As tens of thousands of Texans try to file unemployment insurance claims, they’re finding the Texas Workforce Commission’s phone lines jammed and website servers overloaded as the agency is swamped by the crush of sudden need.
Coronavirus in Texas
As the coronavirus spread across the state, The Texas Tribune covered the most important health, economic, academic and breaking developments that affected Texans. Our map tracker showed the number of cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations in Texas from 2020-22.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas schools are paying support staff; work for substitute teachers dries up
With schools closed statewide to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, hourly workers like custodians and bus drivers worry how long their paychecks will keep coming. Substitute teachers aren’t finding paid work at all.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Some local elections in Texas moving ahead despite coronavirus spread
A few small towns and water districts aren’t canceling their May 2 elections despite fears of infection spreading at polling places. But it appears most cities across Texas have pushed their elections back to November.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Analysis: A digital divide with dire consequences for Texas
The new coronavirus has forced Texans online for education, commerce, work and entertainment. But a third of the state’s residents don’t have broadband in their homes.
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Coronavirus in Texas
She says she needs an abortion. Texas is citing coronavirus to stop her.
Heather Artrip is one of hundreds of Texans whose plans regarding reproductive health have been cast into uncertainty in the wake of an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott barring any procedures that are not “immediately medically necessary.”
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Coronavirus in Texas
Rent is due. But thousands of Texans have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Evictions across the state are halted until at least April 20, thanks to a Texas Supreme Court moratorium. But both renters and landlords are worried about what comes next.
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Coronavirus in Texas
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.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Harris County’s misdemeanor judges won’t follow Abbott’s order limiting jail releases during coronavirus
The judges are under a federal court order to release low-level defendants without collecting bail payment after the county’s cash bail practices were found unconstitutional. The governor’s Sunday order does not allow those accused of low-level crimes to leave jail without access to cash if they have a past violent conviction.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus in Texas 3/31: State reports 3,266 cases and 41 deaths; Paxton gets temporary victory on abortion ban
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Watch Gov. Greg Abbott give the latest on Texas’ efforts to combat coronavirus
State health and education officials will join Abbott at 2 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday for an update on efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.