REOPENING TEXAS

Greg Abbott announced an executive order allowing businesses to operate at 100% capacity and ending the statewide mask mandate. “We do have our foyer, with the biggest Chandelier in Texas,” said Lidice Ortiz, the manager of the venue. The wedding and special event venue has multiple spaces, including a ballroom, marble ceremony space, an outdoor venue, gardens and fountains. “We will use the masks until everybody will be vaccinated and we will be safe,” Ortiz said. “We really recommend that they wear masks, they must have social distancing if they want everyone to be safe,” Ortiz said.

HOUSTON On Friday, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Rep. Joaqun Castro sent a letter to Gov. The lawmakers said Texas should allow the local authority to local counties and cities to do what is in the best interest of their communities. There has also a 60% increase in COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents since the start of July, per the letter. This is not a time for polls or politics, Jackson Lee and Castro wrote in the letter. We all want to reopen Texas.

SUGAR LAND Some business owners are asking for clarity about their responsibilities, as Sugar Land and Fort Bend County officials enact similar orders requiring facial protections in public. Both orders levy potential fines against business owners, and not customers, a $500 maximum for Fort Bend County, a $1000 maximum fine in Sugar Land. Neither the Fort Bend County nor the Sugar Land orders specifically mention gyms. But several Sugar Land gyms were requiring members to wear masks Tuesday. But patrons and employees are expected to wear masks in restaurants and bars when not engaged in those activities.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is tracking the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in each county. The data shows a promising sign in Fort Bend County. The county went nine days without any new COVID-19 deaths. The state reports one new death on May 22, but since then, the number has dropped back to zero new deaths. See all of the Texas Department of State Health Services’ coronavirus charts and county trends here.

HOUSTON – No mask, no service: that is the policy at Trudy’s Hallmark store off Memorial Drive in Houston. “We just think it’s the right thing to do right now for the safety of not only the community but our employees,” said store owner Priya Shields. Shields said she implemented the mask policy after her employees requested it. The Skechers factory outlet store in Humble also requires customers to wear a face covering. Barth said per Texas law, mask policy is legal and enforceable – even in Adams’ case.

HOUSTON Mayor Sylvester Turner said some clubs and bars are ignoring the 25% occupancy requirement established by the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Greg Abbotts reopening Texas plan allows restaurants to operate at 50% capacity while bars and clubs must operate at 25%. I want us to move forward but this will set us back, Turner wrote on Twitter. st Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) May 24, 2020Chris Badillo, the head bartender at The Front Porch Pub, said fire marshals have already stopped by their business off Gray Street. st Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) May 24, 2020Here is the full press conference from Mayor Turner Sunday:

Welcome to the official kickoff to summer.

However, that is not stopping the owners of Big Rivers Waterpark in New Caney. “All of our frontline staff are gonna be required to wear masks when interacting with the public,” said Big Rivers CEO & developer Monty Galland. Social distancing is one example. “We’ve separated all of these tables in a way that they can monitor social distancing and encourage all of our guests to adhere to all the social distancing measures,” Barnett said. Typhoon Texas also plans to cap the crowds at about 2500-3000 guests.

As Texans families head out to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, use this guide to check out the crowds. South Padre IslandHere is the link to see the cams for South Padre Island beaches, including north and south beaches. Here is the link to see the South Padre Island Beach cam. Corpus ChristiHere is the link to see the cams for Corpus Christi beaches, including Whitecap Beach and North Padre Sea Wall. Here is the link to see the North Padre Sea Wall cam.

Greg Abbott is allowing businesses to reopen after being closed for months in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Here’s a closer look at the businesses that are allowed to reopen and when. Abbott has said that just because the business is allowed to reopen does not mean it is required to reopen. He said business owners can use their judgment about when it is best to reopen. May 22Bars, breweries and wine tasting establishments at 25% capacityBowling alleysAquariumsRodeo and equestrian eventsBingo hallsSimulcast racingSkating rinksNatural cavernsRestaurants can operate at 50% capacityMay 29ZoosMay 31Day Youth CampsOvernight Youth CampsYouth SportsCertain professional sports without in-person spectatorsWhat’s already allowed to reopen

RIVER OAKS Giorgia Adams, an ICU nurse in Houston, said she was recently denied service because she works with COVID-19 patients. She said she has recently turned away from the Amazing Lash Studio in River Oaks. You are going to have healthcare workers that youre automatically discriminating against if your policy is that much black and white, she said. At Amazing Lash Studio our priority remains focused on creating a safe environment for studio employees and guests. For the safety of our studio employees and community, we are asking guests that answer yes to this question to wait to schedule an appointment.

HOUSTON – Local business owners are sending a message to President Donald Trump and Gov. We have video here showing that is exactly what we can do,” Two Mules Tavern owner Colin Chapman said in the video. On May 1, Abbott allowed restaurants to reopen dining rooms at 25% capacity, followed by salons and barbershops on May 8. In the 11-minute YouTube video, bar owners, employees and supporters urged lawmakers to outline reopening plans for the industry. Check out the full video “Dear President Trump and Governor Abbott."

HOUSTON – A federal judge ruled Friday that Club Onyx Houston can only operate as a restaurant without adult entertainment, even if they were fully clothed, according to court documents. This decision represents the latest legal decision between Trump Inc., the company that operates the club, and the city of Houston. Greg Abbot clarified Tuesday that sexually oriented businesses may only offer restaurant services and prohibited from providing any other services, according to court documents. Since Onyx Houston operates as a “sexually oriented business, they are prohibited from offering both restaurant services and entertaining, even if the entertainers are fully clothed,” U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore wrote in the order Friday. The suit also named — the Houston Police Department, the Houston Fire Department, and unnamed police officers and fire department officers — as co-defendants, according to court documents.

HOUSTON – At the stroke of midnight, Neri Hair Salon in Pearland will welcome back its first customers in weeks. They’re all in so we’re like let’s do it.”Like other hair salons across Texas, they have been closed by Gov. As the state continues to re-open businesses in phases, hair salons and barbershops are on the list to get back to work on Friday. I’m going to be able to take care of you guys’,” he said. Although it’ll be a late night for Neri and his staff, he said they are happy to be doing hair again.

Greg Abbott apparently said in a recent phone call that reopening the state will escalate coronavirus spread. Newsweek reported the call recording was made on the same day Abbott decided to reopen businesses. The recording was posted on Tuesday by the group Progress Texas, but reportedly was recorded during a May 1 call Abbott held with state legislators to discuss reopening businesses closed by the coronavirus pandemic. A Progress Texas spokeswoman told The San Antonio Current the recording was supplied by a person on the call to the Texas Democratic Party. "How do we know reopening businesses won't result in the faster spread and more cases of COVID-19?

HOUSTON – As Texas prepares for the first phase of reopening Friday, some in the cosmetology industry are sending a strong message. Greg Abbott announced that restaurants, malls, retail shops, and movie theaters can open in the state with limited capacity. People in the cosmetology and beauty industry rallied outside of Farouk Systems headquarters on Thursday. CEO Farouk Shami said what is happening to his industry isn't fair, and he believes that people in the business already follow stringent guidelines. Kemah salon owner Anna Cantu said that being a hairdresser is her passion, but it is also her livelihood.