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Texas Judge Rules Against State in Power Struggle Over Masks

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5 years ago

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A state judge said she did not understand the logic of giving Texas business owners authority to mandate masks but not local health officials.

A Texas judge on Friday rejected the state’s claims Governor Greg Abbott has unlimited authority to force cities and counties to comply with his Covid-19 orders under the Texas Disaster Act.

Citing the need to help businesses struggling to stay afloat amid state-imposed Covid-19 capacity restrictions, Abbott, a Republican, issued an order effective March 10 allowing all businesses to open 100% and repealing his mandate for Texans to wear masks in public.

But the Democratic leaders of Travis County and its seat, the capital city Austin, said they would continue enforcing social distancing and mask rules they put in place last year, provoking a lawsuit from the state.

Covid-19’s siege on the state is easing as more than 9 million Texans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and Abbott said Thursday Covid hospitalizations are at their lowest level in more than five months.

Mark Escott, acting health authority for Austin and Travis County, a defendant in the lawsuit, acknowledged in Friday’s virtual hearing Travis County has seen a decline in Covid hospitalizations and new cases.

But he said the county has been in the “neighborhood of 100 new cases a day” in March and hospitalizations are going up and down. “Basically we’ve hit a wall in terms of our decline in cases,” he said.

With only around 10% of residents fully vaccinated, Escott said, “It’s clear we haven’t beaten Covid-19 yet. And it’s clear that if we are able to maintain those protections it’s going to buy us time to get more people vaccinated. And ultimately it’s going to save lives.”

He said the University of Texas-Austin’s Covid-19 Modeling Consortium recently released projections based on different scenarios. He said the researchers found if Austin kept the restrictions in place, Covid cases would go down quickly, bottom out in May and June and stay flat.

But Escott said the projections for removing the mask mandate, combined with the spread of virus among people who gathered during spring break and new Covid-19 variants circulating that may be resistant to vaccines, predicted right now Austin and Travis County would be in a plateau.

“And in the coming weeks we’ll begin to increase and we’ll continue to surge into May and into June. To me that’s unnecessary risk,” he added.

People can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable with a max $1,000 fine for not wearing a mask in Austin. Travis County’s companion order authorizes fines for mask scofflaws up to $250. But the city and county have admitted in the litigation the mask orders aren’t being enforced.

The litigation is round two of Covid-restriction battles between the state, Travis County and Austin.

The state sued the city and county late last year after they barred restaurants from offering dine-in service and ordered bars to close from 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. from New Year’s Eve to Jan. 3.

The Texas Supreme Court struck down the order after it was upheld by lower courts.

Texas claims that decision and an appellate court order last fall striking down a curfew El Paso County implemented to try to slow down a spike in cases that overwhelmed area hospitals, forcing them to bring in refrigerated trucks to store the bodies of people dying from the disease, established local officials cannot supersede the governor’s authority after he has declared a state emergency under the Texas Disaster Act, which he did last spring.

Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston, a Democrat, asked state attorneys if they were saying Abbott has unlimited power once he declares a disaster.

“He could…say because he’s declared a disaster you must not wear red on Tuesdays and you may not wear red on Thursday, that is an order the governor could put in place, and we couldn’t do anything about it because under the Texas Disaster Act he has unlimited power,” she said. “Is that the position your taking?”

“Your honor, I would say it has to at least be reasonable,” Texas Assistant Attorney General Todd Dickerson said.

He said one of the Texas Disaster Act’s core purposes is to “return the situation to normal” so the Legislature was not just concerned about health and safety when it passed the law, but also individual rights.

Livingston was unpersuaded. She noted that Austin and Travis County are arguing the Texas Health and Safety Code gives local authorities power to enforce laws to protect residents’ health.

“Returning to normal would allow local health authority to determine there’s a problem and take action,” she said.

She also said she is puzzled at the state’s logic as Abbott’s latest order allows business owners to mandate customers wear masks, but does not give similar authority to local health officials.

“Why would we give effect to a law that prevents the doctors from dictating who wears a mask and who doesn’t in a public place and delegate that to an individual business owner… who must not be required to be informed by any science or any health?” she said.

Flustered by the judge’s rapid-fire questioning, Dickerson said it was a false comparison.

“The real issue is going to be the comparison between Governor Abbott’s ability to make those decisions and local officials. Now local officials want the power to make that decision but they don’t have it,” he said.

Livingston issued an order after the hearing rejecting the state’s request for a temporary restraining order to block the local rules. She gave no explanation of her decision in the two-page order.

The state is expected to immediately appeal.

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Anthony Obi Ogbo

Texas’ 18th Congressional District Runoff: Amanda Edwards Deserves This Seat

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2 days ago

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December 18, 2025

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“Her persistence and long-term investment make a clear case: she has earned this opportunity.“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

In the special election to fill Texas’s 18th Congressional District, no candidate won a majority on November 4, 2025, leading to a January 31, 2026, runoff between Democratic frontrunners Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards. Menefee, Harris County Attorney, led the field with roughly 29% of the vote, while former Houston City Council member Edwards finished second with about 26%. Both are vying to represent a district left vacant after the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

The 18th Congressional District is far more than a geographic area. Anchored in Houston’s historic Black communities, it is a political and cultural stronghold shaped by civil rights history, faith institutions, and grassroots activism. Sheila Jackson Lee represented this district for nearly three decades (1995–2024), becoming more than a legislator—she was a constant presence at churches, funerals, protests, and community milestones. For residents, her leadership carried spiritual weight, reflecting stewardship, protection, and a deep, almost pastoral guardianship of the district. Her tenure symbolized continuity, cultural pride, and a profound connection with the people she served.

Houstonians watched as Jackson Lee entered the 2023 Houston mayoral race, attempting to transition from Congress to city leadership. Despite high-profile endorsements, including outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner and national Democratic figures, she lost the December 9, 2023, runoff to State Senator John Whitmire by a wide margin. Following that defeat, Jackson Lee filed to run for re-election to her U.S. House seat, even as Edwards—who had briefly joined the mayoral race before withdrawing—remained in the congressional primary.

At that time, Jackson Lee’s health was visibly declining, yet voters still supported her, honoring decades of service. She defeated Edwards in the 2024 Democratic primary before announcing her battle with pancreatic cancer. Her passing in July 2024 left the seat vacant.

Edwards, already a candidate, sought to fill the seat, but timing and party rules intervened. Because Jackson Lee died too late for a regular primary, Harris County Democratic Party precinct chairs selected a replacement nominee. Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a retired but widely respected figure, narrowly edged out Edwards for the nomination, effectively blocking her despite her prior campaigning efforts. Turner won the general election but died in March 2025, triggering a special election in 2025, in which Edwards advanced to a runoff.

The January 31, 2026, runoff will hinge on turnout, coalition-building, and key endorsements. Both candidates led a crowded November field but fell short of a majority, with Menefee narrowly ahead. Endorsements such as State Rep. Jolanda Jones’ support for Edwards could consolidate key Democratic blocs, particularly among Black women and progressive voters. In a heavily Democratic district where voter confusion and turnout patterns have been inconsistent, the candidate who best mobilizes supporters and unites constituencies is likely to prevail.

Amanda Edwards’ case is compelling. Although both candidates share similar values and qualifications, her claim rests on dedication, consistency, and timing that have been repeatedly denied. She pursued this seat with focus and purpose, maintaining a steady commitment to the district and its future. Her path was interrupted by the prolonged political ambitions of Jackson Lee and Turner—figures whose stature reshaped the race but delayed generational transition. Edwards did not step aside; she remained visible, engaged, and prepared. In a moment demanding both continuity and renewal, her persistence and long-term investment make a clear case: she has earned this opportunity.

This race comes down to trust, perseverance, and demonstrated commitment. Amanda Edwards has consistently shown up for the district, even when political circumstances repeatedly delayed her chance. Her dedication reflects readiness, respect for the electorate, and an unwavering commitment to service. Voting for Amanda Edwards is not only justified—it is the right choice for Houston’s 18th Congressional District.

♦Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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Turnout, Trust, and Ground Game: What Decided Houston’s Runoff Elections

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6 days ago

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December 14, 2025

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Low-turnout runoff races for Houston City Council and Houston Community College trustee seats revealed how message discipline, local credibility, and voter mobilization determined clear winners—and decisive losers.

The final ballots are counted, and Houston’s runoff elections have delivered clear outcomes in two closely watched local races, underscoring a familiar truth of municipal politics: in low-turnout elections, organization and credibility matter more than name recognition alone.

In the race for Houston City Council At-Large Position 4, Alejandra Salinas secured a decisive victory, winning 25,710 votes (59.27%) over former council member Dwight A. Boykins, who garnered 17,669 votes (40.73%). The margin was not accidental. Salinas ran a campaign tightly aligned with voter anxiety over public safety and infrastructure—two issues that consistently dominate Houston’s civic conversations. Her emphasis on keeping violent criminals off city streets and expanding Houston’s water supply spoke directly to quality-of-life concerns that resonate across districts, especially in an at-large contest where candidates must appeal to the city as a whole.

Salinas’ win reflects the advantage of message clarity. In a runoff, voters are not looking to be introduced to candidates—they are choosing between candidates they are already familiar with. Salinas presented herself as forward-looking and solutions-oriented, while Boykins, despite his experience and political history, struggled to reframe his candidacy beyond familiarity. In runoffs, nostalgia rarely outperforms momentum.

The second race—for Houston Community College District II trustee—followed a similar pattern. Renee Jefferson Patterson won with 2,497 votes (56.63%), defeating Kathleen “Kathy” Lynch Gunter, who received 1,912 votes (43.37%). Though the raw numbers were smaller, the dynamics were just as telling.

Patterson’s victory was powered by deep local ties and a clear institutional vision. As an HCC alumna, she effectively positioned herself as both a product and a steward of the system. Her pledge to expand the North Forest Campus and direct resources to Acres Home connected policy goals to place-based advocacy. In trustee races, voters often respond less to ideology and more to proximity—those who understand the campus, the students, and the neighborhood. Patterson checked all three boxes.

By contrast, Gunter’s loss highlights the challenge of overcoming a candidate with genuine community roots in a runoff scenario. Without a sharply differentiated message or a strong geographic base, turnout dynamics tend to favor candidates with existing neighborhood networks and direct institutional relevance.

What ultimately decided both races was not a surprise, but execution. Runoffs reward campaigns that can re-mobilize supporters, simplify their message, and convert familiarity into trust. Salinas and Patterson did exactly that. Their opponents, though credible, were unable to expand or energize their coalitions in a compressed electoral window.

The lesson from Houston’s runoff elections is straightforward but unforgiving: winners win because they align message, identity, and ground game. Losers lose because, in low-turnout contests, anything less than that alignment is insufficient.

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Houston and Owerri Community Mourn the Passing of Beloved Icon, Lawrence Mike Obinna Anozie

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3 months ago

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October 3, 2025

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Houston was thrown into mourning on September 19, 2025, following the sudden passing of businessman and community advocate Lawrence Mike Obinna Anozie, who peacefully joined his ancestors. Immediate family member in Houston, Nick Anozie, confirmed his untimely death and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and condolences from both the Houston and Owerri communities.

Lawrence was born to Chief Alexander and Lolo Ether Anozie of Owerri in Imo State, Nigeria, and will be dearly remembered by family members, friends, and the entire Houston community.

An accomplished accountant, the late Lawrence incorporated and successfully managed three major companies: Universal Insurance Company, LLC, Universal Mortgage LLC, and Universal Financial Services. Through these enterprises, he not only built a thriving business career but also created opportunities for countless individuals to achieve financial stability. His contributions to entrepreneurship and community development will remain a lasting legacy.

According to the family, arrangements for his final funeral rites are in progress and will be announced in due course.

Lawrence will forever be remembered as a loving and compassionate man who dedicated much of his life to uplifting others. He helped countless young Nigerians and African Americans overcome economic challenges by providing mentorship, financial guidance, and career opportunities. His generosity touched the lives of many who otherwise might not have found their footing. A devout Catholic, he was unwavering in his faith and never missed Mass, drawing strength and inspiration from his church community. To those who knew him, Lawrence was not only a successful businessman but also a pillar of kindness, humility, and faith whose legacy of service and compassion will continue to inspire generations.

For more information, please contact Nick Anozie – 832-891-2213

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