As we begin a new week, we are creating a new post where will keep track of breaking news, updates and cancellations related to the ongoing novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

(Coronavirus is the name  family or category of virus; SARS-CoV-2 is the name of this new coronavirus; COVID-19 is the name of the disease the virus causes).

OUTLINES CLOSING TEMPORARILY, ONLINE ORDERS STILL AVAILABLE

The owners of Outlines Menswear store on Cedar Springs Road announced today (Friday, March 20) that they are temporarily closing their store, beginning today and going through April 13. Customers can still place orders online at OutlinesMensWear.com.

NORTH TEXAS LGBT CHAMBER SHARES TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Tony Vedda today shared information regarding the impact of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act on small businesses and encouraging those of us in the LGBTQ community to support each other during the coronavirus crisis, especially by patronizing small businesses that remain open and by ordering take-out or delivery from area restaurants.

For information on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, provided by Phillips Murrah PC, go here. For a list of area restaurants, go here.

DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURT CLOSURES

The city of Dallas Municipal Court, located at 2014 Main Street, will be closed to the public for in-person services beginning today (Thursday, March 19) until further notice. All trials, hearings and jury duty are rescheduled for a later date. Persons with scheduled trials, hearings or jury duty appearances will be notified by mail with a new date and time.

Defendants are encouraged to resolve their citation(s) using the following methods:

  • Online: Visit tickets.dallascityhall.com to make payments, schedule a court date or apply for a court program.
  • By phone: Call 214-670-0109 to pay by phone.
  • By mail: Send payments (personal checks or money orders), court date requests or documentation to 2014 Main Street, Dallas, TX, 75201.

For questions or concerns, please call Dallas Municipal Court at 214-670-0109 or chat with a court clerk online at courts.dallascityhall.com.

AIDS OUTREACH CENTER ANNOUNCES CHANGES

AIDS Outreach Center in Tarrant County will remain open to provide urgent assistance to its clients. However, the agency has made some changes to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

  • All support group meetings and scheduled events are suspended.
  • Case management and counseling services are available but will be conducted over the phone whenever possible.
  • The Nutrition Center is open. Food is being pre-bagged and given to clients at the door rather than having clients come in to shop.
  • Testing is provided by appointment only and clients are being screened based on need for testing and treatment. All offsite testing is suspended.
  • PreP and Trans Wellness visits will be handled via phone or telehealth.
  • Following American Dental Association recommendations, we are focusing only on emergency exams and limited procedures in the dental clinic.

NUVO SHORTENS HOURS, OFFERS PURCHASES BY PHONE

Noting they are a small store, not located in a mall and with usually no more than two or three customers in the store at one time, owners at Nuvo on Oak Lawn said Wednesda7, March 18, that they “have chosen to stay open for the time being, but we are taking every possible precaution.”

Because sales have “slowed tremendously in the past week,” the store will now be open only noon-5 p.m. each day. They are also provided antibacterial gel for both staff and customers to use.

To make a purchase without coming into the store, call 214-522-6886.

GLFD POSTPONES BIG EVENT FUNDRAISER

Gay and Lesbian Fund for Dallas has postponed The Big Event, its circus-themed fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters that was planned for April 18.  GLFD organizers are revamping the event to hold later in the summer, and once confirmed, details will be shared via Facebook, emails and other avenues of communication. Tickets and sponsorships already purchased for the event will be honored for the rescheduled event. For more information email Barry at barry@glfd.org.

KABBAGE LAUNCHES EFFORT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES

Kabbage, an online financial technology company based in Atlanta that provides funding directly to small businesses and consumers through an automated lending platform, is launching an online hub today (Thursday, March 19) to help boost sales for U.S small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

The call-to-action is for everyone to buy gift certificates from participating small businesses to provide immediate financial support, and businesses get the funds immediately. Kabbage is not profiting from this.

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE ANNOUNCES RESTRICTIONS

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials have announced that Texas state parks will be limiting park programming and closing public access to park headquarters, visitor centers and park stores starting at noon today (Thursday, March 19). Park visitors should check the Texas State Parks Alert Map regularly for the latest information about the status of parks.

In addition to the operational changes at Texas State Parks, TPWD law enforcement and boat registration offices, including the license and boat registration counter at TPWD’s Austin headquarters, will also be closing to public visitation at noon today. Texans needing to purchase hunting and fishing licenses, boat and motor owner transfers and boat registration renewals are encouraged to visit tpwd.texas.gov or call the department at (512) 389-4800

These changes will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

MURPHY, TEXAS MAYOR REVISES DISASTER DECLARATION

Scott Bradley, mayor of Murphy, just east of Plano, has signed a revision to the city’s earlier declaration of a local state of disaster to prohibit any and all dine-in services at restaurants, bars and other eating locations.  The directive takes effect today (Thursday, March 19) and will remain in effect until 6 p.m., March 24.

Carryout, drive-through, and delivery of meals from these establishments are not prohibited and are not covered by the amendment to the declaration.

The mayor and the city council will meet on March 24 to consider extending the restrictions.

DALLAS COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN REGISTER VEHICLES, PAY TAXES ONLINE

Dallas County Tax Office locations are now closed to the public for face-to face transactions until further notice. Customers can process their vehicle registrations and property tax payments online at DallasCounty.org/tax.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles worked with Gov. Greg Abbott to temporarily waive certain requirements for vehicle registration, vehicle titling and disabled parking placards. For more information, visit TxDMV.gov

Dallas County citizens can pay online with an eCheck with no additional fees. They can also continue using their MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express credit and debit cards at the same site or pay property taxes by phone through JP Morgan Chase Bank at 866-863-8323 (English) or 866-361-1741 (Español). All credit and debit card transactions are subject to Chase Bank convenience fees.

As always, you can mail your tax payments to P.O. Box 139066, Dallas, TX 75313- 9066.

The Dallas County Tax Office’s Customer Care Center is available to assist taxpayers with questions regarding property taxes, motor vehicle registrations and title concerns Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 214-653-7811.

PRISM HEALTH NORTH TEXAS:

To help stem the spread of COVID-19, Prism Health North Texas is enacting new procedures:

Jefferson Tower will be closed to visitors and patients until further notice. However, case managers are available by phone.

At PHNTX medical care facilities in South Dallas, Oak Cliff and Oak Lawn, services will be reduced to non-routine visits. All regularly scheduled preventive and follow-up visits for PHNTX will be postponed until further notice. Welcome and new patient visits will continue, including for HIV and PrEP. Sexually transmitted infection visits will continue.

To reach Prism Health North Texas Staff please call 214-521-5191.

THE FORT WORTH FIRE DEPARTMENT, in an effort to protect firefighters and residents and limit exposure to COVID-19, moving forward will send only one crew member wearing a P100 mask and carrying as little equipment as possible in to evaluate each the situation for each call. If there is any reason to believe the call may be related to COVID-19, that crew member will add a gown or Tyvek suit.

THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPERTY ROOM, 1725 Baylor St., is adjusting its hour for the general public, and will now only be open to the public from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Phone calls to 214-670-8333 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS OF DALLAS have cancelled their planned Monthly Mixer event, which was to have featured drag queen “Lady MAGA.”

DALLAS COUNTY JURY TRIALS

All jury trials for county criminal and civil courts have been postponed. If you have jury duty over the next three weeks, it is canceled. You do not need to call in to reschedule.

FORT WORTH OPERA’S 2020 FESTIVAL has been postponed.

BREAKING: HARRIS COUNTY CLOSES BARS, RESTAURANTS

Officials in Harris County have just announced that they are implementing enhanced regulations intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory closing of bars and nightclubs. Restaurants are required to suspend dine-in services. Check here for more info.

DALLAS MUNICIPAL COURT RESCHEDULES TRIALS, HEARINGS, JURY DUTY

The City of Dallas Municipal Court, located at 2014 Main Street, is rescheduling all trials, hearings and jury duty to a later date. There will be no civil or criminal trials or hearings such as pre-trial hearings, contested hearings, show cause hearings, etc. beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, through Friday, May 8, 2020.

Persons with scheduled trials, hearings, or jury duty appearances will be notified by mail with a new date and time. If individuals have questions, please call courts at 214-670-0190 or chat with a court clerk online at courts.dallascityhall.com.

Walk-in courts and jail cases will proceed as normal. The City of Dallas Municipal Court Building will remain open. Staff is available to assist attorneys and defendants with clerical functions such as filings, answering questions, taking payments, records, setting up payment plans, etc.

Defendants seeking to resolve their citation(s) without coming downtown, can do so online at courts.dallascityhall.com, by mail or phone by calling 214-670-0109 or 3-1-1.

KENTUCKY DERBY HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Churchill Downs Incorporated todayannounced its decision to reschedule the 146th Longines Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. The 146th Kentucky Derby will be rescheduled from May 2 to Sept. 5, and the 146th Kentucky Oaks will be rescheduled from May 1 to Sept. 4. These dates are contingent upon final approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission which is expected by Thursday, March 19.

OAK CLIFF CHAMBER CANCELS MEETINGS

The Oak Cliff Chamber of C0mmerce has cancelled its Quality of Life meeting, and its Education Committee\e meeting, both set for Wednesday, March 18.

APPLEBEE’S CUTTING BACK HOURS, OFFERING FREE DELIVERY

Apple Texas, which owns and operates 62 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in Texas today announced that Applebee’s restaurants in Dallas, Houston, Austin, Waco and East Texas operating under limited hours, daily from noon-9 p.m.; delivery via Uber Eats and Doordash is FREE to all customers through the end of March; “No Contact Delivery” (door to door, food left in front of door, guest to car) is available at all locations: the restaurant chain has actively communicated health and safety procedures and best practices to our team members and delivery service providers; and the following restaurants are only offering ToGo or Delivery: Katy, Texas; 18th Street in Houston; Crosby, Texas, Wallisville-Houston; Atascocita-Humble, Medallion-Dallas; Oak Cliff, Garland, Mesquite, Duncanville, Cedar Hill, Carrollton, Richardson, Irving, Pasadena and Rowlett.

