Past Contributions

• As businesses prepare to reopen, workers weigh COVID-19 risk against the need for a paycheck

  By Clare Proctor Updated: April 28, 2020

  If a business reopens and an employee chooses not to return to work, they become ineligible for unemployment, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Full Story 

• Calls spiked — then dropped. Domestic abuse survivors, at home with abusers during the pandemic, may be unable to get help.

  By Allyson Ortegon and Clare Proctor April 24, 2020

  Advocates worry that survivors are struggling to seek help because they're stuck with their abusers at home due to stay-at-home orders. Full Story 

• 280,000 more Texans filed for unemployment last week as oil collapse and coronavirus precautions wallop state's economy

  By Clare Proctor April 23, 2020

  The total number of out-of-work Texans is 1.3 million since mid-March as the state's economy continues roiling from business closures, a troubled energy sector and corporate layoffs. Full Story 

• Oil prices collapsed, but that doesn’t mean Texans will get free gasoline

  By Clare Proctor April 22, 2020

  With most Texans staying at home and not driving, the demand for gas has fallen off. But refineries would stop producing before giving gas away for free. Full Story 

• Texas is running out of money to pay unemployment benefits. People will still get paid, but businesses may see tax hikes as a result.

  By Clare Proctor April 16, 2020

  Texas Workforce Commission officials say the state will run out of money in May or June. Other economists predict that could happen in as soon as three weeks. Full Story 

• More than 1 million people in Texas filed for unemployment relief in the last month

  By Clare Proctor Updated: April 16, 2020

  Texas unemployment claims continue to rise as Texans struggle to file. The Texas Workforce Commission is expanding its call centers, servers and staff, but many still face delays. Full Story 

• Texas doctors are using plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients to treat others. They’re not yet sure if it will work.

  By Clare Proctor April 11, 2020

  The method has been used to treat the sick in past epidemics, and it's generally considered low risk. Doctors around the nation have started using it on the sickest COVID-19 patients. Full Story 

• More Texans filed for unemployment in the last 4 weeks than all of 2019

  By Mitchell Ferman, Anna Novak and Clare Proctor Updated: April 9, 2020

  The numbers are early — but incomplete — indicators of how dramatically and suddenly the state's economy has collapsed under social distancing orders officials issued to curb the still growing public health crisis spurred by the novel coronavirus. Full Story 

• Cancel chemo or risk compromised immune system? Cancer patients and oncologists confront coronavirus challenges

  By Clare Proctor April 7, 2020

  To combat coronavirus, hospitals and medical providers were told to cancel procedures and surgeries that aren't urgent. But cancer patients facing delayed chemotherapy treatments say the stakes are higher for them. Full Story 

• Hundreds of UT-Austin students went to Cabo San Lucas for spring break. Nearly 50 have coronavirus.

  By Clare Proctor April 3, 2020

  The number of students with positive tests continues to grow as the University of Texas at Austin is now aware of 211 students who traveled to Cabo San Lucas for Spring Break. Full Story