After CDC revises COVID-19 recommendations, Dallas County narrows its mask mandate
The federal agency’s new guidance says most healthy Americans don’t need to wear masks in public. It marks a turning point in the pandemic. Full Story
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Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas land commissioner candidates compete to oversee Alamo and disaster relief funds
Land Commissioner George P. Bush is stepping down to run for attorney general. Four Democrats and eight Republicans are seeking their parties’ nominations for the office. Full Story
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![Visitors crossed the street away from the Alamo in San Antonio on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune -
An Austin cop has been charged with police misconduct. That might actually help his Texas House campaign.
Justin Berry is among 19 Austin law enforcement officers indicted and accused of using excessive force on anti-police brutality protesters in 2020. Full Story
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![Former Austin Police officer Justin Berry holds a weapon with non-lethal rounds during a protest in front of Austin City Hall on May 31, 2020. The protestors had gathered in response to the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
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Texas House candidate Justin Berry is among Austin officers indicted on excessive force charges, union president says
The Austin police officer is one of four Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for Texas House District 19, west of Austin. Full Story
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![Justin Berry is a candidate for Texas House District 19.]()
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Historically Black college has a new twist on admissions: You can bring your family, too
Paul Quinn College hopes the new practice will better combat intergenerational poverty and remove the pressure on first-generation college students to financially lift up their entire families. Full Story
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![Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell teaches a class on problem-solving on Nov. 10, 2019. Students are challenged to find a problem on campus, solve it, and present their solutions.]()
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Texas voters will decide whether to lower some property tax bills in May election
If two propositions pass, the state will increase school funding to make up for revenues lost from a decrease in property taxes. Full Story
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![A student takes notes in Norman Gomez's third-grade class at Linder Elementary School in Austin on Jan. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribune -
Honest or arrogant? U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s brand of conservatism divides some Republicans
The Houston Republican’s acceptance of the 2020 presidential election results — and his comments at recent forums — fuel criticism as he seeks reelection. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, questions witnesses during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.]()
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Texas tenants hit with soaring rent increases see little relief in sight
Renters are seeing their housing costs jump as population increases, strict zoning regulations and rising home sales push up rent prices. Full Story
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![In November 2021, Rebecca Brown received a letter in the mail from her tenant informing her that her rent would increase by nearly $350 a month or more, depending on the lease term. Brown decided to attempt a negotiation. After successfully bringing the rent increase down from 24% to 5%, she has shared her story to empower and remind other renters of their rights to challenge rent hikes.]()
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As culture wars envelop schools, North Texas sees a superintendent exodus
Several departures come after months of contentious fights over teaching about slavery, requiring pandemic precautions and limiting what books kids can access. Full Story
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![Former Richardson ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Stone left the superintendent position to focus on advocacy and closing achievement gaps through organizations she is involved in, such as the Texas School Alliance. "After 33 years, it was time for me to lend my passion and purpose to some other areas where I could make a larger impact," Stone said.]()
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“Light at the end of the tunnel”: Texas COVID-19 hospitalizations down as omicron wave appears to crest
Texas falls short, again, of the pandemic record for COVID-19 hospitalizations, while daily deaths are expected to continue rising for several more days. Full Story
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Texas students, frustrated by limited COVID-19 protocols, turn to petition drives and walkouts
The omicron variant has resulted in record-high COVID-19 cases in Texas schools. Despite student and staff absences, one Round Rock student said schools are remaining open for in-person learning “while everything around us is falling down.” Full Story
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![Student Eliana Smith stands in front of Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock on Tuesday, Jan. 25th, 2022. Smith was one of the organizers of local high school protests in favor of greater COVID-19 regulations in schools.]()
Credit: Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Labor and economy experts discuss how the Texas economy has adapted during the pandemic
Tribune energy and economy reporter Mitchell Ferman moderated a conversation with labor and economic development experts who discussed how COVID-19 has affected Texas’ economy and how businesses, workers and government have responded. Full Story
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Black Texas farmers were finally on track to get federal aid. The state’s agriculture commissioner wants to stop that.
Sid Miller is challenging a debt relief program that the U.S. Department of Agriculture saw as a way to correct historic discrimination. An advocate for Black Texas farmers says the challenge “pushes us back even further.” Full Story
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Texas may get a coastal storm barrier, but will it be too late?
The federal infrastructure bill’s passage renewed hopes that Texas would finally get a coastal storm barrier. But Galveston and Houston could still get hit by a hurricane before it is built. Full Story
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![Hurricane Harvey struck Rockport, Texas, on Aug. 25, 2017, causing widespread flooding and property damage.]()
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FBI agents descended on Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s house, but won’t say what they’re investigating
An FBI spokesperson said the agency was present on two streets around Cuellar’s house in Laredo “conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity.” Full Story
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Prescribed burn gone wrong likely sparked wildfire in Bastrop County, officials say
Controlled burns, used to prevent catastrophic wildfires, are typically safe and rarely get out of control. Experts warn that burns gone awry can scare residents and compromise the critical fire management tool. Full Story
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![The Rolling Pines Fire blazes through Bastrop State Park on Jan. 18, 2022.]()
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Texas schools struggle to stay open as teachers and bus drivers call in sick with COVID-19
School district leaders are desperately trying to fill vacant roles to stay open and some say they have no choice but to close. Full Story
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![Teachers guide students outside of Linder Elementary School in Austin on the first day of classes after the winter break on Jan. 5, 2022.]()
Credit: Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribune -
This was Texas’ warmest December since 1889
Ongoing La Niña conditions have brought warm, dry weather and deepened drought conditions across the state. Full Story
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![Cars pass by the the Llano County Courthouse on Monday, Dec. 14, 2021 in Llano, TX. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children.]()
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Video: With abortions restricted in Texas, many leave the state to seek care at crowded Kansas clinic
About half the patients at Trust Women’s Wichita clinic come from out of state. Full Story
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![Taniya, an ultrasound sonographer, performs an ultrasound on a patient before she has a medical abortion at Trust Women clinic in Oklahoma City on Dec. 6, 2021.]()
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The push to ban books in Texas schools spreads to public libraries
Some Texas residents are asking for greater say in what titles appear on public library shelves. Full Story
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![Books on shelves at the Llano Public Library on Dec. 14, 2021. The Commissioners Court for Llano County voted to close the public library to conduct "inventory and catalog" their books after community pushback related to books that some deemed offensive. The pushback also led to a decision to immediately shut down an online library of thousands of books out of fears that children could access material not appropriate for children.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune
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