Gov. Greg Abbott says he's rescinding statewide mask mandate and capacity limits on businesses
The change, which comes as the seven-day average of new coronavirus deaths remains above 200, will go into effect March 10. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/46d57f0190ab11b05099b0bca6879dad/Abbott%20Vaccine%20Presser%20SF%20TT%2005.jpg)
-
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference in Austin on Dec. 17, 2020, regarding COVID-19 and the Pfizer vaccines that have been sent to hospitals across Texas. Gov. Abbott was adamant that despite rising cases and deaths, he will not be ordering any shutdowns. Gov. Abbott also said he has not received the vaccine, but he will take it when the time comes.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Lawyer for Texas attorney general’s office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing
A Travis County judge opted to move forward with Monday's hearing without ruling on the motion to dismiss the whistleblower lawsuit. Late Monday night, an appeals court halted the second day of proceedings at the request of the agency's attorney. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f70031cfe9392eb0e730a344586a7753/TXGOPWomen_Paxton_BD_TT.jpg)
![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 -
Public Utility Commission chair resigns after Texas officials criticize management of power outages
On Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for PUC Chair DeAnn Walker and Electric Reliability Council of Texas CEO Bill Magness to resign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3a75d765fdd23b2f84530501cbddfc1a/DeAnn%20Walker%20PUC%20TT.jpg)
![Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker.]()
Credit: Texas Public Utility Commission -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls for resignations at Public Utility Commission, power grid operator over winter storm
Patrick's statements come after the officials testified for hours late last week in committee hearings as state lawmakers grilled them over the power grid failures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aef557b9a2469d4c20b111c00caa0511/Senate%20Floor%20Dan%20Patrick%20MG%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dias in the Senate chamber on the second day of the 2021 legislative session on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Another ERCOT board member resigns as lawmakers criticize power grid operator for massive electricity outages
Texas lawmakers have questioned and criticized the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for days about the near-collapse of the state’s power grid last week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d612b7d24f088f47ecb895357c5d923/ATX%20Snowstorm%20Feb%2017%20MG%20TT%2023.jpg)
![Firefighters clear snow and ice from a side walk outside of the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in East Austin on Feb. 17, 2021. Elderly residents were evacuated because of a power outage.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch live: Texas House and Senate holding hearings about last week's winter storm
Lawmakers will continue asking a litany of officials and executives how last week's power outages happened. Legislators in both chambers spent more than 12 hours investigating the disruptions Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35e1657aabc96e7bb8b90a423b6f5452/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2012.jpg)
![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan. 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas National Guard deployed to get COVID-19 vaccines to older Texans who are homebound
Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants the majority of Texans who are 65 and older to be inoculated against COVID-19 by the end of March. He said the state could announce more eligibility for the vaccines next month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e29c810ea79520025deeb1700d1e99a4/Uhland%20Covid%20Testing%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)
![National guard members worked at mobile COVID-19 testing site at Uhland Elementary School on June 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Winter storm could cost Texas more money than any disaster in state history
Lawmakers and analysts say it is too soon for an exact estimate, but the financial damage from the storm has left state lawmakers scrambling to account for the storm in the middle of the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3ed3f50e4b6f8086c7998e8a094145f6/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20Feb%2016%20TT%2032.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol during the winter storm on Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas utility regulator to investigate indexed retail electric providers following massive electric bills
While these plans are allowed under state law, the Texas Public Utility Commission said that “an influx of complaints into our Customer Protection Division has caused concerns that questionable business practices might be exacerbating the situation.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b149ea6d40de0a261b5698adba837a5/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%2007.jpg)
![A car moves through a neighborhood in West Austin that is without power on Feb 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott, in statewide address, promises answers on winter weather disaster
"Tragic does not even begin to describe" the suffering Texans endured, Abbott said Wednesday evening. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8ab52d74197a198d8913a831fb267b6e/Winter%20Storm%20Abbott%20Presser%20JV%20TT%2021.jpeg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott spoke at a press conference about the winter storm that was approaching Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Winter storm response should focus on public safety, not dollars
