June 29, 2021

Tuberville owned stock in Chinese firm as candidate

Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville owned stock in a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party during the time he was a Senate candidate.

Tuberville’s financial disclosures for activity in 2020, which he filed June 21 and was first reported on by Business Insider, show he had between $15,001 and $50,000 in Alibaba Group Holding Limited stock put options, which Tuberville reported had a value of between $1,101 and $15,000 and which earned him up to $1,000 in income in 2020.

Alibaba developed the Chinese government’s propaganda app Xuexi Qiangguo, Reuters reported in 2019. Jack Ma, Alibaba’s founder and former chairman, is a member of the Communist Party, according to Reuters and the party’s official paper, The People’s Daily.

Tuberville in May introduced a bill that would prohibit federal Thrift Savings Plan funds from being invested in Chinese companies.

Read more: https://www.alreporter.com/2021/06/28/tuberville-owned-stock-in-chinese-firm-as-candidate-senator-elect/
(Alabama Political Reporter)

June 29, 2021

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon won't seek re-election

Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon announced Monday that he won’t seek re-election.

In an email to House members Monday, obtained by APR, the speaker announced his plans to retire from politics “after many hours of prayer and family discussion.”

“This decision to not seek reelection is a result of my age, my wife and family. At the end of my current term, Deb and I will be entering our 70’s. We are both in good health and we would like to make the most of our golden years,” McCutcheon wrote. “As many of your know, I will not have idle hands but there will be more time to work in the barn and watch the sunset. I will remain active in our local community and busy checking off many ‘honey do’ items that have accumulated over the past decade.”

McCutcheon said he would continue to remain House speaker through the 2022 election and the election of a new speaker.

Read more: https://www.alreporter.com/2021/06/28/house-speaker-mac-mccutcheon-wont-seek-re-election/
(Alabama Political Reporter)

June 29, 2021

Liberal groups unite to fight GOP voting bills in special session

More than 30 liberal advocacy groups have united to oppose Republican plans to change state voting laws during the special session of the Legislature that will begin July 8.

Operating under the umbrella Texas for All, the groups say they also have raised more than $2.5 million to distribute to Texans hurt by the February freeze — the better to highlight their belief that the Republican-led Legislature focused on divisive wedge issues instead of fully addressing problems with the power grid during the regular session, which ended May 31.

But most of the coalition's efforts will be directed toward the Republican successor to Senate Bill 7, a sweeping measure that sought to ban 24-hour and drive-thru voting, beef up election fraud laws and protect the ability of partisan poll watchers to monitor voting and vote-counting operations.

A letter signed by the 35 founding coalition members called on politicians to avoid taking steps to restrict voting and instead make it easier and more accessible.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/06/28/liberal-groups-unite-fight-gop-voting-bills-special-session/5350543001/

June 29, 2021

Problems resolved so William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss can finally open July 11

EL PASO -- Problems that delayed the new, William Beaumont Medical Center from opening in 2020 have been taken care of and the mammoth $1.4 billion complex at Fort Bliss is ready to finally open July 11, the hospital's commander said Monday.

Hundreds of fire and life-safety problems identified by consultants early this year have been fixed or interim measures have been taken to ensure the safety of patients and staff, Army Col. Michael Oshiki said during and after a Monday press conference.

All regulatory and safety standards have been met to allow the opening, Oshiki said.

More than 500 life-safety deficiencies were identified in the seven-story, 135-bed hospital building, show a consultant's report given to Beaumont officials in February. Also, a significant number of life-safety deficiencies were found in other buildings in the six-building complex, said Brad Hartell, project construction manager for the Army Corps of Engineers, which oversaw the Beaumont construction done by two large, national contactors. He did not have the specific number.

Read more: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2021/06/28/fort-bliss-army-hospital-finally-ready-open-july-el-paso/7787387002/

June 29, 2021

Math, science and the arts are just as important as soccer training in this new school

EULESS -- Boys who want to enhance their soccer skills while focusing on academics will soon have a school in Euless.

The Allegiance Academy is scheduled to open in August at 100 E. Midway Drive.

Last week, the Euless City Council unanimously approved the zoning request, paving the way for the school to open in the former events center.

