At the beginning of the pandemic, local officials across the state implemented stay-at-home orders for their regions. But now, with cases across Texas’ metros surging, those leaders say Abbott has stripped them of the authority to reinstate the same measures.
Cassandra Pollock
Cassandra Pollock was a state politics reporter for the Tribune. She joined the Tribune full-time in June 2017 after a fellowship during the 85th Texas Legislature. Pollock spent her first two years at the Trib as an engagement reporter, which meant her name likely landed in your inbox every weekday morning with “The Brief,” a newsletter on all things Texas politics and public policy. Pollock is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. Pollock left The Texas Tribune in 2021.
Posted in
Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
As COVID-19 cases surge in Texas, a hospital administrator retires — but is ready to jump back into the fight
A hospital says goodbye, a restaurant welcomes diners back and others reflect on the pandemic’s lessons. In the finale of our weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted in
Politics
Texas lawmakers want to add more LGTBQ safeguards after U.S. Supreme Court guarantees workplace protections
A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court makes clear that it violates federal law to fire an employee on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Now Texas lawmakers want to guarantee similar protections for LGBTQ Texans in housing, health care and other spheres.
Posted in
Police brutality in Texas
Texas Legislative Black Caucus starts planning legislative responses to police brutality, racial inequality
Lawmakers took input from constituents during the first in a seres of virtual town halls scheduled this week.
Posted in
Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
The oil crash folded their old business. Now they’re betting on a new kind of oil.
A family launches a new business with a baby on the way. A small town stages a socially distant graduation. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted in
Police brutality in Texas
The Texas lawmakers who led the Sandra Bland Act are pushing to reinstate the police reforms stripped from their original bill
The lawmakers said they are acting in response to the death of former Houston resident George Floyd.
Posted in
Police brutality in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott raises idea of “George Floyd Act” at Houston visitation
Without offering specifics, Abbott said he is committed to working with lawmakers and Floyd’s family to prevent police brutality.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Royce West and MJ Hegar call for criminal justice reform, save their attacks for John Cornyn in Senate runoff debate
The two Democrats aligned on virtually every issue in what could be the only debate of the runoff.
Posted in
Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
“The African American community is not alone”: A Houston restaurant owner joins the protests
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.
Posted in
Police brutality in Texas
Texas police using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters incites more violence, experts say
Organizers and protesters say the use of force by police during protests in Texas cities highlights the underlying discord between law enforcement and residents that underpinned the protests in the first place.