October 1, 2021

Panola County denies UT Health request for help with pandemic expenses

CARTHAGE — Panola County commissioners have voted against providing federal stimulus funding to UT Health Carthage.

The hospital had previously asked the county for $369,000 to help cover staffing and other costs accrued during the most recent COVID-19 surge when the state did not provide assistance. CEO Mark Leitner told county officials at their Aug. 31 meeting that the state had directed UT Health to ask their local entities for funding relief through stimulus funding that cities and counties had received.

County officials told Leitner Aug. 31 that they have not allocated any of their $4 million in stimulus funds. On Tuesday, commissioners denied the request.

“What do y’all wanna do?” County Judge LeeAnn Jones asked.

Read more: https://www.news-journal.com/news/coronavirus/panola-county-denies-ut-health-request-for-help-with-pandemic-expenses/article_3c22f331-cfb2-554c-9d9b-090e2ba3421d.html
(Longview News-Journal)

October 1, 2021

For People Who Got The J&J Vaccine, Some Doctors Are Advising Boosters ASAP

Last week, a panel of scientists and doctors met to discuss the Pfizer booster vaccine. Specifically, the goal was to advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about who needs a third shot.

The agency ultimately recommended anyone age 65 and over should get one as well as people who live in long-term care facilities or people ages 50 to 64, who have underlying health conditions.

But several panelists felt there was a more urgent matter at hand than Pfizer boosters.

"To me, the biggest policy question out there is the Johnson & Johnson [booster]," Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot at Vanderbilt University, who's a member of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, told the panel. "I worry we're getting distracted by the question of boosters of Pfizer when we have bigger and more important things to do in the pandemic."

The Johnson & Johnson booster is a "bigger" issue, several panelists noted, because people who received that vaccine may need a booster more urgently than those who received the Pfizer or Moderna. About 15 million Americans got the Johnson & Johnson shot, and many are wondering what to do.

Read more: https://www.kut.org/covid-19/2021-09-28/for-people-who-got-the-j-j-vaccine-some-doctors-are-advising-boosters-asap

I'll be consulting my physician in the upcoming week since I had the J&J vaccine.

October 1, 2021

Weeks after Texas lawmakers reduce illegal voting penalty, Gov. Greg Abbott asks them to increase it

AUSTIN — After outcries from tea party activists in his party, Gov. Greg Abbott has added a new subject to the agenda of the year’s third special legislative season: increasing penalties for illegal voting back to where they were before he signed an “election integrity” bill earlier this month.

Although “Texas has made tremendous progress in upholding the integrity of our elections,” the Legislature needs to return the punishments for illegal voting to a minimum of two years in prison, and possibly 20, Abbott said in a message to the Senate late Wednesday.

In the new law, slated to kick in on Dec. 2, maximum confinement will be one year in jail.

“By increasing penalties for illegal voting, we will send an even clearer message that voter fraud will not be tolerated in Texas,” Abbott said as he added his eighth topic to the “call” of the overtime gathering.

Lawmakers are mostly preoccupied with redistricting. On Monday the session, which can last no more than 30 days, will reach the halfway point.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/09/30/weeks-after-texas-lawmakers-reduce-illegal-voting-penalty-gov-greg-abbott-asks-them-to-increase-it/

October 1, 2021

SXSW joins fight against Texas abortion bills: 'We are appalled'

In addition to supporting the women's march, SXSW will make donations to Planned Parenthood, the Lilith Fund, and Fair Fight.


Organizers behind the annual SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, are speaking out against restrictive abortion bills rolled out by state leadership this month.

Just ahead of this Saturday’s National Women’s March in support of reproductive rights, the conference is pledging to stay in its home city and fight alongside the dedicated blue pocket of Austin.

“SXSW stands against discriminatory laws and unequivocally supports civil rights for all persons, everywhere,” a Thursday statement from SXSW read. “As residents of Texas we are appalled at the passing of both SB 4 and SB 8, the most restrictive state abortion bills in the nation, along with SB 1, which deliberately disenfranchises voters.”

The bills in question, which incensed Hollywood weeks ago, open doors to civil prosecution for any party aiding in an abortion in Texas. The legislation is seen as a bellwether in overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade case.

Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/culture/article/SXSW-Texas-Abortion-Bills-planned-parenthood-16499610.php

October 1, 2021

ExxonMobil makes first amended offer since lockout; threatens to remove benefits

BEAUMONT -- ExxonMobil has made a new, amended offer to the USW Local 13-243 for the first time since the lockout of over 620 workers began almost six months ago. But it comes with a timeline.

If the company doesn’t receive an answer by Nov. 1, it has said it will start removing beneficial proposals for employees from its offer.

On Wednesday, the company announced that its bargaining representatives gave the union a new offer at its Monday meeting, which it said contained changes that the union previously expressed interest in.

Both parties have met multiple times each month since the lockout began in May, but until now, the company hasn’t adjusted its offers or accepted any of the union’s multiple requests.

Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/article/ExxonMobil-makes-first-amended-offer-since-lockout-16496254.php

October 1, 2021

ExxonMobil makes first amended offer since lockout; threatens to remove benefits

BEAUMONT -- ExxonMobil has made a new, amended offer to the USW Local 13-243 for the first time since the lockout of over 620 workers began almost six months ago. But it comes with a timeline.

If the company doesn’t receive an answer by Nov. 1, it has said it will start removing beneficial proposals for employees from its offer.

On Wednesday, the company announced that its bargaining representatives gave the union a new offer at its Monday meeting, which it said contained changes that the union previously expressed interest in.

Both parties have met multiple times each month since the lockout began in May, but until now, the company hasn’t adjusted its offers or accepted any of the union’s multiple requests.

Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/article/ExxonMobil-makes-first-amended-offer-since-lockout-16496254.php