In the News

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia and fellow Democrats, Veronica Escobar, of El Paso, and Jason Crow, of Aurora, Colo., are seeking to halt transfers of people between Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities and other federal, state and local prisons to prevent the spread of COVID, according to a news release.

The Houston lawmaker announced their bill, the End Transfers of Detained Immigrants Act, is aimed at slowing transmission of COVID-19, is backed by 63 immigrant rights groups,

The news release says 20,000 immigrants in detention centers and prisons across the country have tested positive for the disease.

In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act, which authorized Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), also known as "stimulus checks," to help provide direct economic relief to families suffering from the impacts of COVID-19.

Harris County, TX (CW39) — TODAY, Commissioners Adrian Garcia and Rodney Ellis announced "Harris County Back to Work" – a workforce development program funded by the county to train 2,592 residents in skills such as IT, welding, construction, nursing, and other valuable trades.

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D), received 71% of the vote in her re-election to represent the 29th Congressional District. She is a guest on this week's Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall and says her win lets her continue to fight for the needs of her constituents, including a more aggressive response from state leadership in the COVID-19 crisis.

"They actually filed a lawsuit against the county judge for saying he wanted to shut down parts of his county," Garcia said, referring to State Attorney General Ken Paxton's successful effort to halt the shutdown of El Paso non-essential businesses. "That is absolutely ridiculous. Every county knows its local needs better. We should let them do their job."

AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday denied a request by GOP lawmakers, candidates and activists in Harris County to throw out 127,000 votes cast through the county's drive-through voting option.

Those votes, however, are still being challenged in a similar suit in federal court, where U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen will listen to an emergency hearing at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Houston.

Texas officials on Tuesday reversed a rule that would have allowed social workers to turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability.

Lawmakers and advocates last week criticized the Texas State Board of Social Workers and the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council for unanimously voting on Oct. 12 to remove disability, sexual orientation and gender identity from the nondiscrimination clause of its code of conduct.

The board made its decision based solely on a recommendation from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and without seeking input from social workers.

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Early voting in Texas is smashing records.

As of Monday, Oct. 26, more than seven million Texans, and more than one million in Harris County, have voted in person or by mail.

After prompting from Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas State Board of Social Workers voted unanimously last week to remove protections regarding sexual orientation, gender identity and disability status from the official code of conduct. The move sent shockwaves through the industry, which is preparing to fight back.

"You're looking at an attack on LGBTQ rights," said Will Francis, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Texas chapter. "They can claim it's cleaning things up legally, but this is Texas. There are already very few protections, and they seem to be trying to remove the ones we have."