Gov. Greg Abbott lifts coronavirus restrictions for travelers from New York, Georgia and other hot spots
Travelers coming to Texas from select major states and cities previously had to undergo a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. Full Story
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![American Airlines jets fill Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April of 2019.]()
Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAY via REUTERS -
Texas businesses returning during coronavirus are unlikely to spur fast economic recovery
As workers and customers reemerge into a society still grappling with a spreading coronavirus, the power Gov. Greg Abbott and officials across the globe used to close businesses in the first place does not extend to reviving the economy. Full Story
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![Donna Heath, floor manager of The Barn Door Restaurant, poses for a portrait during her shift in front of the restaurant in San Antonio on May 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Christopher Lee for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Bars are back, but questions remain on child care and voting by mail in a pandemic
In this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Aliyya and Ross about the latest reopenings in Texas amid missed benchmarks, child care complications for low-income parents and swirling voting-by-mail questions. Full Story
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![At an Austin location, reopened retailer Urban Outfitters limits occupancy and requires customers to wear masks and maintain social distance. May 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instructs state agencies to trim budgets by 5% to prepare for "economic shock"
Some state agencies are exempt from the cuts, including the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Department of Public Safety. 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: In spite of it all, a Texas government that’s running full-steam ahead
The pandemic has devastated the Texas economy. The state comptroller says that will mean billions of dollars less than expected for the current budget. But state agencies haven't received any orders to cut their spending. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen brief reporters during a press conference on a Domestic Terrorism Task Force roundtable held at the capitol on Jan. 7, 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.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Child care centers, bars and sporting events scheduled for Texas' next phase of reopening
Child care opens immediately, bars can open Friday and sports will be allowed to return at the end of the month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces his plan to reopen the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Pool/Austin American-Statesman -
Analysis: Texas tiptoes down the road to normal
As some pandemic doors are slowly opened, others are getting kicked in. Either way, individual choices are quickly replacing the weeks of government instructions about what and what not to do. Full Story
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![Bar and Restaurant.]()
Credit: Anneke Paterson for The Texas Tribune -
With COVID-19 cases rising, El Paso officials ask governor to exclude them from next phase of reopening
As state officials and some Texas cities tangle over local COVID-19 restrictions, El Paso officials say their area isn't ready for the next phase of reopening. They want Gov. Greg Abbott to give them an exemption. Full Story
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![Downtown El Paso is vacant during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
More than 700 new cases of coronavirus reported after testing at meatpacking plants in Amarillo region
Gov. Greg Abbott says the cases were detected by targeted testing at meatpacking plants. Full Story
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![Dumas, Texas on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As Texas reopens, coronavirus cases are increasing while testing misses benchmarks
Texas has seen a modest but steady increase in the growth of new coronavirus cases in the two weeks since some businesses reopened at 25% capacity. Gov. Greg Abbott sees hope in other metrics. Full Story
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![Medical Assistants with Mi Doctor operate a testing clinic at the La Gran Plaza in Fort Worth. The drive thru testing station has been operating every day for the last 7 weeks. May 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
How a Dallas salon owner changed Texas' reopening debate
After Shelley Luther was jailed for opening her salon in blatant defiance of emergency orders, top Texas Republicans in all three branches of government scrambled to ensure her release. Full Story
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![Shelley Luther comforts Brenda Stephanie Mata as she addresses supporters at a Freedom Rally in Laredo. Mata was arrested for operating an eyelash salon from her home during the coronavirus lockdown.]()
Credit: Jessica Nicole Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott is limiting enforcement of COVID-19 orders, but many cities already took a lax approach
Texas cities and counties have dramatically different interpretations of the state’s COVID-19 emergency orders. Complaint data from a dozen cities shows that disparate approaches to enforcement, particularly among businesses, have been incredibly common. Full Story
![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 -
Texas meatpacking plant reverses course, will allow state to test workers
State health officials say the JBS Beef plant rejected its efforts to test all employees. The company switched gears Wednesday afternoon after the Tribune reported on the lack of testing at a plant tied to a rapidly growing cluster of coronavirus cases. Full Story
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![The JBS beef processing plant in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas bar owners say they're going broke and are desperate for Abbott to lay out a reopening plan
Last month, the governor said he hoped to reopen bars "on or no later than mid-May.” He has since walked back the timeline for when bars can open their doors to customers, saying he needs more input from doctors. Full Story
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![The School House Pub in Austin remains closed as a result of Gov. Greg Abbott delaying the reopening of barbershops, hair salons, bars and gyms. May 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In Abbott’s hands, executive orders look like suggestions
Even as Gov. Greg Abbott is loosening his pandemic restrictions on people and businesses, he is buckling to opponents who protest that he's moving too slowly. He's undermining his own authority — and enforcement of the rest of his rules. Full Story
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![A sign requiring masks is posted at Cosmic Cowboy on South Congress Avenue on Austin. May 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas prisons to begin widespread coronavirus testing for inmates with self-administered tests
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said it will begin having prisoners test themselves with a newly approved test. So far, less than 2% of state prisoners have been tested for the virus. More than 1,700 have been infected, and 30 have died. Full Story
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![Telford prison in New Boston.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Reopening just a little bit isn’t really a big boon for the economy
Reopening Texas businesses in a contained way gives the appearance of thawing out a frozen economy while keeping crowds at bay. That might make people feel better, but it's no way to supercharge an economy. Full Story
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![A hand written signs alerts costumers that Jake’s Texas Tea House is closed indefinitely in Waco. March 25, 2020.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune -
“I’m over it. I need a haircut.” Eager but nervous Texans venture back into busy salons and barbershops
Barbers reported being booked through the day due to pent-up demand related to the coronavirus. Full Story
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![Stevin Kane, who has owned and operated Kane's Barber Shop since 2006, gives his first haircut of the day to loyal customer Larry Franklin.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune