Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stops another scheduled execution because of the coronavirus
Tracy Beatty requested the court stay his execution, set for next week, after the court halted this week's execution. Full Story
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![Tracy Beatty's execution was halted because of coronavirus.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Coronavirus in Texas 3/19: Supreme Court halts evictions statewide
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A sign for washing hands is seen during a news media tour of quarantine facilities for treating novel coronavirus at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on March 2, 2020.]()
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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn draws rebuke for blaming coronavirus on China
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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![U.S. Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, enters a hearing room before chairing a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to confirm five nominees on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.]()
Credit: Allison Shelley for The Texas Tribune -
Government guidelines urge people to work from home. So why are government workers required to come to the office?
President Donald Trump issued guidelines suggesting people avoid groups larger than 10 people. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott directed state agencies to provide flexible and remote work options to employees. But many government workers still don't have the option. Full Story
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![Darby Griffiths poses for a photo at his home in Austin. Griffiths works at the IRS in Austin and is currently on unpaid leave over concerns about the cleanliness of the building which he claims is out of hand sanitizer and other items that help prevent the spread of germs. March 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
What we know about coronavirus testing in Texas
Even as demand for testing has increased, public and federal labs continue to prioritize Texans who meet certain criteria. Full Story
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![A doctor wearing protective clothing administers a test to patient at a drive-thru Covid19 testing facility at Baylor, Scott and White Medical Center in Round Rock, TX.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Staying home slows the coronavirus, but what if you’re homeless?
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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![Tents found in front of the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) on Oct. 29, 2019. The residents have to make sure their tents are in “safe camping sites,” though many aren’t sure what it mean.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
UT, A&M among Texas colleges postponing graduation ceremonies and moving classes online for the semester
The announcements are among the latest responses to the novel coronavirus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended canceling gatherings with 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. Full Story
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![University of Texas at Austin students pass by the main building on their way to and from classes.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
As coronavirus stops people from gathering, Gov. Greg Abbott suspends part of open-meetings law
All sections of the Texas Open Meetings Act remain in place except for the requirement of a physical gathering space for people to watch the meeting and ask questions. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declares a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020 at the state capitol.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas coronavirus cases prompt Gov. Greg Abbott to activate National Guard
Abbott said that National Guard troops, if deployed, could do things like help with traffic at drive-through testing sites. Full Story
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![National guard troops help with Food distribution during the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle, New York on March 12, 2020.]()
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While other states fighting coronavirus enforce widespread closures, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott goes with a patchwork system
While most states have mandated the closure of schools, bars and restaurants; deployed their militaries; or diverted state resources to COVID-19 response, Texas is largely leaving it up to schools and local governments to decide how to proceed. Some say the approach can undermine response efforts. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott briefs reporters during a press conference on a Domestic Terrorism Task Force roundtable held at the capitol on Jan. 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texans still clamoring for coronavirus tests as state promises availability will skyrocket
Texas appears to be lagging behind other populous states in testing for COVID-19, but trying to determine how many tests have been given is as confusing as figuring out how to get one. Full Story
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![A medical professional wearing protective clothing administers a test to a patient at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Round Rock, on March 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Degrees of anxiety: As college classrooms empty, students fear for educations, jobs
Texas universities are moving online, but how do you learn circuit welding or vocal ensemble by videoconference? What happens when campus jobs dry up? And will anyone get to walk the stage come graduation day? Full Story
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![Students during class at the University of Texas at Austin Oct. 25, 2011.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Watch Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's press conference on coronavirus updates
On Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide public health disaster and said Texas would soon be able to ramp up testing for the new coronavirus. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the press after a meeting with government officials on COVID-19 preparedness in the state. Feb. 27, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas gets drive-thru coronavirus testing in San Antonio, but it's not open to the general public
The drive-thru testing is not open to the general public, city officials said in a press release. Full Story
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In 2015, Texas lawmakers rejected effort to upgrade state's disease response
After the Ebola outbreak, a task force recommended stockpiling protective gear and expanding state powers to deal with infectious diseases. "Tinfoil hats" opposed to big government killed a bill that would have done it, its sponsor says. Full Story
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![John Carter, Environmental Services Supervisor, practices the proper technique for putting on safety equipment during a training session in Houston.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Michael Bloomberg promised to “help turn Texas blue.” Now some former employees and politicians are miffed that he’s fired his staff.
“Bloomberg was promising a long-term commitment to Texas regardless of who won the primary,” said one state representative. “It’s disappointing that with his defeat in the primary, the campaign has decided to reverse course." Full Story
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![U.S. 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg speaks at a campaign rally in Houston on Feb. 27, 2020.]()
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Texas colleges and universities are going online because of coronavirus. Here's what they're doing.
More than a dozen Texas schools are extending spring break and moving to online classes, at least temporarily. Some universities said they will cancel in-person instruction for the rest of the semester. Full Story
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![Pat Neff Hall at Baylor University on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Houston Rodeo called off as fears about new coronavirus continue to spread in Texas
It’s another devastating cultural and economic blow to a state that has confirmed more than 30 cases of the virus. Last year, the event drew more than 2.5 million attendees. Full Story
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![The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo attracts huge crowds every year.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas 3/11: UT-Austin closes sporting events to fans, Trump bans some inbound travel, and more
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Canan Emcan, 31, chief nurse of the infection and virology ward at Essen University Hospital in Essen, Germany, with a test used for suspected COVID-19 cases on March 5, 2020.]()
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With six confirmed cases, panic in Fort Bend County spreading faster than the coronavirus
If there is an epicenter of the new coronavirus in Texas, it’s arguably Fort Bend County, which had the first confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of the federal quarantine site in San Antonio. There are six total cases there now, all stemming from an Egypt cruise trip. Full Story
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![A map shows where the all the confirmed cases of Coronavirus across the world are at a call center for Coronavirus concerns in Rosenberg on March 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune
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