Austin’s mayor issued a similar order late Wednesday. Local leaders have been asking for the ability to impose more strict mask orders, but Gov. Greg Abbott never publicly mentioned that one option was ordering businesses to require them.
Politics
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Criminal Justice
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn faces outcry from Democrats after questioning idea of systemic racism
The two Democrats vying to replace him this fall say he doesn’t understand the concept.
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Police brutality in Texas
George Floyd killing energizes a new generation in fight against racism in East Texas
Young people with little experience in activism are propelling a series of protests in East Texas, a region known for its history of violence against black people.
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Politics
Texas lawmakers want to add more LGTBQ safeguards after U.S. Supreme Court guarantees workplace protections
A new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court makes clear that it violates federal law to fire an employee on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Now Texas lawmakers want to guarantee similar protections for LGBTQ Texans in housing, health care and other spheres.
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Texas 2020 Elections
Polls suggest Joe Biden has a shot at winning Texas. How he fares here could reshape the state’s politics.
It’s unclear whether it’ll be worth it for Biden to spend the money to compete in Texas. But a strong showing here could help Democrats flip the state House and solidify control of the U.S. House.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Surge in coronavirus cases linked to more Texans in their 20s getting sick, officials say
Gov. Greg Abbott and health experts say young adults may be taking social distancing less seriously.
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Coronavirus in Texas
The new coronavirus has killed more than 2,000 people in Texas
The true death toll is certainly higher than the state’s official count. It is now routine to add two or three dozen deaths to the tally every afternoon. And each day, more Texans are catching the virus that might kill them.
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Politics
Texas Democrats ask U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on voting by mail
The Democrats are asking the Supreme Court to let stand a lower court’s sweeping ruling that would allow all Texas voters to qualify for mail ballots.
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Economy
U.S. Supreme Court says civil rights law applies to LGBTQ workers, granting protections long denied in Texas
Texas has no laws on the books explicitly protecting people from workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but the Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday now gives federal protections.
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Police brutality in Texas
Texas Democrats urge Abbott to call special session as details emerge showing Javier Ambler’s death at the hands of sheriff’s deputies
In 2019, Williamson County sheriff’s deputies held down Ambler and stunned him four times before his body went limp. He died at a hospital about an hour later.