"This is a scam": Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls it laughable for people under 65 to fear voting in person
Texas is locked in a legal battle over whether it must expand voting by mail. Full Story
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Credit: Nick Wagner/POOL via American-Statesman -
For some, forgoing masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic has become a political statement
Mask arguments among Texans are occurring everywhere from retail stores to the highest levels of government. Full Story
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![COVID-19 related street art on Sixth Street in downtown Austin on May 6th, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
They lost their jobs and insurance in the pandemic. Now they’re slipping through Texas’ health care safety net.
Texas had the highest uninsured rate of any state before the outbreak. It's also among a minority of states that have declined to expand Medicaid coverage to people with incomes near or below the poverty line. Full Story
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![Stevie Smith, 36, outside of her apartment in Fort Worth. Smith's health insurance was discontinued March 31st.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Senate confirms U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas as director of national intelligence
The congressman from Heath will oversee 17 intelligence agencies. His appointment creates a vacancy in one of Texas' most conservative districts. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on May 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Gabriella Demczuk/Pool via REUTERS -
Texas is locked in a battle over voting by mail. Here's how to do it.
It's unclear whether Texas will expand who is eligible for a mail-in ballot during the pandemic, as other states have. But the people who normally qualify to vote by mail can still do so in July. Full Story
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![Mail-in ballot application.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instructs state agencies to trim budgets by 5% to prepare for "economic shock"
Some state agencies are exempt from the cuts, including the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Department of Public Safety. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announced a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the capitol on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus throws Texas Supreme Court justices into the spotlight — and into Democrats' crosshairs
In a year when four justices face reelection, the all-Republican high court has made a slate of controversy-generating decisions, including lifting a moratorium on evictions and — for now — limiting voting by mail in this year’s elections. Full Story
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![The Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Former Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt says Abbott's actions to reopen Texas are divisive, scary and confusing
Abbott's recent decisions to reopen the economy despite rising infection rates signal that something has "spooked" the governor, Eckhardt said at a Tribune event. Full Story
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![Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 29, 2018.]()
Credit: Thomas Meredith for The Texas Tribune -
Senate committee advances nomination of U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe for director of national intelligence
The Texas representative's nomination will go to the full Senate after receiving approval from the Senate Intelligence Committee. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-TX, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on May 5, 2020.]()
Credit: Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS -
How a Dallas salon owner changed Texas' reopening debate
After Shelley Luther was jailed for opening her salon in blatant defiance of emergency orders, top Texas Republicans in all three branches of government scrambled to ensure her release. Full Story
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![Shelley Luther comforts Brenda Stephanie Mata as she addresses supporters at a Freedom Rally in Laredo. Mata was arrested for operating an eyelash salon from her home during the coronavirus lockdown.]()
Credit: Jessica Nicole Rodriguez for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The path to emergency powers in Texas might run through the courts
State and local governments are at odds over what should and should not be allowed during a pandemic — a debate over health, economics and civil liberties. The old sparring partners have increasingly appealed to a referee: the courts. 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 -
Gov. Greg Abbott is limiting enforcement of COVID-19 orders, but many cities already took a lax approach
Texas cities and counties have dramatically different interpretations of the state’s COVID-19 emergency orders. Complaint data from a dozen cities shows that disparate approaches to enforcement, particularly among businesses, have been incredibly common. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott announced a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the capitol on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas appeals court allows expansion of voting by mail during ongoing legal fight
The appeals court ruled against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who argued that a lower court ruling expanding who can qualify for an absentee ballot during the coronavirus pandemic should have no effect while he appeals it. Full Story
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![A mail-in ballot application.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas: State reports largest daily increases in cases and deaths
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A member of the Texas National Guard speaks to a patient at a coronavirus testing site at the McNease Convention Center in San Angelo on May 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Colin Murphey/San Angelo Standard-Times via REUTERS -
How Lina Hidalgo is navigating coronavirus and conservative backlash in Texas’ biggest county
Harris County has seen new cases plateau under the county judge. But her orders designed to slow the spread of the new coronavirus have generated outrage among some conservatives. Full Story
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![Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo poses for a portrait outside of her office on May 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus tests are supposed to be free. Some Texans are still being saddled with large bills.
Congress directed most insurance companies to cover test costs for insured patients in March, and has promised to reimburse providers for testing those who are uninsured. But experts say there are gaps in the protection that can leave patients surprised with bills. Full Story
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![Mark Sonego at his apartment in Leon Springs on May 11, 2020.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus in Texas: State reports highest one-day COVID-19 tests totals
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Fred Alexander walks through the new buffet style line at the Souper Salad restaurant in El Paso. Souper Salad reopened both locations after Gov. Greg Abbott allowed restaurants to reopen while limiting occupancy.]()
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warns Austin, San Antonio, Dallas to loosen coronavirus restrictions
Paxton's office said that there could be litigation if cities do not pull back coronavirus restrictions related to masks, sheltering in place and religious services. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention in Dallas on Oct. 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
As her party railed against attempts to expand mail-in voting, a Texas GOP congressional candidate gave a "green light"
Kathaleen Wall, a Republican activist and donor in a runoff for a battleground U.S. House seat, has said the secretary of state expanded who is eligible to vote by mail. The secretary of state's office says that's not true. Full Story
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![Kathaleen Wall listens to panelists during a Trump Victory Leadership Initiative Training hosted by Women for Trump at Gulf Coast Distillers on Oct. 29, 2019, in Houston.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: Dallas salon owner jailed after reopening wants to donate to Laredo beauticians arrested for working
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A healthcare worker walks through the Texas Medical Center as social distancing guidelines meant to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic are relaxed in Houston on May 4, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare