The border city recently resorted to using inmates from the county jail to move bodies. At the request of county officials, the state is sending assistance.
Mitchell Ferman
Mitchell Ferman covered energy and the economy from 2020 to 2022, based in Houston. Before joining the Tribune he was a reporter for The Monitor in McAllen, where he covered cross-border trade, politics and the city of McAllen. He also regularly freelanced from the Rio Grande Valley and beyond for The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Reuters, writing about topics including the family separation crisis and unexpected consequences of the border wall. He graduated from the University of Missouri.
Posted in
Economy
Texas unemployment rate falls to 6.9% in October, a sign of slow and uneven economic recovery
A new wave of coronavirus infections this month could further set back the state’s economic recovery, while Gov. Greg Abbott has ruled out “any more lockdowns.”
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Donald Trump made inroads in South Texas this year. These voters explain why.
Voters in the historically Democratic stronghold of South Texas are left wondering whether this was simply a strange election during an unusual year or a sign of a profound political realignment in the region.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Harris County voters will only have one drive-thru polling site on Election Day
The closures of nine drive-thru locations follow a series of legal challenges led by a group of Texas Republicans. The county will still offer more than 800 polling locations.
Posted in
COVID-19 Recession in Texas
Texas Republicans highlight energy issues as a closing argument of campaign
Texas’ oil and gas industry has had a horrible year. As the recession persists and Election Day nears, Republicans have latched on to Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s debate exchange about the energy sector and the environment.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas unemployment rate rises to 8.3% in September, seven months into economic recession
After a summer of declining unemployment rates following Gov. Greg Abbott’s widespread business reopenings during the pandemic, the state’s unemployment rate jumped to 8.3% in September.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
As Texas asks her to repay unemployment aid, a Dallas County instructor faces confusing appeals process to fight back
The Texas Workforce Commission is trying to recoup $214 million in unemployment benefits it says people were overpaid this year. A North Texas woman says appealing the agency’s findings is an uphill battle through an opaque appeals process.
Posted in
The 2020 Texas Tribune Festival
More congressional action needed for strong recovery, former Trump economic adviser says
Gary Cohn said another round of federal coronavirus relief funding is needed to ensure a strong economic recovery.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
August unemployment rate in Texas drops to 6.8%, lowest level since coronavirus shutdowns
The U.S. Labor Department on Friday announced Texas’ unemployment rate for August fell to 6.8%. That is still far above pre-pandemic levels, underscoring a summer of steady joblessness for many Texans.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
In Texas, the lowest-income workers don’t qualify for additional unemployment aid
Nearly 350,000 Texans don’t qualify for the extra payment because they either earned too little from the work they lost or didn’t indicate on paperwork that they lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
