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Governor Abbott Announces Phase One To Open Texas, Establishes Statewide Minimum Standard Health Protocols

By
Aaron Ferguson
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Gov. Abbott with Sunday's Proclamation

Governor Greg Abbott today announced the first phase of the State of Texas’ ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase I, certain services and activities are allowed to open with limited occupancy, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is issuing minimum standard health protocols for all businesses and individuals to follow. The Governor also outlined special guidance for Texans over 65 and detailed a comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes in Texas. The Governor also announced a statewide testing and tracing program developed by DSHS that will help public health officials quickly identify and test Texans who contract COVID-19 and mitigate further spread of the virus. 

The Governor’s announcement is accompanied by Texans Helping Texans: The Governor’s Report to Open Texas. This detailed report, available on the strike force website, helps Texans understand phase one by outlining the new protocols, guidance, and recommendations. The report also includes a series of Open Texas Checklists that outline DSHS’ minimum standard health protocols for all Texans.

“This strategic approach to opening the state of Texas prioritizes the health and safety of our communities and follows the guidelines laid out by our team of medical experts,” said Governor Abbott. “Now more than ever, Texans must remain committed to safe distancing practices that reduce the spread of COVID-19, and we must continue to rely on doctors and data to provide us with the safest strategies to restore Texans’ livelihoods. We must also focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19. If we remain focused on protecting the lives of our fellow Texans, we can continue to open the Lone Star State.”

By way of Executive Order (GA-18), all retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls are permitted to reopen on Friday, May 1. These services must limit their capacity to 25% of their listed occupancy. Within shopping malls, the food-court dining areas, play areas, and interactive displays and settings must remain closed.

All museums and libraries may open under the same 25% occupancy limitation, but interactive areas of museums must remain closed. State libraries and museums will open by May 1, and local public museums and libraries may reopen only if permitted by the local government. Single-person offices may reopen as well.

Churches and places of worship remain open. Outdoor sports are allowed to resume so long as no more than four participants are playing together at one time. Certain social distancing practices must also be followed. Local government operations, including county and municipal government operations relating to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, may reopen as determined by the local government.

DSHS has recommended minimum standard health protocols for all individuals, all employers and employees, as well as industry-specific protocols for retailers, retail customers, restaurants, restaurant patrons, movie theaters, movie theater customers, museums and libraries, museum and library visitors, outdoor sports participants, single-person offices, and low COVID-19 counties. These protocols are outlined in the Open Texas Checklists within the Governor’s report beginning on page 20.

Essential services such as farmers and ranchers, grocery and drug stores, banks, and gas stations will continue to operate. Public swimming pools, bars, gyms, cosmetology salons, massage establishments, interactive amusement venues, such as bowling alleys and video arcades, and tattoo and piercing studios will remain closed through Phase I. Nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities must remain closed to visitors unless to provide critical assistance.

The Governor also established increased occupancy protocols for certain counties with five or fewer laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19. Those counties may, on an individualized basis, increase occupancy limits to up to 50% for restaurants, retail, shopping malls, museums and libraries, and movie theaters if they meet certain criteria. The county judge must certify and affirm to DSHS that the following standards have been investigated and confirmed to be met:

  1. The county had five or fewer COVID-19 laboratory confirmed cases on April 30, 2020 or, at a later date, five or fewer active COVID-19 cases as verified by DSHS.
  2. The county has created a list of testing opportunities in the county or the area.
  3. The county has been in contact with its designated regional advisory council to ensure the community is prepared for any needed health care transfers.
  4. The county has provided public notice to the residents of the county, including: Signs and symptoms of COVID-19: Recommended health and safety protocols in line with CDC guidance; Information regarding how residents can get tested in the area; A link to the DSHS website where residents can go to learn about community spread in nearby communities, in order to help county residents understand their risk to exposure if they travel regularly outside of the county.
  5. The county has contacted each of the following types of facilities located in the county to ensure they are complying with Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines regarding COVID-19: Nursing homes; Assisted living facilities; Industrial, agricultural, or business facilities with a significant number of employees; and City or county jails.
  6. The county is equipped and prepared to protect vulnerable populations, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
  7. The county has documented procedures to be activated if a resident becomes COVID-19 positive, including procedures to take appropriate measures as necessary in line with the plan to open Texas.
  8. The county has contacted DSHS in order to create a plan to ensure contact tracing will occur within 48 hours of a positive test reported to DSHS.

