Texas

County notes added COVID deaths

Aug. 31, the Port Arthur and Jefferson County health departments reported two additional COVID-19 related deaths – one, a Port Arthur white male resident between the ages of 80 and 85, the other a white male Nederland resident between the ages of 60 and 65.

BISD anticipates Sept. 2 return to virtual learning

Beaumont ISD Board of Trustees held a meeting Aug. 31 to address emergency issues related to Hurricane Laura.

Beaumont man dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning

Friday, Aug. 28, at 3:51pm, Beaumont Police Officers responded to the 200 block of  N 7th St. in reference a deceased person.  Alphonso Devon Williams, a 61-year-old Beaumont man, was found deceased inside the locked upstairs garage apartment by the maintenance man and family.

H-E-B to resume regular hours

As areas affected by Hurricane Laura begin the road to recovery, H-E-B has announced that all Golden Triangle stores are open.   The following stores in the Golden Triangle are OPEN until at least 8 p.m. Friday, August 28, and will open at normal busines hours tomorrow, Saturday, August 29.

Entergy to enact rolling blackouts

From Entergy: Entergy has started periodic power outages for its customers in Texas.

Evacuation canceled

After a harrowing night of anticipating Hurricane Laura’s landfall, Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick is calling off the area’s mandatory evacuation beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 27. The evacuation order has been in effect since Aug. 25. 

‘Please evacuate now.’

Urgent Alert to Jefferson County Residents:   “Hurricane Laura is approaching Southeast Texas and will land Wednesday evening.”   This storm “will continue to gain strength and cause catastrophic and life threatening conditions. Please evacuate now.”

‘Extended power outages’ expected

From Entergy: “Based on Hurricane Laura's current forecast and track, (the Beaumont) area may see extended power outages.

County to close Highway 365

Ahead of the pending landfall of Hurricane Laura, Jefferson County has called for the early closure of Hwy 365 gates, shutting off access. County spokesperson Allison Getz advises that the gates will close at 11 a.m. on Aug, 26, one hour early.

Cities make last call for evacuees

Beaumont and Port Arthur mayors are asking for those who need transportation out of town to evacuate from the pending impact of Hurricane Harvey to make their way to staging stations and eating buses as soon as possible.