Past Contributions

• Texas is on the cusp of another COVID-19 surge. Is the state better prepared to handle it?

  By Shawn Mulcahy Oct. 20, 2020

  Experts say Texas is more prepared to handle another wave. But they fear that if the state fails to control the outbreak, it could quickly spiral out of control. Full Story 

• High turnout, sporadic problems reported at Texas polling places as early voting begins

  By Shawn Mulcahy Updated: Oct. 13, 2020

  Voters in Harris County shattered the record for in-person ballots cast on the first day of early voting, with more than 128,000 people voting, according to the county elections office. Full Story 

• As fears of election-related unrest rise, here's what you need to know about poll watchers in Texas

  By Shawn Mulcahy Oct. 9, 2020

  Political parties are enlisting a record number of poll watchers in Texas and across the country for a highly charged election season. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott says bars can reopen next week at 50% capacity if counties opt in

  By Alex Samuels, Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff and Shawn Mulcahy Updated: Oct. 7, 2020

  “It is time to open them up,” Abbott said in a Facebook video announcing the move. “If we continue to contain COVID, then these openings, just like other businesses, should be able to expand in the near future.” Full Story 

• After a summer of unrest, Texas police are preparing for possible election night protests

  By Shawn Mulcahy Oct. 2, 2020

  Some police departments faced criticism for their response to demonstrations. Experts say officers must use "the least amount of force possible" while protecting free speech. Full Story 

• Dr. Anthony Fauci says Americans should trust credibility of COVID-19 vaccine process

  By Shawn Mulcahy Sept. 29, 2020

  Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, blamed “mixed messages that have come out of Washington” for waning public trust. Full Story 

• Sam Houston State, Texas State University System to hire contact tracers as experts warn of a fall COVID-19 surge

  By Shawn Mulcahy Sept. 29, 2020

  The state is partnering with the Texas State University System to add roughly 200 new staffers to its stable of more than 3,500 contact tracers. Full Story 

• Health expert Peter Hotez warns of a third COVID-19 wave, says a vaccine likely won't come for another year

  By Shawn Mulcahy Updated: Sept. 24, 2020

  The co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital talked during The Texas Tribune Festival about the hunt for a vaccine and how we can reopen safely. Full Story 

• As Texas college towns emerge as coronavirus hot spots, universities try to keep students from infecting locals

  By Emma Platoff, Shawn Mulcahy and Anna Novak Sept. 22, 2020

  In counties where four-year college students make up at least 10% of the population, cases have grown 34% since Aug. 19, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. That’s compared with 23% in counties with a smaller proportion of students. Full Story 

• Texas will allow visitations at nursing homes, other long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases

  By Shawn Mulcahy Sept. 17, 2020

  Visitors previously were allowed only into long-term care facilities where there were no active cases of the virus among residents and no confirmed cases among staff members in the past two weeks. Full Story