Deputy dies from COVID-19

https://www.khou.com/article/news/prayers-turn-to-tears-as-officers-mourn-death-of-hcso-deputy-who-died-from-covid-19/285-b83718ea-0bdf-49d7-bee4-21f4155f397b

COVID-19 has touched many lives across the nation and here at home in Houston.  The Harris County Sheriff's Office has reported a number of positive cases among its ranks.  But Sgt. Raymond Scholwinski was the first casualty.  The 70 year-old deputy had been with HCSO since 1979.  I was assigned to cover his death and wasn't sure which direction I'd go.  I got word that some of his colleagues would gather at the substation where he worked.  One of them was particularly emotional as she recalled Sgt. Scholwinski.

Texas beaches reopen after COVID-19 closures

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/galveston-beaches-reopen-with-covid-19-recommendations-in-place/285-78edf926-ba08-4d56-a497-db3667c6b62a

Texas beaches reopened on the first day of May as the fight to contain COVID-19 continued.  Recommendations were in place to help keep things in check.  And tourism officials were ready to get things moving again, to some degree.  Covering the reopening provided my photographer and me a chance to get out and about for the first time in a while.  We spent a gorgeous day on Galveston Island.  And beach visitors wasted no time hitting the surf and sand.  Time will tell if the decision to reopen the beaches was too soon.