Emma Whalen - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/emma-whalen/ Building "Bridges" Across the Bayou City! Mon, 01 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://i0.wp.com/houstonnewmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-cropped-Houston.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Emma Whalen - HoustonNewMedia.org https://houstonnewmedia.org/author/emma-whalen/ 32 32 103504436 Amid COVID-19, Montrose-area resources step up support for vulnerable populations in LGBTQ community https://houstonnewmedia.org/amid-covid-19-montrose-area-resources-step-up-support-for-vulnerable-populations-in-lgbtq-community/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amid-covid-19-montrose-area-resources-step-up-support-for-vulnerable-populations-in-lgbtq-community Mon, 01 Jun 2020 10:00:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/health-care/2020/06/01/amid-covid-19-montrose-area-resources-step-up-support-for-vulnerable-populations-in-lgbtq-community/ Efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus are compounding the challenges some members of the LGBTQ community were already facing.

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]]> 48675 Houston’s $15 million rental assistance program depleted in 90 minutes after applications open https://houstonnewmedia.org/houstons-15-million-rental-assistance-program-depleted-in-90-minutes-after-applications-open/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houstons-15-million-rental-assistance-program-depleted-in-90-minutes-after-applications-open Wed, 13 May 2020 15:35:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/05/13/houstons-15-million-rental-assistance-program-depleted-in-90-minutes-after-applications-open/ The program had 30,000 visitors waiting on the online application portal before it opened.

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]]> 44055 Houston City Council member tests positive for coronavirus https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-city-council-member-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-city-council-member-tests-positive-for-coronavirus Mon, 11 May 2020 21:28:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/05/11/houston-city-council-member-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/ Letitia Plummer, At-Large Position 4 Houston City Council member, has become the first council member to test positive for coronavirus May 11.

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]]> 43363 Houston passes $15 million rental assistance program https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-passes-15-million-rental-assistance-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-passes-15-million-rental-assistance-program Wed, 06 May 2020 18:09:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/05/06/houston-passes-15-million-rental-assistance-program/ A new $15 million relief fund approved by Houston City Council will provide aid to renters behind on April and May rent due to coronavirus wage losses.

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]]> 42134 Health disparities, demographics reveal Houston’s potential coronavirus vulnerabilities https://houstonnewmedia.org/health-disparities-demographics-reveal-houstons-potential-coronavirus-vulnerabilities/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=health-disparities-demographics-reveal-houstons-potential-coronavirus-vulnerabilities Mon, 04 May 2020 03:00:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/bellaire-meyerland-west-university/coronavirus/2020/05/03/health-disparities-demographics-reveal-houstons-potential-coronavirus-vulnerabilities/ The virus outbreak appears to be affecting Houston's already at-risk populations more acutely.

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]]> 41320 Ahead of budget shortfall, Houston considers citywide garbage bin fee https://houstonnewmedia.org/ahead-of-budget-shortfall-houston-considers-citywide-garbage-bin-fee/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ahead-of-budget-shortfall-houston-considers-citywide-garbage-bin-fee Fri, 01 May 2020 20:41:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/05/01/ahead-of-budget-shortfall-houston-considers-citywide-garbage-bin-fee/ The $1 lease fee aims to cover the costs of garbage bins that are currently distributed for free.

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]]> 40980 As state orders ease, 19th Street businesses reopen for curbside pickup https://houstonnewmedia.org/as-state-orders-ease-19th-street-businesses-reopen-for-curbside-pickup/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=as-state-orders-ease-19th-street-businesses-reopen-for-curbside-pickup Thu, 23 Apr 2020 22:30:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/04/23/as-state-orders-ease-19th-street-businesses-reopen-for-curbside-pickup/ Some small business owners are offering to go options.

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]]> 38422 Houston pledges to go carbon-neutral by 2050 under new Climate Action Plan https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-pledges-to-go-carbon-neutral-by-2050-under-new-climate-action-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-pledges-to-go-carbon-neutral-by-2050-under-new-climate-action-plan Wed, 22 Apr 2020 21:06:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/environment/2020/04/22/houston-pledges-to-go-carbon-neutral-by-2050-under-new-climate-action-plan/ The city formed the plan to follow the terms of the Paris Agreement.

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]]> 38075 Proposed Houston ordinance would require anti-human trafficking training for all hotel workers https://houstonnewmedia.org/proposed-houston-ordinance-would-require-anti-human-trafficking-training-for-all-hotel-workers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=proposed-houston-ordinance-would-require-anti-human-trafficking-training-for-all-hotel-workers Thu, 09 Apr 2020 20:17:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/2020/04/09/proposed-houston-ordinance-would-require-anti-human-trafficking-training-for-all-hotel-workers/ If adopted, Houston would be only the second city in the nation to adopt such a requirement.

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]]> 34222 Essential workers in Southeast Texas can now search for child care, receive financial assistance https://houstonnewmedia.org/essential-workers-in-southeast-texas-can-now-search-for-child-care-receive-financial-assistance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=essential-workers-in-southeast-texas-can-now-search-for-child-care-receive-financial-assistance Mon, 06 Apr 2020 16:41:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/04/06/essential-workers-in-southeast-texas-can-now-search-for-child-care-receive-financial-assistance/ Essential workers struggling to find child care amid coronavirus shutdowns can now find a provider and potentially receive financial assistance through a new Southeast Texas database.

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]]> 33122 Houston City Council to consider leasing 186 hotel rooms for quarantine sites https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-city-council-to-consider-leasing-186-hotel-rooms-for-quarantine-sites/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-city-council-to-consider-leasing-186-hotel-rooms-for-quarantine-sites Tue, 31 Mar 2020 12:50:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/government/2020/03/31/houston-city-council-to-consider-leasing-186-hotel-rooms-for-quarantine-sites/ The hotel rooms will be prioritized for those who cannot self-quaratine at home.

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]]> 31307 Over 300 of Houston’s first responders under quarantine for coronavirus https://houstonnewmedia.org/over-300-of-houstons-first-responders-under-quarantine-for-coronavirus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=over-300-of-houstons-first-responders-under-quarantine-for-coronavirus Mon, 30 Mar 2020 21:22:00 +0000 https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2020/03/30/over-300-of-houstons-first-responders-under-quarantine-for-coronavirus/ In addition to those, 11 police officers and 7 firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19.

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]]> 31175 Houston coronavirus testing sites remain open despite supply chain hiccups https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-coronavirus-testing-sites-remain-open-despite-supply-chain-hiccups/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-coronavirus-testing-sites-remain-open-despite-supply-chain-hiccups Sat, 28 Mar 2020 12:48:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=c881617af0ae19b38dd0546548cd53ad As of March 26, the end of the first week that most major test centers were open, the City of Houston had tested 1,062 patients at its site and Harris County tested 1,700 patients across its two sites.

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]]> 30479 While Houston homelessness is in decline, experts worry about at-risk population https://houstonnewmedia.org/while-houston-homelessness-is-in-decline-experts-worry-about-at-risk-population/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=while-houston-homelessness-is-in-decline-experts-worry-about-at-risk-population Mon, 09 Mar 2020 17:15:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=266ccf250c096ea8553de20a07f6f4c7 Rising housing prices and stagnant wages could mean the city's at-risk population is growing.

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]]> 24357 Houston to remain under boil water notice through at least Saturday morning https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-to-remain-under-boil-water-notice-through-at-least-saturday-morning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-to-remain-under-boil-water-notice-through-at-least-saturday-morning Fri, 28 Feb 2020 22:26:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=c064251d2c99adbee465c50f05bda944 The city is awaiting test sample results that will be available Saturday morning.

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]]> 22065 Grappling with equity, Houston City Council approves recommendation for widespread affordable housing proposals https://houstonnewmedia.org/grappling-with-equity-houston-city-council-approves-recommendation-for-widespread-affordable-housing-proposals/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grappling-with-equity-houston-city-council-approves-recommendation-for-widespread-affordable-housing-proposals Fri, 21 Feb 2020 20:38:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=cfa932116e1a833196044a79151ccba3 “In an effort to maintain the flow of money from HUD, we have agreed that we are going to be objective and not political about our allocation of these developments,” City Attorney Ron Lewis said.

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]]> 20183 Holding on to history: Patchwork of Freedmen's Town preservation efforts keeps fight alive https://houstonnewmedia.org/holding-on-to-history-patchwork-of-freedmenamp039s-town-preservation-efforts-keeps-fight-alive/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=holding-on-to-history-patchwork-of-freedmenamp039s-town-preservation-efforts-keeps-fight-alive Thu, 06 Feb 2020 13:40:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=34113f84ba95703fef6b6187de70d6e0 Where dozens of parishioners once gathered at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in Houston’s Freedmen’s Town, a handful still meets on Sundays at the vacant lot it stood on.

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]]> 16341 Art cars, azalea trails, crawfish and anti-Valentine's: February-March events in the Heights, River Oaks and Montrose https://houstonnewmedia.org/art-cars-azalea-trails-crawfish-and-anti-valentineamp039s-february-march-events-in-the-heights-river-oaks-and-montrose/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=art-cars-azalea-trails-crawfish-and-anti-valentineamp039s-february-march-events-in-the-heights-river-oaks-and-montrose Wed, 05 Feb 2020 22:20:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=f28c49d8be62973ac7716e0b87dae2f9 Mark your calendar with these community events coming up in February and March.

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]]> 16267 Public has final chance to weigh in on new policies aiming to make Houston more walkable https://houstonnewmedia.org/public-has-final-chance-to-weigh-in-on-new-policies-aiming-to-make-houston-more-walkable/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=public-has-final-chance-to-weigh-in-on-new-policies-aiming-to-make-houston-more-walkable Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:19:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=2609acbab44e192aa3764849a69b7dd8 Proponents of two upcoming policy changes say they will make Houston pedestrian-friendly but opponents say they will cause more traffic and parking headaches.

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]]> 11163 Houston to develop new air quality tracking system focused on Benzene levels https://houstonnewmedia.org/houston-to-develop-new-air-quality-tracking-system-focused-on-benzene-levels/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=houston-to-develop-new-air-quality-tracking-system-focused-on-benzene-levels Wed, 08 Jan 2020 21:04:00 +0000 http://houstonnewmedia.org/?guid=c8829bcfb9c1d89b93f14dee9add8a0b Houston City Council approved a grant from the Centers for Disease Control to develop a better tracking and reporting system for benzene levels in the city's air.

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