Top Texas officials denounce Dallas salon owner’s jail sentence for defying orders to close
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton said the seven-day jail sentence was excessive. Paxton called for her immediate release. Full Story
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![Shelley Luther, owner of Salon a la Mode in Dallas, was recently issued a citation after reopening her business in violation of local and state stay at home orders. Luther spoke to a crowd of supporters at an Open Texas rally against coronavirus pandemic restrictions outside of the City Hall in Frisco on April 25, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jeremy Lock -
Rent assistance programs in Texas' largest cities are running dry, but advocates say statewide relief is unlikely
Dallas, San Antonio and Austin recently implemented housing relief programs, and Houston will consider one this week. But local officials and advocates agree they aren't enough to see Texans through the pandemic. Full Story
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![A home in Texas.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
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.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
GOP lawmakers got illegal haircuts while calling on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to reopen salons
State Reps. Briscoe Cain and Steve Toth said there's no reason to continue banning businesses from operating as long as they follow CDC guidelines. Such restrictions, the two said, are hurting the Texas economy. Full Story
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![From left, State Representatives Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, and Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, get haircuts in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders on business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
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Watch Gov. Greg Abbott's press conference on Texas coronavirus updates
Among the governor's announcements: Hair salons can reopen Friday, and gyms will be allowed to open May 18. 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 at the capitol on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
70% of Texas prisoners tested have the coronavirus. Experts say it's time for more testing and fewer inmates.
Some of the nation's biggest COVID-19 outbreaks have been in prisons and jails, and they can quickly spread to surrounding communities. Are Texas prisons doing enough to protect inmates, staff and the public? Full Story
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![The exterior of Huntsville Unit, a prison in Huntsville, on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
At a Texas mall reopening, some antsy shoppers wore homemade masks while others called coronavirus a farce
Friday was the first day that shopping malls — along with restaurants, retail outlets and movie theaters — were allowed to reopen in Texas. Under an order from Gov. Greg Abbott, stores can open their doors, but they must limit occupancy to no more than 25% of capacity. Full Story
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![Customers practice social distancing as they wait for the Barton Creek Square Mall in Austin to open on May 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott said museums can reopen — but there will be no tours of the state Capitol or Governor's Mansion
The Texas historic landmarks previously offered frequent guided tours to the public. But there are no plans to open the Capitol or the Governor's Mansion despite the governor's order allowing museums to reopen. Full Story
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![Governor's Mansion in Austin.]()
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Texas reports record coronavirus deaths the day before stores open. But Gov. Greg Abbott sees hope in other metrics.
Abbott is looking at two figures: the percentage of tests in the state that come back positive and the percentage of patients with COVID-19 who are hospitalized. Full Story
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![A healthcare worker directs a driver where to stop at the testing station in Alpine.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney general's office warns local officials that barber shops, hair salons and gyms still can't reopen
After Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would reopen large parts of the economy Friday, some local leaders argued that his orders were vague. Top state attorneys disagree. Full Story
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![A gym in downtown Mcgregor is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas Gov. Greg Abbott phases in reopening, some in his party are testing his rules
Abbott’s instinct so far has been mostly to deescalate, staving off confrontations that could hobble the careful course he is charting. Full Story
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![Austin residents visit Zilker Park in spite of the COVID-19 related stay-at-home order Austin on April 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Health experts give Abbott's plan to reopen Texas mixed reviews, warn state should revive stay-at-home order if surge emerges
Many health experts said the governor was right to open the economy in phases, but some cautioned that his timeline was too quick. Full Story
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![Memorial Hermann Southeast employees are greeted by dozens of people honking their horns and flashing their lights in appreciation of their work during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
With little certainty and a lot of hope, Texas restaurants and retailers navigate new rules as they prepare to reopen
After weeks of limited business operations, the first wave of the Texas economy will reopen on Friday. The service and entertainment industries are preparing for new rules even as they face an uncertain future. Full Story
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![Cleburne Cafeteria owner George Mickelis outside his restaurant on April 28, 2020. The restaurant has been open for carry out, but is preparing to open with limited seating on May 1 following Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to allow reopening of some businesses.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Black Texans already face health care disparities. The coronavirus is making it worse.
As the coronavirus spreads, black people are less likely to have access to proper health care and more likely to have health issues that make the virus more dangerous. Full Story
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![Harris County Health Department nurse Harriet Lewis administers a COVID-19 test at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown on March 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Reggie Mathalone for The Texas Tribune -
Texas restaurants, retailers and other businesses can reopen Friday. Here's the rules they have to follow.
Parties of six or less, disposable menus and limited capacity are among the new rules businesses will follow if they open this Friday. Full Story
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![An empty parking lot at the Barton Creek Mall in Austin during the coronavirus pandemic. April 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott ends self-quarantine mandate for travelers from Louisiana
Starting Friday, road and air travelers entering Texas from Louisiana will no longer have to self-quarantine for 14 days. Full Story
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![A TXDOT sign on a highway near Houston during the coronavirus pandemic on April 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Reopening Texas during a pandemic, cautiously and slowly
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to reopen the state and to get the economy going. But he also wants to avoid widening the spread of the coronavirus. Texans are about to find out whether it's possible to have it both ways. 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 -
Coronavirus in Texas: Southwest Airlines announces first quarterly loss in nearly 10 years
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Workers for Code 4 Event Management spray each other with disinfectant as a safety protocol after disinfecting an office building during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott to let restaurants, movie theaters and malls open with limited capacity Friday
The businesses must limit occupancy to no more than 25%. Abbott said the state's stay-at-home order "has done its job to slow the growth of COVID-19." 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 -
Watch Gov. Greg Abbott detail plans to reopen Texas economy during coronavirus pandemic
Abbott is expected to lay out how businesses will resume operations while minimizing the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Watch live starting at 2:30 p.m. Central time. 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