NEWS
Governor Abbott lifts mask mandate, opens Texas 100%
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today issued an Executive Order (GA-34) lifting the mask mandate in Texas and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100 percent. The Governor made the announcement at Montelongo’s Mexican Restaurant in Lubbock in an address to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.
“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”
During his remarks, the Governor discussed the incredible advancements that Texas has made that allow the state to open fully and lift the mask mandate—noting the rapid increase of vaccines. Nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered to Texans, and the state is now administering almost one million shots each week. By next Wednesday, about 7 million shots will have been administered in Texas and over half of seniors in Texas will have received a vaccine shot. By the end of March, every senior who wants a vaccine should be able to get one. The vaccine supply continues to increase so rapidly that more and more Texans will soon be eligible to receive a vaccine.
The Governor noted that Texas has a surplus of personal protective equipment and can perform over 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day. The state has invested in a variety of anti-body therapeutic drugs that have kept thousands of Texans out of hospitals. Texans have also adopted daily habits that reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection. More than 2.5 million Texans who were lab confirmed for COVID-19 have recovered since the beginning of the pandemic, and experts note the total number of Texans who have recovered from COVID-19 is likely 4-5 times that amount. The number of active COVID-19 cases is the lowest since November—meaning more Texans are recovering from COVID-19 than contracting it.
This executive order rescinds most of the Governor’s earlier executive orders related to COVID-19. Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type may open to 100% capacity. Additionally, this order ends the statewide mask mandate in Texas. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.
If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas get above 15% of the hospital bed capacity in that region for seven straight days, a County Judge in that region may use COVID-19 mitigation strategies. However, County Judges may not impose jail time for not following COVID-19 orders nor may any penalties be imposed for failing to wear a face mask. If restrictions are imposed at a County level, those restrictions may not include reducing capacity to less than 50% for any type of entity.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
With just 10 days left until the May 4 school bond election, Bowie Independent School District officials made a final push this week to get information out to the public.
The district conducted two town hall meetings at different times on April 24 and took part in a virtual town hall the day before. There were almost 40 people attending, which is more than all the town hall meetings conducted during the October vote. Another 12-15 attended a noontime meeting.
Superintendent Blake Enlow went through a powerpoint outlining the bond proposal and then took questions. The same bond plan failed last November 1,079 to 855.
The plan includes the following projects: A new intermediate school for grades three to five, built at the corner of Rock and Tarrant. The existing junior high is overcapacity and due to age is Texas Education Agency non-compliant.
The 100-plus year old building will be repurposed for offices and staff development. The existing BJH gyms will be maintained for community use. The new intermediate will handle 600 students and include a storm shelter, ballistic rated entrance glazing and keep student traffic away from the street.
The junior high students would move to the existing intermediate after renovations. There will be a dedicated sixth grade wing, a renovated ag science facility and a new weight room and fieldhouse. The old classrooms, gym and locker would be renovated. The school also would include storm shelter areas, ballistic glazing and keep students away from the street.
The existing elementary campus will receive a new bus lane and covered pick-up and drop-off areas, as well as new staff and visitor parking that allows for safe walking to the entry. The existing high school will have a new weight room which it does not have now, plus new restrooms at the baseball/softball fields with a handicap parking area.
Citizens asked questions about how the plan was developed and how the costs figures were calculated.
Read the full story and citizens questions in the weekend Bowie News.
Pictured above: Superintendent Blake Enlow talks to citizens at a bond election town hall meeting Thursday night.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie City Manager Bert Cunningham presented a lengthy monthly report to the city council Monday night updating the group on the various building projects and program grant applications.
The council has not met since March 11 due to a lack of action items, so there was a lot to catch up with.
City Manager report
Nelson Street project – Cunningham said the project is proceeding well. Downstream of the bridge the contractor is about to pour concrete into the creek to maintain the water flow. The main streets also are being cleared of debris so they will be ready for the pending concrete pour.
Right now the biggest obstacle is the unfinished drop box at the intersection of Mill and Nelson. In flux for the last couple of months, the engineer is requiring the contractor remove the drop box because the dirt under the structure was not compaction tested as required by the contract.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
The final two days of early voting for the May 4 school bond elections in Bowie and Forestburg will be April 29-30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center.
Sample ballots are available on the county website at co.montague.tx.us, click on the elections tab. As of 2 p.m. Thursday the total was 741 for early voting for both districts’
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