Local News

New State Law Named After Josue Flores

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Recently, click2houston.com reported on a bill aimed to keep children in our state safe named after 11-year-old Josue Flores. The Josue Flores Act is named after a young boy whose life was taken too soon when he was stabbed to death walking home from school in Houston, TX. According to the report, the bill, which is now a state law, provides transportation funding to those children residing in dangerous neighborhoods and live within walking distance from their schools.

It’s been a year since Josue Flores’ tragic death by Andre Timothy Jackson, Jr., 27, a former U.S. Marine who was charged with his death. Investigators linked his arrest through surveillance video they were able to locate on Jackson and bring justice to Josue’s family of this senseless act on an innocent child. Jackson, who was discharged in 2011, was said to have been receiving help from the Salvation Army when he was arrested.

Josue was a student a Marshall Middle School who had a passion for science and math until his life was cut short on May 17, 2016. The law which goes into effect this fall is a collaboration of community leaders such as Stella Mireles-Walters who founded “Safe Walk Home Northside,” a program which allows children to be escorted as they walk to and from school.

The efforts of these community leaders helped push the law into effect allowing for more transportation funding for other programs such as “Safe Walk Home Northside.” School districts and counties will be able to apply for 10 percent of their transportation budget to be used for funding other programs that will escort children home, according to click2houston. With programs like these children will hopefully feel safer as they walk to and from school. Although nothing can bring Josue back, Josue’s family can find some comfort in knowing a bill named after their son will make a difference in many children’s lives.

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