November 30, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 132,045 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 538 more cases than I reported last week and 1,163 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 5 people who died since last week). While the decrease in cases is hopeful, we must remain vigilant especially since we have a new variant – omicron – and it’s now in North America. I honestly don’t know how people thought it wouldn’t get here. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that Covid is hardy, highly transmissible, and loves to travel the globe. Vaccines may still …
Collin County Politics: Democracy Requires Action
November 23, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 131,507 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 690 more cases than I reported last week and 1,158 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 7 people who died since last week). We’re not out of the woods yet, so please keep your masks on! Healthcare providers don’t grow on trees and aren’t an inexhaustible resource. School Boards: Although my task is to provide information about Collin County, we cannot ignore what’s going on in areas close by. I’ve heard people say they hope what’s happening in other parts of Texas won’t come …
Collin County Politics: True Leadership Wanted
November 16, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 130,817 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 557 more cases than I reported last week and 1,151 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 11 people who died since last week). The numbers continue to go down but what we don’t see is the people taking months to recover and those dealing with long Covid. Our healthcare workers are still stretched incredibly thin because the post-Covid folks are using a lot of resources. Many skilled nursing facilities are crowded with those struggling to breathe on their own, sit up, and talk. Even …
Collin County Politics: A Redistricting Nightmare
November 9, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 130,260 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 713 more cases than I reported last week and 1,140 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 10 people who died since last week). The numbers continue to go down, showing that vaccine mandates work. I hope the vaccine for younger children helps even more. Commissioner’s Court: The November 1st meeting was the most infuriating, hilarious, and vomit-inducing one I’ve seen thus far. With redistricting on the agenda, the commissioners’ true colors were in high relief. Susan Fletcher’s husband called Darrell Hale a bully, all …
Collin County Politics: Democracy is not a Spectator Sport
November 2, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 129,547 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 933 more cases than I reported last week and 1,130 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 15 people who died since last week). The numbers are going down! Collin College: Another professor is suing President Neil Matkin, Collin College, and the board of trustees for violating her First Amendment right to free speech. Dr. Lora Burnett’s lawsuit follows on the heels of a lawsuit filed by Dr. Suzanne Jones, also for violation of her rights. I wish the family of Iris Meda – the …
Collin County Politics: Inching Towards Fascism
October 26, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 128,614 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 1,045 more cases than I reported last week and 1,115 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 34 people who died since last week). The reason I start every column with Covid numbers is that too many of our county leaders are pretending Covid is over. It isn’t and I want people to be aware of the toll it’s taking. Very few of our businesses and schools require masks. How many lives would have been saved if we’d taken the virus more seriously? For 34 …
Collin County Politics: Vote in EVERY Election!
October 18, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 127,569 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 1,287 more cases than I reported last week and 1,081 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 20 people who died since last week). Texas: Unless you’ve been ignoring the news, you’ve heard that the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake got into trouble when their executive director of curriculum and instruction suggested they present an opposing view to the Holocaust. This received the justifiable outrage it deserved, leading to massive international and national condemnation. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez summed it up well: “There’s a reason white …
Collin County Politics: The Hits Keep on Coming
October 12, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 126,354 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 1,297 more cases than I reported last week and 1,062 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 26 people gone in 1 week). This isn’t over, not by a long shot. Whether people want to admit it or not, Covid is deeply affecting our schools. In Richardson, one of their secondary students remains in ICU, and last week, both a 16-year-old student and a staff member died from Covid. This is incredibly tragic and my heart goes out to their families. Is it any wonder …
Collin County Politics: There’s No Bottom
October 5, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 125,057 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 2,447 more cases than I reported last week and 1,036 of our Collin residents have died (an increase of 32 people gone in 1 week). Delta cases may be trending down but we’re not out of the woods yet. One silver lining of Covid is that it’s brought awareness to how many of our systems are badly broken. While this is tragic and enraging, it’s still good to know because the first step in doing a course correction is always recognition of the problem. Our healthcare system …
Collin County Politics: If You Aren’t Worried, You’re Not Paying Attention
September 28, 2021 Covid Update: Collin County has 122,807 confirmed Covid cases. That’s 1,999 more cases than I reported last week and 1,004 of our Collin residents have died. Although the delta surge is supposed to be cresting, we’re still in the middle of the crises in our hospitals, especially with burned-out healthcare professionals. Many have quit, retired, or moved. The lack of staff then affects how many ICU beds are available. For some reason, people keep thinking it’s about the actual beds. It isn’t. This is about staffing. You can lay in a bed all you want but if …