Phase I will begin Friday May 1 and continue until at least May 18. The Governor will continue to evaluate next steps for the state.

The Governor’s Report to Open Texas also outlines a long-term comprehensive mitigation plan for nursing homes in Texas. Eight recommendations have been developed by HHSC to help mitigate the further spread of COVID-19 and decrease the risk of infection in these facilities. A summary of the recommendations is below, and full recommendations are in the Governor’s report beginning on page 9: 

  1. Quantify the extent of infection immediately
  2. Establish a comprehensive mitigation plan
  3. Re-evaluate current COVID-19 positive facilities
  4. Appropriate isolation and placement of COVID-19 patients
  5. Implement enhanced access controls
  6. Enhance control of staff access
  7. Effective notifications
  8. Continue containment efforts

During the press conference, the Governor also announced a new statewide testing and contact tracing program. Developed and implemented by DSHS, this program will help identify individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and those who may need to quarantine or be tested due to potential exposure. This phased implementation will allow Texans to box in the virus and slow, or even stop, further spread. Phase I of the tracing program has been completed, and Phase II begins today. Phase III begins May 11. More details about the contact tracing program are available in the Governor’s Report to Open Texas beginning on page 16. 

Governor Abbott today also relaxed certain restrictions related to health care professionals and issued amended requirements related to hospital capacity. Under an Executive Order (GA-19) issued today:

  • All licensed health care professionals shall be limited in their practice by, and must comply with, any emergency rules promulgated by their respective licensing agencies dictating minimum standards for safe practice during the COVID-19 disaster.
  • Every hospital licensed under Chapter 241 of the Texas Health & Safety Code shall reserve at least 15% of its hospital capacity for treatment of COVID-19 patients, accounting for the range of clinical severity of COVID-19 patients, as determined by HHSC. 

Additionally, the Governor issued an Executive Order (GA-20) to eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for individuals traveling from Louisiana. Under GA-20, the mandated 14-day quarantine for travelers from the following areas remains in place: California; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; Washington; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan, and Miami, Florida. 

View Texans Helping Texans: The Governor’s Report to Open Texas. 

View the Governor’s Executive Orders issued today:

  • GA-18: Relating to the expanded reopening of services as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster.
  • GA-19: Relating to hospital capacity during the COVID-19 disaster.

GA-20: Relating to expanding travel without restrictions as part of the safe, strategic plan to Open Texas in response to the COVID-19 disaster.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight Through Stress Resiliency

By
Brittany Hall
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As I write this at home in quarantine, the day outside is gloomy and gray, promising rain. I feel fairly gloomy myself and on a roller coaster of emotion that I can’t quite stop in its tracks. Maybe it’s the coming storm, but, just as probable, it’s anxiety associated with continued isolation. I’m lonely and stressed.

It’s on days like this that I long for a comfy chair, a warm blanket, a good book, and my old dog. And food. All sorts of comforting foods. As magical as this sounds under the circumstances, too many days of this mean that I won’t fit in my jeans once I’m allowed to emerge from my home. And an educated guess says I won’t be the only one.

This is where stress resiliency comes into play.

Stress is a normal, everyday occurrence. As hard as we may try, we will never be rid of the myriad of stressors in our lives. Because of this, I don’t like to use the term “stress management.” To me, that term is inaccurate, as if we’re on a mission to exterminate stressors.
It’s impossible! Stress resiliency is instead how we weather a storm when we’re stuck in it. Do we stand strong in the face of adversity or do we fall apart?

Here’s what happens when we fall apart: Cortisol, our “stress” hormone, churns out body fat, especially in the abdomen where it’s most dangerous. This fat, visceral fat, builds up around organs and can lead to disease. When we are chronically stressed, weight gain is assured and almost impossible to shed. Therefore, your feelings of anxiety around weight gain only contribute to more weight gain, even if you are doing your best to be active and eat well.

