September sales tax revenue in Texas down 6.1% from a year ago
"The COVID-19 pandemic and low price of crude oil continue to weigh on the Texas economy and sales tax revenue," Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. Full Story
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![Closed businesses in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas on March 31, 2020.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Journalist Bob Woodward says pandemic, economy will decide 2020 election
At the keynote event of the 2020 Texas Tribune Festival, Woodward discussed the process of reporting out his latest book on the Trump presidency. Full Story
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![Journalist Bob Woodward in New York on Sept. 10, 2018.]()
Credit: Josmar Taveras/USA TODAY -
As Texas reopens, border leaders say restrictions at international bridges should be lifted
Local leaders say the federal government’s decision to extend a ban on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Mexico border is crippling their budgets and local businesses. Full Story
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![The Paso del Norte Bridge between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez is closed to nonessential traffic during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Out of savings and without enough money for food, this North Texas woman is running out of options
Carrie Mansfield says that while more relief from the government would be welcome, she really just wants to get back to work. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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![Carrie Mansfield and her husband Marcus outside their home in Irving. Mansfield says she had to change her hair color to find a job.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Carrie Mansfield -
Texas woman says she was fired by Whataburger for wearing a Black Lives Matter mask
Similar cases are popping up elsewhere in the state. Over the summer, two Texas teachers faced disciplinary action from their schools, one for wearing a mask and the other for displaying a Black Lives Matter sign, among others, in her virtual classroom. Full Story
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![Ma'kiya Congious, 19, speaks at a press conference on Sept. 23, 2020. Congious said she lost her job at Whataburger following a customer complaint about her "Black Lives Matter" face mask.]()
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Texas will spend $171 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to help renters avoid evictions
The new program will provide rental assistance and legal aid for tenants who are behind on rent. Details on how Texans could apply or qualify weren't immediately released. Full Story
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![An apartment complex near downtown Waco on Feb. 26, 2019.]()
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Texas Department of State Health Services withdraws data on school infections, citing "issues"
Data released this week showing reported coronavirus infection breakdowns by school district has been withdrawn by state health officials after "issues" were discovered. Full Story
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![Students draw their self-portraits, including their masks, on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
More congressional action needed for strong recovery, former Trump economic adviser says
Gary Cohn said another round of federal coronavirus relief funding is needed to ensure a strong economic recovery. Full Story
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![Former Director of the U.S. National Economic Council Gary Cohn speaks at a Reuters Newsmaker event in New York City on Sept. 17, 2018.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon -
TribCast: How Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death will affect Texas
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks with Ross, Emma and Alex about the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, Gov. Greg Abbott's latest reopening announcement and voter registration in Texas. Full Story
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![People gathered outside of the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 19, 2020.]()
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For rural Texans, the Postal Service is a lifeline, but some say it's been in decay for years
Business owners, farmers and local politicians said that they are more concerned with long-term problems than with the recent controversy surrounding the United States Postal Service. Full Story
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![Executive Director Denice Harlan at the Giddings Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 22, 2020. Harlan is one of many Texans across the state grappling with the postal service's shortcomings in recent months.]()
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Trump says new TikTok headquarters could land in Texas, but questions about the deal remain
Shortly after Oracle — a California-based tech company with an Austin campus — emerged as a potential buyer last week, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that he had spoken to the president about Texas housing the possible new TikTok headquarters. Full Story
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![An illustration of a U.S. flag in front of the Tik Tok logo.]()
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High-speed train between Dallas and Houston gets federal approval
The railroad plans to connect Texas' two biggest cities within 90 minutes. Construction could begin in the first half of next year. Full Story
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![The Dallas station of a proposed Dallas-Houston bullet train will likely be on the southwest side of downtown, on a patch of empty land between an existing rail line and the interchange of two highways.]()
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Analysis: COVID-19’s almost incomprehensible toll in Texas
We’ve lost a lot of Texans already and will surely lose more to the coronavirus. Doesn’t it seem like there should at least be a moment of silence? Full Story
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![Val Verde Memorial Gardens in Donna. July 17, 2020.]()
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Texas bars and distilleries rip Gov. Greg Abbott for leaving them out of "unacceptable" reopening plan
While restaurants are allowed to expand to 75% capacity, those in the bar industry worry prolonged shutdowns could lead to 30% of its businesses closing within six months. Full Story
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![Party Time Bar outside of Temple is closed during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
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Texas courts must start telling tenants how a federal eviction moratorium can keep them housed
The Texas Supreme Court ordered that eviction citations will have to inform renters about the moratorium requirements and include the form needed to apply for protection. Full Story
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![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
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August unemployment rate in Texas drops to 6.8%, lowest level since coronavirus shutdowns
The U.S. Labor Department on Friday announced Texas' unemployment rate for August fell to 6.8%. That is still far above pre-pandemic levels, underscoring a summer of steady joblessness for many Texans. Full Story
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![A movie theatre in downtown Pearsall remains closed due to COVID-19 on Sept. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas reopenings tied more to COVID-19 severity than to spread
Leaving behind their focus on the spread of the coronavirus, Texas leaders now say hospitalizations will guide their decisions on how to regulate social distancing at businesses and cultural centers. Full Story
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![Fans begin to arrive at the stadium before kickoff for the first home football game of the season at the University of Texas at Austin on Sept. 12, 2020.]()
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Six months into the pandemic, out-of-work Texans are still struggling to navigate unemployment system
As 1.8 million Texans continue to claim unemployment, many complain they still can't reach the Texas Workforce Commission and are quickly losing trust in Congress to agree to a second stimulus agreement. Full Story
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![Volunteers load boxes of food into a car during a drive-thru food distribution hosted by the Central Texas Food Bank at the Travis County Expo Center on June 30, 2020 in Austin.]()
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Unemployed Texans will no longer receive an extra $300 in weekly payments
The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified state officials Wednesday that the payments for out-of-work Texans have ended, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, which handles unemployment claims. Full Story
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![Volunteers from the Central Texas Food Bank distribute disaster relief food boxes at the Waco ISD stadium on April 14, 2020.]()
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Analysis: With schools opening, Texas enters a critical two weeks of the pandemic
Texas is poised right now as it was in late April: COVID-19 numbers are moving in the right direction, and reopenings — schools this time — are underway. Everyone's hoping for a different result this time. Full Story
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![Tubing in New Braunfels on July 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune