Coronavirus in Texas

Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin are the latest schools to announce a temporary suspension of test requirements. Others already had doubts about how well standardized tests predict student performance, and the pandemic has them rethinking their admissions approach. Full Story 

The Texas Legislature is supposed to convene in January — and would ordinarily be holding public hearings on various issues between now and then. That begs a question: Is there a safe way to open the Texas Capitol to lawmakers and the public? Full Story 

Abbott notified lawmakers of the plan during a conference call Thursday. Full Story 

Across the state, other universities have also reported student athletes testing positive for COVID-19 as workouts for sports have resumed. Full Story 

The state reported a total of 2,947 people in hospitals on Thursday. Full Story 

Austin's mayor issued a similar order late Wednesday. Local leaders have been asking for the ability to impose more strict mask orders, but Gov. Greg Abbott never publicly mentioned that one option was ordering businesses to require them. Full Story 

The university announced the latest changes Tuesday to accommodate students returning in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story 

As COVID-19 continues spreading, the Texas Workforce Commission says out-of-work Texans will have to prove they are searching for work to receive unemployment benefits beginning July 6. Full Story 

The true death toll is certainly higher than the state's official count. It is now routine to add two or three dozen deaths to the tally every afternoon. And each day, more Texans are catching the virus that might kill them. Full Story 

Abbott has banned local governments from fining people who don't wear masks in public. Full Story 

The restrictions on nonessential travel were set to expire next week but have been extended until at least late July. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott and health experts say young adults may be taking social distancing less seriously. Full Story 

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice halted intake from county jails in April as the coronavirus began rapidly spreading in state and local lockups. The virus is still pervasive within the prison system. Full Story 

The state reported Tuesday that the number of people hospitalized who are confirmed to have the coronavirus has reached a new peak of 2,518. Full Story 

Austin-area officials recommended Monday that businesses further limit operations. But an order from Gov. Greg Abbott doesn't let them enforce those suggestions. Full Story 

When Texas stores closed and social distancing began at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, sales naturally dropped. So did sales taxes, and local and state government revenues. But not everywhere, it turns out. Full Story 

He cited the number of hospital beds available in the state as a reason. Full Story 

The Houston Democrat isn't the first member of the state's delegation who has taken such action. Full Story 

State leaders knew COVID-19 cases would rise as businesses and other public places opened, but steady increases over the last two weeks have everyone watching the numbers very closely. Full Story 

Federal aid through the CARES act is helping, but it likely won't be enough to fill the holes in cities' budgets caused by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story