Community

The Houston Health Department will double its daily COVID-19 testing capacity when it opens its second community drive-thru test site for people with symptoms on Wednesday, April 1.

With the federal government extending social distancing guidelines through the end of April, Houston area schools districts will remain closed, providing online instruction until May 4, officials announced.

The Houston Health Department announced 54 new positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases on Sunday, bringing the city's total to 286. Houston's COIVD-19 deaths remain at two as no new deaths were reported Sunday.

A 39-year-old male Harris County Jail inmate received a positive test result for COVID-19 on Sunday.

Martha Marie Preston is the walking epitome of the phrase, "turn your mess into a message.” This self-made millionaire, shrewd businesswoman and successful night club owner had it all until her double life as a drug kingpin was exposed by federal DEA agents tracking her every move. Dubbed "The Texas Queen" by state and national media, law enforcement reported that at the height of her operation in the 1980´s, the former mastermind and her enterprise controlled 50% of all drug traffic in the state of Texas.

"I am not my hair!" is the bold statement Jo H. Golden told African-American News&Issues, and she's proving it. The gifted photographer turned the lens on herself, as she publicly chronicles one of the toughest fights of her life: battling Stage 3 breast cancer.

Lone Star College announced it will waive fees for courses which are moving online due to the coronavirus and delay a planned tuition increase. The waived fee also applies to the 8-week term, any remaining Next Start classes, May Mini-Mester, Summer I and Summer II distance learning classes.

In an effort to continue to encourage the health and safety of the public and court staff members from the spread of the COVID-19, the City of Houston Municipal Courts Department has suspended ALL JURY AND JUDGE TRIALS, JURY DUTY, ARRAIGNMENTS AND PARKING ADJUDICATION HEARINGS through Friday, May 1, 2020. The Court remains open for all other proceedings.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George and Fort Bend County Health & Human Services Director and Local Health Authority Dr. Jacquelyn Johnson Minter, in coordination with OakBend Medical Group, have announced the first COVID-19 testing site in Fort Bend County.

Marvalette Hunter is the chief of staff of the City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's Office. Hunter has more than 20 years of experience in public policy, project management, real estate development and finance. She is an architect and city planner with extensive knowledge of federal, state and local programs regarding housing, economic development, transportation and public infrastructure.