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Mitchell Ferman covered energy and the economy from 2020 to 2022, based in Houston. Before joining the Tribune he was a reporter for The Monitor in McAllen, where he covered cross-border trade, politics and the city of McAllen. He also regularly freelanced from the Rio Grande Valley and beyond for The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Reuters, writing about topics including the family separation crisis and unexpected consequences of the border wall. He graduated from the University of Missouri.
The border city recently resorted to using inmates from the county jail to move bodies. At the request of county officials, the state is sending assistance. Full Story
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A new wave of coronavirus infections this month could further set back the state's economic recovery, while Gov. Greg Abbott has ruled out "any more lockdowns." Full Story
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Voters in the historically Democratic stronghold of South Texas are left wondering whether this was simply a strange election during an unusual year or a sign of a profound political realignment in the region. Full Story
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The closures of nine drive-thru locations follow a series of legal challenges led by a group of Texas Republicans. The county will still offer more than 800 polling locations. Full Story
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Texas' oil and gas industry has had a horrible year. As the recession persists and Election Day nears, Republicans have latched on to Donald Trump and Joe Biden's debate exchange about the energy sector and the environment. Full Story
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After a summer of declining unemployment rates following Gov. Greg Abbott's widespread business reopenings during the pandemic, the state's unemployment rate jumped to 8.3% in September. Full Story
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The Texas Workforce Commission is trying to recoup $214 million in unemployment benefits it says people were overpaid this year. A North Texas woman says appealing the agency's findings is an uphill battle through an opaque appeals process. Full Story
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Gary Cohn said another round of federal coronavirus relief funding is needed to ensure a strong economic recovery. Full Story
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The U.S. Labor Department on Friday announced Texas' unemployment rate for August fell to 6.8%. That is still far above pre-pandemic levels, underscoring a summer of steady joblessness for many Texans. Full Story
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Nearly 350,000 Texans don't qualify for the extra payment because they either earned too little from the work they lost or didn't indicate on paperwork that they lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Full Story
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