West will face off against MJ Hegar, a retired Air Force officer, in the July 14 runoff election. “I have been in a Republican-dominated Legislature most of my public service career, but I’ve been able to get things done,” West said.
Valeria Olivares
Valeria Olivares was a Washington, D.C. reporting fellow in 2020. A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, Valeria has worked as a freelancer for The Dallas Morning News, a metro desk intern for the San Antonio Express-News and editor-in-chief of The Prospector student newspaper. She also worked on a documentary about immigration at the Texas-Mexico border with Rain Media. Valeria is fluent in Spanish.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Nearly 80 Texas counties have opted out of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mask order. Others refuse to enforce it.
The governor allowed counties with 20 active cases or fewer to opt out.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Several Texas cities worry hospitals may run out of beds in two weeks or sooner
As local officials express concerns that their hospitals could be overloaded with coronavirus patients, some are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to empower local governments to issue stay-at-home orders.
Posted in
Higher Education
University of Texas to pay interim President Jay Hartzell $795,000
UT-Austin also released finalized fall plans Monday, saying that tuition for online and hybrid classes will be the same as in-person tuition.
Posted in
Texas 2020 Elections
Early voting starts Monday for the primary runoff in Texas. Here’s what you need to know.
Texans will be voting in the middle of a pandemic on congressional, legislative and state board seats.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar calls Gov. Greg Abbott’s leadership during coronavirus “a total failure”
During an interview with The Texas Tribune, Escobar, D-El Paso, said the state’s leadership missed an opportunity to implement robust testing when an emergency was declared.
Posted in
Politics
As face mask requirements pop back up across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott faces criticism from local leaders and fellow Republicans
State and local officials disagree on whether mandating businesses to require employees and customers to wear face masks is a small burden or a threat to their freedom.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Bexar and Hidalgo counties require face masks in businesses as coronavirus surges. Other Texas leaders consider similar measures.
Austin’s mayor issued a similar order late Wednesday. Local leaders have been asking for the ability to impose more strict mask orders, but Gov. Greg Abbott never publicly mentioned that one option was ordering businesses to require them.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas’ big-city mayors ask Gov. Greg Abbott for power to impose face mask rules
Abbott has banned local governments from fining people who don’t wear masks in public.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
With coronavirus cases climbing, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says “no real need” to scale back business reopenings
He cited the number of hospital beds available in the state as a reason.