Coronavirus in Texas: 250,000 Texans with approved unemployment claims have yet to request payment
Live updates: To receive benefits, people who filed for unemployment must request payments every two weeks on an assigned day. Full Story
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![The entrance of a convience store in downtown Austin on May 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Former U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, a Vietnam War veteran, has died
Johnson, R-Richardson, was first elected to Congress in 1991 and gained a reputation as a strong conservative voice in the Texas delegation. He was a prisoner of war for nearly seven years. Full Story
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![Former U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, R, Richardson.]()
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Texas on the hook for $6.8 million after long voter ID fight
The state plans to appeal the Wednesday ruling from a federal judge in Corpus Christi. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Supreme Court: Lack of immunity to coronavirus alone isn’t enough for mail-in ballot
Although the court sided with state Attorney General Ken Paxton's interpretation of what constitutes a disability, it indicated that it is up to voters to assess their health and determine if they meet the state's definition, which could allow them to vote by mail. Full Story
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![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says Amarillo has “turned a corner” after coronavirus flare-up
The Texas Panhandle, where a workforce of Hispanics and immigrants powers several meatpacking plants, is home to the highest rates of infection in the state. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the Capitol in Austin on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./POOL via The Texas Tribune -
Some Texans in Congress vote through proxies for the first time in American history
Republicans have fought the allowance of proxy voting tooth and nail. They argue that such a move upends the Constitution, and they promise a protracted legal fight. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol looms in the background as a woman walks among flags at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. on May 27, 2020.]()
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TribCast: How to vote in a pandemic and Texas' record unemployment rate
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Emma and Ross about the state's recently released guidance for the upcoming elections, the reopening of water parks and the economic devastation faced by Texas workers. Full Story
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![Dallas voters wait to cast their ballots on Super Tuesday during the 2020 primaries on March 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Some Texas hospitals continued to sue patients for unpaid medical bills during the coronavirus pandemic
Hundreds of debt collection lawsuits have been filed since Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster because of COVID-19 in mid-March, according to the Health Care Research and Policy Team at Johns Hopkins University. Full Story
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![Patrick Easley in Tomball. May 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Rising property values — and taxes — during an economic slump
Many Texas property owners are sweating potential increases in their taxes, which are based on property values that don't reflect a pandemic, an oil price collapse or a slumping economy. Full Story
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![A home in Austin, Texas. Feb. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas: More than 26,000 workers in Texas' oil and gas industry lost jobs in April
Live updates: The oilfield service sector accounted for more than 22,000 of the industry’s jobs lost in April, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Full Story
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![A bartender waits for customers at Buck Wild on West Sixth Street in downtown Austin as bars reopen on May 22, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas recommends people bring their own hand sanitizer to vote this summer
The secretary of state suggested that voters "may want to consider" voting curbside if they have symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or sore throat, when they arrive at a polling place. Full Story
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![People wait to vote after polling places' official 7:00 closing time, at Tompkins High School in Katy in Fort Bend Co. on Nov. 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Water parks, food court dining areas added to Texas’ latest wave of reopenings
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Tuesday adding a few types of businesses to the list. Full Story
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![Toulouse Cafe and Bar in Austin opened for dine-in services.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Living in hotels, students lose ground while dealing with cramped rooms and eviction fears
Long-stay hotels are often the last resort for struggling families, even more so during the coronavirus pandemic. Many children are receiving little education with schools closed, and school districts have simply lost track of thousands of students. Full Story
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![From left: Paetun Beavers, 11, her mother Tie Hernandez, Andre Cameron and their son Kingstun Beavers, 9, outside their room at the Budget Suites of America in Fort Worth, May 20, 2020. The family has been living at the hotel for two months.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Influential conservative group endorses Ronny Jackson over Josh Winegarner in runoff for U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry's seat
The two men vying to represent the Texas Panhandle in Congress have split a slew of endorsements ahead of the runoff to replace Thornberry, who is retiring. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, meets with Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, at his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 2018.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: Pence names Texas as a possible alternative GOP convention site
Live updates: Texas reports 55,971 cases and 1,527 deaths. Full Story
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![A healthcare worker preps for a COVID-19 test at the drive-thru testing station in Alpine on April 25, 2020.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Photos of Texas' continued reopening: Bars, bowling alleys and other businesses welcome back customers
As Texas gradually reopens, bars were allowed to open their doors to start off Memorial Day weekend. Texas Tribune photographers were out Friday and Saturday to capture how that went in Austin. Full Story
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![A bouncer sprays customer's hands with hand sanitizer, a common sight as Texas bars reopen on Friday.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus hot spots in Texas homeless shelters highlight challenges unsheltered residents face social distancing, staying clean
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said officials there are spreading out homeless shelter residents after dozens tested positive in one day. Full Story
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![A large homeless camp near downtown Houston on June 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
As day cares reopen, a Texas parent weighs the risks of sending her kids back
Latonya Stott is excited to return to work full time, but she wants to wait a couple of weeks before sending her two youngest children to day care again. She explains why in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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![Latonya Stott plans to wait a couple of weeks before sending her two youngest children back to day care.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: Bars, bowling alleys and other businesses can begin reopening Friday
Live updates: The state's unemployment rate hit 12.8%, and a lawsuit seeks the release of medically vulnerable inmates in the Dallas County jail. Full Story
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![Drinks on a bar.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
"This is a scam": Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls it laughable for people under 65 to fear voting in person
Texas is locked in a legal battle over whether it must expand voting by mail. Full Story
Credit: Nick Wagner/POOL via American-Statesman
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