Critics urge Texas regulators to reverse decision allowing social workers to turn away clients who are LGBTQ or have a disability

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• For the first time since August, more than 5,000 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Texas

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: 3 hours ago

  The state reported 5,065 people currently hospitalized in Texas due to the coronavirus, an increase of 817 patients from a week ago. Full Story 

• Sick Texans seeking late absentee ballots still need a doctor’s note, Texas appeals court rules

  by Jolie McCullough 5 hours ago

  A state district court judge had ruled against the longstanding requirement for a doctor's note to ask for an emergency absentee ballot, saying many people who test positive for the coronavirus don’t interact with a physician. Full Story 

• Order allowing Texas counties to have multiple mail-in ballot drop off sites is upheld, but appeal will likely halt openings

  by Jolie McCullough 5 hours ago

  The state will continue to fight a Travis County district court's ruling that overrode Gov. Greg Abbott's order limiting counties to one absentee ballot drop-off location. Full Story 

• Watch: Republican Tony Gonzales, a candidate for TX-23, discusses health care, coronavirus and immigration

  by Kelsey Carolan Updated: 7 hours ago

  Gonzales is running against Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Will Hurd. Full Story 

• Judge rules Ken Paxton's 5-year-old criminal case can be heard in his hometown of Collin County

  by Emma Platoff 7 hours ago

  The Harris County judge’s order reverses a decision that the state’s top lawyer should not face a jury in the North Texas region where he and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, are deeply connected in political circles. Full Story 

• Here's how many Texans have voted early in the 2020 general election

  by Mandi Cai Updated: 7 hours ago

  Through Oct. 22, 6.4 million Texans, or 37.6% of the state's registered voters, had cast their ballots in the 2020 general election. The Texas Tribune will continue to track cumulative early voting and mail-in ballot totals. Full Story 

• Texas’ massive early voting numbers have persisted, leading to predictions of overall turnout unseen in years

  by Alex Samuels and Mandi Cai 7 hours ago

  Experts are predicting that as many as 12 million people could vote in Texas this year. Full Story 

• The attorney general's office has sidelined four of the seven whistleblowers who reported Ken Paxton to law enforcement

  by Emma Platoff Oct. 23, 2020

  Two were fired and two placed on leave — moves employment attorneys say will likely spark a whistleblower lawsuit. A spokesperson for Paxton said the personnel changes were not related to the whistleblower allegations. Full Story 

• Alarming failure rates among Texas students fuel calls to get them back into classrooms

  by Aliyya Swaby Oct. 23, 2020

  Most schools hoped this fall would see students make up academic ground lost last spring when the pandemic hit. Instead, districts are looking for ways to reverse plummeting grades and attendance among students learning at home. Full Story 

• Analysis: Money counts in Texas elections, but timing matters, too

  by Ross Ramsey Oct. 23, 2020

  MJ Hegar's challenge of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has attracted millions of dollars in financial support, most of it late in the race. She's now in better financial shape than the incumbent, but time is running short. Full Story 

• Should you trust political polls going into the 2020 election? That's the wrong question.

  by Alana Rocha, Todd Wiseman and Justin Dehn Oct. 23, 2020

  Watch The Texas Tribune's co-founder and executive editor, Ross Ramsey, break down what voters need to ask when considering a poll's results. Full Story 

• Donald Trump and Joe Biden sparred over Texas’ energy industry and global warming during final presidential debate

  by Abby Livingston Oct. 22, 2020

  In debating a major Texas industry, Trump emphasized economic priorities while Biden advocated for alternate means of energy besides oil and gas. Full Story 

• MJ Hegar raised nearly three times as much as John Cornyn in the first two weeks of October

  by Patrick Svitek Oct. 22, 2020

  Hegar also expanded her cash-on-hand advantage in the U.S. Senate race in Texas. Full Story 

• State sends emergency medical personnel, supplies to El Paso as COVID-19 cases rise across Texas

  by Julián Aguilar and Shawn Mulcahy Oct. 22, 2020

  A new University of Texas report says the El Paso area is at high risk of exceeding hospital bed and ICU capacity early next month, and many other Texas cities could see similar problems in the coming weeks. Full Story 

• Families of some special education students in Texas may be eligible for $1,500 in aid to offset pandemic challenges

  by Stacy Fernández Updated: Oct. 22, 2020

  The state program will help families pay for services like tutoring, therapy and digital resources. It is not a replacement for services students get through their school as part of their individualized education plan. Full Story 

• Second whistleblower fired from Texas attorney general's office after accusing Ken Paxton of bribery

  by Emma Platoff Oct. 22, 2020

  Blake Brickman and Lacey Mase, two whistleblowers who accused their boss of crimes including bribery and abuse of office, were both fired Tuesday. Full Story