Harris County Public Health extending COVID-19 vaccination cash card incentive program
Harris County Public Health announced on Tuesday the COVID-19 vaccination $100 cash card incentive program is being extended. According to a release, the program will run until September 14, 2021.
Social Security will be insolvent by 2034 due to COVID-19 pandemic
The new projections in the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees reports indicate that Social Security's massive trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits in 2034 instead of last year's estimated exhaustion date of 2035.
4 largest Oklahoma City hospitals run out of COVID-19 ICU beds
Mercy, Integris, SSM Health and OU Health said they either have no intensive care bed space available or no space for COVID-19 patients.
Chicago judge reverses decision, will allow unvaccinated mom to see her son after all
Cook County Judge James Shapiro told Rebecca Firlit in early August she would not be allowed to see her 11-year-old son because she refuses to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
5 Republican-run states under federal investigation for banning masks in schools
The Education Department says it’s investigating five Republican-led states that have banned or limited mask requirements in schools, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.
Onalaska ISD campuses close until September 7 due to COVID-19
Onalaska ISD campuses will be closed until September 7 "due to the rising number of students and staff members who are currently ill with COVID-19, demonstrating symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19, or who have experienced possible exposure.”
CDC panel endorses full FDA approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
Following the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a CDC advisory group voted on Monday to endorse the full authorization of the shot for Americans age 16 and older.
Natural immunity vs. COVID-19 vaccine
As COVID-19 cases surge nationwide, many are wondering if natural immunity to the virus after testing positive is enough to protect them from the highly transmissible delta variant. Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, assistant professor of Medicine-Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, discusses this.
European Union takes US off safe travel list, recommends reinstating restrictions
The decision to remove the U.S. from a safe list of countries for nonessential travel reverses advice from June, when the European Council recommended lifting restrictions on U.S. travelers.
Houston stylist provides mobile haircutting services for children with special needs
A local stylist has taken her special skills on the road after meeting parents unable to take their special needs children to the barbershop.
Liberty University orders campus-wide quarantine amid COVID-19 spike
Liberty University ordered a campus-wide quarantine amid a COVID-19 spike. The school had previously lifted building masking and distancing requirements.
Anti-parasite drug for animals ivermectin flying off store shelves as COVID spikes
The drug has been reportedly flying off stores shelves in multiple states even though it has not been approved for treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans.
Child obesity increased during COVID-19 pandemic: study
A new study found the prevalence of obesity between the ages of 5 and 11 jumped by about 9.5% during the pandemic.
Houston stylist provides mobile haircutting services for children with special needs
A local stylist has taken her special skills on the road after meeting parents unable to take their special needs children to the barbershop.
Houston’s own Mattress Mack gearing up to help residents evacuating from Hurricane Ida
Jim McIngvale, affectionately known as “Mattress Mack” is already getting ready to help the folks of Louisiana. He's loading up his truck with aid and supplies. FOX 26's Jose Grinan tells us more with the ongoing relief efforts.
More than 130 pets from Louisiana arrived at Houston SPCA in preparation for Hurricane Ida
The Houston SPCA says each pet was given individual vet exams before arriving in Houston and some will be taken to shelters in San Antonio and Austin, respectively. The pets in Houston will be up for adoption on Monday.
Mother reunites with good Samaritan who leapt into action to save her son from choking
A good Samaritan came to the rescue after a woman's son began choking while they were driving in Texas City. The mother shares the frightening experience with us and her gratitude to the man for his heroic actions.
Fort Bend ISD to not require face masks but still encourages staff, students, and parents to wear one
As the battle wages on between local school districts and the state on enforcing masks in schools, Fort Bend ISD announced it would not. "In light of this legal development, at this time, the District is not requiring the wearing of masks," Fort Bend ISD said.
Santa Fe High School mass shooting survivor now a freshman at Harvard University
She was a freshman at Santa Fe High School when a gunman opened fire in a deadly school shooting. Now, Jai Gillard, one of the survivors, is a freshman at Harvard.
Texas lawmakers supported a statewide vaccine mandate a decade ago. Now they're resisting one for COVID-19
Ten years ago, the state led in requiring meningitis vaccines for students under 22 enrolling in college. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, lawmakers are more skeptical of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.