Houston Defender: August 5, 2021

Defender Preseason Greater Houston Team A look at the notable H.S. players to watch

IN FOCUS

SPORTS

I-45 REBUILD

JALEN GREEN

Billions at stake as state decides how best to fix one of Houston’s busiest freeways.

The #2 draft pick is expected to help rebuild the Rockets program.

Volume 90, issue 40 August 5, 2021

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DN To the Point

FIT & FINE Edrina Newman Age: 41 Occupation: Fitness Guru/ Transformational Coach/ Motivational Speaker Education: Houston Baptist University/ Dulles High School Major: BS in Kinesiology and BA in Mass Communications Motto: “Anything worth having is worth fighting for. You are worth it!”

Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, center, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other activists lead a peaceful demonstration to advocate for voting rights on Capitol Hill... -AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite

Message From the Associate Editor that such calm doesn’t last forever. The storm is coming. However, with this potential fall COVID storm, there’s actually something we can do to avoid it. Get vaccinated, fam.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BLOWING CHANCE TO SAVE DEMOCRACY

Love’em or hate’em, Republicans fight for every inch. They will “big lie” through their teeth and fart fairy tales to hold onto power over America’s people, policies and purseRIPPLE’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT strings. Check their record, money! They’ve You’d have to drink 10 bottles of Fred Sandalready sacrificed their “christian” faith and ford’s favorite drink (Ripple) in order to actually allegiance to the Constitution. They’ve sided believe some of the things going down in these with US enemy Russia, beaten cops to death “yet to be” United States of America. Exhibit A: while claiming “Blue Lives Matter,” and a young, Black man, whose body was found in instigated a treasonous attempt to overthe attic of a known racist, had his death ruled a Aswad Walker throw a democratic election, all to the suicide, even though the racist homeowner told delight of their “president in exile,” Donald Trump. The Biden/ guests at his daughter’s party that he killed the brother. Exhibit Harris administration’s response to this clear-and-present dan- B: Vauhxx Booker, who was nearly lynched on July 4, 2020 is ger? Count on bipartisan support from Republicans who don’t now being charged with a felony for basically refusing to forgive even recognize him as president or Blackfolk to once again save his attempted murderers and sign a non-disclosure agreement, American democracy with our votes. But Blackfolk aren’t show- which would block him from sharing the truth of his near lynching up to the polls if voting rights aren’t protected, especially if ing. Ironically, this is Black August, so named for many reasons, Republicans can throw out any election results they don’t like. including the birth of the Black political prisoners’ movement of Marion Barry’s widow Cora Masters, recently said “the process the early 70s, Marcus Garvey’s birthday and the fact that in August is not bigger than the problem,” referring to Biden’s hesitancy to of 1619, the first acknowledged Africans in bondage made it to remove the antiquated and racist filibuster that’s blocking both American shores. Activists have used Black August as an annual Biden’s agenda from coming to pass and democracy from living rallying cry for us to learn more about “our story” and fight for to see another day. In 2022 and 2024, Black voters will not show justice. Believe it or not, in 2021, we need that fight now more up for Biden, Harris, Obama, Jesus or Muhammad if Dems sleep than ever. on protecting our voting rights. @edrinanewman Facebook: @edrinanewman Read more on Friday about Edrina at defendernetwork.com If you are Fit & Fine email: clyde@defendernetwork.com

CALM BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STORM

No state mask mandate. COVID cases skyrocketing, especially with youth. Summer super-spreader events going down daily with few masks and zero social distancing. School districts requiring in-person learning. Parents fearful of sending kids back to school, but can’t afford to miss work. The number of unvaccinated folk still huge. And all traditional fall activities are readying their return: homecomings, sport events, college tours, neighborhood festivals, etc. Recently, my wife mentioned how odd it is that there’s little-to-no back-to-school ads on TV or displays in stores.

These ads usually dominate our lives in late July and early August.

The silence from their absence seems almost eerie; like that calm we feel when in the eye of a hurricane. Hopefully, we’ll remember

IN THIS WEEK’S DEFENDER

• Check out the Defender’s Pre-Season (football) All Greater Houston team and the Rocket’s top NBA pick, Jalen Green.

• TxDOT asks Houstonians to weigh in on the I-45 Project.

• The Urban Scholars program seeks to produce intelligent, skilled young people committed to improving Black and Brown communities.

ON THE WEB

• The pandemic of the unvaccinated is running rampant.

• Memorial Hermann says all workers must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

• Houstonians, Black women making presence felt at Tokyo Olympics.

