Coronavirus in Texas: Dallas-based hotel group to return $76 million in disaster loans meant for small businesses
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/26c25bf5be80b17d02e97b84d6a5c34d/Threadgills%20COVID%2019%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
-
![Threadgill’s restaurant is closing permanently due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via REUTERS -
Dallas-based hotel group to return $76 million in disaster loans meant for small businesses
The network of companies — Ashford Hospitality Trust, Ashford Inc., and Braemar Hotels & Resorts — are run by prominent Texas GOP donor Monty Bennett. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4879be02ebdcb92bfa0e078467c32cef/Dallas%20Skyline%20IS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![An aerial view of Dallas.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
Feds send coronavirus strike force to Amarillo in response to outbreaks in meatpacking plants
Potter County has roughly four times the infection rate of Harris and Dallas counties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc9a9614a944d30b549f6c6bafb328dd/Amarillo%20IS%20TT.jpg)
![Amarillo is the seat of Potter County.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
UT-Arlington selects provost to serve as interim president, puts long-term search on hold
Lim has been serving as administrator in charge since Karbhari's resignation, and the UT System chancellor said in an email to the campus community that he has "been impressed by [Lim's] leadership." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b35a263eb511200a559ac8d9ee52931d/UTA%20Teik%20Lim%20TT.jpg)
![Dr. Teik C. Lim has been appointed President of the University of Texas at Arlington.]()
Credit: University of Texas at Arlington -
She tried to get her at-risk brother out of a nursing home. Now he has COVID-19.
Listen to Karen Jones' story in this weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/739bd1271a0279fa68d58815d3287a2e/Karen%20Jones%20TT.jpg)
![Karen Jones' brother Aliss Jones is COVID-19 positive in a nursing home.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Karen Jones -
A prominent Texas man's network of hotels got millions in taxpayer loans, irking smaller businesses and some lawmakers
Monty Bennett's Dallas-based hotel network applied for $126 million from the government's Paycheck Protection Program and has received $76 million, according to data compiled by The Washington Post. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6de7772a6f337335d533e1e730d7ba7/Monty%20Bennett%20TT.jpg)
![Monty Bennett.]()
Credit: Ashford Inc. -
Coronavirus in Texas: Texas State University System says it'll resume on-campus classes in the fall
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc3db6dd2bd7ac641e31065da8061973/ATX%20Food%20Drive%20April%2030%20EG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The Central Texas Food Bank hosts a food drive at the Toney Burger Activity Center in Austin on April 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia discusses the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak and its effects on workers and families
We sat down with Garcia, D-Houston to discuss how Congress plans to address the economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak on workers and families across the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c75844ad02592d7da2f702c6b36d9592/TTE-vSGarcia_leadart-tt.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
At a Texas mall reopening, some antsy shoppers wore homemade masks while others called coronavirus a farce
Friday was the first day that shopping malls — along with restaurants, retail outlets and movie theaters — were allowed to reopen in Texas. Under an order from Gov. Greg Abbott, stores can open their doors, but they must limit occupancy to no more than 25% of capacity. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/566b3b3942e364645cbe789281e771d8/Barton%20Creek%20Mall%20Reopens%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
![Customers practice social distancing as they wait for the Barton Creek Square Mall in Austin to open on May 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott said museums can reopen — but there will be no tours of the state Capitol or Governor's Mansion
The Texas historic landmarks previously offered frequent guided tours to the public. But there are no plans to open the Capitol or the Governor's Mansion despite the governor's order allowing museums to reopen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/46c60adcf0d4e89c96b00699348f98a9/Governors%20Mansion%20BD%20TT.jpg)
![Governor's Mansion in Austin.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/BDP, Inc. -
U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas predicts cities and local governments could be facing bankruptcy
Garcia said the country could be heading toward the next Great Depression. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/18a3bf2f450a04fc9cdf9e95b7e11f83/Sylvia%20Garcia%20JF%20TT.jpg)
![U.S Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
“I do not want to die in here”: Letters from the Harris County Jail
A series of letters from detainees in one of America’s largest jails reveals the mounting dread and uncertainty as the coronavirus spreads inside the 7,500-inmate facility. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58c75a10f6f39cadbb07d4d71445dbe0/Letters%20from%20Prison%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A letter from an incarcerated individual in Texas.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas sales tax revenues fall by 9.3% in April
For the past several weeks, the comptroller has been referring to the state of the economy as a recession. The latest sales tax figures give the first glimpse of how much the economic downturn will hurt the state budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f0bd0ef5a2b802c4b7e5c06cc43a6d0a/ATX%20Drone%20Covid%20April%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Shuttered businesses on South Congress during the coronavirus pandemic. April 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
T-Squared: The Texas Tribune Festival is going virtual
With no certain end to the coronavirus pandemic in sight, the show must go online. We're excited! The new on-sale date for #TribFest20 tickets is June 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f6731b02986b0ce79eb04fc723574744/TTF20-online_leadart.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas halted evictions, giving renters some relief. But what happens when the moratorium ends?
Experts and advocates say renters — hit particularly hard by the economic downturn — face a financial cliff if more monetary aid doesn't arrive before moratoriums lift. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/07af753fcbe8569fab87a9483bf22c12/Credit_Card_Debt_Money_FInancial_2.jpg)
![Credit card debt illustration.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: You didn’t think a pandemic could stop highway planning in Texas, did you?
All eyes in Texas are on the coronavirus and the state government's response to it. But some of the biggest state agencies are still doing what they always do, like building highways and debating oil and gas regulations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/92b5499f0c53b8915de88cf0d38ccf97/Austin%20COVID%20File%20EG%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Light traffic on I-35 during the coronavirus pandemic on April 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas' front-line workers in the pandemic are predominantly women and people of color, analysis finds
Sixty-two percent of front-line workers in the 11 Texas cities with the the largest populations of front-line workers are women, compared with 48% of all workers there, the analysis shows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/47d1289fa7e634a143946bf889a5e3f9/El%20Paso%20Food%20Bank%20Coronavirus%20Pandemic%20EK%20TT%2026.jpg)
![A volunteer coordinator prepares boxes of food at the Kelly Memorial Food Pantry in Central El Paso, which serves 700-1000 families a day during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Texas reports record coronavirus deaths the day before stores open. But Gov. Greg Abbott sees hope in other metrics.
Abbott is looking at two figures: the percentage of tests in the state that come back positive and the percentage of patients with COVID-19 who are hospitalized. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2431d0415325ea49231190ee007688de/COVID%20Testing%20Alpine%20Marfa%20SV%20TT%2041.jpg)
![A healthcare worker directs a driver where to stop at the testing station in Alpine.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney general's office warns local officials that barber shops, hair salons and gyms still can't reopen
After Gov. Greg Abbott announced he would reopen large parts of the economy Friday, some local leaders argued that his orders were vague. Top state attorneys disagree. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/53e7b5e7044e46b5f8c09ed2e1a9f668/Small%20Town%20Texas%20COVID%20JV%20TT.jpg)
![A gym in downtown Mcgregor is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Balancing "caution and pent-up demand": Texans face health risks and financial woes as state’s battered economy slowly reopens
Gov. Greg Abbott has received mixed reviews for reopening businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. While some Texans aren't eager to venture out, others feel a responsibility to support local enterprises. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1a34974523401b4daf2a825e5ed0df54/San%20Marcos%20COVID%20File%20EG%20TT%2050.jpg)
![Blue Dahlia in downtown San Marcos has temporarily closed its operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taken on April 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune