Past Contributions

• Texas’ medical marijuana program is one of the most restrictive in the country. Advocates hope the Legislature will change that.

  By Sami Sparber and Aria Jones Jan. 4, 2021

  There are 3,519 Texans registered with the state to use medical marijuana, though advocates say 2 million people are eligible based on current law. Full Story 

• Vaccinations are underway for Texas’ front-line health care workers: “I can’t believe this is happening”

  By Aria Jones and Karen Brooks Harper Updated: Dec. 14, 2020

  Four Texas sites received a total of 19,500 doses of the vaccine on Monday, the first phase of a rollout that will put a quarter-million doses into 110 Texas facilities this week — with more on the way next week. Full Story 

• COVID-19 vaccine doses are arriving in Texas, giving weary health care workers hope after months of peril

  By Karen Brooks Harper, Aria Jones, Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Sami Sparber Dec. 14, 2020

  From the Rio Grande Valley to the Texas Panhandle and from the Gulf Coast to West Texas, some 110 medical facilities are slated to receive the first allocation of 1.4 million doses earmarked for Texas. Full Story 

• For families that lost loved ones or jobs to the pandemic, Thanksgiving carries an extra weight this year

  By Trinady Joslin, Aria Jones and Sami Sparber Nov. 25, 2020

  This year’s pandemic has brought untold suffering to families across Texas. Making things worse: At a time when they might take solace in the company of friends or family, public health authorities are urging them to stay apart. Full Story 

• “Cancel gatherings, large and small”: Texas officials raise alarm ahead of Thanksgiving holiday

  By Aria Jones Nov. 17, 2020

  Health experts worry that increased travel and mingling over Thanksgiving and into the December holidays could exacerbate an already dangerous situation as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising across Texas. Full Story 

• Tarrant County faces delayed counts for its tightest races due to staffing shortages

  By Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Aria Jones Nov. 2, 2020

  Officials are warning that coronavirus-related staffing shortages mean elections workers are unlikely to finish counting mail-in ballots Tuesday night, potentially leaving the county’s tightest races undecided until later this week. Full Story 

• A MAGA face mask? A Black Lives Matter T-shirt? Here’s what you can and can’t wear to vote in Texas

  By Aria Jones Oct. 28, 2020

  Wearing T-shirts, buttons or hats supporting political candidates at the polls is illegal. But in the pandemic era, voters are now being reminded that the electioneering rules also apply to face masks. Full Story 

• Health officials predict most Texans won't have access to COVID-19 vaccine until July at the earliest

  By Aria Jones Oct. 19, 2020

  Under the state’s vaccine distribution plan, vulnerable people, including health care workers, older people and people with underlying medical conditions, would likely be the first to get the vaccine in the early months that it’s available. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott boosts COVID-19 resources in Amarillo, Lubbock, where hospitalizations are rising

  By Aria Jones Oct. 16, 2020

  Abbott said Friday that the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Division of Emergency Management sent surge resources to the Panhandle and South Plains areas. Full Story 

• Eight Texas school systems will get rapid coronavirus tests with new pilot program

  By Aria Jones Updated: Oct. 14, 2020

  Gov. Greg Abbott, with the Texas Education Agency and Texas Division of Emergency Management, announced the COVID-19 Rapid Testing Pilot Program on Wednesday. Full Story