https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/coronavirus/correct-record-outlets-walk-back-heightened-covid-19-death-figures

A story claiming that the Covid-19 death rate in Texas hit a high not seen since March 2020 has been corrected.

Axios had claimed that the Lone Star state's "seven-day coronavirus death rate reaches its highest levels since March 2020," a claim that was walked back on Monday.

The amended article now reads, "Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to show Texas’s seven-day coronavirus death rate is at its highest levels since March 2021 (not March 2020)."

The Delta variant is currently surging in American southern states, including Texas. But, this is at least the second time in recent days that an outlet has been forced to correct false information presented about pandemic figures in Texas.

A significant error was published in the Texas Tribune last week, claiming that more than 5,800 children in the state were hospitalized during a single week of August. The piece was later corrected and now reads, "That number correctly referred to children hospitalized with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. In actuality, 783 children were admitted to Texas hospitals with COVID-19 between July 1 and Aug. 9 of this year."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-us-declares-first-western-reservoir-water-shortage-triggering-cuts/

U.S. officials for the first time on Monday declared an official water shortage for the massive Lake Mead reservoir, triggering supply cuts to parts of the drought-stricken Southwest, as 10 Western governors appealed for federal drought disaster aid.

The shortage will reduce water apportionments to Arizona, Nevada and Mexico for the year beginning in October, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, an Interior Department agency, said in a statement.

Arizona will lose 18% of its annual apportionment, while Nevada will see cuts of 7%. Apportionments to Mexico, which are required under a 1944 treaty, will be cut by 5%.

Separately, 10 Western governors urged President Joe Biden to declare a federal drought disaster in their states, qualifying farmers and ranchers to seek special assistance “beyond what is available through existing emergency programs.”

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/17/dhs-pay-legal-assistance-cultural-orientation-ille/

The Department of Homeland Security announced a new pilot program Tuesday to pay cities, counties and nongovernmental organizations to offer legal services, “cultural orientation,” medical screening and other assistance for illegal immigrants who have been caught and released and are awaiting deportation hearings.

The new “Case Management Pilot Program” was mandated by Congress, the department said, and will be used for migrants who are put into the Alternatives to Detention program, which releases migrants on ankle bracelets, or requires them to make regular check-ins.

The alternatives and case management programs are both favorites with immigrant-rights activists, who argue few, if any, illegal immigrants need to be detained while they await their immigration court proceedings.

“We are excited to partner with nonprofit organizations and local governments on this pilot program to improve services for noncitizens in immigration proceedings,” said  Katherine Culliton-González, who will serve as chair of a new national board for the pilot program.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2021/08/17/phoenix-police-cannot-fill-empty-jobs-putting-safety-risk/8131350002/

The city of Phoenix is on the brink of a public safety crisis.

The number of Phoenix police officers is at an all-time low and is not projected to improve any time soon.

Now, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the Phoenix Police Department, further eroding morale and damaging reputation of the men and women in uniform. With problems in recruitment and retention of officers, the safety of Phoenix residents is at risk.

Violent crimes are up, detectives are overworked

What the Department of Justice and the city should be concerned about is rising crime and how best we manage this rapidly approaching disaster. In 2020 violent crimes increased by 15.6%, with a total of 13,659 offenses; criminal homicide increased by 36%.

Cutting corners by rotating already overworked detectives into patrol positions lessens the resources and focus needed to solve crimes while detectives are already experiencing burdensome caseloads.

We fear that discussions about not attending certain types of calls for service may be next. It is hard to imagine calling the police department for help and being told that a property crime or traffic collision is not on the service menu, but this is already happening in communities where police personnel numbers are dwindling.