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Marissa Martinez was a spring 2021 reporting fellow. A graduate of Northwestern University, she was the editor-in-chief of The Daily Northwestern, where she held various roles including diversity and inclusion editor. She previously participated in the Politico Journalism Institute and will join Politico in June for a yearlong fellowship focused on race and demographics. Marissa is a member of NABJ, NAHJ and AAJA.
A newly "open" state will likely look very different in rural towns and suburban neighborhoods compared to more populous areas and coronavirus hot spots, residents and business owners say. Full Story
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Texas’ statewide mask mandate has ended as of March 10. Businesses are also now allowed to operate at full capacity as long as the hospitals in their region haven’t been treating a large share of patients for COVID-19. Here’s a look at what the loosened restrictions mean for Texans. Full Story
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Beleaguered Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who attended the pro-Donald Trump rally that preceded the U.S. Capitol siege, issued civil investigative demands to Twitter after the company banned the former president from its platform. Full Story
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Last week, an untold number of Texans who had lost power and heat, and in some cases water, took to social media platforms to ask for help — and be connected to those who could offer it. Full Story
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Texas residents said the storm — and ensuing partial collapse of the state's power system — sapped what mental reserves they had left after eleven months of a global health crisis that has cost thousands of jobs and claimed more than 40,000 lives in the state. Full Story
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Local governments and advocacy groups are targeting skeptical communities early, but the state is holding back a large media blitz until more vaccine arrives. Full Story
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While vaccinations are reaching more people every day, health care experts warn that this doesn’t mean Texas is out of the woods. Full Story
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At one point in January, almost half of the city’s hospital patients were admitted because of COVID-19 — the highest percentage in the state. That's caused intense debate about what the city can, and should, do next. Full Story
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National Guard teams will visit DeWitt, Marion, Real, Sherman and Starr counties as part of a newly created State Mobile Vaccine Pilot Program. Full Story
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Across Texas, hospital intensive care units are being battered as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in a post-holiday surge. Dozens of facilities have reported that their ICUs have been at or above 100% capacity for weeks, leaving staff overworked and stretched thin. Full Story
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