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Judge’s Ruling Puts Miracle ‘Baby Chloe’ Closer to Being Adopted

By Houmanitarian on May 23, 2013

THURSDAY TOP NEWS LINKS:

Video: KHOU 11 News

Cindy George, Houston Chronicle
The unknown parents of the child known as Baby Chloe, an abandoned newborn found inside a plastic bag in February, had their parental rights terminated on Wednesday.

The little girl is now 3 months old. Authorities have been unable to locate her biological parents and have stopped looking for them, Child Protective Services spokeswoman Estella Olguin said.

The determination by Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Michael Schneider brings Chloe closer to becoming available for adoption, but it’s not too late for the mother or father to step forward.

[...] The baby was discovered by a woman walking her dogs in northwest Harris County when the animals became interested in a Wal-Mart bag on the perimeter of the Stonegate Villas Apartments. About 3 inches of the child’s umbilical cord was still attached.

She was a distinct infant – born with one bottom tooth – who weighed 4 pounds and 12 ounces. Medical officials determined that she was a late preterm baby delivered at 36 to 37 weeks’ gestation. She was named Chloe by the Texas Children’s Hospital staff.
Read this full story at Chron.com

Houstonians Aids Oklahoma Tornado Recovery

By Houmanitarian on May 22, 2013

As always, Houstonians are among those stepping up to help people in need. To assist in the Oklahoma tornado recovery, volunteers from the Houston Area Chapter of the Red Cross are shipping out. As are professionals from Centerpoint Energy, who will help reestablish essential infrastructure to the region. (Video: KTRK 13 News)

Tuesday, in order to assist in the effort, KPRC 2 News also launched a small telephone drive and provided further tips on how to help.

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Texas Legislators Battle the Clock and Each Other on Controversial Welfare Drug Testing Bill & State Budget

By Houmanitarian on May 22, 2013

WEDNESDAY TOP NEWS LINKS:

Photo by: Marjorie Kamys Coter (Texas Tribune)

Emily Ramshaw & Chris Hooks,
Texas Tribune
In a surprising reversal, the Texas House allowed the clock to run out Tuesday night on Senate Bill 11, an initiative that would have created a drug testing regimen for some welfare benefits.

After a marathon debate and a night of procedural and delay tactics, just hours after it voted to require drug testing for unemployment applicants, the House failed to reach a vote on SB 11 before time ran out on a midnight deadline to approve the bill.

Senate Bill 11, by Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, would have required adults receiving benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to submit to a drug test if their responses to a screening questionnaire indicate possible drug use.

Under the bill, a person who tested positive for drugs would be ineligible for financial assistance for six months. A second positive drug test would trigger a 12-month penalty, and a third positive result would make the applicant permanently ineligible for TANF benefits.

The bill’s House sponsor, state Rep. Walter T. “Four” Price, R-Amarillo, said that TANF already required benefit recipients to be drug-free — and that the measure simply enforced that requirement. The bill passed easily out of the upper chamber last month, but it attracted fierce opposition in the House.

State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, said the bill was unconstitutional and invited future legal challenges.
“Are people using their food stamps to go buy drugs? I categorically deny that,” he said. “Let me just tell you, it’s hell to be poor. And it’s certainly hell to be poor in the state of Texas.”

After nearly two hours of debate, Price announced his intention to pull the bill, predicting the debate would drag on and ultimately kill other bills. The House faced a midnight deadline to give tentative approval to Senate bills. But supporters of SB 11 convinced Price to continue.

Democrats resumed their attack against the bill, and lawmakers adopted one amendment that would have required drug testing for legislators. After more delays and parliamentary maneuvers, the clock struck midnight before the House could vote.
Read more of this article at Texas Tribune

OTHER STORIES ON LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
• Multiple Bills Key to Holding Budget Deal in Place (Texas Tribune
• Lawmakers to Negotiate Key Details of Education Bills (Texas Tribune)
• DNA Testing Mandate Gets Early House Approval (Texas Tribune)