Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says "there is no shutdown coming" as coronavirus cases surge
Abbott said it will take weeks to see whether his recent mask order and decision to close bars are effective in slowing the virus' spread. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announced a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the capitol on Friday.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott defends mask mandate to "frustrated" delegates at Texas GOP convention
The governor began the state party convention Thursday by addressing head-on the growing discontent with his orders to contain the pandemic. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott exits the public memorial service of George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise Church in Houston on June 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Spurred by Gov. Greg Abbott's coronavirus handling, Democratic strategists launch PAC to defeat him in 2022
The group, the Beat Abbott PAC, will raise money that will benefit the eventual Democratic nominee against Abbott in 2022. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott declared a statewide emergency amid new cases of COVID-19 in the state on March 13, 2020.]()
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Distilleries, wineries shuttered by Gov. Greg Abbott's bar shutdown say they should be exempted
Distillery, winery and some restaurant owners say their businesses are different from traditional bars, which Abbott closed after COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations began to climb in June. Full Story
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![William Chris Vineyards on Feb. 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Nearly 1 million people voted in Tuesday’s Democratic runoff. The party says it’s a sign of strength to come in November.
The nearly 6% turnout is the highest in years for a Democratic runoff, but what that means is up for debate. Full Story
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![Voters check in with poll workers behind glass barriers at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center for the delayed primary runoff election in Houston on July 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas officials scramble to provide school reopening guidelines with only weeks of summer left
Conflicting mandates pingponging between state and local officials are frustrating many parents, students and teachers trying to plan for a fall semester during a raging pandemic. Full Story
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![A teacher holds a sign outside the Capitol Grounds during the ‘Mask Up, Line Up’ teacher protest on July 15, 2020 in Austin.]()
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Trump scales back landmark environmental law, saying it will help restart the economy
Activists warn that the changes will sideline communities of color and are concerned about projects’ climate impacts. Full Story
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![Construction on the Permian Highway Pipeline Through Central Texas in Hays County on June 29, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M System will provide free COVID-19 tests, but it’s a mixed bag for other schools
Up to 15,000 test kits will be available per month across its 11 universities. The system has set aside $16 million to pay for the testing program. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M University campus on June 15, 2020 in College Station.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas congressional candidate backed by Donald Trump remains in too-close-to-call runoff with Ted Cruz's pick
Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes were separated by 7 votes in unofficial results for the Republican primary runoff to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes. Full Story
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![From left, Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes are running for the Texas Congressional District 23 seat that is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas.]()
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TribCast: Election results and voting problems in the primary runoffs
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks with Evan, Matthew and Alex about the results and implications of the primary runoff elections and how voting went in the first statewide election during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
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![Masks and sanitizer were available for voters at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston for Tuesday's runoff election.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Julián and Joaquin Castro criticize Gov. Greg Abbott for reopening Texas too soon
Julián Castro said Abbott made three consequential mistakes: reopening the state too early, not pushing hard enough to get adequate testing or contact tracing, and banning local officials from requiring masks in the earlier months of the pandemic. Full Story
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![Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, in Brownsville in 2018.]()
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Texas classrooms can stay closed this fall without losing state funding if local health officials order it
School districts won't lose state funding if they stick with virtual classes this fall because a local health authority has mandated that classrooms remain closed. Full Story
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![Students outside North Forest High School in Houston.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas runoff 2020 results: Watch live updates here
Get all of Texas’ election results through The Texas Tribune’s coverage of the 2020 runoff races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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MJ Hegar defeats Royce West in Democratic runoff for U.S. Senate
Hegar declared victory late Tuesday, but West did not concede until Wednesday morning. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and MJ Hegar will face each other in the May runoff that will decide who will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson and Eddie Gaspar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: All eyes are on Texas headed into the 2020 presidential election
With Tuesday's midsummer primary runoffs complete, the ballots are set for the November general election — the third major event in a year already reshaped by pandemic and recession. Full Story
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![Voters, wearing masks and spread six feet apart, line up outside the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center in Houston to vote in the delayed primary runoff election on Tuesday.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Three Texas House incumbents — Dan Flynn, Anna Eastman and J.D. Sheffield — lose in primary runoffs
Two other incumbents — Democrats Lorraine Birabil and Harold Dutton — were also on the ballot Tuesday. Full Story
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![A view of the house floor during the second day of the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
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Candace Valenzuela among runoff winners as Texas congressional battleground races take shape
Other notable winners Tuesday night included Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls and Austin attorney Mike Siegel. Full Story
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![A woman walks past the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.]()
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Runoff elections show Texas not quite ready for November's main event
Most in-person voting Tuesday ran smoothly, but thousands of voters who sought to vote by mail may not be heard. And returns from the secretary of state's office were balky. Full Story
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![Voters check in with poll workers seated behind glass shields at the Metropolitan Multiservices Center in Houston for the delayed primary runoff election on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Longtime Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. fends off primary challenge from his left
Lucio’s race against Sara Stapleton-Barrera was among the most competitive of the primary elections for the Texas Senate, where Republicans are expected to keep their majority after the general election. Full Story
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![Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, spoke during during a Senate State Affairs committee hearing on July 23, 2017.]()
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Lani Popp defeats Robert Morrow in Texas State Board of Education runoff
Republican leaders had rallied against Morrow, who is known for his jester's hat and his history of racist and sexist comments. Full Story
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![Lani Popp, Republican, running against Robert Murrow for State Board of Education, District 5.]()
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