Latest Contributions

• What you need to know about the latest COVID-19 surge and how to stay safe

  by Elvia Limón July 26, 2021

  COVID-19 cases have been increasing in Texas and nationally — mostly among unvaccinated people — as the highly contagious delta variant has become dominant. Here's what that means for Texans, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Full Story 

• Don't skip your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, health experts warn

  by Elvia Limón May 4, 2021

  As of April 25, about 5% — or 570,399 — of Texans who had received the first dose were 43 days or more past due for their second dose. Full Story 

• You might have heard that Texas has its own power grid. Did you know not all parts of the state use it?

  by Elvia Limón and Julián Aguilar Feb. 18, 2021

  Millions of Texans were left in the dark for days after winter storms triggered power outages. But people in El Paso, the upper Panhandle and parts of East Texas kept their lights on — thanks to power drawn from other parts of the country. Full Story 

• 2 million Texas households without power as massive winter storm drives demand for electricity

  by Mitchell Ferman, Sami Sparber and Elvia Limón Updated: Feb. 15, 2021

  Some utility companies that deliver electricity to Texans are telling customers to expect power outages through Monday night and potentially into Tuesday. Full Story 

• What do new variants of the coronavirus mean for Texans? And how can we best protect ourselves?

  by Elvia Limón Jan. 29, 2021

  Viruses constantly change by mutating, and the coronavirus is no exception. But health experts say it's difficult to know the exact number of variants currently around the world. Full Story 

• Here's what you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas

  by Shawn Mulcahy, Elvia Limón and Yasmeen Khalifa Updated: May 17, 2021

  Texas health officials have told vaccine providers that they could resume using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in all adult recipients. Use of that vaccine had been paused for nearly two weeks. Full Story 

• What you need to know about Texas Latino voters and nonvoters

  by Elvia Limón Updated: Dec. 4, 2020

  Cecilia Ballí and two colleagues spoke to 100 Texas Latinos to better understand what drives civic engagement and whom they prefer as candidates. Full Story 

• Q&A with NAMI Texas’ executive director about mental health during the pandemic

  by Elvia Limón Nov. 25, 2020

  Texas ranks 50th out of 51 in overall access to mental health care, reports show. Currently, only one in seven Texas children with major depression receives consistent treatment — almost half the national average. Full Story 

• Who is Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general accused of bribery and abuse of office?

  by Elvia Limón Oct. 5, 2020

  Paxton said Monday he wouldn’t resign. Here’s what we know so far about the latest allegations against Texas’ top legal official. Full Story 

• Here's how the COVID-19 pandemic has unfolded in Texas since March

  by Elvia Limón Updated: Dec. 18, 2020

  We put together a timeline of the state’s efforts to protect public health during the pandemic, and how those restrictions and provisions have changed over time. Full Story 

• As Texas coronavirus hospitalizations rise, local officials can recommend precautions but they can't enforce many of them

  by Elvia Limón Updated: June 16, 2020

  Austin-area officials recommended Monday that businesses further limit operations. But an order from Gov. Greg Abbott doesn't let them enforce those suggestions. Full Story 

• They just want someone to talk to: This mental health hotline is helping Texans navigate the pandemic

  by Elvia Limón May 8, 2020

  The Harris Center, a health authority in the Houston area, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission — which had seen a 500% jump in traffic to its webpages on mental health and substance abuse resources — joined forces and provided the service to callers statewide March 31. Full Story 

• What we know about coronavirus testing in Texas

  by Elvia Limón Updated: March 28, 2020

  Even as demand for testing has increased, public and federal labs continue to prioritize Texans who meet certain criteria. Full Story 

• Counting in Texas for the U.S. census has begun. Here's what you need to know.

  by Elvia Limón March 12, 2020

  The accuracy of the count in the state will go a long way toward determining its economic, social and political future. Full Story 

• Texas is an open primary state. Here’s what that means for how Republicans, Democrats and others can vote on Super Tuesday.

  by Elvia Limón Feb. 28, 2020

  Texas is one of 17 states with open primaries, which means regardless of which party voters identify with, they can choose from year to year which party’s nominees they’d like to select in a primary election. Full Story 

• Do you plan to vote in Texas’ November elections? The time to register is now

  by Elvia Limón Oct. 3, 2019

  Texans hoping to participate in the Nov. 5 election have until Oct. 7 to register to vote. Full Story 

• What we learned from #TexanSince

  by Elvia Limón Sept. 23, 2019

  The Texas Tribune asked readers to share their Texas origin stories. Here’s what we learned from hundreds of #TexanSince responses. Full Story