“They are us. There’s no distinction”: Terror of synagogue standoff is no isolated incident to Texas Jewish leaders

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• Ken Paxton violated law and must release records related to Jan. 6 Trump rally, district attorney says

  by James Barragán Updated: Jan. 14, 2022

  The Travis County district attorney, a Democrat, says the Republican attorney general has four days to provide communications, multiple Texas news outlets first reported. Full Story 

• With hundreds of nurses out sick, San Antonio lawmakers of both parties ask for governor’s help staffing hospitals

  by Joshua Fechter Jan. 14, 2022

  Officials in the state’s major metropolitan areas are increasingly scrambling to find health care workers to deal with a wave of patients with COVID-19. Full Story 

• Texas schools struggle to stay open as teachers and bus drivers call in sick with COVID-19

  by Brooke Park and Sneha Dey Updated: Jan. 14, 2022

  School district leaders are desperately trying to fill vacant roles to stay open and some say they have no choice but to close. Full Story 

• Omicron leads to a surge in COVID-19 cases among Texas school staff

  by Kalley Huang, Mandi Cai and Brian Lopez Updated: Jan. 14, 2022

  During the first week of January, districts reported the highest number of COVID-19 staff cases since the pandemic began. Student cases are nearing last fall's levels. But the data is incomplete and likely an undercount. Full Story 

• TribCast: A legal snag for Gov. Greg Abbott's border initiative

  by Matthew Watkins and Justin Dehn Jan. 14, 2022

  In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Jolie and Alexa about a potentially influential court case in Gov. Greg Abbott’s effort to arrest migrants at the border and a high rejection rate among applicants seeking to vote by mail. Full Story 

• Texas judge opens door for widespread constitutional challenges to Gov. Greg Abbott’s border initiative

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: Jan. 14, 2022

  A Travis County judge Thursday tossed out the trespassing charge of an Ecuadorian man who said he came to the United States seeking asylum. His lawyers argued that the governor’s directive to arrest migrants on state charges unconstitutionally usurps federal immigration law. Full Story 

• John Cornyn and Ted Cruz join united Republican opposition to federal voting rights bills

  by Abby Livingston Jan. 14, 2022

  Democrats’ options for passing a voting rights bill dwindle as tensions escalate in the Senate. Full Story 

• Analysis: If you can’t beat ’em, change the rules

  by Ross Ramsey Jan. 14, 2022

  Here’s something Democrats and Republicans have in common: When lawmakers are deadlocked, leaders turn to the rulebooks, searching for angles and rule changes that would turn things their way. Full Story 

• Hundreds of mail-in ballot applications are being rejected under Texas’ new voting rules

  by Alexa Ura Jan. 13, 2022

  Texas Republicans last year enacted new identification requirements for voting by mail as part of sweeping legislation that further restricted the state’s voting process and narrowed local control of elections. Full Story 

• Over 11,800 in Texas hospitals with COVID-19, the most in three months

  by Texas Tribune Staff Updated: Jan. 13, 2022

  The Texas Tribune is using data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Full Story 

• Probe of Texas National Guard border mission demanded over suicide attempts, abysmal conditions and delayed pay

  by James Barragán, The Texas Tribune, and Davis Winkie, Military Times Jan. 13, 2022

  The call for action from Texas Democrats comes as another service member based in the city of Pharr survived a suicide attempt on Sunday, according to an incident report obtained by Army Times and The Texas Tribune. Full Story 

• Texas sues Planned Parenthood for $10 million in Medicaid payments

  by Eleanor Klibanoff Jan. 13, 2022

  Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking to claw back Medicaid payments made during the three years that Planned Parenthood was fighting in court to remain as a qualified health care provider. Full Story 

• Who’s required to get vaccinated in Texas? Here’s what you should know

  by Sneha Dey Updated: Jan. 13, 2022

  The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a Biden administration rule that ordered businesses with 100 or more employees to require their staff to get vaccinated or get tested for COVID-19 every week. But the high court allowed a vaccine mandate for health care workers to stand. Full Story 

• Oath Keepers founder arrested in Texas for role in Jan. 6 insurrection, charged with sedition

  by Reese Oxner Jan. 13, 2022

  Stewart Rhodes is accused of conspiring to oppose the transfer of presidential power by force. He and 10 others are the first to face charges of seditious conspiracy in connection with the 2021 siege. Full Story 

• Austin-area businesses will have to post COVID-19 policies, a modest rule that might trigger a fresh clash with state

  by Reese Oxner Jan. 13, 2022

  It’s unclear whether the local mandate, which requires businesses to post signs outlining their safety guidelines, is in conflict with Gov. Greg Abbott’s previous pandemic orders. Full Story 

• This was Texas’ warmest December since 1889

  by Emily Hernandez Jan. 13, 2022

  Ongoing La Niña conditions have brought warm, dry weather and deepened drought conditions across the state. Full Story