Texas Supreme Court temporarily reinstates Abbott's ban on mask mandates



The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Attorney General Ken Paxton, temporarily blocking San Antonio and Bexar County from implementing a mask mandate.

At the request of Abbott and Paxton, the court granted a stay on the injunction issued by a lower court that permitted the mask mandate to move forward despite the governor's executive order banning public entities from implementing such requirements, KSAT-TV reports.

"The Texas Supreme Court has sided with the law, and the decision to enforce mask mandates lies with the governor's legislatively-granted authority," Paxton said in a statement praising the decision. "Mask mandates across our state are illegal, and judges must abide by the law. Further non-compliance will result in more lawsuits."

However, the matter is not concluded. The state supreme court must now review the case before deciding whether Abbott's order was legal.

"While I am personally disappointed in the order handed down today by the Texas Supreme Court, I will continue to do all that I can to fight for the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Bexar County," Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said. "We are continuing to work with the City of San Antonio to determine the next steps in light of the order issued today."

Earlier in August, Bexar County sued the Abbott administration, arguing the governor overstepped his bounds by barring local governments, schools, and other public entities from issuing mask requirements to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. District Court Judge Toni Arteaga, ruling in favor of the county, issued an injunction against Abbott's order, saying that schoolchildren were vulnerable given a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in Bexar County.

Abbott and Paxton appealed the case to the state supreme court after the Fourth Court of Appeals upheld the injunction last week on Aug. 19.

The County's lawyers have argued that the governor's executive orders contradict Texas Health and Safety Code, which gives local health officials the power to enact restrictions including mask requirements for public health reasons.

The governor's administration counters that the governor has the authority to issue a prohibition on mask mandates under the Texas Disaster Act. The administration further argues that localized mask mandates are adding to "statewide confusion arising from the multiple, conflicting orders that courts at all levels of the judiciary have issued in the past several weeks."

Aside from Bexar County at large, several local San Antionio area school districts have enacted their own mask requirements in violation of Abbott's order, which according to KSAT-TV could remain in effect until they are challenged in court as well.

Texas parent angrily tears off teacher's mask during heated exchange: Report



An unnamed Texas parent reportedly tore off a teacher's mask during an angry exchange, prompting a school officials to warn, "Do not fight mask wars in our schools."

The alleged assault was said to have taken place during a "Meet the Teacher" event, according to KEYE-TV.

What are the details?

The altercation, according to the Washington Post, took place during the first week of the 2021-22 school year for the Eanes Independent School District in Austin.

In a Tuesday note to district parents and staffers, Eanes ISD Superintendent Tom Leonard announced several disturbing mask-related incidents that reportedly took place in schools across the district.

The incidents, according to the report, have unfolded as Eanes ISD recently announced a mask requirement for students, staff, and visitors after a judge issued a temporary restraining order on Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on local mask mandates.

"Some parents physically and verbally assaulted teachers because of masks," the outlet reported.

"A parent physically assaulted a teacher by ripping a mask off her face, others yelling at a teacher to take off her mask because they could not understand what the teacher was saying while her face was covered," Leonard said in the statement.

In his letter, Leonard wrote, "This type of behavior will not be tolerated in Eanes ISD. Our staff are on the front lines of this pandemic; let's give them some space and grace. Please, I am asking everyone to be kind...do not fight mask wars in our schools."

The outlet's coronavirus tracker reported that coronavirus cases in Texas rose 11% week over week as hospitalizations increased 21% week over week.

The announcement comes as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) — who has spoken out in opposition to mask-wearing in schools — is confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated and having received a booster shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all students and school employees wear masks indoors.

According to Newsweek, Leonard in his note continued, "I am asking as kindly as I can: Please treat each other the way you would like to be treated. During this difficult time, let's provide a respectful oasis on our buses, in our schools, and on our campuses. The children are watching and learning how we behave, so let's make the time our students spend in school a joyful and positive experience."

Eanes ISD spokesperson Claudia McWhorter told KEYE that the incident was not reported to local police.

"Out of sensitivity to the campus staff, we are not releasing the name of the school, nor the name of the teachers, " McWhorter told the station. "As seen by yesterday's behavior, emotions are high right now and the last thing we need is for people to antagonize our staff even more."

