By KERA News
Dallas, TX –
Texas health experts say providers should now target all priority groups for the swine flu vaccine.
The Texas Department of State Health Services says priority groups are: pregnant women; people 6 months through 24 years old; people 25 through 64 years old with high-risk health conditions; health care workers who provide direct care; and those with come in close contact with babies 6 months or younger.
Health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams says as of Wednesday, Texas had been allocated about 5.4 million doses. She says providers can decide whether they want to open the vaccinations to everyone.
Tarrant County and Harris County health departments currently offering the vaccine to everyone. Dallas County will start next week.
TABC new alcohol poisoning amnesty for minors
An amnesty program by Texas alcohol regulators is meant to stop youth poisoning deaths.
The announcement Wednesday by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission came on the first anniversary of the California death of an 18-year-old college student from Austin.
Carson Starkey was a freshman at California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, who died after attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon party. Police have said Starkey had to drink a bag full of alcoholic beverages as part of the pledging process. The fraternity was later suspended.
TABC agents "will not cite minors for the illegal possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages if an individual seeks assistance because of a medical emergency or because a person has been a victim of sexual assault or other violent crime."
Convicted sex offender Comeaux still loose
A convicted sex offender who escaped from Texas prison guards during a transfer is drawing the attention of legislative leaders.
Texas prison system spokeswoman Michelle Lyons told The Associated Press that Arcade Joseph Comeaux Jr. was still on the run Wednesday.
State Sen. John Whitmire of Houston, who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, on Tuesday called for more answers on how the 49-year-old inmate was able to flee. Comeaux was in a wheelchair Monday when he pulled a gun on two guards as he was being transferred from a prison in Huntsville to a unit in Beaumont. Both guards were released unharmed after being forced to drive to the Baytown area, where Comeaux took off on foot.
Comeaux was serving life in prison for aggravated sexual assault out of Brazos County.
Settlement in Texas disabled parking lawsuit
A proposed $24 million settlement would end a 1997 lawsuit challenging a $5 fee that Texas charged for disabled parking placards
The Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday that the settlement to the class action lawsuit, filed against the Department of Transportation, faces final approval from a federal judge.
The lawsuit was part of similar cases nationwide claiming charging drivers with disabilities for the right to access violates the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The settlement says Texas would fund a pool to cover refunds to drivers with disabilities who bought the blue parking placards since 1997. A judge in 2008 ordered the state to stop collecting the fee.
Attorney J. Hampton Skelton of Austin says he was happy to reach the agreement on behalf of disabled Texans.