Past Contributions

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill to punish businesses that require proof of COVID-19 vaccination

  By Karen Brooks Harper June 7, 2021

  Abbott's signature means that businesses that require so-called vaccine passports can't get state contracts and could lose state licenses or operating permits. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers responded to the pandemic by limiting what the government can do in response to a pandemic

  By Karen Brooks Harper June 3, 2021

  Lawmakers didn’t succeed in curtailing the governor's power during a disaster, but they did pass bills that prohibit so-called vaccine passports and ban the mandatory closure of churches and gun stores. Full Story 

• COVID-19 ravaged the state’s border counties. Now they’re leading Texas in vaccinations.

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Carla Astudillo June 1, 2021

  From El Paso to Brownsville, every county along the border is outpacing the state average for the percentage of residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Full Story 

• Texans can now schedule free COVID-19 vaccine clinics for groups of 5 or more

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 26, 2021

  Gov. Greg Abbott encouraged “groups of Texans who wish to get vaccinated as a business, family unit, friend group, or more” to schedule an event. Full Story 

• Texas House votes to yank state funding from sports teams that don't play national anthem at games

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 24, 2021

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named the bill one of his legislative priorities after Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, stopped playing the anthem before home games. Full Story 

• Texas youth show up in "amazing" numbers as state tries to vaccinate 1.7 million children now eligible for COVID-19 shot

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 24, 2021

  In the days since the federal approval of the shot for their age group, about 6% of Texas children ages 12-15 have gotten a dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Full Story 

• Texas sets public hearings as it tries to convince federal government to extend health funding for the uninsured

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 19, 2021

  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its decision to rescind the Trump administration's extension of the so-called 1115 waiver. Full Story 

• “If you are vaccinated, go for it”: Large counties roll back some pandemic-era limits as COVID-19 deaths drop statewide

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 18, 2021

  Officials in Travis and Harris counties — both early adopters of pandemic restrictions — rolled some back Tuesday in an effort to allow vaccinated residents to return to pre-pandemic living. Full Story 

• New Texas lawsuit accuses Biden administration of threatening state’s health care funding to force Medicaid expansion

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 14, 2021

  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit, filed Friday, argues that the Trump-era extension of the federal 1115 Medicaid funding waiver was lawful and that overturning it was a political move. Full Story 

• How a small Texas town doubled its COVID-19 vaccination rate in a month as the state’s rate declined

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 12, 2021

  Mount Pleasant in northeast Texas lags behind the state in its vaccination rate, but the town is boosting its numbers by mobilizing churches, nonprofits and other trusted community leaders to help overcome residents’ fears and doubts. Full Story