Two weeks after Texas lifts mask order, there’s still no apparent COVID-19 surge



Two weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) lifted all mandatory mask mandates, there has been no surge in COVID-19 cases across the state.

In addition to removing the mask requirements, Abbott also lifted all restrictions on businesses and permitted them to open at full capacity if they so desired.

What are the details?

A Friday report from The Epoch Times explained that there has been no surge despite Abbott relaxing all restrictions, and, in fact, numbers have steadily decreased over the weeks since Abbott issued the executive order.

On Thursday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported that the state saw a seven-day average decrease in the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and coronavirus-related deaths.

In a tweet, the organization wrote, "Update: Texans are slowing the spread with vaccines and #HealthyTexas steps. Keep it up to stop variants from reversing our progress."

"In the last 7 days #Texas averaged: 2,556 new cases a day, 3,581 current hospitalizations, 122 new fatalities reported a day."

#COVID19TX Update: Texans are slowing the spread with vaccines and #HealthyTexas steps. Keep it up to stop variants… https://t.co/TNRXOIhEoQ
— Texas DSHS (@Texas DSHS)1616615474.0

Reporter Meiling Lee noted that Texas had been witnessing a downward trend in confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalization in the days and weeks preceding Abbott's March 10 announcement.

"At the time the executive order was issued, March 2, new COVID-19 cases in the state stood at 7,240 cases, with a seven-day average of 7,259 cases," Lee wrote. "That number dropped to 5,350 cases by March 10 when the executive order came into effect and the economy fully opened.

As of Wednesday, the number of daily new cases stood at 3,827, and a seven-day average of 3,401 cases, Lee added.

Anything else?

On Friday, the New York Times reported that Texas has recently made all adults eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.

On Tuesday, Texas, Indiana and Georgia all announced that residents age 16 years and older would be eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, starting Thursday for Georgia residents, Monday for Texas residents, and March 31 for Indiana residents.

In a tweet, Texas' health department wrote, "With every dose, Texas gets closer to normal and protects more lives from COVID-19 hospitalization and death."

Texas to open #COVID19 vaccination to all adults on March 29. With every dose, Texas gets closer to normal and pr… https://t.co/ClIcn9kCS2
— Texas DSHS (@Texas DSHS)1616512017.0

A recent New York Times analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 22 percent of all Texas residents have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

At least 11 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the report, which was last updated Thursday.

Surveillance video shows man stab Jack in the Box manager after being told to wear a mask



Surveillance video from a Jack in the Box showed how quickly a dispute over a mask can turn into a violent attack.

Police released the video from the fast food restaurant in League City, Texas, a town south of Houston.

The video from Wednesday shows the fast food manager speaking to a man who walks towards the exit of the restaurant. Police said that the manager had told the man to wear a mask or use the drive-thru.

After the manager turns away, the man quickly doubles back, reaches for the manager, and swings his arm with an object in his fist. The video ends before the actual stabbing of the manager, but police said that other employees intervened during the struggle that ensued.

The manager was stabbed three times in the arm and the torso with a pocketknife. He was released from a hospital after receiving treatment.

Police believe the man fled on a bicycle after the attack.

The official League City Police Department social media account posted screenshots from the video and sought help from the public in identifying the man.

The League City Police Department needs the public's help identifying this man. He is suspected of stabbing an empl… https://t.co/pC27vhXRLL
— LeagueCityTX (@LeagueCityTX)1616084542.0

Police later identified the man as James Henry Schultz, 53.

"[Schultz] belligerently refused and said they did not want to serve him because he was homeless and began yelling that he would be contacting his attorney as he was filming with his cell phone," said League City police chief Gary Ratliff during a media briefing according to KHOU-TV.

Ratcliff went on to ask that the public respect mask policies of businesses.

"I would ask that people respect the policies that have been put in place by these local businesses and any businesses around," he added. "A lot of these people...have had personal events with loved ones that have died and passed away as a result of COVID as have some of our officers."

An arrest warrant for aggravated assault has been issued for Schultz.

Here's a local news video about the violent incident:

Man refused to wear mask, then stabbed Jack in the Box employee, police saywww.youtube.com

Matthew McConaughey says he was 'dumbfounded' by Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to lift Texas' mask mandate



Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey, who's currently mulling a run for governor of Texas, on Wednesday criticized Gov. Greg Abbott (R) for lifting the state's mask mandate.

McConaughey appeared on "CBS This Morning" to discuss his charitable efforts to help Texas rebuild after February's massive snow storm. During the interview, he was asked to share his thoughts on Gov. Abbott's March 2 announcement that Texas would open 100% and that residents would no longer be required to wear masks.

Academy Award winner Matthew @McConaughey is on a mission to help fellow Texans after last month's massive storm.… https://t.co/1UMAeLYhLr
— CBS This Morning (@CBS This Morning)1615986788.0

"My reaction to that is ... I was a little dumbfounded by the decision," McConaughey said. "I understand 'go back to work.' What I did not understand was 'pull the mask mandate.'"

He suggested that Texans don't really have a problem with wearing face coverings to protect against COVID-19 and that the real problem is people don't like the government telling them what to do.

"I just want to remind, not only Texans, but everybody out there, it's not the mask we're afraid of, c'mon. It's the word 'mandate.' Let's not let the word 'mandate' get in the way of practical use of this little tool called a mask. It's just a small inconvenience today for more freedom tomorrow," McConaughey said.

Though Texans are no longer required to wear a mask, the actor said masking is our "choice" and said that people should "keep masking up."

"It's proven to help. We don't have much longer in this. We'll get through this. Thank you," he said.

Asked about his potential political ambitions, McConaughey reiterated that he's giving consideration to running for governor, but said he went on the program to discuss his efforts to help Texans recover from the storm.

"As I've said before, I'm giving it consideration. It's a very honorable thing to consider ... As I've said before and I'll say again now, I have to decide for me what is my category where I can be most useful in life from here?"

McConaughey and his wife Camila will host "We're Texas," a virtual benefit this Sunday to raise money to help Texans recovering from the winter storm. The benefit will feature performances from artists including Kelly Clarkson, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, and more.

The actor credited his wife with coming up with the idea.

"Camila came and knocked on my door and said, 'do you see what's happening here?'" McConaughey told CBS. "She has my back. I put my head down, gathered people to go to work."

He contacted Texas businesses, athletes, and other celebrities to recruit them to assist with the benefit.

"We're happy with where we are, with a lot of help from a lot of people, in Texas and beyond," he said.

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Gov. Greg Abbott says there will be no more more lockdowns in the state of Texas



Gov. Greg Abbott said despite the increased numbers of coronavirus cases in Texas, he will not order any new lockdown in his state.

"We are not going to have any more lockdowns in the state of Texas," Abbott said to a Dallas radio host on Thursday.

"Our focal point is gonna be working to heal those who have COVID," he explained, "get them out of hospitals quickly, make sure they get back to their normal lives."

Abbott had issued a statewide mask mandate for the state on July 2 after a spike in virus cases and hospitalizations.

That order called for "all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions."

At that time, the state had recorded 8,000 new cases of the virus in a single day and was experiencing a spike. On Tuesday, the state recorded 10,826 new daily cases.

Hospitalizations due to the coronavirus have also increased since the first lockdown orders in June and July. At that time, Texas had seen 5,102 hospitalizations due to the virus, but four months later the state has more than 7,400 hospitalizations from coronavirus.

Abbott has said during recent radio interviews that the state will focus on treatments for coronavirus including Bamlanivimab, which will be sent to Texas hospitals, as well as Regeneron antibody cocktail.

"COVID-19 antibody therapy medicine will be distributed next week to hospitals across Texas," Abbott tweeted on Friday.

"It has been shown to prevent hospitalizations in some patients when used before they become very sick," he added. "There will be no cost to patients."

Epidemiology professor Rajesh Nandy told KPRC-TV that although the rise in coronavirus statistics was alarming, the public appeared to be suffering from "COVID fatigue" and that there wasn't enough public will to support another lockdown.

Here's a news report about the governor's comments:

Gov. Abbott: No lockdowns during Texas COVID-19 surge | KVUEwww.youtube.com