What we need are outlets. Outlets mitigate stress, though they do not rid us of them entirely. Here are my tips on being more stress-resilient during the coming storm:

● Get outdoors as often as possible. This can be for exercise, but just as easily for playing with your dog, gardening, yard work, and even sunbathing (with sunscreen!). Vitamin D in sunlight boosts our moods and immune systems, making us happier and healthier. I’ve done my best since quarantine to get outside daily to go for an early morning jog or a walk. This was not a part of my gym-going routine, so the positive effect personally has been very noticeable. I don’t find the jog easy to accomplish, but I do find it satisfying and I enjoy seeing the sun come up.
● Schedule a movie night. Lack of time affects us all as a society. So, how about making a list of movies you’ve always wanted to see and schedule a movie night with your family? You could even set up a Zoom meeting with a friend and plan to view the same movie separately in your homes and compare notes. My husband and I are taking turns picking a movie for “date night” on Fridays. This is usually when we have our cheat meal of the week as well. We have fun together and stay better on track with our food since we have something to look forward to, even if we’re not going out.

● Read often. For anyone who knows me, this is a big duh. I read a little bit of everything, but I find fiction best at the moment as it allows us to escape
into our imaginations. Chances are, you’ve got a book backlog at home. If
you don’t, check with your local library to see if they provide Libby or
Overdrive, apps and online services that allow you to check out ebooks and audiobooks. If you don’t have a library card with your local branch, Houston libraries offer library ecards online that also connect with the Libby app.


● Write your heart out. Writing and journaling are fantastic outlets, especially if you have something to say that probably shouldn’t come out of your mouth. I have dubbed my journal the “Psycho Journal” for this reason. There is something cathartic with putting words on a page. I currently keep a journal, am writing articles (obviously) for TFCL, and started a fictional piece two days ago. I’m about 2,500 words in and still have no idea what it’s about, but that’s OK.

● Exercise daily. It’s more effective for treating depression than medications for
depression. How amazing is that? There are so many free resources available right now
since gyms are closed! Go for a walk, find a bodyweight exercise program to do at home
that does not require equipment, or spring clean your house. Certified Personal Trainers
and Health Coaches such as myself are available online now as well if you are not
motivated to be active on your own. The possibilities are endless!
Now that you are equipped with a variety of accessible stress resiliency options, come up with
your own. Go forth and conquer the fat gain!

Brittany Hall is the owner of Brittany Hall Certified Personal Training and Health Coaching LLC. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer (ACE-CPT), ACE Certified Health Coach (ACE-CHC), and ACE Mind Body Specialist, all earned with the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She also holds an advanced certification with the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) as a Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES). She was an attendee at the Active Lives: Transforming Our Patients and Ourselves conference presented by The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as the IDEA World Fitness Convention presented by the IDEA Health and Fitness Association. Her latest venture is as a POP Pilates instructor.

Spring into your own Stay-cation!

By
Luis Ruperto
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Its springtime, and that means warm weather, clear skies -mostly- and the urge to go outside and do something even if it’s hanging out with friends, hosting a family reunion or going to the local pool or lake.

With everyone staying at home and our favorite getaways closed, it seems like there is no end in sight but what can we do indoors or even in our own backyard to make the most of the good weather?

If you have little ones running around, keeping them under control can be quite a daunting task and if they aren’t given time or a space to release their cooped up energy then it becomes almost impossible which is why making up a small scavenger hunt around your front or back yard is a great opportunity for the kiddos to get out and unwind.

This is also fairly inexpensive, some stores still have Easter items and candy on sale that you can use to hide around the hard, and you can get as creative and tricky as you would like with the clues!

Now that we have the kiddos taken care of what about the grown-ups? Well, for those of you that like to go out to the beach and have a nice cold drink in your hand, you can still do that… just without the beach, for now. Grab your lawn chair and sit outside on the front lawn. You may not have the crashing waves in front of you but what you do have is mother nature. Enjoy the sunset, the breeze, or just sit in silence. It is amazing what we miss when we do not take the time to listen or appreciate what’s in front of us.

If you want to include the whole family, pull out your favorite board games and play a round or two. Being in quarantine may seem terrible but it’s a good idea to take advantage of this time and reconnect with your family, perhaps now more than ever.

Our weather here in East Texas the past few weeks has been phenomenal lately! If you’re stuck working from home like so many others are these days, why not take your work out into the sun?

Now, if your everything but an outside person then there is something for you in this staycation package. Besides binge watching Netflix and other streaming services for hours on end, why not visit your childhood roots and do a coloring page or two? It may seem a bit childish yes, but has been scientifically proven to reduce stress and increase mindfulness.

Another way to relax or maybe do something you haven’t done in a long time is by doing a jigsaw puzzle! While the first thing that may come to mind concerning large puzzles may be frustration over peaceful and meditative, the end product could prove to be quite rewarding- especially if it’s large and proves a challenge for you and perhaps a family member/roommate.

Whatever your circumstance or situation may be, just because we are stuck at home and unable to go to the mall, or the movies or our friends’ houses, the amount of freedom we do have to find the mental peace many of us have yearned for many years is a luxury we seldom find ourselves with.

City Nature Challenge Launches Friday; Public Encouraged to Record Nature Near Their Homes

By
Aaron Ferguson
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) through the Texas Nature Trackers program is inviting Texans to participate in the fifth annual City Nature Challenge, Friday, April 24 through Monday, April 27. This global community-based scientific effort, co-organized by San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, invites current and aspiring citizen scientists of all ages and backgrounds to observe and submit pictures of wild plants, animals and fungi using the free mobile app iNaturalist.

Due to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation and its global impact, the 2020 City Nature Challenge will not be a competition. Instead, participants are encouraged to embrace the collaborative aspect of sharing observations online with a digital community, and celebrate the healing power of nature safely, with social distancing, as they document their local biodiversity to the best of their ability within new public safety parameters. It is imperative that participants closely follow federal, state, and local public health guidelines as they are updated in real-time in response to COVID-19.

For the past three years, TPWD through the Texas Nature Trackers program has promoted Texans participation in the City Nature Challenge. In 2019 nearly 3,400 participants contributed over 98,000 observations across 46 counties of over 6,300 species. Seven metropolitan areas in Texas are hosting the City Nature Challenge including: Amarillo, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston-Galveston, Lower Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio.  Texans are invited focus on and explore nature in their immediate surroundings: outside their front doors, in their yard, or anywhere nature is found which they can safely and responsibly explore while complying with social distancing and stay-at-home orders where they live.

Texas Nature Trackers is encouraging people to use the hashtag #yardchallenge on social media or as a tag in iNaturalist to share how they are engaging in this year’s event.

Go to www.tpwd.texas.gov/naturechallenge to find links to the Texas projects, and learn more about the global project at https://citynaturechallenge.org/. You can also contact Craig Hensley and Tania Homayoun with the Texas Nature Trackers program at tracker@tpwd.texas.gov with any questions.

BILLY BOB’S TEXAS & CAVENDER’S COLLABORATE FOR THE GOOD OF THE LONE STAR STATE

By
Aaron Ferguson
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Performers Announced for Virtual Benefit Concert Saturday, April 25th.

Free, Donation-Based Virtual Concert Benefits Texas FFA Foundation

Billy Bob’s Texas and Cavender’s have partnered together to present “You’re Still Farming & We’re Still Singing” – a free, donation-only virtual concert benefitting the Texas FFA Foundation – on Saturday, April 25 at 7 PM Central.

Performances by
Aaron Watson – Casey Donahew – Cleto Cordero – Cody Johnson – Jack Ingram – Josh Abbott – Kevin Fowler – Koe Wetzel – Mike Ryan – Neal McCoy – Parker McCollum – Pat Green – Randy Rogers – Tracy Byrd – Wade Bowen – William Clark Green
 

Streaming on Billy Bob’s Texas Facebook Page

www.facebook.com/BillyBobsTexas

The virtual benefit concert will be the second for Billy Bob’s Texas. The club celebrated 39 years on April 1, but instead of a concert at the 100,000 square foot honky tonk, the concert was streamed online in order to uphold the Tarrant County stay-at-home declaration intended to limit the spread of COVD-19.