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN News

ARRESTED

Lawmakers vow to continue to fight for voting rights

By ReShonda Tate

U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, along with State Rep. Ron Reynolds are vowing to continue their acts of civil disobedience in an effort to protest voting rights. The Texas lawmakers were in Washington, D.C., where they were raising awareness for voting rights and pushing for the Senate to pass federal voting protections.

Jackson Lee, who was the first arrested last week, said she was speaking out about the Texas GOP push to tighten voter restrictions, and federal legislation named after the late congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis.

“It was an emotional moment,” Jackson Lee told Houston Public Media. “As soon as I finished in civil disobedience, my commitment is to engage with these senators. The Senate needs to do its work. It needs to pass the S1 that is the companion to H1. We may have to go to conference.

But there’s no doubt that all the meetings I’ve had with the Texas Democratic delegation where the representative presented really stark stories about voter suppression, including the suppression of young voters in the state of Texas. This is an urgent matter.: Green and Reynolds were at a rally organized by the National Clergy United for Justice that civil rights activists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton also attended.

Green said that he and his colleagues moved to the street after praying in front of the Supreme Court when they were approached by Capitol police. He said protesters were told they would be arrested if they hadn’t moved after three warnings. According to Green’s office, the lawmakers were arrested on charges of “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.”

“The state has a long history of voter suppression, and the latest iteration of it involves denying people the right to vote in hours that are convenient to them — when they’re getting off of work,” Green said in reference to one aspect of the GOP-backed voter restrictions, which looks to ban 24-hour voting in the state.

Reynolds is the first Texas House Democrat arrested during the group’s decampment to Washington, D.C. The

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) (2nd R) is arrested as she participates in a civil disobedience during a protest outside Hart Senate Office Building. -Alex Wong/Getty Images

state lawmakers have been out of Texas for more than three weeks. They’ve spent that time lobbying their federal counterparts to pass voting rights legislation like the For the People Act, which they believe could preempt the proposed voting restrictions back home.

“As the first African American elected State Representative since Reconstruction, I realize that I didn’t get here by myself.

I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors who paved the way for me,” Reynolds said. “I was willing to get arrested because it’s necessary to make good trouble to protect my constituents and Texans from the Voter Suppression bills proposed by the Republicans in power. I will continue to fight for passage of federal voting rights legislation in Congress to protect Texans against Jim Crow 2.0. This is the least that I could do for the great sacrifices that many people made to secure passage of

State Rep. Ron Reynolds and U.S. Rep Al Green were arrested after protesting voting rights in D.C.

the Voting Rights Act of 1965: including death.”

Jackson Lee says she’s taking her fight to the U.S. Senate next.

Texas Legislature still at impasse on GOP elections bill Defender News Service

The partisan standoff over Texas Republicans’ priority elections bill doesn’t appear to be anywhere near a resolution.

One hundred of the 150 House members have to be together to conduct official business in the Texas Legislature.

Most of the 75 of those Texas Democrats are still camped out in the nation’s capital, and Republicans are still waiting for them back in Austin.

The few glimmers of hope for negotiation are long gone, and neither side appears to be in the mood for dialogue.

Republicans believe they have already compromised plenty on the legislation, while Democrats are distrustful of both the policy driving the legislation and their GOP colleagues after seeing how they have managed the process around the bill so far.

Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to call special session after

special session until the elections bill passes, and he has said the next one will begin the day after this one ends; a special session can end early, but can’t go longer than 30 days, and August 6 was the 30th day.

If there is another special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has indicated the Senate will pass elections legislation similar to what it passed during this one, which could close the door on any potential further negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.

“At the end of the day, this bill is going to pass, pretty much in the form that it’s in — we’re always willing to listen, if they have suggestions … but this bill is going to pass,” Patrick said.

“Is it in August, September, October? Is it next February? Is it next June? This bill is going to pass because the people of Texas of all colors want safe and secure elections. And the longer this goes on, the weaker [Democrats’] argument gets.”

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DN News

WHITE HOUSE

Defaulting renter with facemask receives letter giving notice of eviction from home on wooden table. -Steve Heap

WHITE HOUSE

$44 bil still available to avoid evictions NNPA

House and Senate Democrats are looking to the White House to immediately act to stop evictions after the federal moratorium expired on July 31.

But President Joe Biden said a recent Supreme Court ruling means the administration cannot unilaterally extend the moratorium.

For his part, the President has called on state and local governments to resolve the problem.

The American Rescue Plan provided $47 billion in rental assistance earlier this year, but states and localities have used just $3 billion.

“We as a country have never had a

national infrastructure or national policy preventing avoidable evictions,” American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling responded in a White House briefing.

“State and local governments must do more to help.”

It’s not currently known just how many Americans face eviction, but leaders in the House and Senate have urged the White House to act.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said she believes about 11 million families are affected.

“As they have called upon the American people to mask up, to be vaccinated and to take other public health precautions, it is critical, in recognition of this urgency,

that they extend the eviction moratorium,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said nearly 33% of the country wouldn’t face eviction through August.

“Thanks to the bipartisan COVID Relief Act Congress passed in December 2020 and the American Rescue Plan the Biden administration enacted in March, state and local governments long ago received emergency rental assistance – a $46.5 billion plan to protect millions of Americans facing deep rental debt and potential eviction during the pandemic,” Psaki continued.

Some cities and states have

“demonstrated their ability to release these funds efficiently to tenants and landlords in need,” Psaki further insisted.

“But even though funds began to be distributed in February by the Biden administration, too many states and cities have been too slow to act,” she said.

“No one in America should be evicted when federal funds are available, in the hands of state and local government, to pay back rent due.”

Because of the spread of the Delta variant, President Biden asked the CDC to consider executive action. The White House said he raised the prospect of a new, 30-day eviction moratorium focused on counties with high or substantial case rates.

Texas extends eviction protection Defender News Service

A state eviction diversion program launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended, according to a new emergency order from the Texas Supreme Court. The diversion program expired on July 31. The new order extends it until Oct. 1.

In September, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the creation of the Texas Eviction Diversion Program and said the state would use $171 million in federal CARES Act funding for rental assistance and legal services for Texans facing eviction. The program originally included 19 counties before expanding statewide in February.

The voluntary program created an alternative to evictions when both tenants and landlords agree to participate, offering up to 15 months of rental and utility assistance for tenants. Once tenants and their landlords agree in court to pursue state assistance, eviction

proceedings can be delayed for up to 60 days.

If the application is approved, the tenant can remain in their home and the landlord will receive lump-sum payments for past-due rent and late fees; at that point, the eviction case is dismissed and doesn’t become a public record. But landlords can decide at any time during the 60-day period to restart the eviction process.

The order also allows a judge to postpone the eviction for 60 days if a landlord has a pending application for the program on behalf of a tenant or if both parties say they’re interested in participating.

In February, the state introduced a $1.3 billion statewide rent relief program that also aids tenants with rental assistance to prevent housing instability or potential eviction. A portion of that money also helps to fund the eviction diversion program.

VOLUME 90 - NUMBER 40 - AUGUST 5, 2021 Publisher | CEO Sonceria Messiah-Jiles

Managing Editor ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Strategic Alllance Clyde Jiles

Associate Editor Aswad Walker

Creative Director Michael Grant

Education Reporter Laura Onyeneho

Photographers Ray Carrington III Jimmie Aggison

Sports Terrance Harris Jodie B. Jiles

The Defender newspaper is published by the Houston Defender Newspaper Inc. and audited by Alliance for Audited Media (AAM). Only digital subscriptions are available at: www.defendernetwork.com/subscribe No paper subscriptions available. All materials covered by 2020 copyright.

No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. 713-663-6996 | P.O. Box 8005, Houston, Tx 77288

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Spotlight THE SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE

Urban Scholars Program

By Aswad Walker

The Urban Scholars program came to Houston in 2018 in partnership with the local My Brother’s Keeper chapter, seeking to help youth of color achieve not only academic and career success, but instill a commitment to community service.

Originally founded for Black males, the program now includes young ladies too, and is the signature initiative of the S o c i a l Ju s t i c e Learning Insti- Jarett Fields tute (SJLI) which formed in 2011 in Los Angeles. Thus, long before the Summer of George Floyd or even the horrific deaths of Tamir Rice and Travon Martin, the SJLI was fighting for social and educational racial equity, for Black and Brown youth.

Urban Scholars is currently in four HISD schools (Attucks and Clifton middle schools and Sam Houston and Wheatley high schools), but hopes to expand.

The Defender recently spoke with Jarett Fields, SJLI’s Director of Educational Equity Programs, about Urban Scholars.

emotional learning. A lot of our students will receive wrap-around services and support from both us and partners with everything from learning how to get driver’s licenses, bus tickets, learning about their community, different organizations. They’ll be encouraged to volunteer. There’ll be exposed, not just to college tours, but they’ll be exposed to career opportunities and a number of things that really engage them not just in terms of doing well in school, but in the community in terms of trying to learn and identify ways that the community can change for the better and how they can be a part of it.

What’s the driving force behind the program?

FIELDS: The Urban Scholars program

Jarett Fields (right) and former Wheatley High School senior Toderick Hollis.

What is the Social Justice Learning Institute?

FIELDS: The Social Justice Learning

Institute is a nonprofit that was started in Los Angeles, California by Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza. The work of the SJLI is based on his dissertation at UCLA. Tell us about Urban Scholars FIELDS: The Urban Scholars program

which works with 6th – 12th graders, is run just like a normal class. It may be a student’s third, fourth period class.

We have a curriculum really designed to engage middle and high school students into college level information, college level discussions, and eventually research on the path to understanding not only what it takes to be a success in a career and in college, but also how to empower their communities, how to be change agents in their communities.

So, it’s not simply an academic enhancement program FIELDS: Our students really engage in

learning about their community for the

is funded through the Houston Health Department. We’re one of the My Brother’s Keepers initiatives. In Houston, just like places around the country, we see young Black men who even upon their success sometimes do not necessarily have the types of options that others have because of oppressive factors, because of neighborhood factors. We see numbers that are very concerning in terms of young Black men and their contact with law enforcement, young Black men and their opportunities dealing with employment. What we’ve done in terms of identifying the need here in Houston is think about how we can fit into that, how we can change the trajectory of young Black men, young LatinX men, into becoming change agents, positive folks in their community. And we’re looking to expand to more HISD schools and to enter Ft. Bend ISD. Do you have any program success stories that come to mind immediately?

FIELDS: Definitely. One of our students,

Attucks MS Urban Scholars during a Nov. 2019 Smart’n Up! Black Male Summit held at Lone Star College. Scholars engaged discussions related to the importance of education, perseverance to reach goals and taking advantage of opportunities to improve their lives.

sake of being positive change in their community. We do want students to be committed to academic excellence.

The program in and of itself is not just an academic program, though. A lot of our students will grow through social,

a young man who just graduated from Wheatley High School, Toderick Hollis.

He’s going to Lamar University in the fall. This young man played basketball, just a really great student. After a recent panel he was on addressing next year’s program seniors, he came up to me and said, “When I graduate from college, I want to come back and work for the Urban Scholars program.”

For info on ways to support the Urban Scholars visit SJLI.org.

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DN InFocus FOCUS SOCIAL

THE

FOR THE I-45 PROJECT AS IS

AGAINST THE I-45 PROJECT AS IS

Elected officials do not like the current plan

TxDOT asks Houstonians to weigh in on I-45 Project The Texas Department of Transplan for a number of years, and the portation wants to know: Should they region wants to reassess and reevalproceed with the I-45 North Housuate how they may want the project ton Highway Improvement project built, we’ll work with them on that. or not. Currently, TxDOT has asked But we can’t leave that amount of the public to tell them whether they money potentially sitting there for should invest the $7.9 billion earan undetermined outcome.” marked for the project considering Traditionally, highway expansion some have raised concerns. has a major impact on Black and With one week remaining in the Brown neighborhoods displacing 30 days set aside for online comresidents and oftentimes failing to ments, Houston area residents have gain input from those impacted by four ways of submitting their opinthe highway project. ions: Online – Visit www.TxDot.gov “It affects people’s homes, busiand search the keyword “UTP pubnesses and communities. We want to lic involvement” to access the online Marc Williams make sure that we’re doing not just comment form; Email – Comments what we are required to do, but more can be sent to UTP-PublicComments TPP-UTP, P.O. than what we’re required to do to help address those Box 149217, Austin, Tx 78714-9217. areas. So first of all, we’ve looked at anything that In an interview with the Houston Defender net- we can do to reduce the footprint of the project, the work, TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams size of the project, and still address the objectives stated that the biggest benefits of the I-45 project of the project,” explained Williams. are providing traffic congestion relief, addressing “Where we do have homes and businesses that flooding along the corridor and connecting differ- have been impacted, we have focused on going ent types of transportation modes from bicycle, above and beyond in offering relocation benefits, pedestrian and transit. offering fair market value or above fair market value “It’s been over 15 years in the making that has in many cases to relocate people and look for ways brought us to this point where we have a project that to allow people to relocate back into the community has gone through the environmental review pro- that they live in.” cess, the planning review process, and that TxDOT Working with the local housing authority, Wilis ready to move forward with. Now we’re hearing liams contends families have been relocated to from some in the local community, important voices better housing units replacing units that were uninin the local community, that want us to potentially habitable or destroyed during Hurricane Harvey. reassess what has been done over the past 15 years,” Expressing gratitude to the community partners state Williams. in the Black community who have worked with “What we’re trying to make sure that the com- TxDOT, Williams stated, “We work with the Indemunity understands is that to go back and begin pendence Heights Redevelopment Council. Tanya to reassess these issues is going to be a significant DeVos has been a very important advocate for that delay, an undetermined delay in the project. But particular community. We worked with the NAACP we’re continuing to have good dialogue with differ- Houston branch and their housing committee in ent elected officials, different voices in the commu- this effort, the Southeast Management District nity and the metropolitan planning organization Transportation Committee. working hard to try to find a good path forward, ” We’ve also engaged with Texas Southern Universo that we can hopefully move forward with this sity, Gulf Coast Community Services Association, project sooner, rather than later.” the Houston Area Urban League and the Houston Williams explained there has been about five and Housing Authority. It’s a really broad cross section half billion dollars of funding already committed of individuals that are engaged and active in the to the project but admits, “There are many needs local communities along this important highway in the region. There are many needs throughout corridor. And we’ve really valued and benefited the state, and if the region is not ready to move from the input that we’ve received from those forward with the project that has been part of their organizations.”

MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER

DEBATE

By Von Jiles

ECONOMIC IMPACT Construction cost

Statewide impact

$7.9 billion $19.2 billion

Direct Jobs

92,000

Indirect job

89,000

Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal

13.5% Construction

DN

22%

Engineering & Design

On defendernetwork.com watch TxDOT’s Message to the Black Community What role did the Black & Brown Community Play?

Is the I-45 Project in Jeopardy?

The fact that the public comment initiative of TxDOT is a survey that gives you only two options: support maintaining the project and funding as proposed or support removing the project and funding is a sticking point that Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner says does not give the community a real choice.

“A survey is not public engagement.

Further, this survey is framing a false choice,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner.

“We do not intend to play their game.

There is a right way to do it, and if it is done right, it can be transformational,” Mayor Turner said of TxDOT’s planned reconstruction of I-45.

As early as May 2020, Mayor Turner made it clear there are key priorities for a successful project: alternatives to use only the right of way needed; dedicated

transit lanes with stations that serve adjacent communities; frontage roads, crossings, and other points of neighborhood interface as city streets; and keeping communities whole by allowing residents and businesses to remain in their neighborhood while increasing funding for housing construction to maintain the supply of affordable units.

“There is a path forward for this project,” said Mayor Turner. “It entails making commitments related to housing, connectivity, flooding, parks and green space, and multimodal forms of transportation. It can even work within TxDOT’s existing Record of Decision. But it requires TxDOT to take a different approach. The take it or lose it position being offered by TxDOT is not helpful in getting this project done.”

HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTIAN MENEFEE The forces against the current I-45 plan have taken serious measures to confront the project head-on with a lawsuit filed by Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee demanding that TxDOT take residents and environment into consideration.

Earlier this week at a public hearing on TxDOT’S Unified Transportation Project (UTP), the 10-year plan that guides the development of transportation work across Texas, residents were invited to give comments. Also in attendance virtually was County Attorney Menefee.

When asked his opinion of the TxDOT meeting, Menefee agreed with Mayor Turner stating, “TxDOT set up a sham ‘public input’ survey.

The question on expanding I-45 gives residents only two options: keep the current design or remove the project and funding from TxDOT’s 10-year plan.

This is a false choice, designed to trick residents into supporting TxDOT’s attempt to ram this project through. Thankfully, the residents participating in Monday night’s meeting saw through it and made it clear they reject this false choice. Residents deserve a

meaningful public input process that allows them to express whether they want the project designed in a way that minimizes the impact to surrounding communities.”

Recently, the federal government told TxDOT to stand down and the project was placed on hold due to a series of letters from elected officials including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and other concerned citizens.

As a result, a federal investigation was launched focused on the environmental impact or compliance with the National Environment Policy Act and the Civil Rights Laws Title 6 addressing discrimination in the expenditure of federal dollars.

With the lawsuit pending until mid-2022, TxDOT decided to take the project to the public and have them give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down. County Attorney Menefee expressed concern about this approach.

“We want the funding. We want a project. We want to increase transit options. However, we want it to be done the right way,” said Menefee. “We felt as though TxDOT cut corners in meeting the environmental impact and that’s the premise of our lawsuit.”

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DN Education

TO RETURN OR NOT? Special needs families worried about COVID-19 risk

By Laura Onyeneho

money on childcare and focusing on needs specifically important to the child.

“I had brain and spinal surgery some years ago. I don’t have employer-sponsored insurance and my disability checks aren’t enough to get by, Onyeise said. “Pat will soon outgrow the public high school system and the struggle to find a private special education school that can attend to her needs has been difficult. Taking care of her and myself is a challenge. I know she misses socializing with her friends, but her safety is my priority as well.”

Raquelle Lewis is equally terrified at the thought of having her son return to school.

Lewis’s son, Andrew, is a 14-year-old 9thgrade HISD student. Her son has physical, visual and cognitive impairments that require one-on-one attention. She says he is a very “medically complex child” and is vigilant with his health. Andrew’s parents both work full-time, with the extra support from Lewis’ mother to care for him daily.

“Our children typically have fewer resources. There is a lot of room for improvement in schools,” Lewis said. There will always be shortcomings, but as scary as it is, I look forward to Andrew reacquainting with life away from home.”

Dr. Carole Parker, associate professor at the Department of Counseling at Texas Southern University, said that health and safety aren’t the only factors that impact Black families.

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understand what academic support is offered. “Sometimes schools may not know which direction to go, and it’s important to look for community-based partnerships to support all students, said Dr. Parker. “A parent may have fewer resources at home, COVID-19 caused massive job losses, businesses closed and now they will worry about how to juggle sustaining a home.”

In September 2020, HISD received harsh criticism from TEA’s investigation on the school district’s special education system.

The 88-page report stated that HISD violated state and federal laws designed to ensure adequate support for students with disabilities.

The investigation found repeated evidence of systemic issues dating back to at least 2011 citing the district’s failure to take equally systemic steps to remediate. Though HISD disapproved of the findings of this report, the “We can’t exclude that there are social school district says it has plans in place to and systemic disadvantages. Parents could support special needs students this Fall. be protecting their children from negaHouston ISD is expected to spend almost tive effects of bullying and discriminatory $1.2 billion in Education and Secondary microaggression from other students and School Education Relief funds in the Amerteachers,” she explained. “There is a need for ican Rescue and Relief Plan Act passed by schools to be sensitive culturally but also in congress to support students who fell behind terms of psycho-educational needs. Black during the pandemic. Superintendent Milpeople are often portrayed in a negative light lard House III introduced a plan to outline and it doesn’t escape.” their top priorities and special education was Dr. Parker said that special needs children, on the list. According to the plan, $50 million depending on their disability, generally re- would go to special education. ceive regular instruction to be included with The Defender reached out to the HISD for other classmates, special education teachers a breakdown on the use of the special eduand one-on-one instructions. So, when a cation funds, but they weren’t available for parent decides for their child to learn from comment. home, they take on all three professional reLaura Onyeneho is the Defender Network sponsibilities.

Education Reporter and a Report For AmerShe also said parents should be more ica Corps member. Email her at laura@deT:4.812" open-minded to work alongside schools to fendernetwork.com.

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Many parents, guardians and caregivers of special needs children are grappling with the difficult choice of whether or not their children should attend school in the fall.

When the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the results of the spring 2021 State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR), it revealed the grades declined for students who participated in virtual learning compared to those who learned in person.

This prompted the agency to discontinue state funding for remote-only options for the upcoming school year, leaving many school districts to announce the return to 100% in-person instruction.

The transition to pre-pandemic life won’t be a simple one, especially for children of color and special needs students, considering many parents prefer to keep their children at home away from the risks.

“My daughter has multiple impairments.

She is not self-dependent, and her immune system isn’t very strong,” said Patricia Onyeise, a mother of a 20-year-old daughter of special needs. “She has autism, problems with speech, and a heart complication that has impacted her mobility. I’m worried that when she returns to Cypress High School she might remove her mask and expose herself to the risks of COVID-19. She is very active and consistently needs monitoring.”

According to a National Bureau of Economic Research study, the reopening of Texas schools last year “gradually but substantially accelerated” the spread of COVID-19 in communities. The report also implied that “the school reopenings led to at least 43,000 additional COVID-19 cases and 800 additional fatalities within the first two months.”

In addition, most students with physical disabilities and immunocompromised systems found it easier to learn from home.

Students with disabilities make up more than 500,000 students in the Texas public education school system. These include students who are mentally, physically and developmentally disabled and are learning in ways that are comfortable for them.

COVID-19 economically and mentally impacted communities of color. Students who live in multigenerational households worry about infecting other family members.

Learning from home could mean saving

August 5, 2021 |

| 9

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Health COVID-19

U.S. BY THE NUMBERS

163 mil

Fully vaccinated Americans

99.99%

Fully vaccinated who have NOT had a breakthrough

REPORT REVEALS

Breakthrough Cases in Vaccinated are Extremely Rare NNPA

74%

Breakthrough cases occurred among adults 65 or older.

6,587

breakthrough cases Led to a patient being hospitalized or dying.

1,263

fully vaccinated people died after testing positive for COVID-19.

97%

COVID-19 positive patients in hospitals right now are unvaccinated.

*CDC

Breakthrough cases, hospitalizations and deaths are extremely rare events among those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a new study by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation.

The rate of breakthrough cases reported among those fully vaccinated is well below 1% in all reporting states, ranging from 0.01% Connecticut to 0.90% in Oklahoma.

The rate of breakthrough cases in the District of Columbia stands at at 0.04%.

The hospitalization rate among fully vaccinated people with COVID-19 ranged from effectively zero (0.00%) in California, Delaware, D.C., Indiana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Vermont, and Virginia to 0.06% in Arkansas.

Texas’ hospitalization rate is .003%.

The report’s authors also noted that hospitalization might not have been due to COVID-19.

Further, the report revealed that the rates of death among fully vaccinated people with COVID-19 were even lower, effectively zero (0.00%) in all but two reporting states, Arkansas and Michigan, where they were 0.01%.

Even then, the researchers said it’s not clear whether those deaths were COVID-19 related.

More than 90% of all COVID cases and 95% of all hospitalizations have been among unvaccinated individuals.

In most states that track COVID data, more than 98% of COVID cases were among unvaccinated people, the report concluded.

“While the information on breakthrough events is still limited and incomplete, this analysis of available state-level data indicates that COVID-19 breakthrough cases, and especially hospitalizations and deaths, among those who are fully vaccinated are rare occurrences in the United States,” the report’s authors submitted.

“Moreover, this data indicates the vast majority of reported COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S. are among those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated,” the researchers continued.

“These findings echo the abundance of data demonstrating the effectiveness of currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

“Moving forward, particularly as the more transmissible Delta variant is now the dominant strain of COVID19 circulating in the U.S., more robust state-level data will help to monitor ongoing vaccine effectiveness and inform discussions about booster vaccinations.”

10 | August 5, 2021 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports Houstonian Simone Biles came back and finished with a bronze medal on the balance beam for her record-tying seventh career Olympic medal.

Olympic swimmer and Houston native Simone Manuel was a part of Team USA’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sports Briefs

READY OR NOT

Jalen Green picks up a Houston Rockets cap after he was selected by the Houston Rockets as the second overall pick during the first round of the NBA basketball draft , Thursday, July 29, 2021, in New York. AP Photo/Corey Sipkin

JALEN GREEN CORNERSTONE OF ROCKETS REBUILD

By Terrance Harris

Even though his life for the last five years has been set up for this moment, electrifying guard Jalen Green is still trying to absorb how his life has changed.

The youngster, who just turned 19 in February, was taken No.2 overall in last week’s NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. Suddenly, the weight and expectations of the franchise are on his shoulders.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Green said. “It will probably hit me when we get into practice. That feeling walking the stage was crazy. I kind of blacked out. It’s a surreal moment.”

Oddly enough, that moment when his name was called had been in motion since Green was 14 and the basketball world could see he was special. Green was one of the most prolific players during his time at California’s Prolific Prep where during his senior year in 2019-20 he ascended to every major accolade including being named a McDonald’s American and receiving the ranking as the No.1 high school prospect in the Class of 2020 after averaging 31.5 points,

7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists that year.

With colleges hovering, Green picked the path less traveled, spending last season with the NBA G League Ignite. He was the first player to sign with Ignite, which is a team dedicated to the development and mentorship of the top young basketball prospects ahead of the NBA Draft.

And Green didn’t disappoint there either, averaging 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.53 steals in 15 games with Ignite.

As experience and professionalism go, Green has been prepared to come in to be the impact young star the Rockets desperately need.

“It comes with a lot of attention and expectations,” Green said of being the Rockets organization’s first No.2 overall pick since 1970 when Rudy Tomjanovich was taken. “I set high expectations for myself and goals for myself I want to achieve.

I don’t let anybody block my path to my goals and what I want to achieve.”

Green is one of four first-round picks the Rockets took in the recent draft as the organization continues the slow rebuild after the departure of stars

James Harden and Russell Westbrook this past season. The Rockets also took post player Alperen Sengun (No.16), forward Usman Garuba (No.23) and guard Josh Christopher (No.24) in a night that’s being hailed as a great start for new general manager Rafael Stone and coach Stephen Silas.

“All these guys, I just think they’re really, really talented, and they’re all players who do things already,” Stone said. “They have aspects of their game where … I think they’re likely to already be good NBA players. And so, given their age — they’re all 19 — that’s really exciting because I think they’re at an age where you can really, really improve.”

Green for sure has his sights set on being the best for himself and his new teammates.

“I work hard, stay in the gym and trust my work,” he said. “Obviously (All-Star and All-Defensive player) is something I want to be.

“With those expectations for myself, I think I can lead going into the players and getting more wins. We are all trying to come in here and change the game and try to make an impact off the top and try to win.”

Watson remains with Texans The presence of quarterback Deshaun Watson continues to be a distraction out at Texans training camp.

Watson wants to Deshaun be traded Watson and the Texans seem ready to oblige the trade demand. The problem remains with finding a suitable trade partner and offer while Watson continues to face 22 civil lawsuits by massage therapists who all claim sexual misconduct by Watson.

Silas in protocol Rockets coach Stephen Silas was unable to attend Friday’s introduction of the draft class because Stephen Silas he is in the NBA’s health and safety protocol. Silas has been fully vaccinated and is said to have very minor symptoms.

Texans send Cobb back to Packers The Texans completed a trade of Randall Cobb to the Green Bay Packers, reuniting Aaron Rodgers Randall Cobb with his go-to slot receiver. The Texans will receive a sixth-round draft pick for Cobb.

August 5, 2021 |

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DEFENDER NETWORK

DN Sports DEFENDER PRE-SEASON

ALL GREATER HOUSTON TEAM

By Jodie B. Jiles and Jimmie Aggison

Now that August is here, training camps and two-a-days are kicking off for the upcoming 2021-22 high school football season. Therefore, the Defender has compiled a Pre-Season All Greater Houston area list of notable players we expect to have an impact this wyear as they take their games to the next level.

2021-22 PRE-SEASON ALL GREATER HOUSTON OFFENSE Quarterback: Cardell Williams, Spring Westfield HS Running Back: Jaydon Blue, Klein Cain HS Wide Receiver: Chris Marshall, Fort Bend Marshall HS Wide Receiver: Noah Thomas, Clear Springs HS Wide Receiver: Matthew Golden, Klein Cain HS Tight End: Donovan Green, Dickinson HS Offensive Tackle: Kelvin Banks, Summer Creek HS Offensive Tackle: Kameron Dewberry, Atascocita HS Offensive Tackle: Bryce Simpson, Cypress Rach HS Center: PJ Williams, Dickinson HS 2021-22 PRE-SEASON ALL GREATER HOUSTON DEFENSE Defensive Lineman: Anthony Holmes, Spring Westfield HS Defensive Lineman: Kristopher Ross, North Shore HS Defensive Lineman: Erick Conley, Fort Bend Travis HS Edge Rusher: Malick Sylla, Katy HS Edge Rusher: Dylan Dixson, Pearland HS Linebacker: Harold Perkins, Cy Park HS Linebacker: Owen Pewee, Cy Park HS Defensive Back: Denver Harris, North Shore HS Defensive Back: Julian Humphrey, Clear Lake HS Defensive Back: Bobby Taylor, Katy HS HONORABLE MENTIONS ATH Randy Masters, Houston Yates HS WR Camron Heard, Houston Furr HS QB Bishop Davenport, Spring HS WR Nicholas Anderson, Katy HS S Jacobe Chester, Fort Bend Marshall HS CB Micah Bell, The Kinkaid School DE Zachary Chapman, Fort Bend Marshall HS OG Reagan Gill, Jersey Village HS TE Chico Holt, Strake Jesuit HS

Humble Summer Creek Tackle Kelvin Banks has earned being named one of the best lineman in the country going into his senior campaign.

Photos by Jimmie Aggison

Katy HS edge rusher Malick Sylla will not be denied access to the QB.

North Shore HS cornerback Denver Harris is a lockdown corner that creates an defensive island on his side of the field.

Ft. Bend Marshall wide receiver Chris Marshall leaps and makes an acrobatic catch for a touchdown against Madison.

Spring HS quarterback Bishop Davenport looks to take the Lions to another level after an undefeated 11-0 regular season his junior year.

12 | August 5, 2021 |

DEFENDER NETWORK

AVAILABLE NOW: Houston Methodist Virtual Urgent Care

Our providers are available 24/7 following your COVID-19 diagnosis.

Whether you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or want to avoid spreading or catching germs, you can connect with a board-certified provider via video visit wherever you are — no appointment needed. The provider will be able to advise you about your diagnosis and can guide you on appropriate treatments to help you in your journey to recovery.

Virtual Urgent Care is available through the MyMethodist app. Download it today. If you are unable to cover the $20 cost of your visit, please contact 281.524.4687 for financial assistance.

houstonmethodist.org/virtual-care