — even as Texas has become a national hotspot with a spike in cases. If restaurants can remain open, as Abbott has allowed, bars should, too, says bar owner Brandon Hays and his cohort.

“I want to be very clear: We don’t want to be a public health problem,” Hays says. “That is not the goal of anyone in this group. We just don’t want to be treated unfairly or unconstitutionally.

“It just doesn’t seem fair to single us out and shut down bars, specifically,” he adds.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2020/06/29/dallas-bar-owners-plan-to-sue-gov-greg-abbott-for-shutting-them-down/

June 30, 2020

Johnny Manziel admits that his football career is probably 'in the past'

It’s been nearly five years since Johnny Manziel last took the field in an NFL game. And according to the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, that ab....sence will continue indefinitely.

Manziel had brief stints in the and over the past couple of years as he tried to rejuvenate his failed professional football career, but Manziel has now conceded that his football days are in the past.

The former Cleveland Browns quarterback recently moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he has been playing golf daily and partying with friends in the Scottsdale nightclub industry. While returning to Texas for a golf trip, Manziel essentially admitted that he has moved on from football.

He said via : “In the past, probably, is the way I’d characterize it. I’ve finally got to a point where I’m trying to achieve happiness in life, not happiness on the football field.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200629/johnny-manziel-admits-that-his-football-career-is-probably-in-past

June 30, 2020

Austin 'on the verge' of new stay-home orders, health official says

Austin could be looking at a return to stay-home orders as cases of the coronavirus continue to push closer to the level local officials have warned could overwhelm hospitals.

Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott told members of the Austin City Council on Monday that he was “on the verge” of recommending a return to a more expansive economic shutdown if the community fails to slow the spread of the virus.

It’s unclear how such an order could materialize, as questions remain over what authority local governments have to implement more austere measures, when more lenient statewide orders issued by Gov. Greg Abbott supersede those from municipal or county officials.

University of Texas researcher Lauren Meyers, who has created models estimating the extent of the spread of COVID-19, showed council members models that estimate 2,100 deaths from the virus through September 2021.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20200629/austin-lsquoon-vergersquo-of-new-stay-home-orders-health-official-says

June 29, 2020

As felon, Lori Loughlin faces new penalties: loss of country club, voting rights

Nearly a month after pleading guilty in the college admissions scandal, Lori Loughlin is facing new “collateral consequences” of having a felony conviction. They include the loss of her beloved country club membership and, possibly, the ability to vote in the Nov. 3 presidential election.

This is even before her she learns Aug. 21 whether she’s going to prison and for how long.

Right after Loughlin, 55, and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, 56, were charged in the college admissions the TV star lost acting work, playing wholesome Aunt Becky in a “Full House” reboot and being featured on the Hallmark Channel. Loughlin has since been dumped by friends who have “been very critical” about her actions, People reported.

The social backlash continues with People and TMZ reporting that Loughlin and Giannulli resigned from the exclusive Bel-Air Country Club, where they had been long-time members. Their mansion looks out over the club’s golf course.

Read more: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/29/as-felon-lori-loughlin-faces-new-penalties-loss-of-country-club-voting-rights/

June 29, 2020

Galvanized by coronavirus fears, California lawmakers push bills on homelessness

With millions of Californians out of work, and experts worried huge numbers could lose their housing as a result of the pandemic, state lawmakers are focusing on the homelessness crisis with new fervor.

Legislators are attempting to push through a wide range of bills this year aimed at helping those on the streets or on the brink — an effort with particular significance in the Bay Area, where high rents and inadequate housing contributed to staggering homelessness numbers even before COVID-19 hit.

One bill would require state and local leaders to develop a plan to essentially eradicate homelessness within eight years. Another would set aside $2 billion a year for shelter operations, homelessness prevention and other related services. A third would force local officials to make it easier to build homeless shelters in their cities.

“I get an email every night in my inbox from constituents … who are asking for help, and it’s story after story after story of I lost my job, I’m still waiting for my unemployment, I’m worried I’m going to get evicted from my apartment. It’s heart-wrenching stuff,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. “For me, that creates a strong sense of urgency that my colleagues are hopefully feeling as well.”

Read more: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/29/galvanized-by-coronavirus-fears-california-lawmakers-push-bills-on-homelessness/