“This opportunity to continue to involve our yearlong Billy Bob’s Partners in a virtual concert for an organization that is benefitting kids in this western and agricultural industry is wonderful. It is such a creative way for this tight-knit group to all stay connected and supportive as a community during this time apart,” said Katherine Kolstad Laramore, Corporate Partnerships at Billy Bob’s Texas.

https://www.facebook.com/BillyBobsTexas/videos/524697571749651/

“The agriculture industry is as important as ever as it continues to fuel and feed America. The FFA is shaping the leaders of tomorrow and we at Cavender’s have pledged to lift them up. We have a 55-year history of supporting the communities where we have stores and this is a unique opportunity to support the future leaders of the great state of Texas,” said Jennifer Green, Public Relations and Special Events at Cavender’s. “We are very excited to be part of this event. We love to support Texas country music and the FFA. There really couldn’t be a better combination for Cavender’s,” said Clay Cavender.

The concert is free to enjoy, but donations will be accepted to help provide scholarships and leadership development opportunities for students and agricultural science teachers.

“Texas is blessed with three vital and renewable resources: youth, agriculture, and leadership,” said Aaron Alejandro, Executive Director, Texas FFA Foundation. “Our program empowers the dreams of our members today, ensuring they are dynamic influencers in the future. Together we will help our students be resilient today, so they will be stronger leaders tomorrow. Your support is helping make Texas a better place to live, work, and raise our families.”

The Texas FFA Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Charitable Contributions to the Texas FFA Foundation are deductible for federal tax purposes.


DPS Reminds Motorists April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

By
Aaron Ferguson
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The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reminding motorists that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and during the rest of the month and throughout the year, it’s important for all drivers to reduce distractions every time they get behind the wheel.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were more than 96,000 crashes involving distracted driving in 2018, and these crashes led to more than 2,300 serious injuries and over 390 deaths.

DPS wants to remind you that distracted driving of any kind can be dangerous. In just three seconds, when you take your eyes off of the road while driving at 70 mph, your vehicle travels over the length of a football field. Distractions are anything that take a driver’s attention off the road, including talking on the phone.

Since Nov. 8, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day. DPS urges all Texans to commit to safe driving every time they operate a motor vehicle and offers the following reminders to help keep motorists safe:

  • Put your phone away or turn it off before getting behind the wheel.
  • Tell friends, family and coworkers you won’t respond to calls or texts when driving.
  • Use a smartphone app that sends auto-reply texts when you’re behind the wheel.
  • If you must text, pull entirely off the road (preferably into a location away from traffic) before devoting your focus to the phone.
  • Always give driving your full attention — no matter what, as the consequences of distracted driving can be deadly.

As a reminder, effective Sept. 1, 2017, state law prohibits drivers from reading, writing or sending electronic messages on mobile phones while driving.

AMAZING GREEK YOGURT BROWNIES! #FoodieFriday

By
Hayli Negrete
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Brownies, my absolute favorite dessert, aren’t exactly the best dessert for your health. I know what you’re saying right now, “You don’t have to eat healthy all the time, Hayli! Just indulge a bit!” While you’re saying one thing, I can promise you that my doctor is probably saying the opposite. Lucky for me, you, and my doctor, I know a brownie recipe that is just as delicious, but way healthier than the usual sugar-filled dessert.  

When this recipe was first introduced to me, I turned my nose up at it. Who makes brownies with Greek yogurt? Boy, was I wrong for thinking that way. When I took my first bite of a Greek yogurt brownie, I wasn’t sure I’d ever go back. So without further ado, I would like to share this recipe with you! 

Ingredients:  

¼ cup of almond flour  

¼ teaspoon of sea salt 

¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder 

¼ to ½ cup of chocolate chips  

½ cup of chopped bittersweet chocolate (4 oz) 

½ cup of granulated sugar 

¾ cup of Vanilla Greek yogurt 

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

2 large eggs 

2 tablespoons of melted butter (or coconut oil)  

Topping (Chocolate Ganache) 

½ cup of chopped bittersweet chocolate (4 oz) 

½ cup of heavy cream (or half & half) 

½ teaspoon of vanilla extract 

Process:  

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
  2. Grease your pan (preferably a 9×9) 
  3. In a small bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder and sea salt 
  4. Melt chocolate and butter together in the microwave. Mix until completely melted. 
  5. Mix in the sugar, Greek yogurt and vanilla extract 
  6. Next, mix in the eggs, but do this one egg at a time until the batter is smooth 
  7. Add the other ingredients, but HOLD OFF on the chocolate chips for a second, and whisk until it’s mixed well. 
  8. NOW, you can add the chocolate chips! 
  9. Pour the batter into the pan, bake for 20 to 25 minutes  
  10. Let cool 
  11. While the brownies are cooling, it’s time to make the chocolate ganache! 
  12. Put heavy cream into a small saucepan. 
  13. Warm the saucepan over medium heat until it begins to bubble, but do NOT let it boil. 
  14. Whisk in chopped chocolate and vanilla until the mixture is dark and smooth. 
  15. Remove the burner and let cool slightly, as it cools, the ganache will thicken. 
  16. Once the ganache is cooled, pour it over the brownies 
  17. At this point, you can either let this cool at room temperature, or put it in the refrigerator. The ganache will firm up during the cooling process. 

