Coronavirus in Texas

Acting Executive Commissioner Phil Wilson chose not to accept salary and benefits for a temporary position leading one of Texas’ largest and most high-profile agencies. Instead, he continues to earn $636,694 from the Lower Colorado River Authority, more than double what the previous health commissioner made. Full Story 

Because of language barriers, Texas risks leaving some of the state’s marginalized communities even more vulnerable to contracting the virus while making it more difficult to access resources needed to get through the pandemic. Full Story 

Political leaders have sought to balance support for demonstrators’ rights of free expression with warnings about the public health risks of large crowds. Full Story 

"Significant declines in sales tax receipts were evident in all major economic sectors, with the exception of telecommunications services," Comptroller Glenn Hegar said in a statement. Full Story 

Coronavirus is a risk for his students, Premont ISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre says, but so is seeing their educations stop cold. He's trying to safely address both while getting kids back in front of teachers. Full Story 

Evictions and debt collections have resumed, child care subsidies will be discontinued and those who are out of work will again have to prove they are searching for a job in order to receive unemployment benefits. Full Story 

Live updates: The University of Texas at Austin is putting its biggest classes online next fall, officials there told The Daily Texan — the campus paper. The rest of its classes — about 11,000 — will be conducted in person. Full Story 

Campaigning during a pandemic is a lot like normal, without the people. Just put the word "virtual" in front of the normal activities: fundraising, town hall meetings and even block walking. Full Story 

Both state parties could be providing a template for their national counterparts. Full Story 

Throughout the weekend, protesters marched in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth, clashing with police officers, over the death of George Floyd. Full Story 

Sara Sullivan wishes every Texan who wanted a mail-in ballot could get one, especially during the pandemic. Listen to her story in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story 

After a demonstration against police violence blocked traffic in Austin on Interstate 35, police used tear gas and rubber bullets. Full Story 

Texas' top Republican officials call absentee voting a recipe for fraud and are fighting efforts to expand it during the coronavirus pandemic. But the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general have all used the option. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott gave El Paso an extra week to implement the latest phase of reopening. The county judge says El Paso still isn't ready to take the next step, but the governor isn't giving the city an extension. Full Story 

Texas A&M University System officials voted Friday on systemwide guidance for the fall semester. While some face-to-face classes will resume, many will be conducted in a hybrid model, using a combination of online and in-person instruction. Full Story 

Live updates: Texas reported 1,230 new coronavirus cases Friday. At least 61,006 Texans have tested positive for the virus, and 1,626 have died. Full Story 

If you were looking for voting-by-mail advice from the Texas Supreme Court, you're out of luck. The court ruled that the pandemic is no reason to expand voting by mail, but also that election officials don't have to check voter claims of disability. Full Story 

Abbott has already added more time to the early voting period for the July runoff election, citing the need to create a safe environment for in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story 

Judges questioned both the inmates' arguments and state's positions in a Thursday hearing. In April, the appeals court temporarily blocked a lower judge's order against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice over its coronavirus practices and policies at a geriatric prison. Full Story 

The freshman representative from Texas teamed up with a Democrat from Minnesota to pass the bill, which will now head to the U.S. Senate. Full Story