Coronavirus in Texas: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says bring back sports and let fans in the stadiums
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Staff Sgt. Noel Melendez and Senior Airman Jesse Moore, Air National Guard members with the 149th Fighter Wing, serve the local community during COVID-19 response by ensuring that personal protective equipment is ready and available for front line healthcare workers in San Antonio on April 24th, 2020.]()
Credit: Airman 1st Class Kaliea Green -
Trump administration waives environmental safeguards to fast-track 69 miles of border fence construction
The White House said in February its goal was to build 450 additional miles of barrier by the end of 2020. The 69 miles would be in addition to a 52-mile project also underway in Webb County. Full Story
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![A culvert runs perpendicular to the Rio Grande in Webb County. This strip of land is planned to be assessed by the federal government as a potential site for the Trump Administration's border wall expansion. Feb. 12, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
How a Dallas salon owner changed Texas' reopening debate
After Shelley Luther was jailed for opening her salon in blatant defiance of emergency orders, top Texas Republicans in all three branches of government scrambled to ensure her release. Full Story
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![Shelley Luther comforts Brenda Stephanie Mata as she addresses supporters at a Freedom Rally in Laredo. Mata was arrested for operating an eyelash salon from her home during the coronavirus lockdown.]()
Credit: Jessica Nicole Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The path to emergency powers in Texas might run through the courts
State and local governments are at odds over what should and should not be allowed during a pandemic — a debate over health, economics and civil liberties. The old sparring partners have increasingly appealed to a referee: the courts. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the convention delegates at the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Eviction proceedings and debt collections can resume this month, Texas Supreme Court orders
The state's highest civil court initially paused eviction proceedings and debt collections during the coronavirus pandemic. Those moratoriums are being lifted after more than 1.9 million Texans filed for unemployment. Full Story
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![An apartment complex in Tomball.]()
Credit: Loren Elliott for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas: State reports largest daily increases in cases and deaths
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A member of the Texas National Guard speaks to a patient at a coronavirus testing site at the McNease Convention Center in San Angelo on May 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Colin Murphey/San Angelo Standard-Times via REUTERS -
Gov. Greg Abbott is limiting enforcement of COVID-19 orders, but many cities already took a lax approach
Texas cities and counties have dramatically different interpretations of the state’s COVID-19 emergency orders. Complaint data from a dozen cities shows that disparate approaches to enforcement, particularly among businesses, have been incredibly common. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announced a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the capitol on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas appeals court allows expansion of voting by mail during ongoing legal fight
The appeals court ruled against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who argued that a lower court ruling expanding who can qualify for an absentee ballot during the coronavirus pandemic should have no effect while he appeals it. Full Story
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![A mail-in ballot application.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego named sole finalist for Sul Ross State University presidency
If confirmed in June, Gallego will be Sul Ross' 13th president and the first alumnus to lead the school. Full Story
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![Former US Rep Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, concedes the 2016 Texas 23 Congressional District race to Will Hurd, a San Antonio Republican, on Wed. Nov, 9th.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas is spending $45 million on new coronavirus tests that prisoners are administering to themselves
The state purchased 300,000 oral swab tests from a months-old California company. So far, only highly-infected prisons are using them for mass testing. Full Story
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![Telford prison in New Boston on March 21, 2018]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Dallas food pantry worker gets a boost during the pandemic: a promotion
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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![Liz Salas and her boss Meredith Parrott.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Liz Salas -
How Lina Hidalgo is navigating coronavirus and conservative backlash in Texas’ biggest county
Harris County has seen new cases plateau under the county judge. But her orders designed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus have generated outrage among some conservatives. Full Story
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![Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo poses for a portrait outside of her office on May 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Texas attorney general asks state Supreme Court to step into fight over voting by mail
Ken Paxton, a Republican, wants the state's highest civil court to tell five counties — all under Democratic control — to follow his interpretation that fear of contracting the coronavirus isn't a legally valid reason for voters to request absentee ballots. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Six candidates, including two well-known Democrats, file in special Texas Senate election to replace Kirk Watson
State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, both Democrats, are among those vying for the seat. So is former Austin City Council member Don Zimmerman, a Republican. Full Story
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![An aerial view of the Capitol during the coronavirus outbreak on March 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas: State reports highest one-day COVID-19 tests totals
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Fred Alexander walks through the new buffet style line at the Souper Salad restaurant in El Paso. Souper Salad reopened both locations after Gov. Greg Abbott allowed restaurants to reopen while limiting occupancy.]()
Credit: Briana Sanchez/El Paso Times via REUTERS -
Texas meatpacking plant reverses course, will allow state to test workers
State health officials say the JBS Beef plant rejected its efforts to test all employees. The company switched gears Wednesday afternoon after the Tribune reported on the lack of testing at a plant tied to a rapidly growing cluster of coronavirus cases. Full Story
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![The JBS beef processing plant in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The “don’t do as I say” coronavirus edition
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Ross, Emma and Matthew about the governor's move to pull back on the enforcement of his executive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic and a GOP congressional hopeful's misleading messaging on voting by mail. Full Story
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![COVID-19 related message on a building on East Sixth Street in downtown Austin on May 6th, 2020]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas bar owners say they're going broke and are desperate for Abbott to lay out a reopening plan
Last month, the governor said he hoped to reopen bars "on or no later than mid-May.” He has since walked back the timeline for when bars can open their doors to customers, saying he needs more input from doctors. Full Story
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![The School House Pub in Austin remains closed as a result of Gov. Greg Abbott delaying the reopening of barbershops, hair salons, bars and gyms. May 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Cascade of endorsements animates Texas' Democratic U.S. Senate runoff, which coronavirus has upended
A steady stream of endorsements has been illuminating some of the battle lines between MJ Hegar and Royce West as they vie to take on U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Full Story
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![Sen. Royce West, D-Texas, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar.]()
Credit: Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. Some Texans are still being saddled with large bills.
Congress directed most insurance companies to cover test costs for insured patients in March, and has promised to reimburse providers for testing those who are uninsured. But experts say there are gaps in the protection that can leave patients surprised with bills. Full Story
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![Mark Sonego at his apartment in Leon Springs on May 11, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune