Analysis: Keep calm and vote on
Political people in high places are sowing doubt about voting and elections, making our 200-year-old system seem fraught with problems and even crime. Vote anyway. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/12661fd4051394a1be3452ac44042b48/Collin%20Co%20Mock%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2018.jpg)
The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Political people in high places are sowing doubt about voting and elections, making our 200-year-old system seem fraught with problems and even crime. Vote anyway. Full Story
In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic when testing supplies were limited, local politicians went to great lengths to help a businessman with a criminal past try to sell telehealth and COVID-19 services across Texas. Full Story
Campaigns, political organizations and students at schools across Texas say they’re worried and frustrated that pandemic health restrictions are stymying efforts to register and turn out students to vote. Full Story
As Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, continue to spar ahead of Tuesday's election, Luther directs some of her harshest criticism at Abbott. Full Story
Voting in the 2020 general election starts in Texas in less than three weeks. But the governor's responses to the coronavirus have strained Republican unity. Full Story
The indictments center on about 38 ballots or applications for ballots in a Gregg County Commissioners Court race. Experts say voter fraud is rare. Full Story
Local health officials describe the electronic system as “cumbersome,” “archaic” and “really slow," though its performance has improved since it was upgraded in August. Full Story
Data released this week showing reported coronavirus infection breakdowns by school district has been withdrawn by state health officials after "issues" were discovered. Full Story
The co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital talked during The Texas Tribune Festival about the hunt for a vaccine and how we can reopen safely. Full Story
State party Chair Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and members of the Texas Legislature were among those who filed the suit against Abbott. Full Story
Democrats have their eyes on winning back the Texas House majority they lost in 2002. That wouldn't give them the power to pass legislation, but it would give them the power to stop legislation they don't like. Full Story
Shortly after Oracle — a California-based tech company with an Austin campus — emerged as a potential buyer last week, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that he had spoken to the president about Texas housing the possible new TikTok headquarters. Full Story
In counties where four-year college students make up at least 10% of the population, cases have grown 34% since Aug. 19, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. That’s compared with 23% in counties with a smaller proportion of students. Full Story
We’ve lost a lot of Texans already and will surely lose more to the coronavirus. Doesn’t it seem like there should at least be a moment of silence? Full Story
Disability rights activists say they’re worried the confusion may deter at-risk Texans from voting or cause them to needlessly put their health at risk to show up in person at the polls despite being eligible for mail-in voting. Full Story
Leaving behind their focus on the spread of the coronavirus, Texas leaders now say hospitalizations will guide their decisions on how to regulate social distancing at businesses and cultural centers. Full Story
The campaign will benefit 11 candidates in some of the most pivotal races to take control of the lower chamber. Full Story
Groups on both sides of the aisle say it's harder to register voters when you can't go door to door and big public events are canceled. Registration was down 24% in the first seven months of this year, compared with the same period in 2016. Full Story
The state's public health experts are changing their calculation of one of the governor's go-to measures of the spread of coronavirus. It's an improvement, but the new version has some bugs of its own. Full Story
Hannah-Jones, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine, and Lowery, a correspondent for 60 Minutes' "60 in 6," also discussed racial disparities during the pandemic and the fight for a true democracy. Full Story