Coronavirus in Texas: Judge opens door to expansion of voting by mail
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Cars line up at LBJ Early College High School in Austin to receive food and hygiene products from the Central Texas Food Bank’s donation event on April 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Coronavirus could threaten local property tax limits
The coronavirus disaster could have a side effect in a seemingly unrelated area: New limits on increases in local property taxes can be suspended when disasters strike. And epidemics, under state law, are disasters. Full Story
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![An almost empty freeway in Houston on April 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas universities are getting millions in federal money to offset coronavirus losses. It won't be enough, officials say.
Texas officials closed down campuses in early March and are losing millions of dollars as they pay students back for housing, parking and other unused services. Full Story
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![An aerial view of the main tower at the University of Texas at Austin during the coronavirus outbreak on March 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
In a pandemic and an election year, Texas Democrats look for the right tone
The party, which has high hopes in the state in 2020, is looking to offer contrast without politicizing a crisis. Full Story
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![Democratic Party signage and logos at the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: What will Texas reopen, and when?
The same questions shadow the debates about when to ease coronavirus restrictions on business and social activities and whether to broaden voting by mail in Texas in advance of elections in July and November. Full Story
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![The intersection of Kermit Highway and Andrews Highway is empty as an advertisement urges the community to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic in Odessa on April 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Ben Powell for The Texas Tribune -
Texas tax breaks help in disasters — just not public health disasters
Property tax exemptions and sales tax holidays only offer savings for events like hurricanes or floods. Full Story
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![A man walks through floodwaters after surveying his property in Rockport, which was hit by Hurricane Harvey, on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif -
How coronavirus impacted Texas: Hospitalizations, vaccinations, cases and deaths
From April 2020 to August 2022, the Texas Tribune used data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus hospitalizations, vaccinations, cases and deaths. We stopped updating these numbers in August 2022. Full Story
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![Illustration showing the state of Texas, a medical cross symbol and a chart.]()
Credit: Emily Albracht -
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.]()
Credit: Nick Wagner/POOL via American-Statesman -
Watch Gov. Greg Abbott discuss new plan to help small businesses harmed by coronavirus-related closures
As much of the Texas economy remains at a standstill to minimize the spread of the new coronavirus, Abbott will lay out a new program aimed at helping small businesses. Watch it live at 11:30 a.m. Central Time. Full Story
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![A shuttered store front on El Paso Street in downtown El Paso during the the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Limited seating and pajama bottoms: How Texas churches are preparing for a socially distant Easter
Gov. Greg Abbott has given his blessing for churches to hold services during the pandemic. Some are gathering their flocks for Easter. Others are sticking with livestreamed services. Full Story
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![The Glorious Way Church]()
Credit: Courtesy Glorious Way Church in Houston -
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 -
Watch Gov. Greg Abbott give latest update in state's response to fighting the spread of coronavirus
With nearly 11,700 Texans having tested positive for the new coronavirus, Abbott is set to give an update on the situation. Watch live starting at 2 p.m. Central Time. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott gestures to boxes of personal protective equipment during a press conference about the state's response to the coronavirus on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Nick Wagner/POOL via American-Statesman -
Citing social responsibility, many churches and businesses deemed essential are closing anyway
“This is the only way to be sure that we’re not making everybody sicker,” said one restaurant general manager. “We wanted to be able to be an example.” Full Story
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![Memorial Church of Christ in Houston.]()
Credit: Screenshot via Memorial Church of Christ -
Watch Gov. Greg Abbott discuss measures taken to address growing number of COVID-19 patients
With more than 8,200 cases reported in Texas as of Tuesday, Abbott will discuss the latest in the state's response to the spread of COVID-19. Watch live starting at noon Central Time. Full Story
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![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.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas 4/8: The latest developments on the pandemic
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A medical workrs walks near Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats again sue to ease vote-by-mail rules during coronavirus pandemic
The Texas Democratic Party is asking both federal and state courts to rule on whether any voter in upcoming elections should be able to ask for an absentee ballot to mail in and avoid possible infection at polling places. Full Story
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![Mail-in ballot envelopes at the Travis County Elections division headquarters.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce for The Texas Tribune -
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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Watch Gov. Greg Abbott deliver the latest on efforts to contain the coronavirus in Texas
With nearly 7,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday, Abbott will relay what the state is doing to contain the spread of the infectious disease. Watch live starting at 2 p.m. Central. 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 -
Led by science, Clay Jenkins pushed Dallas County virus response ahead of Texas
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins decided early on not to be timid in his response to the coronavirus. He moved quickly to shut down the nation's eighth most populous county, and prodded other counties and Gov. Greg Abbott to follow along. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune reporter Aman Batheja moderates “Is High Speed Rail Really Happening?" panel featuring Clay Jenkins, Bill Meadows, Jonathan Stickland, Marc Williams, and Robert Eckels at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott isn't calling it a stay-at-home order. But he's telling Texans to stay at home.
The order "requires all Texans to stay at home except to provide essential services or do essential things like going to the grocery store," Abbott said this week. 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.]()
Credit: Nick Wagner/POOL via American-Statesman