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• Texas’ largest cities will keep requiring masks in municipal buildings even after statewide mandate ends

  by Juan Pablo Garnham March 4, 2021

  In Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio, libraries and convention centers won't allow visitors without face coverings. Full Story 

• Texas' local officials blast Gov. Greg Abbott for "irresponsible action" of lifting coronavirus restrictions

  by Juan Pablo Garnham March 2, 2021

  City and county leaders urged residents in their areas to still follow recommendations from health experts and officials that call for wearing face masks in public. Full Story 

• Over a million Texans are still without drinking water. Smaller communities and apartments are facing the biggest challenges.

  by Reese Oxner and Juan Pablo Garnham Feb. 24, 2021

  Plumbers and supplies to fix broken pipes are in high demand, but apartment complexes also present more difficulties than single-family homes when it comes to repairs. Full Story 

• At least six people experiencing homelessness died during the winter storm. That number could rise.

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Feb. 22, 2021

  Advocates for people experiencing homelessness drove through Texas' largest cities trying to bring them to the available warming centers and emergency shelters. The official number of casualties is still unknown. Full Story 

• Already hit hard by pandemic, Black and Hispanic communities suffer the blows of an unforgiving winter storm

  by Alexa Ura and Juan Pablo Garnham Feb. 19, 2021

  Texans of color, disproportionately devastated by death and unemployment during the last year, tend to live in neighborhoods with older homes, more vulnerable pipes and fewer food options. That's made it harder to withstand the cold temperatures and power outages. Full Story 

• Freezing temperatures are dangerous for homeless people. Shelters are urging Texans to come in off the streets.

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Feb. 16, 2021

  Advocates and social workers say there’s enough capacity at warming centers and shelters to ensure no one will be turned away. Full Story 

• Texas tenants behind on rent will soon be able to seek aid from $1.3 billion assistance program

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: Feb. 11, 2021

  The statewide program will start on Feb. 15 and will be able to help tenants with past and future rent. Full Story 

• As Gov. Greg Abbott vows to ban homeless camping in public, Austin officials and unsheltered residents push for better housing access

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: Jan. 28, 2021

  A year and a half after Austin lifted a local ban on camping in public, some city officials are pushing to turn hotels into housing for people experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, a state-sanctioned encampment in the city is full and can't accept new residents. Full Story 

• Dallas County axes plan to prioritize vaccinating communities of color after state threatens to slash allocation

  by Emma Platoff and Juan Pablo Garnham Jan. 20, 2021

  State officials told Dallas leadership the plan was "not acceptable," and threatened to cut the county's vaccine supply. Full Story 

• A Texas lawmaker worked with the state restaurant association to draft an alcohol-to-go bill. His wife lobbies for the group.

  by Mitchell Ferman and Juan Pablo Garnham Jan. 13, 2021

  State Rep. Charlie Geren filed legislation that would let restaurants battered by the coronavirus pandemic permanently sell alcohol to go. The measure already has backing from top state officials. Full Story 

• Advocates worry vaccines will be out of reach for Black and Hispanic neighborhoods devastated by COVID-19

  by Juan Pablo Garnham and Mandi Cai Jan. 9, 2021

  In the state's largest metropolitan areas, vaccine distribution centers like hospitals and pharmacies are more common in white, affluent neighborhoods. Full Story 

• Watch: Joaquin Castro discusses pro-Trump rioters storming U.S. Capitol

  by Alana Rocha and Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: Jan. 6, 2021

  The Texas Tribune's multimedia reporter Alana Rocha spoke Wednesday afternoon with Castro, D-San Antonio, who was in lockdown in his office. Full Story 

• Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton tell Austin restaurants to defy COVID-19 order banning overnight dine-in services

  by Juan Pablo Garnham and Abby Livingston Updated: Dec. 31, 2020

  A judge ruled Austin and Travis County can restrict on-site dining overnight from Thursday until Sunday. Gov. Greg Abbott says restaurants should ignore the curfew. Full Story 

• Ken Paxton sues after Austin bans late on-site dining for New Year’s weekend amid COVID-19 surge

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: Dec. 30, 2020

  Mayor Steve Adler said the severity of the COVID-19 situation in Austin requires more drastic measures. El Paso County announced a similar order earlier this month. Full Story 

• Texas has $2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds left to spend. Advocacy groups are anxiously watching.

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Dec. 16, 2020

  The deadline to use the funds is Dec. 30. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller asked the governor to support rural hospitals and food banks. Full Story 

• An eviction moratorium expires at the end of the month, but thousands of Texans are still not able to afford rent

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Dec. 15, 2020

  Communities of color are especially struggling to keep their homes. While more than half of white Texans are highly confident in being able to pay rent, only 21% of Black Texans and 14% of Hispanic Texans say the same. Full Story 

• Texas food banks may be less equipped to help hungry households in the new year

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Dec. 7, 2020

  More than 2.5 million households in Texas didn't always have enough food to eat in November, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About two-thirds of those households were either Hispanic or Black. Full Story 

• Texans living in long-term care facilities will be among first people eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Dec. 4, 2020

  Residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, among others, were added to the priority list that already included hospital staff working with COVID-19 patients. Full Story 

• More than eight years in, Texas high-speed rail company still lacks permits to build Dallas-to-Houston route

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Nov. 17, 2020

  In a letter to the Japanese prime minister, Gov. Greg Abbott said that the company had all the permits needed, but later he had to backtrack. Legislators are expected to file bills to regulate high-speed rail projects during their next session. Full Story 

• Democrats didn’t get a blue wave, but some of the fastest-growing suburbs in Texas are still moving to the left

  by Juan Pablo Garnham Nov. 11, 2020

  Although Democrats didn't flip any congressional seats, experts said that demographic growth is still fueling a change in counties like Fort Bend, Collin and Williamson. Full Story