West unseated Texas GOP Chair James Dickey, who has served in the role since 2017, in a vote early Monday.
Stories by Texas Tribune fellows
The Texas Tribune welcomes a group of student fellows into our newsroom each spring, summer and fall. Here is a sampling of their work. Learn more about the fellowship program here.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus kills another 1,000 in Texas in just 10 days
The number of COVID-19 deaths has reached 4,000 in Texas, and public health experts say that’s an undercount because not all people who died with coronavirus symptoms were tested.
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Coronavirus in Texas
With 4 in 5 Texans living in a “red zone,” coronavirus hot spots are moving targets
Early hot spots have been eclipsed by new regions in crisis. Now that so much of Texas is battling major coronavirus outbreaks, some severely ill patients have to travel long distances to receive the care they need.
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Health care
Texas attorney general says religious private schools “need not comply” with local health orders to close
On Wednesday, TEA officials confirmed that school districts wouldn’t be penalized for barring students on campuses if local health officials mandated that schools stay closed, as long as remote instruction is offered.
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COVID-19 Recession in Texas
Texas’ June unemployment rate falls to 8.6%, but experts warn unemployment could worsen next month
Texas’ June unemployment rate fell to 8.6% — but experts say the improvement may be short-lived with recent surges in coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Distilleries, wineries shuttered by Gov. Greg Abbott’s bar shutdown say they should be exempted
Distillery, winery and some restaurant owners say their businesses are different from traditional bars, which Abbott closed after COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations began to climb in June.
Watch: Julián Castro and Joaquin Castro on coronavirus in Texas, Democrats’ chances in November and the fall school semester
We sat down for an interview with the Castro brothers to discuss the federal and state response to the coronavirus, its tougher effects on Blacks and Latinos, and the possibility of Texas going Democratic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Julián and Joaquin Castro criticize Gov. Greg Abbott for reopening Texas too soon
Julián Castro said Abbott made three consequential mistakes: reopening the state too early, not pushing hard enough to get adequate testing or contact tracing, and banning local officials from requiring masks in the earlier months of the pandemic.
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Texas 2020 Elections
Three Texas House incumbents — Dan Flynn, Anna Eastman and J.D. Sheffield — lose in primary runoffs
Two other incumbents — Democrats Lorraine Birabil and Harold Dutton — were also on the ballot Tuesday.
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Texas 2020 Elections
Candace Valenzuela among runoff winners as Texas congressional battleground races take shape
Other notable winners Tuesday night included Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and Austin attorney Mike Siegel.
