Gov. Greg Abbott expresses regret over reopening Texas bars during coronavirus
"If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars," Abbott said in a TV interview Friday evening. Full Story
Patrick Svitek was the primary political correspondent for The Texas Tribune. Patrick covered elections, state leaders, the Legislature and political trends across the state from 2015 until 2024. He previously worked for the Houston Chronicle's Austin bureau. Patrick graduated in 2014 from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
"If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars," Abbott said in a TV interview Friday evening. Full Story
The vice president was already scheduled to speak Sunday at First Baptist Dallas, though his trip is taking on a more somber tone as the state scrambles to respond to what Gov. Greg Abbott has described as a "massive outbreak" of coronavirus cases. Full Story
The moves, announced Friday morning, represent Abbott's most dramatic action yet in response to a surge in cases after he allowed businesses to reopen in the state. Full Story
The governor also moved for the first time to allow the tightening of two kinds of restrictions that had been eased under his reopening plan. Full Story
Thousands more Texans tested positive for the new coronavirus over the weekend, and the state has reported 11 consecutive days of record-high hospitalizations. Full Story
The release last week of audio of two Empower Texans staffers disparaging Gov. Greg Abbott with profanity and jokes about his disability became nearly instant fodder in the fast-approaching runoffs. Full Story
Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both denounced the recording, which also includes the staff members using multiple profanities in describing Abbott. Full Story
The runoff has rapidly turned contentious between President Donald Trump's choice for the seat, Ronny Jackson, and Josh Winegarner, who is backed by retiring incumbent Mac Thornberry. Full Story
The state reported Tuesday that the number of people hospitalized who are confirmed to have the coronavirus has reached a new peak of 2,518. Full Story
"Even if people loot, so what? Burn it to the ground if, you know, if that’s what it’s gonna take to fix our nation," Olson said. The comment, and her explanation afterward, drew criticism from Republicans and the Congressional Black Caucus, which supports her primary runoff opponent. Full Story