Van Roberts, who owns the property, said he wanted to provide an atmosphere where boys in grades 6 through 9 can concentrate on enhancing their soccer skills and pursue academics.

Read more: https://www.star-telegram.com/article252371753.html

June 29, 2021

GOP Lawmaker Failed to Disclose $17 Million In Trades

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) “failed to properly disclose dozens of stock trades together worth at least $7.8 million — and as much as $17.53 million,” Insider reports.

https://politicalwire.com/2021/06/29/gop-lawmaker-failed-to-disclose-17-million-in-trades/
(no more at link)

The article at Insider is behind a paywall.

June 28, 2021

State Rep. John Turner says he won't seek reelection to Texas House

by Cassandra Pollock, Texas Tribune


State Rep. John Turner, D-Dallas, said Monday he will not seek reelection to the lower chamber in 2022.

Turner has represented House District 114 since 2019 after he flipped the previously GOP-held seat during the 2018 elections.

In a statement, Turner said he decided to retire after concluding that another election cycle and legislative session would not be "compatible with the time I need to devote at this stage in life to being a father and husband."

"The next few years are an important time to be involved with my family," he said, "and that is much harder when one is away as often as legislative service requires."

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/28/john-turner-texas-house/
(no more at link)

June 28, 2021

Texas students' standardized test scores dropped dramatically during the pandemic, especially in

Texas students' standardized test scores dropped dramatically during the pandemic, especially in math

by Reese Oxner, Texas Tribune


The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to undo years of improvement for Texas students meeting grade requirements in reading and math, with students who did most of their schooling remotely suffering "significant declines" compared to those who attended in person, according to standardized test results released Monday by the Texas Education Agency.

In districts where fewer than a quarter of classes were held in person, the number of students who met math test expectations dropped by 32 percentage points, and the number of students who met reading expectations dropped by 9 percentage points compared to 2019, the last time the test was administered. In districts with more than three-quarters in-person instruction, the number of students meeting math expectations only dropped by 9 percentage points and those who met reading expectations by 1 percentage point. Students of color and lower-income students saw greater gaps as well, although those gaps were smaller than the one between remote and in-person instruction.

“The impact of the coronavirus on what school means and what school is has been truly profound,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told reporters Monday. “What we know now with certainty is that the decision in Texas to prioritize in person instruction was critical.”

The STAAR test was optional last year due to coronavirus-related orders, but 87% of students still participated — compared to 96% of students in 2019. Morath said those numbers allow for “fairly effective comparisons.” The STAAR assessment for math and reading is administered from grades 3 to 8.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/28/texas-staar-test-results/

June 28, 2021

Puerto Rico to receive nearly $4B in US pandemic funds

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Monday that Puerto Rico will receive nearly $4 billion in federal education pandemic relief funds to help boost the U.S. territory’s fight against COVID-19.

The announcement was made during Cardona’s official three-day trip to Puerto Rico, the first for a Biden administration Cabinet member. It marks the first time the island has full access to those funds.

“The students of Puerto Rico have suffered enough,” he said. “It’s time to get back to school safely and quickly.”

Roughly half of the nearly $4 billion will be released as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law in March to help offset the pandemic’s impact on the economy and public health.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-puerto-rico-coronavirus-pandemic-pandemics-health-996eabf065b6bf0c30d0846a4a496235

June 28, 2021

The University of the Virgin Islands Makes Covid-19 Vaccination Mandatory for Students and Staff

The University of the Virgin Islands announced Monday that after much discussion and debate, and in consultation with the V.I. Department of Health, the UVI Board of Trustees voted on Saturday, June 19, to institute mandatory vaccinations for all students and employees.

UVI issued a previous release about the June 19 meeting, but did not reveal this major decision. Calls placed to Tamika Thomas, head of public relations at UVI, were not immediately returned.

“This decision was made based on what the Board felt was in the best interest of the entire UVI community,” said UVI President Dr. David Hall. “Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on this nation and the world. This virus can be fatal and we have seen those consequences.”

Mr. Hall continued, “Though there are numerous ways in which individuals can protect themselves from the virus, the best scientific evidence demonstrates that the various vaccines are the best protection for individuals and communities.”

Read more: https://viconsortium.com/vi-coronavirus/virgin-islands-uvi-makes-covid-19-vaccination-mandatory-for-students-and-staff