DALLAS ART FAIR has announced that the NorthPark Collection tour with Jennifer Klos will no longer take place on March 24. Watch for confirmation of a future date.

MISS GAY DALLAS USofA POSTPONED

Pageant organizer Joe S. Hoselton (Jenna Skyy) has announced that the Miss Gay Dallas USofA pageant is being postponed, and will be rescheduled probably in June or July. Anyone with questions can contact Hoselton.
An earlier version of this post implied the national pageant was postponed; that is not true. It is the Dallas pageant that has been postponed.

TELECONFERENCE ON COVID-19

Texas state Rep. Chris Turner will host a Tele-Town Hall tonight (Monday, March 16), at 6 p.m. to update residents of House District 101 on the most recent local developments related to COVID-19. Tarrant County Commissioner Devan Allen, Tarrant County Public Health Department Director Dr. Vinny Taneja, representatives from the cities of Arlington and Grand Prairie and the Arlington and Mansfield school districts are expected to participate.

Turner said, “We will take questions prior to the call via my Facebook page and Twitter. For Twitter, please use the hashtag #TX101TownHall so that we see your questions. You may also email questions to chris.turner@house.texas.gov.”

To participate in the call, dial 817-380-8161 at 6 p.m.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/239479320551426/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisGTurner

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, joined by local public health officials, will conduct a Telephone Town Hall Tuesday, March 17, from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., to address concerns about the coronavirus and its impact on District 30.

To participate, call toll-free 855-286-0280.

 

SCARBOROUGH RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL POSTPONES SEASON

Officials with Scarborough Renaissance Festival announced this afternoon that the festival’s 2020 season is being postponed, and will now start May 2, running a reduced schedule of six weekends through Sunday, June 7. This will include Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2020.

There may also be adjustments made to the festival’s themed weekends and special events as well as the entertainment schedules & artisans’ line-up forthcoming. They will share more information as it becomes available.

Tickets purchased for Scarborough Renaissance Festival are not date specific and so will be valid any day of the adjusted season. Tickets purchased for daily beer and wine tasting events can be transferred to other dates within the adjusted schedule. Anyone who has purchased those tickets can contact the festival for details.

Tickets purchased for the Mother’s Day Brunch will be honored, as that event date has not changed. Tickets purchased for the Royal Ale Festival will be honored on the rescheduled date for that event ,which is yet to be determined.

For more information visit SRFestival.com or SRFestival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

OAK CLIFF CHAMBER CANCELS MEETING

The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce has canceled the Economic Development Committee Meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 17.

STUDIO MOVIE GRILL LIMITING SEATING TO ENHANCE SOCIAL DISTANCING

Studio Movie Grill is immediately further reducing seating capacity nationwide and offering Guest First Seating, 10 feet apart to a maximum of 50 seats in all its theaters. “The SMG team is vigilantly monitoring and activating quickly ALL Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) recommendations and will continue to reduce seating capacity nationwide and honor social distancing guidelines limiting the number of tickets sold in any auditorium.”

LOUISIANA OFFICIALS ORDER CASINOS TO CLOSE

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board, as of today (Monday, March 16), has ordered the temporary closure of all casinos in the state of Louisiana as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease.

A NOTE FROM TEXAS COMPTROLLER GLEN HEGAR

“At the Comptroller’s office, the health and well-being of our taxpayers, employees and communities is our top priority. We understand the concern and uncertainty you may be experiencing surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are committed to being responsive to the needs of our taxpayers as the situation evolves.

We strongly encourage you to use our online tools, tutorials and other resources for tax services and establish 24/7 account access at comptroller.texas.gov/webfile.

You can access your webfile account anytime and submit your sales tax reports, make payments, change your on-file mailing address, close a business location and more. It’s easier and faster (in most cases) to manage your Webfile account digitally, especially given call wait times may be longer than usual.

To see what other services we offer online, check out our Virtual Field Office.

UPDATES FROM LEGACY COUNSELING

Legacy Counseling Center/Legacy Founders Cottage is “enacting TeleHealth services with the use of an online platform to ensure our clients are receiving our much-needed programming in a safe and virtual setting. Those at our Founders Cottage are wearing medical-grade masks and disinfecting all surfaces in a routine manner to ensure our critically ill clients are safe. As an additional safety precaution, our front office staff will be checking the temperature of all who enter our facility.

“Legacy staff have been instructed to minimize their presence in the office and to work remotely as much as possible to reduce the risk of exposure. For those staff who must be in the office, we are enacting social distancing (e.g., remaining a minimum of 4-6 feet away from anyone they may come into contact with).

Unfortunately, all Legacy events will be postponed until further notice, including but not limited to our annual Grace Project Conference.