stay at home order extended

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo extends stay-at-home order

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has extended the order to June 10.

After announcing the extension of Harris County's 'Stay Home, Work Safe,' order Judge Lina Hidalgo addressed some of the regulations included in the extension expected to last until June 10.

Hidalgo's two sets of rules are for the safety of workers, one being for public-facing service workers such as retail stores and restaurants and one for manufacturing. These rules were made in coordination with the Harris County Public Health Department and with state and federal recommendations.

The guidelines announced are designed to lift the real dangers and sheer fear that workers are exposed to and suffer day-to-day, according to Hidalgo.

"No construction worker should appear at work sick because they fear retaliation," Hidalgo said. "No restaurant worker should work without a face covering.

When it comes to manufacturing and constructions workers, some of the rules include that companies should provide 15 minute breaks at least every four hours. Another includes, allowing breaks for hygiene measures.

Rules for public-facing service workers include rest breaks once an hour to take care of hygienic responsibilities.

According to Hidalgo, manufacturing businesses and public-face service companies should designate a safety monitor to oversee these guidelines.

"In Harris County, no one should have to decide on being sick and putting food on your table," Hidalgo said.

The importance of COVID-19 testing was addressed as Dr. Umair Shah with the Harris County Health Department stated that they want to be able to identify where the cases are.

As of Thursday afternoon's press conference, Hidalgo announced there were 47 new cases and two new deaths related to the coronavirus outside of Houston. She added that Harris County has crossed over 10,000 cases and 200 deaths.

"The only reason we haven't seen it as bad here as Italy and New York is (because) we've done social distancing. We've done our work," Hidalgo said.

During the presser, Hidalgo assured the order conforms with Gov. Greg Abbott's order, "Im very much committed to staying aligned with the parameters he issues," she said. The order will be similar to what it was before but it will adapt to the governor's guidelines.

Hidalgo also stated that she does not want to send the wrong message to the community and that the virus can still spread without proper social distancing.

"We have to remember, even though this is a long running disaster - uncomfortable, we're all tired - the virus is still out there and it does spread through close contact," she said.

The extension of the order comes as business and bars, aquariums, and bowling alleys prepare to reopen on Friday, May 22, with restrictions.

Once the order is signed, full details will be available at ReadyHarris.org.

---

For more on this story, including video, visit our content partner, ABC13.

city-news-roundup

Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

undefined

Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”