[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6117098,"mediaKeyId","2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d","parentId",2730876,"title","Local provider says UNT and Texas Workforce grant targets subminimum-wage agencies; Light It Blue event planned April 2","audioSeconds",110,"startMs",2978000,"endMs",3088000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d&start=2978&end=3088","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d/thumbnail_2978000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6117098/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Local-provider-says-UNT-and-Texas-Workforce-grant-targets-subminimum-wage-agencies-Light-It-Blue-event-planned-April-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117098-b6ee7b3ae7a292fbd96510b666583197/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026094&Signature=NzZOaXiqb5uj4n3wiosv0bH5jO2uUzYg1tl0qCHYyqIAIBTEW1RSG3oFsZjn2rlaZpjiXstaFkxIlO4LbLq08bCPTx3T-TvF~qsfFohCP1-w7qyKDmdAX5kSgCtvHbr5VgL27nLbhld7goGKKrgZf1009ZmuXJyXWfsvfUj3ZtW68NclRiWI3wX3UorIGnWRV9OL4kb95xRnRGjjHKJPOxEx-MajmGdaAn1~f9T6vHkBv-FyPlyn8Ven3gXqCQpojrOGr8Ep8pzfuM4UTuygNsWOgsi9hiCF4njrY8iJ26KuRL9jXmIxgia9kGEu61UEYi05XJXviJPq4k6zHvYL7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, Texas","date","2025-03-22T00:33:37.63Z","article","A provider representative told the committee that the University of North Texas and the Texas Workforce Commission awarded a $12,700,000 grant for a research project aimed at agencies that historically pay subminimum wages. The speaker said their agency was one of four selected to participate, along with providers in Amarillo, Houston and San Antonio.

The speaker described the grant as a research‑based effort to develop training and pathways for agencies and employers to hire people with disabilities at wages above subminimum standards. They said the project runs into a third year and will continue for roughly another two and a half years and will produce a pathway other providers can use.

The speaker also invited committee members to a community event called “Light It in Blue” on April 2 at the PAC (former civic center) and said they would send an invitation to Public Health staff. No formal city action was recorded regarding the grant or the event.

Committee members asked for the invitation and additional materials; staff said they would circulate details when received.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Blue Ribbon Committee for People with Disabilities 031925","oneSentenceSummary","A provider representative said University of North Texas and the Texas Workforce Commission awarded a $12.7 million grant to a multi-city effort to research paths away from subminimum wages; the speaker invited committee members to an April 2 'Light It in Blue' event at the PAC.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117104,"Family support program lists events, staffing and next steps for children with special needs",231,2626000,2857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d&start=2626&end=2857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d/thumbnail_2626000.jpg","/articles/6117104/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Family-support-program-lists-events-staffing-and-next-steps-for-children-with-special-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117104-a8a00af445a81096d7d4234a539b01d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026094&Signature=KoWtfZwWsVDZcEkt0Vq~noopderu6W5dLf-QiNi-lTHgh-crTaO~0z3POQutd8l~Ir2shcXSOpdWZBFT0g-xv9Ev2A2MOWdJSFAtatKPxwn2Pg1luHctK6TRoMZxTCXs8DndkAdVtCkL1Yozsnutg3cDj1uC4ipRm8MjS2bPtpXVsIfFybAs~6mLNtEZgY-ZZZh95hJKfKhcxYH3UrFL7V8STshcAePBlCLu2Jh5UznfCR0SM2R3K4CJltVkEfRiJg9lHh3YGTJW36ZchcOHEdlqF7G2HaRl2J7FNLWsjTY9Mjlo35jMsw2rIehLspeSbDhqhHc7R4ar3FzQIirtcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laredo Public Health updated the committee on family support services for children and young adults with special needs and announced upcoming community events and staffing plans.

Staff said a disability-awareness event will be held next Saturday through March 29 (staff will circulate a flyer) and that the Family Support program will host a World Down Syndrome Day walk on Friday. The walk and related activities were described as family-focused with games and other child-friendly activities; staff asked the committee to share the events with community networks.

Program staff identified the program’s age range as serving children and young adults from 1 to 20 years old and said the program helps families connect to therapies, financial assistance and transitional services. Staff said they plan to add a case manager to improve outreach and follow-up with families and to help navigate daycare and transition services where childcare centers lack specialized training.

