Gov. Greg Abbott sets Jan. 23 special election to fill Drew Springer's Texas House seat
Springer is joining the state Senate after a hard-fought special election runoff earlier this month. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, spoke during a Texas Tribune panel in 2019.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
A grieving daughter, a dedicated teacher and a former bar owner: We check back in with Texans about the pandemic and 2020
Like so many people, everyone we spoke to for this special edition of The Brief podcast said they're ready for this year to be over. Full Story
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Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Weeks before the legislative session, state leaders’ policy priorities and COVID-19 safety plans remain works in progress
The Texas legislative session begins Jan. 12, and members are heading into the Christmas holiday faced with several unknowns. Full Story
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![Texas Capitol House of Representatives on May 24, 2013.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune -
Here's what you need to know about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas
Texas health officials have told vaccine providers that they could resume using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in all adult recipients. Use of that vaccine had been paused for nearly two weeks. Full Story
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![A vile containing the Pfizer-BioNTech CODID-19 vaccine is prepared to be administered to health care workers at the UT Health/Dell Medical School in downtown Austin on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Some Texans are hesitant to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Here's how health officials are countering skepticism.
“Vaccine hesitancy” or “vaccine skepticism” remains a huge challenge for health authorities trying to overcome mistrust by communities of color, the anti-vaxxer crowd and general dubiousness on the part of a traumatized nation. Full Story
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![Doctors Hospital at Renaissance employees ready a Pfizer vaccine for administration on Dec. 19, 2020]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott allows only limited COVID-19 restrictions for Texas' worst hot spots. Local leaders say it's not enough.
A Texas Tribune analysis of state data shows that in regions with the worst outbreaks, including El Paso, Amarillo and Lubbock, the restrictions have done little to ease an overburdened health care system. Full Story
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![Guests dance at Billy Bob’s Texas, a honky-tonk in Fort Worth. Billy Bobís has been operating since August 13 under food and beverage guidelines after previously being classified as a bar. Bars that did not already get the food and beverage license were allowed to reopen October 14 at 50% capacity, and must stop selling alcohol by 11 pm.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott receives COVID-19 vaccine, saying he wants to serve as an example to Texans
"I will never ask a Texan to do something I'm not willing to do myself," Abbott said moments before getting vaccinated at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin. Full Story
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![Registered Nurse April Burgeons administers a dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at Ascension Seton Medical Center on Dec. 22, 2020, in Austin. Commissioner Dr. John William Hellerstedt of the Texas Department of State Health Services far left and Registered Nurse Toby Hatton look on.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/POOL via American-Statesman -
Houston judge Jesse McClure appointed to Texas Court of Criminal Appeals by Gov. Greg Abbott
McClure will replace Judge Michael Keasler, 78, who is retiring at the end of this year. Full Story
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![The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott to receive COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 22
Abbott has stressed that the vaccine will not be required for Texans, and on Monday, he specifically said it will not be mandatory for the state's school children. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in Austin on Dec. 17, 2020, regarding COVID-19 and the Pfizer vaccines that have been sent to hospitals across Texas. Gov. Abbott was adamant that despite rising cases and deaths, he will not be ordering any shutdowns. Gov. Abbott also said he has not received the vaccine, but he will take it when the time comes.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Drew Springer trumps Shelley Luther in Texas Senate runoff
The Muenster Republican prevailed over the Dallas salon owner who made headlines for refusing to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, spoke during a Texas Tribune panel in 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ second round of COVID-19 vaccines earmarked for smaller hospitals and long-term care facility residents
By the end of the month, the state expects to distribute 1.4 million vaccine doses to hospitals, long-term care facilities and a host of other locations. Full Story
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![Holly Ainsworth, a nursing intern at the University of Texas, prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to Stephanie Vasquez in Austin on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott campaigns hard for Drew Springer in Texas Senate runoff with Shelley Luther
Ahead of the 2021 legislative session — and the 2022 primary season — Abbott is determined to make an example out of Luther, who has become an avatar of his intraparty detractors. 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 -
Analysis: Some Texas officials would love to redirect your attention
President Donald Trump is a master of changing subjects, benefiting from our collective tendency to forget about what happened a year ago, or a week ago, or yesterday. Ambitious politicians lower on the food chain have been taking notes. Full Story
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![New Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks in the Texas Senate chamber following his swearing-in in early January. Greg Abbott listens as he will become the 49th Governor of Texas on Jan. 20, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials expect it to take months for coronavirus vaccine to be available to anyone who wants it
Gov. Greg Abbott said he has not yet gotten the vaccine but will “at the appropriate time." Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott meets with local El Paso leaders to discuss the coronavirus situation for the city and state on Aug. 13, 2020.]()
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$1.7M for George Strait, six-figure bonuses: Months later, a lawsuit forced Texas to release details on inaugural spending
For months, Gov. Greg Abbott and the 2019 Texas Inaugural Committee fought to avoid disclosing how they spent a record-setting $5.3 million. The Texas Tribune sued and obtained the documents in an out-of-court settlement. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses attendees at the Oath of Office Ceremony on the state Capitol grounds on Jan. 15, 2019.]()
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TribCast: The COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Texas
In this week's podcast, Matthew speaks with Karen, Ross and Alex about the coronavirus vaccine and the Electoral College vote in Texas. Full Story
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![Holly Ainsworth, a nursing intern at the University of Texas, administered a COVID-19 vaccine to Nurse Stephanie Vasquez on Dec 15, 2020.]()
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Masks required, COVID-19 tests encouraged for opening day in the Texas House next month
The House will limit attendance for what is typically a crowded day at the Capitol when family and friends attend the opening ceremonies. Full Story
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![The Texas State Capitol on May 22, 2019.]()
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GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson readies 2021 lobbying blitz to bring casinos to Texas
Adelson's Las Vegas Sands has built a stable of high-powered lobbyists for the session, which starts in January, and the company acknowledged Tuesday that it is serious about bringing casinos to Texas. Full Story
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![Sheldon Adelson sits onstage before a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Hollywood, Florida. Dec. 7, 2019.]()
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Analysis: COVID-19 vaccines are coming to Texas, along with a ranking of who’s most essential
Great news: The COVID-19 vaccines are coming. Not-so-great news: There won't be enough for all of us for a while, and that means the first doses will go to people deemed essential. Full Story
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![An employee opens an ultra-cold refrigerator filled with COVID-19 vaccines at a secret storage facility in the Rhein-Main area in Germany on Dec. 4, 2020.]()
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Dan Patrick says people may need to take a coronavirus test 24 hours before testifying during the legislative session
Patrick and Republican state Rep. Dade Phelan, the likely next House speaker, “hope to be able to make an announcement regarding the Session shortly," a senior adviser to Patrick said Saturday. Full Story
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![Wide view of the Senate gallery as Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, begins a filibuster of SB 5 a bill that would tighten regulations on abortion providers in Texas, on the last day of the special session, June 25, 2013.]()
Credit: Daemmrich Photo, Inc.