For a second time since the start of the pandemic, Abbott banned elective surgeries to preserve bed space for coronavirus patients. But this time the hold on the nonessential procedures is only in effect for Bexar, Dallas, Harris and Travis counties.
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
Texans struggle to find work in the Rio Grande Valley, where unemployment has nearly tripled
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic, limits on cross-border commerce and a downturn in the energy sector have hit the Rio Grande Valley’s economy especially hard.
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Demographics
Texas’ Hispanic population grew by 2 million in the past decade, on pace to be largest share of state by 2021
New U.S. census estimates show the gap between Hispanic and white populations in the state continues to narrow, and Hispanics are projected to become the largest population group a year earlier than previously expected.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas’ coronavirus positivity rate exceeds “warning flag” level Abbott set as businesses reopened
In early May, Gov. Greg Abbott pointed to the positivity rate — a ratio of positive COVID-19 tests to all tests — and said anything over 10% was cause for alarm. As of Wednesday, Texas exceeded that mark for the first time since April.
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Coronavirus in Texas
New York imposes travel restrictions on visitors from Texas, the latest coronavirus hot spot
The tables have turned: Texas previously had similar self-quarantining requirements for hot spots like New York and Louisiana. Now that Texas is the latest hot spot, states are imposing restrictions against travelers from the Lone Star State.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus patients crowd some Texas ICUs as Gov. Greg Abbott touts “abundant” hospital capacity
Regionally, some hospital officials are reporting that intensive care units are near or over capacity, and local leaders have warned that hospitals could get overwhelmed if the number of infections keeps climbing.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas is heading down a dangerous path, local leaders warn as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations surge
When Gov. Greg Abbott let businesses start reopening, he pointed to two metrics as encouraging signs: the hospitalization rate and the infection rate. Both of those metrics are on the rise in Texas.
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Coronavirus in Texas
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar calls Gov. Greg Abbott’s leadership during coronavirus “a total failure”
During an interview with The Texas Tribune, Escobar, D-El Paso, said the state’s leadership missed an opportunity to implement robust testing when an emergency was declared.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott says he supports making to-go alcohol sales permanent in Texas
State Rep. Tan Parker said he will file a bill in the upcoming legislative session to extend to-go alcohol sales past the coronavirus pandemic. The Texas Restaurant Association also has asked Abbott to expand the waiver to allow mixed drinks with liquor to be prepared, resealed and sold.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas attributes record-high coronavirus cases to bars, beaches and a data backlog in Harris County
More than 4,400 positive cases were reported Saturday. The state also set its ninth consecutive record for hospitalizations, but officials say hospital capacity isn’t a concern.