Texas campaigns prepare for more uncertainty after runoff reset by coronavirus
With the runoff date pushed back seven weeks, the coronavirus pandemic continues to cast a long shadow over Texas politics. Full Story
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![Voting signs at The University of Texas at Austin campus on Feb. 19, 2020, the second day of early voting for the Texas Priamary.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas schools get OK to give free meals to parents when kids aren't present
Federal officials had previously approved a waiver allowing school districts to hand out curbside breakfasts and lunches to parents who show up. Now districts have more flexibility on how and what they feed students in free and reduced-price meals while schools are temporarily closed statewide. Full Story
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![Students grab lunch at North Side Independent School District in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Abortion providers sue Texas over coronavirus-related order
Attorney General Ken Paxton said this week that abortions should not be performed unless the mother's life is in danger, saying health care capacity needs to be preserved for COVID-19 patients. Full Story
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![A Planned Parenthood examination room in Austin on Jan. 14, 2020.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas 3/25: Unemployment claims surge
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A coronavirus safety sign and sanitizing products at the entrance to Ventec Life Systems, a ventilator manufacturer that has seen a large increase in demand since the global coronavirus disease outbreak began. Washington, March 18, 2020.]()
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Migrants say COVID-19 fears led to disturbance in Texas immigration detention center
About 60 detainees in the South Texas ICE Processing Center staged an uprising this week. Some detainees say fear of infection sparked the incident; Immigration and Customs Enforcement disputes that account. Full Story
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![Immigration detainees wait at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility in Texas.]()
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Texas hospitals plan to add beds, eye vacated buildings as they prepare for a possible influx in coronavirus cases
The efforts to quickly add capacity come after Gov. Greg Abbott waived hospitals’ occupancy restrictions Sunday and ordered health care providers to postpone surgeries that are not “immediately, medically necessary.” Full Story
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![Exterior of St. David's Medical Center in Austin on March 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Watch our interview with Austin Mayor Steve Adler on coronavirus in Texas and its impact
We sat down for a live virtual event with Adler to discuss the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the Austin community. Full Story
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Texas cancels controversial Medicaid contracts after complaints of subjective scoring
"This decision is necessary to ensure the contract award processes are conducted with integrity, fairness and transparency," a spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission said. Full Story
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![The Brown Heatly Health and Human Services building in Austin, Texas on Nov. 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas hospitals brace for coronavirus surge with uncertain stocks of protective gear
“’I will give you X number, you are to make these last for however long,’” a Panhandle hospital executive told one of his clinics when it sought more respirators. “We’ve got to ration these resources.” Full Story
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![Austinites drop off medical personal protective equipment into bins outside Bicycle Sport Shop. Once full, employees will donate the equipment to local hospitals to help fight a shortage of personal protective equipment in Austin. March 22, 2020.]()
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TribCast: How coronavirus is affecting Texas workers, immigrants and the courts
On this week's TribCast — a different format in the time of the new coronavirus — Alexa talks to Mitchell, Julián and Jolie about rising unemployment in Texas, the outbreak's effect on immigrants and delayed justice in the court system. Full Story
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![Oasis Eyebrow and Threading in Austin closed its operations following an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott which limits social gatherings to 10 people. Taken on March 20, 2020.]()
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Coronavirus hits Texas prisons with first inmate case confirmed
The 37-year-old man has been isolated and is being treated at the prison system's Galveston hospital, where he's been for three days. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas 3/24: Quarantine ending for cruise ship evacuees at Lackland Air Force Base
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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!["Wash Ur Hands" was spray-painted over the iconic “Be Somebody" graffiti that normally appears on a rail bridge near downtown Houston. The new message is in response to the recent coronavirus outbreak. March 3, 2020.]()
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Texas unemployment rate headed toward double digits, comptroller warns
Texas reported a record low unemployment rate of 3.5% in January. The historic high was 9.2% in 1986. Full Story
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![Pueblo Viejo in Austin closed its dining operations following an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott which limits social gatherings to 10 people. March 20, 2020.]()
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How many coronavirus cases in Texas? Depends on who you ask
On Tuesday evening, Texas launched a new system for reporting cases of COVID-19. Officials said the new system will bring the state's count closer to those of counties and other sources that were reporting hundreds more cases. Full Story
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![A map shows where the all the confirmed cases of Coronavirus across the world are at a call center for Coronavirus concerns in Rosenberg on March 10, 2020.]()
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Texas day cares are closing just when some parents need them more than ever
The new coronavirus has prompted parents to pull their kids from day care, and thousands have closed. But essential workers like nurses, police officers and grocery store clerks desperately need safe places to leave their children. Full Story
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![A flurry of colors and activity, building time started the day for pre schoolers at Greater Cornerstone Academy in North Dallas Oct. 9, 2018.]()
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Worried about current compliance, Gov. Greg Abbott signals openness to stricter coronavirus order
"It's clear to me that we may not be achieving the level of compliance that is needed," Abbott said during a news conference in Austin. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the press after a meeting with government officials on COVID-19 preparedness in the state. Feb. 27, 2020.]()
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Denton County asks state for temporary hospital after COVID-19 outbreak at state supported living center
Denton's mayor and the county judge are pleading with Gov. Greg Abbott for an on-site hospital after six residents of the Denton State Supported Living Center, which has more than 1,800 residents and staff members, tested positive for the virus. Full Story
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![An exterior view of the Denton State Supported Living Center in Denton on March 22, 2020.]()
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Analysis: Coronavirus, family, economics and false choices
The threat to the economy is important, but it's also secondary. The worst of the new coronavirus has not yet been visited upon us. Full Story
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![Shuttered bars on Austin's iconic Sixth Street during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
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Grocery workers are risking their health during the pandemic to keep stores open. They want better pay and protections.
Union members are advocating for government benefits like priority child care and better access to testing. Workers also want hazard pay and expanded sick leave policies. Full Story
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![Shoppers line up with carts outside an H-E-B prior to opening. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused HEB to shorten its store hours in order to restock its inventory and better serve customers. March 21, 2020.]()
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Texas’ largest counties are issuing stay-at-home orders as coronavirus spreads
The orders represent some of the most stringent measures local officials in Texas have taken so far to address the colossal public health crisis. Full Story
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![Downtown Austin with considerably less traffic during the coronavirus outbreak on March 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune