Dancing is discouraged: Bars, sports and child care centers can open if they follow these rules
Among the businesses reopening are day and overnight youth camps, professional sports without spectators and massage services. Full Story
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Clare Proctor
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Clare Proctor was a reporting fellow in 2020. A graduate of Northwestern, she worked as the copy chief and assistant city editor at the student-run newspaper The Daily Northwestern. She has also worked as a metro reporting intern at the Columbus Dispatch and interned at Columbus Monthly, the city's arts, culture and dining magazine.
Past Contributions
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![People dancing at the Broken Spoke in Austin.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas had plans to replace its outdated unemployment system. The coronavirus pandemic hit first.
The Texas Workforce Commission had finally lined up enough federal money to move the system — built in the 1990s — to the cloud. But before that happened, nearly 2 million suddenly unemployed Texans overwhelmed the old system. Full Story
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![The Texas Workforce Commission Building in Austin on March 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Thousands of Texas nursing home residents have tested positive for coronavirus
Among the 311 nursing homes with positive cases, there have been 3,011 residents infected. At assisted living facilities, nearly 400 residents have tested positive. At least 585 residents from both kinds of facilities have died. Full Story
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![Residents of Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Austin have reportedly gotten sick from COVID-19. The center has not publicly disclosed information related to the coronavirus.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
“Every day for two weeks, I would cry a little”: Coronavirus takes a toll on clients and mental health professionals
Mental health counselors are seeing more demand for their help during the pandemic, and they're feeling the weight of it, too. Full Story
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![Cyndi Doyle, a couples and first responder counselor, with Pecan Branch Counseling, outside their offices in Denton on May 08, 2020.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Texas has billions in its rainy day fund. But legislators say they won’t use it until January.
Lawmakers widely agree that the Legislature will tap into the Economic Stabilization Fund next session. But under the weight of a crippled economy, many Texans want relief now. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol, June 12, 2017. State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
247,179 more Texans filed for unemployment, but their jobs might not be waiting for them when they return
The Texas Workforce Commission relaxed guidelines so high-risk workers and people without child care can refuse work and still receive benefits. But that doesn’t protect workers from being fired in the meantime. Full Story
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![Mochas and Javas in San Marcos.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texans could soon have to start looking for work to keep unemployment benefits if reopening continues
The Texas Workforce Commission's executive director told lawmakers that it plans to reinstate work-search requirements once stores and restaurants are allowed open to 50% capacity. Full Story
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![The Texas Workforce Commission Building in Austin on March 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Balancing "caution and pent-up demand": Texans face health risks and financial woes as state’s battered economy slowly reopens
Gov. Greg Abbott has received mixed reviews for reopening businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. While some Texans aren't eager to venture out, others feel a responsibility to support local enterprises. Full Story
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![Blue Dahlia in downtown San Marcos has temporarily closed its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken on April 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas relaxes guidelines to allow unemployment benefits for workers who don't or can't return to work during pandemic
The expanded qualifications now include people who don’t have access to child care because schools and day cares are closed to everyone but the children of essential workers. Full Story
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![The Texas Workforce Commission Building in Austin on March 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As unemployment roils the state, some Texans have given up on trying to get help
254,199 Texans filed for unemployment last week — bringing the total number of claims to over 1.5 million in six weeks. Full Story
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![Most business in the small town of McGregor are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune