Coronavirus in Texas 4/1: El Paso strengthens stay-at-home order
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A hand written signs alerts costumers that Jake’s Texas Tea House is closed indefinitely in Waco. March 25, 2020.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![An aerial view of the Clayton Homes complex near I-45 in Houston on Sept. 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Inmates at the Harris County Jail.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Someone says they have 2 million N95 masks for sale. The asking price is six times the usual cost.
As health care professionals beg for supplies to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection, a Texas company found a seller with at least 2 million masks and quietly offered them for sale at $6 each. Before the pandemic, they cost around $1. Full Story
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![An N95 respiration mask.]()
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Federal judge temporarily blocks Texas' ban on abortions during coronavirus pandemic
The court granted abortion providers’ motion to temporarily block the state from enforcing the order, which was set to expire April 21, as it relates to abortions. Full Story
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![A women's health clinic in Texas.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Out of sight, child abuse in Texas thought to be on the rise
Families are stuck at home, confronting stress and fear. And with many schools and day care centers shuttered, child welfare workers can't rely on teachers to help detect abuse. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services offices in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus pauses many Texas court proceedings. For some, that means more time in jail.
Courts have slowed across the state, and jury trials are on hold. Defense attorneys worry the outbreak could leave their clients sitting in jail waiting for justice — and vulnerable to catching the virus. Full Story
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![An attorney approaches a Travis County courtroom for bail reduction hearings in Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Democratic male judges may be headed for extinction in Texas. The cause? Voters
Women got more votes than men in all of the roughly 30 gender-split primary contests for high court, court of appeals and district court. Rarely was it even close. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for Texas Supreme Court justice Gisela Triana at the Texas Justice Tour event in Cedar Park on Feb. 16, 2020]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats sue the state to keep straight-ticket voting in 2020
In a federal lawsuit filed in Laredo, Democrats claim the move to end straight-ticket voting is unconstitutional and intentionally discriminates against Hispanic and black voters. Full Story
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![Voting signs at The University of Texas at Austin campus on Feb. 19, 2020, the second day of early voting for the Texas Priamary.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Texas' challenge to Obamacare
The high court is likely to take up the landmark health law for the third time this fall and issue a decision in 2021. Full Story
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This judge refused to toss Rick Perry’s indictment. Now Perry is backing his opponent in Court of Criminal Appeals race.
A PAC with close ties to Perry is backing Gina Parker’s campaign to oust incumbent Judge Bert Richardson in the GOP primary. Full Story
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![Republican Gina Parker is challenging incumbent Judge Bert Richardson in the GOP primary for the Place 3 seat on the state Court of Criminal Appeals.]()
Credit: Social media -
Former UT coach Michael Center sentenced to six months in connection with admissions scandal
Center took a $100,000 bribe in exchange for marking a prospective student a tennis recruit. The student had no background in tennis and left the team shortly after being accepted into the university. Full Story
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![UT men's tennis coach Michael Center exits the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Austin on March 12, 2019. The university placed Center on administrative leave after FBI documents revealed that he allegedly accepted a $100,000 bribe in 2015 to help with a studentÃs admission.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Speaking statistically, this GOP donor wants to convince you that money buys justice in Texas
After losing a case at the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court, millionaire Salem Abraham set out to mathematically test the idea that campaign contributions influence the elected justices. Now he wants to change the system. Full Story
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![Salem Abraham in his office on Dec. 19, 2019.]()
Credit: David Bowser for The Texas Tribune -
In Democrats’ low-information judicial primaries, gender and ballot names may drive voters’ decisions
Fourteen Democrats are competing for seven seats on the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals. How do you win when no one knows your name? Full Story
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![Candidate campaign materials at the Texas Justice Tour event in Cedar Park on Feb. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas anti-abortion activists take on baby Tinslee's life support case, attempting to strike down a law that protects doctors
An anti-abortion group and conservative elected officials have framed Tinslee Lewis' case as a "right to life" issue. But medical experts say continuing care is hurting the baby and doctors need protections to make these kinds of decisions. Full Story
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![Baby Tinslee Lewis.]()
Credit: via Texas Right to Life -
TribCast: A Texas Senate retirement and Bernie Sanders' new lead in the state
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Emma, Cassi and Alex about what state Sen. Kirk Watson's retirement could mean for the Senate, Bernie Sanders' new lead in presidential polling in Texas and a Democratic judicial candidate's sexist comments about his opponent. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, at a press conference at the Capitol on Feb. 18, 2020. Watson spoke about his retirement from the Texas Senate and his new upcoming position as the Founding Dean of the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Judge calls opponent “selfish” for wanting to “break barriers” as first elected female chief justice of Texas Supreme Court
Jerry Zimmerer, an appellate judge in Houston, said his campaign differs from Amy Clark Meachum's because “I actually want the best candidate to win.” Full Story
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![Jerry Zimmerer is a Democratic candidate for chief justice of the state Supreme Court.]()
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Hearing airs sexual abuse claims against KIPP charter school co-founder Mike Feinberg
An administrative hearing into whether Mike Feinberg can keep his Texas educator certificate turned into a de facto trial over the sexual abuse allegation that led to his dismissal from the charter network he co-founded in the 1990s. Full Story
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![Michael Feinberg, right, watches his lawyers, Christopher L. Tritico, left, and Ron S. Rainey defend him at a hearing in Austin to determine whether Feinberg should surrender his teaching license to the Texas Education Agency on Feb. 12, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas asks U.S. Supreme Court to end California law banning state-funded travel
After Texas passed a law in 2017 allowing foster care agencies to cite sincerely held religious beliefs to deny placements to gay couples, California banned state-funded travel to the Lone Star State. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won't defend state agency in gay marriage case
The attorney general's office is charged with defending state agencies when they are challenged in court. But Paxton will not defend a commission sued after it issued a public warning for a Waco judge who refuses to perform same-sex marriages. Full Story
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![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the convention delegates at the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
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