Dallas salon owner who refused to close sentenced to seven days in jail, ordered to pay fines
Salon a la Mode owner Shelley Luther reopened Thursday even though the state had required nonessential businesses to remain closed. Full Story
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![Shelley Luther, owner of Salon a la Mode in Dallas, was recently issued a citation after reopening her business in violation of local and state stay at home orders. Luther spoke to a crowd of supporters at an Open Texas rally against coronavirus pandemic restrictions outside of the City Hall in Frisco on April 25, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jeremy Lock -
GOP lawmakers got illegal haircuts while calling on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to reopen salons
State Reps. Briscoe Cain and Steve Toth said there's no reason to continue banning businesses from operating as long as they follow CDC guidelines. Such restrictions, the two said, are hurting the Texas economy. Full Story
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![From left, State Representatives Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, and Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, get haircuts in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders on business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
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Texas agency won't cut oil production despite cratering prices
Two global crises have brought unusual attention to Texas oil regulators, who decided against taking action some producers wanted. One regulator said, "Politics win, Texans lose." Full Story
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![Midland's skyline is a backdrop for another pump jack that has ceased to move its head as oil prices continue to drop.]()
Credit: Ben Powell for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick discusses the effects of the coronavirus on the oil and gas industry
We sat down for a live virtual event with Craddick to discuss her take on oil prices, Texas’ energy industry and the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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Analysis: If reopening the economy is risky, who’s getting protection?
Top officials say it's safe to reopen at least some of the economy, but they're also pushing for "blanket immunity" for businesses, should anything go wrong. That leaves some people out. Full Story
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![Social distancing signs mark tables as the Cleburne Cafeteria prepares to reopen for business.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Dallas-based hotel group to return $76 million in disaster loans meant for small businesses
The network of companies — Ashford Hospitality Trust, Ashford Inc., and Braemar Hotels & Resorts — are run by prominent Texas GOP donor Monty Bennett. Full Story
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![An aerial view of Dallas.]()
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A prominent Texas man's network of hotels got millions in taxpayer loans, irking smaller businesses and some lawmakers
Monty Bennett's Dallas-based hotel network applied for $126 million from the government's Paycheck Protection Program and has received $76 million, according to data compiled by The Washington Post. Full Story
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![Monty Bennett.]()
Credit: Ashford Inc. -
At a Texas mall reopening, some antsy shoppers wore homemade masks while others called coronavirus a farce
Friday was the first day that shopping malls — along with restaurants, retail outlets and movie theaters — were allowed to reopen in Texas. Under an order from Gov. Greg Abbott, stores can open their doors, but they must limit occupancy to no more than 25% of capacity. Full Story
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![Customers practice social distancing as they wait for the Barton Creek Square Mall in Austin to open on May 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas predicts cities and local governments could be facing bankruptcy
Garcia said the country could be heading toward the next Great Depression. Full Story
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![U.S Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas sales tax revenues fall by 9.3% in April
For the past several weeks, the comptroller has been referring to the state of the economy as a recession. The latest sales tax figures give the first glimpse of how much the economic downturn will hurt the state budget. Full Story
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![Shuttered businesses on South Congress during the coronavirus pandemic. April 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas halted evictions, giving renters some relief. But what happens when the moratorium ends?
Experts and advocates say renters — hit particularly hard by the economic downturn — face a financial cliff if more monetary aid doesn't arrive before moratoriums lift. Full Story
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![Credit card debt illustration.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas: Texas State University System says it'll resume on-campus classes in the fall
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![The Central Texas Food Bank hosts a food drive at the Toney Burger Activity Center in Austin on April 30, 2020.]()
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Texas' front-line workers in the pandemic are predominantly women and people of color, analysis finds
Sixty-two percent of front-line workers in the 11 Texas cities with the the largest populations of front-line workers are women, compared with 48% of all workers there, the analysis shows. Full Story
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![A volunteer coordinator prepares boxes of food at the Kelly Memorial Food Pantry in Central El Paso, which serves 700-1000 families a day during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney general's office warns local officials that barber shops, hair salons and gyms still can't reopen
After Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would reopen large parts of the economy Friday, some local leaders argued that his orders were vague. Top state attorneys disagree. Full Story
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![A gym in downtown Mcgregor is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Balancing "caution and pent-up demand": Texans face health risks and financial woes as state’s battered economy slowly reopens
Gov. Greg Abbott has received mixed reviews for reopening businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. While some Texans aren't eager to venture out, others feel a responsibility to support local enterprises. Full Story
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![Blue Dahlia in downtown San Marcos has temporarily closed its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken on April 10, 2020.]()
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Texas relaxes guidelines to allow unemployment benefits for workers who don't or can't return to work during pandemic
The expanded qualifications now include people who don’t have access to child care because schools and day cares are closed to everyone but the children of essential workers. Full Story
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![The Texas Workforce Commission Building in Austin on March 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As unemployment roils the state, some Texans have given up on trying to get help
254,199 Texans filed for unemployment last week — bringing the total number of claims to over 1.5 million in six weeks. Full Story
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![Most business in the small town of McGregor are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: State sees highest single-day death toll from COVID-19
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![An empty North Lamar Boulevard during the COVID-19 pandemic on April 23, 2020.]()
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In Houston's Chinatown, restaurants plan to feed front-line workers during the pandemic
Restaurant owners aim to give 10,000 meals to frontline workers. A boy with cancer wants a mohawk. An East Texas town prepares to reopen some businesses. In this weekly series, Texans from across the state share stories about how they're navigating life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Full Story
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![Debbie Chen and Nguyen T. Nguyen, a local artist and photographer, hold Sourdough bread and chocolate filled cookies]()
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TribCast: How Texas plans to reopen businesses during the coronavirus pandemic
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Cassi, Matthew and Ross about the phased reopening of Texas businesses and what that could mean for Texans who must return to work in a pandemic. Full Story
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![Shai Yo Thai restaurant in San Marcos, temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune