While Gov. Greg Abbott has been responding to the twin crises on his plate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s been stirring the pot — at the governor’s expense.
Economy
Get the latest on jobs, business, growth, and policy shaping the state’s economy with in-depth reporting from The Texas Tribune.
Number of Texans filing for unemployment benefits increases by 7% over previous week
For the past two months, the number of people filing claims in Texas has trended downward. But last week, the number of people who filed for claims increased 7% over the previous week.
High school coaches’ convention will draw thousands to San Antonio as pandemic rages across Texas
To stop the spread of the new coronavirus in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott closed bars and banned nonessential surgeries in counties that are hot spots. But indoor conventions that will draw thousands of people are still moving forward.
Texas sales tax revenue declined 6.5% versus last June as state reopened for business
While collections from restaurants were depressed, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said that take-out and delivery sales, along with online purchases, helped buoy revenue in the restaurant and retail sectors.
Austin City Limits music festival canceled for 2020 because of coronavirus
In 2018, the festival contributed $264.6 million to the city’s economy and created or sustained at least 1,500 jobs across bars and restaurants, hotels and transportation, according to the Austin-American Statesman.
Analysis: A rising commotion in Texas’ scattershot response to the pandemic
As Texas leaders struggle to find a balanced response to the pandemic and the lagging state economy, the suggestions for what they ought to do — friendly and hostile — are pouring in.
Texas bar owners file $10 million federal lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott, the second suit over the shutdown in two days
The bar owners say in the lawsuit that Abbott’s order violates their constitutional rights and “may very well leave long-term scarring on the Republican form of government if left unchecked.”
Texas will delay work-search requirement for unemployment benefits
The Texas Workforce Commission had been planning to reinstate the requirement July 6 but is now holding off due to a rise in coronavirus cases.
More than 30 Texas bars sue over Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent shutdown order
Abbott has said the actions of his executive order “are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health.”
Texas city and county leaders ask Gov. Greg Abbott for authority to implement local stay-at-home orders
At the beginning of the pandemic, local officials across the state implemented stay-at-home orders for their regions. But now, with cases across Texas’ metros surging, those leaders say Abbott has stripped them of the authority to reinstate the same measures.


