Jason Nassour charged with tampering with evidence
There’s been another indictment from the Travis County district attorney related to the Javier Ambler death in Williamson County. Travis County DA Jose Garza says the former Williamson County general counsel, Jason Nassour is facing a charge of tampering with evidence related to the case.
“Mr. Nassour was indicted by a Travis County grand jury who found probable cause to believe that knowing an investigation was pending or in progress, Mr. Nassour tampered with physical evidence,” says Garza.
Garza says the Travis County Grand Jury also heard evidence involving former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody, but adds a full announcement about that could not legally be made just yet.
Department of Public Safety Trooper Chad Walker has now died. He had been hospitalized since he was shot in the head and chest on Friday night by a man who was said to later take his own life. Walker leaves behind a wife and four Children
COVID-19 update
Austin Public Health is reporting 1,013 active cases this morning, up slightly from yesterday. 146 of those involved someone in the hospital, 79,217 cases now confirmed since March of last year, resulting in 77,387 recoveries.
Another major holiday is just days away. Once again, the Travis County health authority is recommending that you keep celebrations to a minimum. Dr. Mark Escott says he expects a rise in COVID because of Easter.
“We’re at a time now where we have to be careful. I was hoping that we will be done with this by now, but we’re not,” says Escott.
His recommendation is to stay home on Sunday and attend church over the Internet. Escott feels the risk has already been increased because of spring break. However, if things don’t go as he’s predicting and cases continue to fall as they have been, we could be into stage two COVID restrictions in just a couple of weeks.
This week, Williamson County leaders made the bold prediction of having every adult vaccinated for COVID by July 4 and down in Travis County this week, Austin Public Health has announced its own high hopes: herd immunity and all adults by the end of next month. However, even if that happens, officials say, the virus could still impact children, and so the fall is likely the earliest we could “relax”.
New plant based COVID vaccine
Austin based benchmark research will be launching a new trial for plant based COVID vaccine. CEO Mark Lacey talked to CBS Austin. He says the plants in this vaccine produce noninfectious versions of the virus, and he believes that will prove to be more effective than the current vaccines in circulation.
“Found to be much better to use with people who have autoimmune diseases. And it gives us one more vaccine to be able to produce,” says Lacey.
That trial starts on Monday, Lacey says they’re looking for 200 participants.
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce is providing some COVID-19 test kits to businesses. It’s being made possible through a program announced in January by the governor. The chamber has a short survey for interested businesses to fill out, and as of tomorrow, businesses will be notified about whether or not they’ve been selected.
Wilco as 2nd healthiest in Texas
The new county health rankings and roadmap is out. It’s an annual list compiled by the University of Wisconsin, and this year it ranks Williamson County has the second healthiest in the entire state of Texas. The report says Williamson has remained one of the healthiest counties for more than a decade now. That study factors in education, housing, crime, employment and overall health behavior.
Hays High School new logo
Hays High School is losing its final tie to the Confederacy. Releasing images this week of the new mascot logo, which is the Hawk. District spokesman Tim Savoy says this is 20 years in the making.
“Back in 2000, the school board at the time retired the Confederate flag from official use by the school in 2012. The board then banned the display of the Confederate flag on any campuses. 2015 the board voted to eliminate Dixie as the fight song,” says Savoy.
And he says the plan is to fully adopt the Hawks logo over the summer. And it could cost the district about $800,000.
High speed internet in Texas
Governor Greg Abbott’s emergency item call for all Texans to have high speed Internet access moves quickly through the state capital.
“Big Bill. Big Man. Thank you, sir. 31 to nothing. Congratulations.”
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick celebrating the passage of State Senator Bob Nichols’ bill. That would do the first thing the state needs to do if it wants to deliver affordable broadband access.
“Our lack of a plan hinders both our ability to receive federal funds and also a clear vision.”
Nichols’ bill would also create a broadband development office based out of UT Austin.
“The bill directs the office to create a broadband map for the state that specifically identifies those areas with less than 80% of addresses, have access to broadband.”
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-4-1-21
