The figures predate the widespread business closures and layoffs that occurred in the wake of the pandemic. Analysts estimate the actual rate of jobless Texans is greater than 10%, which could be a record high.
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.
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Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans' eyes
“They’re proud of me”: With a mask and a passion to help, lawyer keeps working in Mexican border city
An El Paso lawyer helps migrants in Juárez. A student struggles to focus while studying at home. A food pantry worker searches for a familiar face. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they’re navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas’ oil and gas regulators aren’t ready to cut production yet. They’re not even sure how it would work if they did.
The Railroad Commission, which oversees the state’s oil and gas industry, took more than 10 hours of testimony about whether the agency should lower production as the coronavirus lowers demand.
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Coronavirus in Texas
More Texans filed for unemployment in the last 4 weeks than all of 2019
The numbers are early — but incomplete — indicators of how dramatically and suddenly the state’s economy has collapsed under social distancing orders officials issued to curb the still growing public health crisis spurred by the novel coronavirus.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans’ eyes
Texas Tribune reporters have interviewed Texans from across the state to learn how they are confronting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read their stories of struggle and resourcefulness in the first installment of a weekly series.
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Coronavirus in Texas
As oil price crisis grips the globe, small Texas producers feel the ripple effects
Plummeting demand and an international price dispute have forced Texas oil producers to begin shutting wells.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas shale producers ask state to cut oil output as demand plummets during coronavirus pandemic
Two Texas oil companies with big business in the Permian Basin wrote to state regulators requesting an emergency meeting to consider reducing oil production as demand around the world has collapsed due to the new coronavirus.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Citing coronavirus pandemic, Trump administration stops enforcing environmental laws
A Texas environmental protection group said it is “reckless” for the Environmental Protection Agency to waive enforcement of many protections. The federal agency said companies could have trouble complying due to the new coronavirus.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Dallas County creating temporary hospital, calls in National Guard for medical help as novel coronavirus cases top 300
The North Texas county leads the state in the number of novel coronavirus cases and is marshaling resources as the need for medical response grows.
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Coronavirus in Texas
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.
