Coronavirus in Texas

We sat down for an interview with the Castro brothers to discuss the federal and state response to the coronavirus, its tougher effects on Blacks and Latinos, and the possibility of Texas going Democratic. Full Story 

The Board of Law Examiners recommended Thursday that the Texas Supreme Court cancel both the July and September bar exams and schedule an online, October exam instead. The high court is expected to make the final decision Thursday afternoon. Full Story 

Texas was one of the first states in the nation to ease social distancing mandates. In Houston, the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has quadrupled since Memorial Day. “It’s time to be alarmed,” one expert said. Full Story 

While collections from restaurants were depressed, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said that take-out and delivery sales, along with online purchases, helped buoy revenue in the restaurant and retail sectors. Full Story 

In 2018, the festival contributed $264.6 million to the city's economy and created or sustained at least 1,500 jobs across bars and restaurants, hotels and transportation, according to the Austin-American Statesman. Full Story 

The agency will use the same self-administered, oral tests used to conduct mass testing in Texas' adult prison facilities. Full Story 

Fauci and other top medical leaders have flagged Texas as a COVID-19 hot spot, but Patrick said the infectious disease doctor has “been wrong every time on every issue.” Full Story 

As Texas leaders struggle to find a balanced response to the pandemic and the lagging state economy, the suggestions for what they ought to do — friendly and hostile — are pouring in. Full Story 

The party's executive board will meet Thursday evening and could take action on a number of safety protocols including requiring masks, relocating the convention or making it virtual. It could also make no changes. Full Story 

The bar owners say in the lawsuit that Abbott's order violates their constitutional rights and "may very well leave long-term scarring on the Republican form of government if left unchecked." Full Story 

A new statewide report from the TEA shows that more than 600,000 students didn't complete assignments or respond to teacher outreach during the pandemic. Full Story 

State health officials say they have enough workers to meet current needs, but some local health departments are scrambling to keep up. With 2,800 workers, Texas is still short of the governor's goal to have 4,000 people contact tracing. Full Story 

One day after The Texas Tribune reported that the Texas Medical Association was a sponsor for the indoor convention that is expected to draw 6,000 people, the doctors' group announced it was calling on organizers to cancel. Full Story 

The Texas Workforce Commission had been planning to reinstate the requirement July 6 but is now holding off due to a rise in coronavirus cases. Full Story 

Elective procedures are now banned in eight counties around the state — Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Travis, Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces and Webb. Full Story 

Austin won't give tests to people who are asymptomatic. Dallas and Houston officials said their facilities reached capacity in the middle of the day. Full Story 

The Texas Medical Association, the state's largest medical group, said it is hopeful convention attendees will wear masks and practice social distancing. Full Story 

Abbott has said the actions of his executive order "are essential to our mission to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health." Full Story 

At the beginning of the pandemic, local officials across the state implemented stay-at-home orders for their regions. But now, with cases across Texas' metros surging, those leaders say Abbott has stripped them of the authority to reinstate the same measures. Full Story 

Delayed primary runoffs mark the state's first test of voting during the pandemic and a high-stakes dry run for November. “We're saying our prayers,” one elections administrator says. Full Story