The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Democratic Party is asking both federal and state courts to rule on whether any voter in upcoming elections should be able to ask for an absentee ballot to mail in and avoid possible infection at polling places. Full Story
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The Labor Department has urged employers to “be judicious” in exempting their workers. Critics say the exemption hurts nurses and doctors, who have already complained about their lack of protective equipment. Full Story
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The ad from Republican Kathaleen Wall says China "poisoned our people" with the coronavirus. The Democratic nominee for the seat, Sri Preston Kulkarni, denounced it as "race-baiting." Full Story
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Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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Cities are projecting decreases in sales tax revenue, one of their most important financial sources. How bad the losses are — and what will have to be cut — depends on how long the pandemic lasts. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Ross, Emma and Jolie about Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the coronavirus outbreak, the newest front in the state's fight against abortion and the state vs. local battle over bail. Full Story
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Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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Abbott's order bans release without paying bail for inmates who are accused of or have been convicted in the past of violent offenses. Defendants with cash could still walk free. Full Story
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President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill into law. Full Story
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Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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Abbott’s approach has helped keep the peace across levels of government handling the response in Texas but has also raised questions about whether he’s being aggressive enough in responding to a virus that threatens thousands of lives. Full Story
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Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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“’I will give you X number, you are to make these last for however long,’” a Panhandle hospital executive told one of his clinics when it sought more respirators. “We’ve got to ration these resources.” Full Story
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The orders represent some of the most stringent measures local officials in Texas have taken so far to address the colossal public health crisis. Full Story
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The warning comes one day after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered health care facilities and professionals to postpone all procedures that are deemed “not medically necessary” as the state gears up for an influx of patients with COVID-19. Full Story
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“If the virus has already been named by the [World Health Organization] as COVID-19, any renaming is highly politically charged and motivated,” said one researcher. Full Story
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Texans marooned there after the country closed its borders described a harrowing ordeal trying to find a plane ticket out. The U.S. government is trying to repatriate them. Full Story
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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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The Republican Texas senator alluded to a now-debunked myth that the outbreak began after a woman ate bat soup. And he incorrectly cited China as the birthplace of two previous outbreaks. Full Story
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Local, state and national leaders are recommending people take a range of actions to protect themselves from the new coronavirus. But for those without homes, many of those measures are next to impossible. Full Story
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