COACHES, ATHLETES GET CREATIVE WITH WORKOUTS SPORTS | B1 KATY NATIVE THOMAS GRATEFUL FOR NCAA RULING Katy Times PAGE B4 VOLUME 108, ISSUE 14 THE GREATER KATY AREA'S NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1912 n katytimes.com THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 Texas Stay home order extended declared Order also issued to release nonviolent jail inmates major By R. HANS MILLER in our containment and would continue to seek the advice of TIMES SENIOR REPORTER measures – if any- medical professionals and monitor the thing, it’s the time to disease’s progress in other communities for In a March 31 press conference, Harris double down because information that would help her and other disaster County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she was our rates continue community leaders make decisions regard- extending the county’s “Stay Home, Work to grow very, very ing how to move forward. Safe” order to April 30 and would be issuing rapidly, and we’ve not BY ED STERLING an order after the press conference to release CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS yet gotten to a point of Tracking trends nonviolent inmates from the Harris County flattening the curve,” LINA At the time of the press conference, Har- President Trump on March 25 Jail. Both measures were taken to mitigate the Hidalgo said. HIDALGO ris County’s Public Health Department re- issued a major disaster declara- spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by Hidalgo said she tion for the state of Texas as a re- the Novel Coronavirus. was proud of the community for coming sult of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is not the time right now to scale back together to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 See ORDER, page A3 Trump’s action came at the request of Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking additional federal assistance to combat the disease. In recent days Abbott issued multiple waivers of state laws to remove barriers limiting the response to the pandemic. He also activated the Texas National KISD approves pavilion renovation Guard to be prepared to assist with response efforts. By R. HANS MILLER Abbott said the president’s TIMES SENIOR REPORTER declaration “opens up new sources of funding for individual The Katy ISD Board of Trustees approved and public assistance that will renovation of the old L.D. Robinson Pavilion help Texas respond to this public facility near the Katy ISD Education Support health emergency and protect Complex in downtown Katy at their March public health and safety.” 30 regular meeting. The board also post- Federal aid is earmarked to poned the district’s regular trustee election overcome current and prospec- to Nov. 3 in light of concerns regarding safely tive shortages of personal pro- conducting the election in the face of the tective gear, medical equipment, COVID-19 pandemic. testing supplies, hospital beds Both decisions were passed unanimously and medical personnel. by trustees that participated in the online Meanwhile, Abbott has meeting. Trustee Bill Lacy was absent from ordered the temporary closure the meeting. of in-person school operations and prohibited non-critical visits Pavilion remake to nursing homes, retirement or long-term care facilities. He also The renovations would cost about $5 has mandated that Texans avoid: million and would create a new home for • Social gatherings of more the district’s Early Childhood Intervention than 10 people; program – known as Project Tyke – as well • Dine-in eating and drinking as meeting and professional development at bars or restaurants; and space for the district. KATY ISD/VLK ARCHITECTS, INC. • Gyms or massage establish- “Though the program has been housed The Katy ISD Board of Trustees has approved renovations for the old L.D. Robinson Pavilion site in downtown Katy and ments. at various locations throughout the years, to postponed the district’s May trustee election to November. On March 28 the Texas De- see the approval of a new home for our fami- lies and children will be a great opportunity partment of State Health Services remaining 1,000 square feet would be tools already in place to be successful, ac- to continue providing early intervention reported 25,483 people had been utilized for maintenance, mechanical and cording to the district’s website. Assistance services to our future Katy ISD students,” tested so far for COVID-19 in other general spaces according to drawings is provided for a variety of developmental said ECI Program Diretor Martha Aki. Texas. Of those, 2,552 tests were shown during the district’s meeting. concerns including Austism Spectrum reported as positive and there The program is currently housed in por- No construction company has been Disorders, mobility impairments, speech had been 34 deaths. table buildings just west of the Katy ISD Op- identified for the project, however, the KISD difficulties and other health impairments portunity Awareness Center on the Raines Board of Trustees approved a competitive that could negatively impact a student’s Quarantine orders issued High School campus. Between 300 and 400 sealed bid methodology to allow con- scholastic success. children are served through the Project Tyke Gov. Abbott on March 26 struction vendors to bid on the project. “ECI Project TYKE is one program that program each year for a total of about 15,000 issued an executive order This method allows bids to be submitted serves children from birth to 36 months of children since the program’s initiation more mandating a self-quarantine for in sealed packages then be opened during age with developmental delays. There are than 30 years ago, Katy ISD staff said. individuals traveling to Texas as a public opening on a scheduled date, 46 ECI programs in the state of Texas serving their final destination through an Renovations to the facility have been according to the Texas Comptroller of every square inch to provide services to airport from the New York-New designed by VLK Architects, Inc. which is Public Accounts website. The Comptrollers the smallest of Texans,” said Maria DiPetta, Jersey-Connecticut area or from headquartered in Houston. Changes to the office regulates purchasing in Texas for all KISD spokesperson. the city of New Orleans. 25,000-square-foot facility will include refac- governmental entities. Once opened, bids ing the building and adding four classrooms, and proposals are scored to determine best a meeting space that can provide up to six value and an award is made. Award of the Election postponed See DISASTER, page A3 rooms depending on how it is configured, resulting contract will need to be approved The KISD Board of Trustees also pushed two therapy rooms and office space for staff by the KISD Board of Trustees after staff the May 2 trustee election to Nov. 3 as was that will work in the facility. About 14,000 have evaluated the bids. permitted by an executive order from Texas square feet will be utilized for Project TYKE TheECI program assists children of Governor Greg Abbott that allows local HAVE A NEWS TIP? and about 10,000 square feet for meeting pre-kindergarten age with developmental [email protected] and professional development space. The disabilities to prepare to enter school with See RENOVATION, page A3 SUBSCRIBE TODAY (281) 391-3141 April 2, 2020 12 pages | $1 Abbott: Schools to stay closed until May 4 By PATRICK SVITEK run through the end of the month. The THE TEXAS TRIBUNE order also says Texans “shall … mini- mize social gatherings and minimize Schools in Texas will remain closed in-person contact with people who are until at least early May as part of an not in the same household.” executive order that Gov. Greg Abbott “In short, what this provides is that announced Tuesday to continue to stem Texans are the spread of the new coronavirus. expected to limit personal interactions A previous executive order from that can lead to the spread of COVID-19 Abbott shuttered schools until mid- while also still having the freedom to night Friday, but his most recent order conduct daily activities such as going to extends the shutdown until May 4. The the grocery stories, so long as you are latest order could also be extended. following the presidential standard of Abbott announced the executive good distance practices,” Abbott said. order at a news conference at the Texas Abbott made clear he did not Capitol, saying it would bring the state consider the executive order a shelter- JORDAN VONDERHAAR/POOL VIA THE TEXAS TRIBUNE in line with federal guidance urging so- in-place or stay-at-home order, taking A previous executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shuttered schools cial distancing, which President Donald until midnight Friday, but his most recent order extends the shutdown until Trump announced Monday would now See SCHOOLS, page A3 May 4. YOU CAN KEEP YOUR COUGH AT HOME with Houston Methodist Virtual Urgent Care houstonmethodist.org/virtual-care Our providers are available to screen for the coronavirus via video visit. THE KATY TIMES A2 THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020 ENTERTAINMENT KATYTIMES.COM 10 games to keep you sane while at home By R. HANS MILLER TIMES SENIOR REPORTER Maybe there’s something serendipitous about the timing of the board and card game golden age that has been occurring for the last few years. As families have been looking for ways to step away from small screens and look each other in the eye, dozens of games have been released each of the last few years to meet the growing demand. Here are ten that are easy to learn and can help pass the time with family and friends – whether you’re social distancing or not. Kingdomino Inspired by the classic Dominoes game and resource-gathering strategy games, this game has players place tiles in a certain order to maximize the resources they have once all of the tiles are used.