Past Contributions

• How Texas has made it easier and harder for people to vote in the pandemic

  By Aria Jones and Sami Sparber Oct. 8, 2020

  Voting rights groups say last-minute changes to the voting process in Texas have created confusion. Gov. Greg Abbott’s office says he has expanded accessibility by allowing voters to submit mail-in ballots in person before Election Day. Full Story 

• President Donald Trump hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19

  By Aria Jones and Patrick Svitek Updated: Oct. 2, 2020

  Trump's physician late Friday said the president was "doing very well." State officials from both parties said earlier in the day that they were praying for Trump. Full Story 

• Texas leaders hope rapid testing will restore normalcy in the pandemic. Health experts caution the tests have limitations.

  By Aria Jones Oct. 1, 2020

  Gov. Greg Abbott has touted that Texas is set to receive millions of new rapid antigen coronavirus tests every month that deliver results in as little as 15 minutes. Full Story 

• Watch: Houston-area congressional candidate Sima Ladjevardian says district dynamics have "completely changed"

  By Aria Jones Updated: Oct. 9, 2020

  Ladjevardian, a Democrat, is running for Texas' 2nd Congressional District against U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw. Full Story 

• Worried that flu season and coronavirus pandemic could overwhelm hospitals, health officials urge Texans to get flu shots

  By Aria Jones Sept. 24, 2020

  Health experts worry about testing shortages and crowded hospitals as flu season approaches in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story 

• Jay Hartzell officially named University of Texas at Austin president

  By Aria Jones Sept. 23, 2020

  The board approved an annual salary of $795,000 for Hartzell as interim president in June. Full Story 

• Lawmakers call on Gov. Greg Abbott to plan to expand broadband access as pandemic worsens disparities

  By Aria Jones Updated: Sept. 11, 2020

  A bipartisan group of 88 state lawmakers said in a letter that a statewide broadband plan is well overdue. Full Story 

• The percentage of Texans testing positive for COVID-19 is dropping, but experts say the threat isn't over

  By Shawn Mulcahy and Aria Jones Sept. 11, 2020

  One key COVID-19 metric is trending downward, but experts worry that Labor Day gatherings and school reopenings could cause cases to spike again. Full Story 

• Texans with developmental disabilities in state homes still don’t have visitors. Their parents worry they don’t know why.

  By Aria Jones and Shannon Najmabadi Sept. 9, 2020

  Across Texas, families with loved ones in state supported living centers are desperate for in-person visits after months have ticked by with coronavirus restrictions in place. Full Story 

• Texas coronavirus hospitalizations are at a two-month low, but school reopenings pose new risks

  By Edgar Walters and Aria Jones Sept. 1, 2020

  After a late July peak, the number of statewide coronavirus hospitalizations has fallen from about 11,000 per day to about 4,500. Children who are infected are less likely to be hospitalized. Full Story