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Rats! NYC mayor ticketed for rodents at his property again

New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed Wednesday to fight his own City Hall — again — after he was ticketed for rats at his Brooklyn townhouse. A city health department inspector had issued two new summonses last month, just one day after the Democratic mayor appeared remotely before a hearing officer on Dec. 6 to get a $300 summons for rats at his property dismissed. “A rat burrow was observed along the ledge of the fenceline at front right,” the inspector wrote.

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California reparations task force dives into what is owed

After more than a year delving into history and studies to make its case for reparations to California descendants of enslaved Black people, a first-in-the-nation task force began deliberations Wednesday to quantify how financial compensation might be calculated and what might be required to prove eligibility. Conversations for how to determine payments are in the early stages, with task force members acknowledging they have more questions than answers. Economists hired by the task force are seeking guidance in five harms experienced by Black people: government taking of property, devaluation of Black-owned businesses, housing discrimination and homelessness, mass incarceration and over-policing, and health.

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SPI holiday events ramp up this week

South Padre Island will hold its annual tree-lighting ceremony Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall as the Island’s holiday events begin to accelerate. On Friday, the 33rd Annual Christmas Parade will be held beginning at 6 p.m. The parade route runs from Mars to Acapulco on the east side of the medians only. The theme for this year’s holiday events is “Deck the Palms.”“We’re decking the palms this holiday season and creating the ultimate Winter Warmerland paradise in South Texas,” said Blake Henry, South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. Designated viewing areas throughout the route will offer free public viewing, with judging taking place at Jim’s Pier.

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'Community is hurting,' mayor says after officer is killed

A police officer has been shot to death in the Mississippi Delta city where she grew up, and several other people were injured by gunfire. Greenville Police Department Detective Myiesha Stewart, 30, was killed Tuesday night as she and other officers responded to a call, according to Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Our community is hurting,” Greenville Mayor Mayor Errick D. Simmons said Wednesday outside City Hall, where he was joined by law enforcement officers.

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San Benito citizens group petitioning for De La Rosa’s firing

SAN BENITO — A citizens group is calling on city commissioners to fire San Benito City Manager Manuel De La Rosa, claiming he is misinterpreting a city ordinance to require home buyers subdivide properties sitting on more than one lot. I refuse to have this hanging over my head.”But De La Rosa is holding off on taking action. Hundreds of potential residential developments that would add to the badly needed tax base in San Benito are now going to neighboring communities. On Friday afternoon, Ben Cortez, chairman of the San Benito Housing Authority, said organizers were planning to tally its signatures. In San Benito, the city’s base fee for a preliminary plat review stands at $200 while it charges $50 for final plat reviews, Favila stated.

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Early voting starts steady in Harlingen commission runoff

HARLINGEN — Residents began heading for the polls Monday in one of the city’s most hotly contested runoff elections in years to decide two city commission races that could shift the board’s balance of power. Voters are casting early ballots at City Hall, the Cultural Arts Center and the Cameron County annex building through June 10 for the June 14 runoff. “We’ve seen a steady stream at all the Harlingen locations,” Remi Garza, the county’s elections administrator, said Tuesday. Meanwhile, J.J. Gonzalez, a real estate broker who served on the commission from 2000 to 2006, fell short of the runoff with 374 votes. In May 7’s four-man scramble, Lopez became the contest’s front-runner, winning 345 votes while Cisneros drew 225 votes.

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Sepulveda victory caps drive for change

After a year of sweeping change at City Hall, they believe newly elected Mayor Norma Sepulveda’s stunning victory is crowning the drive. We have evolved as a city and with that comes new people with a desire — a craving for change.”Sepulveda’s victory caps the new city commission’s drive for change, Commissioner Rene Perez said. “Norma’s election is the culimination of the recent change,” Perez, whom commissioners appointed mayor pro tem Wednesday, said. “Now we have this government inclusive of the people.”Commission push for change led up to Sepulveda victoryThe new commission drove changes that helped lead to Sepuleveda’s victory, Perez said. “Things are fundamentally changing in Harlingen.”The election’s high voter turnout shows residents are calling for change, Perez said.

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Announcement on future of HPD leadership coming later this week, Turner says

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he will announce the future of leadership at the city’s Police Department later this week. Turner spoke at City Hall on Monday morning after news broke Sunday night that Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is leaving to take the same job in Miami. “I hate to see him leave the city of Houston,” Turner said as he congratulated Acevedo on his next chapter. Turner said Acevedo, who took the job as chief of the Houston Police Department in 2016, is leaving the department in better shape than he found it. Ad“Art was the right person at the right time,” Turner said.

Portland mayor seeks $2 million to stem rampant gun violence

(AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer, File)PORTLAND, Ore. – The mayor of Portland, Oregon, announced Thursday he would seek $2 million in one-time funding for police, other agencies and outreach programs to try to stem rampant gun violence in the city. The move by Mayor Ted Wheeler represents an about-face after city leaders in June voted to cut nearly $16 million from the police budget, reductions that included the elimination of a gun violence reduction unit. During an hour-long news conference Thursday, Wheeler, activists, faith leaders and community members reiterated that in order to solve the problem of gun violence, the community must work together. Wheeler said the tactic is not the same as the now-eliminated Gun Violence Reduction Team and would be more transparent. Wheeler said he supports the ideas, beginning with asking City Council to appropriate $2 million in one-time fiuds from the city’s reserve stability contingency account created last fall, to address gun violence.

Concrete Cowboy cancels ‘mask off’ party and closes its venues ahead of Wednesday, Mayor Turner announces

Turner encouraged all Houston-area business to continue to enforce the mask policy, despite Abbott’s order. — Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) March 8, 2021The Houston Health Department announced that the city’s COVID-19 positivity rate is 13.1%, which is up from last week. During the news conference, the Houston Health Department said the U.K. COVID-19 variant was growing in Houston’s wastewater. On Feb. 8, the U.K. COVID-19 strand was found in 21 of the 39 wastewater plants in the city, according the Health Department. The Brazilian and the South African variant was also found in the city’s wastewater, but the Health Department was not able to release the exact measurements just yet.

Here’s how to sign up for coronavirus vaccine waitlists in the Houston area

HOUSTON – Nearly a quarter-million first vaccine doses are headed to the nine-county Houston area this week, including the first Johnson & Johnson shipment, according to state data and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. Finally, 42,120 Pfizer doses and 12,000 J & J doses will go directly to the FEMA site at NRG Park where residents on the Harris County and Houston waitlists will be vaccinated. Joining a waitlistThere are 13 vaccine hubs in the Houston area and there are waitlists for each of them. Go to vacstrac.hctx.net or call 832-927-8787 to join the Harris County version of the waitlist. To find information about all of the waitlists for the 13 vaccine hubs in the Houston area, go to dshs.texas.gov.

Food fight: Meat-free school meals spark furor in France

FILE - In this Jan.18, 2019 file photo, French President Emmanuel Macron meets pupils as he visits a school canteen in Saint-Sozy, southwestern France. With a meatless four-course meal that Lyon City Hall says will be quicker and easier to serve to children who must be kept socially distanced while eating lunch to avoid coronavirus infections. With more local elections expected later this year, the arguing over Lyon's school meals offered a foretaste of broader political battles to come. Lyon City Hall said serving the same meal to all children, instead of offering them their usual meat and meat-free options, would shorten the time they take for lunch. City Hall said it also opted for meat-free meals because they suit all children, including those who habitually don't eat meats for religious, dietary or other reasons.

City officials discuss state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner answers a question during a news conference at City Hall on Feb. 1, 2021. During a briefing at 2 p.m. Saturday, Mayor Turner joins other elected officials and community leaders to discuss the state’s vaccination distribution efforts. The officials are slated to discuss “COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the inequities in the state’s distribution of supplies,” according to the mayor’s office“The lack of resources has created glaring disparities in high-risk, vulnerable, disadvantaged and underserved communities,” a scheduling announcement from the mayor’s office read. KPRC 2 is streaming the briefing live.

Houston plans to soon offer self-scheduling for second vaccine doses

HOUSTON – People who are supposed to get their second dose of the coronavirus vaccine will soon be able to schedule that appointment themselves. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that the city’s Health Department has received nearly 42,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with nearly 34,000 of them having been administered. He said nearly 12,000 people have appointments to get their second dose this week. Turner said the Houston Health Department is currently contacting people directly to schedule their second dose. However, he said the second dose is necessary to get the full benefits of the vaccine.

Mayor Turner, Judge Hidalgo participate in national Memorial to Lives Lost to COVID-19

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo participated in the national Memorial to Lives Lost to COVID-19 Tuesday afternoon. The combined Honor Guard from the Houston Police Department and Houston Fire Department also participated in the memorial. This was the nation’s first nationwide COVID-19 Memorial to Lives Lost, which was part of the Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The event emphasized the importance of the past and remembers the lives lost to the coronavirus and gives hope to the future. I encourage everyone to join us by illuminating your building, ringing a bell, and watching the virtual program,” Turner said.

Turner says future vaccine megasites are dependent on supply

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that future coronavirus vaccine megasites will be dependent on the supply of doses that is received by the city. Turner said demand for the vaccine is far outpacing the amount of vaccine that is available. Turner said that as soon as more doses of the vaccine are received, the city will start opening up additional appointment slots. Williams said the Houston Health Department is expecting to get more vaccine doses from the state this week. ‘Middle of the storm’The Houston Health Department reported an additional 1,460 cases Monday, bringing the total number of cases to more than 131,000.

Houston hosts 25th annual menorah lighting ceremony

HOUSTON – The city of Houston will light the public menorah Sunday night in front of City Hall at Hermann Square. The program will feature addresses by dignitaries Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, Jewish community leader and chair of the Jewish Federation Robert Lapin, and Mayor Sylvester Turner. The symbol of the public menorah reflects the very principles upon which America was founded: freedom of religious observance from religious oppression, the power of light pushing away darkness, and the victory of righteousness over wickedness, according to the city. “This is symbolized by kindling the Menorah. By adding another candle each night, we learn the lesson of increasing in goodness and kindness.

VIRUS TODAY: Health experts warn against holiday gatherings

With some Americans now paying the price for what they did over Thanksgiving, health officials are warning people begging them, even not to make the same mistake during the Christmas and New Year's season. Andrew Cuomo has ended indoor dining indefinitely in New York City as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations climb. As of Monday, only takeout orders and outdoor dining will be allowed in one of the world’s great cuisine capitals. THE NUMBERS: Deaths in the U.S. have climbed to almost 2,260 per day on average, about equal to the peak seen in mid-April. ___Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic

Students return to NYC schools once more after virus closure

Public schools reopened for in-school learning Monday after being closed since mid-November. Public school doors reopened for preschool students and children in kindergarten through fifth grade whose parents chose a mix of in-school and remote learning. Overall, the city counts about 1 million public school students; most have opted to learn from home this fall. Masks and social distancing are required at all city schools. About 190,000 students were eligible to return to school buildings starting Monday.

Long wait for Hawaii vote spurs call for more voter centers

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, a long line of people waiting to vote stretches around City Hall on Election Day, in Honolulu. Voter advocates say Hawaii should set up more voter service centers after a last-minute surge of voter interest led to hours-long lines for in-person voting on Election Day even as the state shifted to a vote-by-mail system for casting ballots. Overall, the state’s vote-by-mail election appears to have been a big success, leading to record numbers of voters participating. The law also gives voters the option to vote in person at voter service centers, where people may also register to vote or get help with casting a ballot. Ma said people waited between two to four hours on Tuesday at the two voter centers on Oahu, an island with about 549,000 registered voters.

New this week: 'This Is Us,' Baby Yoda, 'The Craft' redone

(NBC via AP)Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES— Many things will be different about Halloween this year, but the annual rush of horror films is much the same. It stars Sope Dirisu and Wunmi Mosaku as a Sudanese refugee couple finding new horrors in life in England. But Neon, the “Parasite” distributor, last week put a restored version into theaters and on Tuesday brings it to VOD. One is Natalie Margolin “The Party Hop,” which she wrote during quarantine in one week in early April.

Masked pope, faith leaders pray for peace and pandemic's end

Pope Francis lights a candle for peace during an inter-religious ceremony for peace in the square outside Rome's City Hall, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)ROME – A masked Pope Francis welcomed religious leaders to a socially-distanced interfaith peace prayer Tuesday, appealing for a unified international effort to work for peace and an end to the coronavirus pandemic. “The pandemic is reminding us that we are blood brothers and sisters,” they said in a joint appeal issued at the end of the service. For weeks, Francis has shunned facemasks in his public and private audiences despite a surge in COVID-19 cases across Italy and even inside Vatican City. The service was organized by the Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community, which each year organizes an interfaith peace prayer in the spirit of the first one of its kind, celebrated by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986. In the past week 11 Swiss Guards and a resident of the hotel where Francis lives have tested positive.

Alexie, Pilkey books among most 'challenged' of past decade

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2016 file photo, author and filmmaker Sherman Alexie appears at a celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day at Seattle's City Hall. Alexie is included in a list of authors who wrote books that were among the 100 most subjected to censorship efforts over the past decade, as compiled by the American Library Association. All wrote books that were among the 100 most subjected to censorship efforts over the past decade, as compiled by the American Library Association. The association does not formally count the number of times books are actually removed from a library shelf or from a school reading list. “There are actually two lines of objections to the Anne Frank diary,” Caldwell-Stone says.

Police appreciation rally at Houston’s City Hall met with protesters calling for defunding the department

HOUSTON – At the steps of Houston’s City Hall, a group of nearly 100 people gathered for a “Police Appreciation Rally,” Thursday evening. “If we don’t have police on our corner, it’s going to be a bad world,” Diggs previously told KPRC 2. Many held signs emblazoned with “Black Lives Matter” and calling for the defunding of the police department. There has to be a level of respect,” said Justin James Jones, who was also demonstrating against the rally. “I didn’t really understand the need for a police lives or a blue lives matter movement in the midst of this black lives matter movement,” Savannah said.

Mayor Turner issues executive order to ban chokeholds in Houston; city council discusses defunding police

HOUSTON – City council members discussed next year’s city budget as protesters demanded change outside City Hall. Dozens gathered for a rally Wednesday, a day after George Floyd was laid to rest. The council members talked about the re-allocation of nearly $12 million in under-utilized funds to be redirected to city programs, as well as enhanced training for HPD. George Floyd died because of the end result.”At the funeral of Floyd, Mayor Turner said he would sign an executive order to ban chokeholds, require officers de-escalate situations and use all options before lethal force. “George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis after chokeholds have been banned, you can’t keep ordering executive on orders on something that’s not working,” said Woods.

VIDEOS: Powerful moments from the Houston Black Lives Matter protest seeking justice for Houston native George Floyd

HOUSTON – Hundreds of people attended a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown demanding justice for Houston-native George Floyd, who was killed after an officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes. Throughout the march, protestors chanted: “Hands up, don’t shoot," “I can’t breathe,” and “No justice. She said the black community has been fighting for years against systemic racism. “It can no longer (only) be black people out here stomping the ground for black people,” she said. ‘Enough is enough.’Reporter Hannah Mackenzie gives details on downtown Houston protestReporter Brandon Walker gives inside look at Houston protest for George Floyd