Spurred by Gov. Greg Abbott's coronavirus handling, Democratic strategists launch PAC to defeat him in 2022
The group, the Beat Abbott PAC, will raise money that will benefit the eventual Democratic nominee against Abbott in 2022. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
"Kill 'em": Houston GOP powerbroker Steve Hotze left Greg Abbott a voicemail requesting that National Guard "shoot to kill" rioters
Hotze, a staunch critic of Abbott's coronavirus response, left a voicemail with the governor's chief of staff in early June with the incendiary instruction. Full Story
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![Steve Hotze.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texans in most counties to wear masks in public
Abbott previously resisted calls for such an order and at one point banned local governments from requiring masks. First-time violators will be issued a warning, though repeat offenders could be fined up to $250. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott gives an update on Texas hospital bed capacity and the state's strategy for fighting COVID-19 during a press conference at Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.]()
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Analysis: Governing in reaction mode, and always a beat or two behind
The pandemic has been with us since late winter, but state leaders seem to have forgotten something they already know from other disasters: You can get ready when a storm is coming, or wait until it blows your roof off. Full Story
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![A line of about 100 cars formed at Barbara Jordan Elementary School in Austin at a COVID-19 testing site. June 26, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott expresses regret over reopening Texas bars during coronavirus
"If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars," Abbott said in a TV interview Friday evening. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces his plan to reopen the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas bars to close again and restaurants to reduce to 50% occupancy as coronavirus spreads
The moves, announced Friday morning, represent Abbott's most dramatic action yet in response to a surge in cases after he allowed businesses to reopen in the state. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at a press conference at the state Capitol in Austin on Monday, June 22,2020.]()
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Almost all Texas businesses are allowed to open at 50% capacity, Gov. Greg Abbott says
The governor announced his third phase Wednesday of reopening the state’s businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. 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 in April.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr/The Texas Tribune -
President Donald Trump to visit Dallas as he resumes in-person campaign fundraisers
The president is set to attend a high-dollar fundraiser June 11 in the North Texas city. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump smiles during a campaign rally in Dallas on Oct. 17, 2019.]()
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Texas will extend early voting period this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Abbott has already added more time to the early voting period for the July runoff election, citing the need to create a safe environment for in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic. 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 -
Dancing is discouraged: Bars, sports and child care centers can open if they follow these rules
Among the businesses reopening are day and overnight youth camps, professional sports without spectators and massage services. Full Story
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![People dancing at the Broken Spoke in Austin.]()
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As Texas reopens for business, this San Antonio teen is scared about the risks of working as a restaurant hostess
In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, listen to the 17-year-old describe the backlash she says she faced from customers when enforcing the governor's social distancing guidelines. Full Story
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![The Yellow Jacket is one of many businesses in Austin offering take-out during the COVID-19 pandemic. May 8, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott to allow Texas hair salons and pools to reopen Friday and gyms to open May 18
The governor had initially eyed May 18 as the next date to announce further business reopenings, but he faced growing pressure in recent days from some in his own party to move more quickly. Full Story
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![San Marcos Barbershop at The Square in San Marcos on April 10, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott promises far-reaching announcement on reopening Texas businesses, including restaurants, hair salons
Abbott said he is seeking approval from medical advisers on the business reopenings and that they will reopen under new standards to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the Capitol in Austin on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./POOL via The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces team to restart the economy, loosens some restrictions
The reopening will happen in phases, Abbott said, and will be guided by data and doctors. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott is briefed on the coronavirus outbreak, in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020.]()
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Watch Gov. Greg Abbott discuss plans to reopen economy during coronavirus pandemic
The governor has cautioned it will be a "slow process" guided by public health concerns. Watch Friday's news conference live at noon Central Time. Full Story
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![Downtown San Marcos during the coronavirus pandemic on April 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says reopening the Texas economy will be a slow process
He says he'll outline his plans this week, but it won't be a "rush-the-gates, everybody-is-able-to-suddenly-reopen-all-at-once" situation. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott, flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, left, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol over the state's response to the coronavirus on March 31, 2020.]()
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Texas officials say they see signs that social distancing is slowing the spread of coronavirus
Top health officials stressed, however, that it's far too soon to declare victory as the number of Texans infected continues to grow. Gov. Greg Abbott said he'd issue an order next week to lay the groundwork for reopening the state's economy. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declares a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020 at the state capitol.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas has scant data about the pandemic, leaving a lot of questions
State officials have a lot more data about the new coronavirus than they did just days ago. But Texas remains behind the curve when it comes to critical information about the spread of the disease. Full Story
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![Nurse Kristen Howell, left, and Medical Lab Tech, Amanda Hernandez, administer a COVID-19 test at the Austin Regional Clinic drive-up testing site in Kyle on March 31, 2020.]()
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Texas City nursing home residents with coronavirus being treated with unproven hydroxychloroquine drug
The physician and nursing home medical director who prescribed the drug is a campaign surrogate for President Donald Trump. Full Story
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![A coronavirus safety sign and sanitizing products at the entrance to Ventec Life Systems, a ventilator manufacturer that has seen a large increase in demand since the global coronavirus disease outbreak began. Washington, March 18, 2020.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott tells Texans to stay home except for essential activity in April
He also said that schools would remain closed until at least May 4 as the state increases its efforts to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces the activation of the Texas National Guard in response the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made from the Governor's Conference Room in the Texas Department of Emergency Management Command Center. Abbott was joined by Chief Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar/POOL via The Texas Tribune