Now, you can serve up to your family to brighten up their quarantine a bit! You now have two options…. If you want to share them with your family, don’t tell them they’re “healthy brownies” and just let them enjoy! If you want to keep them to yourself, DO tell them that they’re “healthy brownies” and watch them turn up their noses and march back to their rooms. Either path you choose to take, enjoy! 

Water Treatment Plant in Nacogdoches Over Capacity after Wednesday’s Storms

By
Aaron Ferguson
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NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS– 

Due to heavy rains that passed through on Wednesday afternoon, the City of Nacogdoches Wastewater Treatment Plant has been overwhelmed and the capacity of the system is at its maximum. This has resulted in an overflow of rainwater and sanitary sewage at a manhole near the plant into Lanana Creek in excess of 100,000 gallons. The environmental threat is minimal as the overflow was 95% rainwater.

The facility received maximum inflows of combined wastewater and stormwater. To prevent flooding that would severely damage equipment and productivity, the plant was placed in emergency bypass mode, where it will remain until water levels decrease The system is rated for just less than 13 million gallons per day, and we experienced flows in excess of 19 million gallons.

Texas Commission Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been notified and all required notifications have been issued to media and other City of Nacogdoches officials.  TCEQ Report can be found here.

Governor Abbott, TDHCA Secure Financial Housing Assistance

By
Aaron Ferguson
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Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) today announced that Texas will provide HOME Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) to Texans experiencing housing challenges due to COVID-19. These TBRA funds have been made possible through a series of waivers recently authorized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These waivers give Texas the flexibility needed to provide assistance to Texans in need. Governor Abbott and TDHCA initially requested these federal waivers on April 1st. 

The HUD waivers will allow a portion of TDHCA funds to be used to help families and individuals with up to 100 percent of the cost of rent, security deposit payments and utility bills for tenants affected by loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to $11.3 million will be available to current TBRA administrators in coming weeks who will then distribute the aid to qualifying Texans. 

“Thanks to these waivers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Texas will be able to provide much-needed financial relief to Texans struggling with housing due to challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Governor Abbott. “We are committed to supporting Texans facing severe economic hardship brought on by this pandemic, and the state will continue to work closely with our federal partners to give Texans the resources and assistance they need.”

Individuals needing assistance should visit Help for Texans to search for rental assistance providers in their area. Simply click Long Term Rent Payment Help, enter the city or county, and click on the Find Help button.

The Judgiest Judger In The Group

By
Misty Boggs
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That was me. My role in the youth group. You’ve got the popular one, the pretty one, the smart one, the funny one, and so on. Every group has them. And you know which one you are in the group.

I accepted my role of judgiest judger with a grave and humble dignity and my thoughts and sometimes my words were infused with the language of the judge. He or she knew better. That’s what happens when you ignore good advice. They were warned. And yes, they got what they deserved. Oh, my sixteen self was so high and mighty. But, Vinny was about to change all that.

Vinny was a Wall Street wiz turned homeless bouncer and one of the sweetest men I have ever met. We were in an alcove of a closed building, underneath the scaffolding that lined this particular New York City street. It was after midnight and the wind was cold as it whipped around corners. With Vinny was a group of five or six other guys with similar stories.

I was sixteen and on a mission trip with my youth group in the heart of the Big Apple. On this particular night, we were passing out sandwiches and toiletries as we learned that the city really never sleeps. Really, we were learning how to treat others without judging them.

On the ride into the city, our leader told us about the people. That they were just like us and the only thing that separated us from them was a choice or two. I wasn’t so sure about that. I carried around with me what I saw in movies or read in books. Homeless people were drug addicts and alcoholics and those with mental disorders that didn’t quite fit in with society. (Oh, I did meet them while I was there. At one mission, a guy came up in roller blades with American flags sticking out of both sides of his bike helmet and demanded his ravioli. The director offered the same soup everybody else was having. Roller Blade American Flag guy said he’d tell his five lawyers and rolled away. The director, non-plussed, said it happens and he’d be back next week for whatever they were serving.)

That’s what I thought the homeless were like. They stole, they beat, they took advantage of the system. But, here’s Vinny. As he shared his story in a thick Bronx accent, I hung out in the back of the group. Inwardly rolling my eyes. He was good-hearted, joking and laughing with us. He told us he made some bad choices when the money started rolling in. Drugs, alcohol, and jail meant he would never see his daughter again. He couldn’t get a regular job because of the jail time and he couldn’t get a place to live because he couldn’t pay rent. So, he bounced occasionally for some local bars and spent A LOT of time at the Y. I don’t know how much of Vinny’s story was true and I held Vinny to the standard that he should have known better.

As we were leaving, a couple of the guys in my youth group started teasing me, names and ribbing that was a little too true to be funny. This had been going on since the beginning of the trip and out here on the street, I was embarrassed and done with their antics. I yelled for them to stop and then Vinny stepped in. He put himself between me and the guys, and with a smile said, “Hey, don’t chou gotta get in that van?”

Did I mention Vinny spent a lot of time at the Y? I guess that part was true because he had huge muscles. The boys back pedaled as fast as they could. Vinny then turned to me. He put a body-builder gloved hand on my shoulder. “Listen, they just wanna see you react, so don’t.” He hugged me, and then told me to stay strong.

My world was rocked. First, I was hugged by the Bronx version of Stalone who just scared the guys witless and he didn’t try anything. He was kind to me and I wasn’t even the popular one or the pretty one. I was the uptight one and I was judging him. And he was defending me.

I think I approached the whole situation like my man Jonah.

This guy had a serious disdain for anything Nineveh. It wasn’t his aesthetic, they worshiped a fish god, they lived by the sea. Jonah’s reasons for hating Ninevites was long and it was a hatred shared by his countrymen. There’s no neutral ground.

God gave Jonah a very specific message for the Ninevites and it’s content did not sit well with him. It was a message of repentance and acceptance, and I think it was more for Jonah than the audience. So, what does Jonah do? He got on a boat only to jump ship under his own willpower in the middle of a storm, because guess what? He was going in the wrong direction, and rather than continue to risk the life of the crew, Jonah stepped off the boat. He is then shipped via whale to Nineveh.

He delivered his message and then folded his arms and scowled the entire way out of the city. Well, that’s how I picture him reacting anyway. I also see him scowling in his little lean-to, watching to see what would happen to the city. Daring God to be compassionate.

Which He was, and graciously so. However, Jonah was angry. Angry that God should let the city repent, angry that his little leafy vine that gave him comfort died. Angry that the sun beat down on him and angry that wind was blowing. He was angry enough to die. I imagine Jonah striking a melodramatic silent screen pose here, one hand to forehead, the other on his heart. God then asks Jonah, “Is it right for you to be so angry?” Another translation asks, “What cause do you have to be so angry?”

See, everything Jonah is mad about is completely out of his control. An entire city of 120,000 people and their livestock. The sun. The wind. A plant.

But the Lord said: You are concerned about a vine that you did not plant or take care of, a vine that grew up in one night and died the next. In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don't you think I should be concerned about that big city?" (Jonah 4:10-11)

I judged Vinny’s life and his choices because I thought he could have done better. Vinny was getting what he deserved, and I believe Jonah thought Nineveh didn’t deserve repentance and compassion. In reality: I don’t know squat about Vinny except he chose to genuinely help a scared, uptight girl find that she doesn’t know everything. And, God can have compassion on anyone. Without our approval.

Maybe the book of Jonah is only four chapters long because he finally got the message. I think Jonah finally realized carrying around his preconceptions was causing a few problems. So, if you’re like me or Jonah, it can be hard to let go of judging others. In those times, remember the grace and the love the Father has shared with you. Maybe its in the kindness of strangers or in the embrace of a child. Let the One who is, and was, and will be handle the situation. He’s big enough to love them and you.

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