For lack of heat and water, people died last week — in the great state of Texas and in their own homes — who would be alive right now, had the state taken heed of recommendations made after past winter storms and blackouts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/01b0fc3e41d64225375a5c86437a6e88/Seton%20Hospital%20EL%20TT%2010.jpg)
![The Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
ERCOT board members who live outside of Texas are resigning in the aftermath of the power outage, winter storm
Five board members, including the chair, who do not live in Texas will resign. A candidate for another position on the board has withdrawn his application. The vacancies will not immediately be filled. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d1bab4b78f51d326e4904a4b31067cc3/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A CVS Pharmacy in South Austin is lit only by the lights of a parked car. Various parts throughout the state lost power as a result of the winter storm.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
After Texans died during winter storm, Harris and Travis counties launch investigations into power outages
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee said operators should have been prepared after 2011’s hard freeze. Travis County District Attorney José Garza told local media that his office will determine whether criminal charges should be filed against any person or entity. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1af87bc8e8cd74227a57df01d2511c45/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20SF%20TT%2022.JPG)
![Electrical workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power and many don't have clean drinking water or working water.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Texas woman who received $9,300 electricity bill files class-action lawsuit against wholesale electricity provider Griddy
A Chambers County resident filed a class-action lawsuit against electricity retailer Griddy on Monday, accusing the provider of price gouging customers during last week’s freeze. She is seeking $1 billion in relief for affected customers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f3fb11ae03c2f692223ac2fdf6622e6d/ATX%20Snow%20Storm%20Day%203%20MG%20TT%2024.jpg)
![Snow of the roof of houses in South Austin after a massive snowstorm hit the state. Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
“Power companies get exactly what they want”: How Texas repeatedly failed to protect its power grid against extreme weather
Texas regulators and lawmakers knew about the grid’s vulnerabilities for years, but time and again they furthered the interests of large electricity providers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0bb3e3da33232820654479ca024f11b3/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2018%20MG%20TT%2006.jpg)
![Jacob Duran prepares wood for a grill. Duran has been cooking meals outsides after his apartment lost power. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, traveled to Utah during winter storm
Ken Paxton's campaign confirms he attended "a previously planned meeting with the Attorney General of Utah to discuss several matters, including strategizing on imminent action in the Google lawsuit." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6fd635de5e84d2018b870e123af8dce3/AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to the Gun Owners of America assembly in 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texans blindsided by massive electric bills await details of Gov. Greg Abbott's promised relief
Electric bills are likely to rise for everyone, experts and consumer advocates say, but some Texans on variable rate contracts have been hit with immediate, massive price spikes. Lawmakers and the governor have promised to help, but haven't said how. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e8cf6f0de4f70260b84688f81d5a0443/Karen%20Knox%20-%20High%20Bills%20ST%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Karen Knox, a special education teacher at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, received a bill of over $7K from Griddy for less than a week of electricity during the winter storm.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas failed in a storm, again. Will we be ready next time?
State leaders will start an investigation this week to figure out why utilities in Texas were outmatched by a weeklong winter storm. They did the same thing 10 years ago, and we still weren't ready. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/db1034dcae1998f4bd0604f5997ac93f/Winter%20Storm%20Abbott%20Presser%20JV%2008.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says power is almost fully restored statewide and grocery stores will soon be restocked
Abbott said power should be fully restored across the state Sunday night or Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/399c0fb207f3a2c7dd3cb86c062a17ec/HTX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2019%20MYL%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Volunteer Catherine Tuppen helps with the water and beverage station at Kelly Village, a supply distribution site, on Feb. 19, 2021, in Houston.]()
Credit: May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials block electricity providers from sending bills, disconnecting utilities for nonpayment
Texans are reporting receiving exorbitant electric bills despite not having power during the storm. One Texan, according to The New York Times, received a $16,752 electric bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c73061658e60a0b9e21d40135ce397aa/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20SF%20TT%2039.jpg)
![Snow surrounds an Austin Energy station in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune