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Mitchell Ferman is a reporter for The Texas Tribune covering energy and the economy from a base in Houston. Before joining the Tribune he was a reporter for The Monitor in McAllen, where he covered cross-border trade, politics and the city of McAllen. He also regularly freelanced from the Rio Grande Valley and beyond for The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Reuters, writing about topics including the family separation crisis and unexpected consequences of the border wall. He graduated from the University of Missouri.
State and local officials are adjusting their plans during the coronavirus outbreak to inform residents in the Houston area and along the Gulf Coast of safe steps they could take in advance of the year’s first storm. Full Story
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They went to protests in Houston and El Paso, spoke at an online town hall in Midland and held small celebrations amid national upheaval. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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Biden, the former vice president, has spoken out multiple times about Floyd's death in recent days, including in a speech Tuesday morning that called the tragedy a "wake-up call for our nation." Full Story
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A family plans a drive-by baby shower. A Houston restaurant gears up to reopen its dining room. And an East Texas town regains a sense of normalcy. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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Until now, the state’s worst-ever monthly unemployment rate was 9.2% in November 1986, as Texas reeled from the last big oil bust. A combination of the coronavirus pandemic and a contracting energy industry are expected to slow Texas' economic recovery. Full Story
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As workers and customers reemerge into a society still grappling with a spreading coronavirus, the power Gov. Greg Abbott and officials across the globe used to close businesses in the first place does not extend to reviving the economy. Full Story
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A hospital administrator gets a special gift. A food pantry worker gets her coronavirus test results. A Midland family cancels its annual fishing trip. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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Mother's Day brought tough decisions on whether to get together with family, and some took the risk while others spent the day apart. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they're navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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The Texas energy sector has helped insulate the state's economy during national downturns. This time, experts say the industry could hold the economy back. Full Story
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The governor is allowing more businesses to reopen, and Texans are weighing the risks of returning to normalcy. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they're navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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Two global crises have brought unusual attention to Texas oil regulators, who decided against taking action some producers wanted. One regulator said, "Politics win, Texans lose." Full Story
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Restaurant owners aim to give 10,000 meals to frontline workers. A boy with cancer wants a mohawk. An East Texas town prepares to reopen some businesses. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they're navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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After weeks of limited business operations, the first wave of the Texas economy will reopen on Friday. The service and entertainment industries are preparing for new rules even as they face an uncertain future. Full Story
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A 5-year-old continues his cancer treatments. A couple watch the business they built wither. A small hospital treats its first coronavirus patient. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they're navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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A day after oil prices crashed, The Texas Railroad Commission opted against taking action to impose limits on oil producers. Full Story
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It's the lowest price for a barrel of crude since at least the 1980s and another sign, experts say, of rough economic times ahead — especially for Texas' energy sector. Full Story
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The economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has left the economy heading into a recession, with nearly 2 million Texans filing for unemployment relief in the two months of the crisis. Full Story
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The figures predate the widespread business closures and layoffs that occurred in the wake of the pandemic. Analysts estimate the actual rate of jobless Texans is greater than 10%, which could be a record high. Full Story
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An El Paso lawyer helps migrants in Juárez. A student struggles to focus while studying at home. A food pantry worker searches for a familiar face. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they're navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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The Railroad Commission, which oversees the state's oil and gas industry, took more than 10 hours of testimony about whether the agency should lower production as the coronavirus lowers demand. Full Story
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