Public-health staff also said they will revisit prior trainings for childcare centers to improve capacity to serve children with disabilities and that Parks and Recreation has recently hired a disability specialist to support inclusive recreation offerings. No formal action was taken; staff will share event flyers and next-month updates with the committee.","Public-health staff shared upcoming disability-awareness events, a World Down Syndrome Day walk and plans to expand case management for children and young adults with special needs (ages 1–20).",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117108,"Health department reports progress and delays in autism surveillance participation in ADDM Network",130,2085000,2215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d&start=2085&end=2215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d/thumbnail_2085000.jpg","/articles/6117108/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Health-department-reports-progress-and-delays-in-autism-surveillance-participation-in-ADDM-Network","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117108-a683d218856ac5fe4e9951fecb50d1f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026094&Signature=azHfTihzywJ12sPFSQbmOQtWMySDs--OmQHqyYamTrUiigfvEUZZGobiP0tb45FqVbbKnbFmtl~TeawWiPgNSK7GOXIffsP7GJJPZnU-t5YQG3Nu~S2pyemv-kvvywz1zRWJgFno4FKOaAAWU3dUo7sFJzlaa~Qe-uSuln8jvRChfLNbeD6z-PBlgL-HHO2JBVVxU7c5UrTxqPjO07RuU0KIgkNwz1Q4yRDvxDDULd-Igvvqr6n9bGzZM-w5Q4-OcpjXOu9exUBtdyxiAgoz59cJ~L1XB8Eod3LLMcfqsOMwzDAyl-hww7KzMEQXiHwTJs~GrUee0YhxsZIBGjeSHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laredo Public Health staff provided an update on the city’s participation in the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, reporting expansion of surveillance coverage and a temporary delay in national reporting caused by a pause in communications from the CDC earlier this year.

Alonso Olivares, introduced as an epidemiologist and project coordinator for the autism surveillance effort (referred to as the AVID Network project), said the program collects data from education and health sources to estimate the number and characteristics of children with autism in the community. He told the committee that the project had a communications halt with the CDC while a new federal administration was starting in January; funding was not affected but the interruption delayed meetings and the timeline for the national report.

Olivares said Webb County data collection was completed in the program’s first year and that the effort is expanding to surrounding counties this year. He said the full federal report was expected to be delayed beyond the initial March timeline and that the local team hoped to have a clearer release date following a planned follow-up meeting with CDC staff.

Public-health staff emphasized the program’s role in producing prevalence estimates used nationally: the ADDM Network provides standardized surveillance across selected communities and helps compare local data to other sites. Staff also noted that the program’s processes are deliberate — surveillance is retrospective, uses specific age ranges and data elements, and produces reports on a regular schedule. Committee members asked basic questions about frequency; staff said the surveillance snapshot is produced roughly every two years based on prior-year data.

No policy action was taken; staff said they would share the national release date with the committee once the CDC confirms it.","Laredo Public Health described expansion of its autism surveillance work with the CDC-funded ADDM Network, noted a recent communications delay from CDC and said local data collection is expanding to surrounding counties.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117111,"Laredo public-health staff to promote chamber certification module on hiring people with disabilities April 9",150,1564000,1714000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d&start=1564&end=1714","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d/thumbnail_1564000.jpg","/articles/6117111/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-public-health-staff-to-promote-chamber-certification-module-on-hiring-people-with-disabilities-April-9","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117111-fd65151731617857210de999e87a0f2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026094&Signature=mWEQvIlRHc7Zb55PCFsI9jSAHCQ9KBr0wrkjCahFlEanDl1bYPzdsSBDtTxd2ts6AvUAYnR5HgVqT4KLTHH5yKSnRrBPqy2f6zEN2lxHE42F04~MyP67XmCrpl6vc-YuNj08~hB8BRqbvtltJriTCWisF~r3VwzPVy4OGJhVNGXeoko8Fu9XyChBv8Ddql33UmDD14lZrQMU12~7q2XoWIxpBmFpU6i4nYXjFLU6ogDP3ObWLsC6qGHpRV7vkS90KIs-FluFYtdGlciJW0A-qMXmyGtMt3CtloPSSFAPoh1eCKnjVVMBQU3nCip6F7Lkaw-aMmjE79mRq-9B34S2tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laredo Public Health staff asked the committee to promote a module in the Laredo Chamber of Commerce’s Business Development Certification Program that focuses on employing people with disabilities. The event is scheduled for April 9 at the Falcon Bank conference room near McPherson and Delmar.

Staff said the module offers a platform to reach local employers — many small businesses — and highlight workforce supports, including the city’s ‘All Kinds of Minds’ initiative and local workforce services. The program’s format includes networking from about 8:30–9 a.m., followed by the module from 9–11 a.m., with light breakfast sponsorships noted.

Laredo Public Health said it has requested that workforce services present and that it will provide marketing materials and speaker bios once confirmed. Staff said they will share final details with committee members when the chamber finalizes the agenda, and they encouraged members and partner agencies to attend and consider short presentations or remarks.

Committee members asked whether attendance requires chamber membership; staff said the city would verify whether non‑members can attend and would seek consideration for committee participants if necessary. No formal action was taken; staff will follow up with the chamber and circulate materials.","Laredo Public Health is partnering with the Laredo Chamber of Commerce’s Business Development Certification Program to promote a module focused on employing people with disabilities on April 9 at Falcon Bank.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117113,"Laredo committee reviews attendance policy, quorum and membership-term questions",229,1159000,1388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d&start=1159&end=1388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730876-44030cbec39d9da9cd4ea50cd5b1505d/thumbnail_1159000.jpg","/articles/6117113/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Laredo-committee-reviews-attendance-policy-quorum-and-membership-term-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117113-4691c1890734a1911d9a356441e5abab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026094&Signature=O9kuNnrInQbGj9H5bByCyim7iqk8sqRgHqr2ePyF00TwIIus8QgJPKwInR2FcdEMRiZe8BPdL4m47rgYyOiXIg978EzApGU4IGrF6z2OIES5DZA5omYNg4JVpRnC9-b5QqrjaU1KTPyfQJsVmulpEeY-vP5W7v~nMDdBqS3K4kuTm3JRCXiLT1EeBkR1Ma7ErHP9wC4rs2KujyCxmOFB8dZWqABjNyC~-fAQ3AqkSrUw-6gSVNSMFsyR33s~UdM-m4f4DlMrXsTvVZBLNUvFB5TXFHUmxFbwiIGScOHVMCE4L8PShRuF0c9e8ns6NrX2ebPCtgCpDTegA1Spo16tIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Laredo Disability Advisory Committee discussed enforcing the committee’s attendance and removal policy, clarified how virtual participation counts toward quorum and flagged unresolved questions about membership terms and reappointments.

Committee staff opened the item by summarizing the rule under review: a member can be removed after three absences. Members asked whether attending virtually counts toward presence for quorum and whether absences recorded when a meeting lacks a quorum still count toward removal.

A staff member confirmed that virtual attendance does count “as long as there's a member on here,” and later stated that absences are recorded and reported to the city manager and the city secretary. One committee member raised a procedural point that if a meeting does not meet the required in-person composition (the committee noted a five‑member in‑person requirement), then the meeting is not official and those present should confirm whether that counts as an absence.

Committee members also reported receiving unclear guidance during recent committee training about how long members may serve. One member said a presentation suggested that members appointed by the same mayor for more than eight years would not continue into a ninth year; staff said that practice depends on reappointments and that they were \"pending clarification from the city secretary.\" The item prompted committee members to request a written notice to all members summarizing the attendance rule, whether virtual participation counts, and how absences are recorded.

Several members suggested the staff follow up with the city secretary to finalize bylaws and membership-term language, and to circulate an email to all committee members summarizing attendance expectations and how remote participation is treated. No formal motion or vote was recorded on the item at this meeting.

The committee scheduled follow-up to confirm the final interpretation of terms and removal procedures once the city secretary provides written guidance.","Members discussed enforcement of attendance rules, whether virtual participation counts toward quorum and uncertainty over term limits and reappointments by the mayor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local provider says UNT and Texas Workforce grant targets subminimum-wage agencies; Light It Blue event planned April 2

Family support program lists events, staffing and next steps for children with special needs

Health department reports progress and delays in autism surveillance participation in ADDM Network

Laredo public-health staff to promote chamber certification module on hiring people with disabilities April 9

Laredo committee reviews attendance policy, quorum and membership-term questions