Texas investigating meat processing plants over coronavirus outbreaks
The Department of State Health Services is looking into outbreaks at JBS Beef in Moore County and Tyson Foods in Shelby County. Full Story
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![The JBS beef processing plant in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott's task force to reopen the economy is packed with top business leaders — and donors
The task force features some of the most prominent and politically powerful business executives in the state. They'll advise Abbott with the help of medical experts. Full Story
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![Vodka Street Global Bistro and Bar 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 -
Texas oil regulators take no action on production
A day after oil prices crashed, The Texas Railroad Commission opted against taking action to impose limits on oil producers. Full Story
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![An oil pump jack during a storm in Refugio County in 2017.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Bill Harvey
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This North Texas mayor is trying to reopen businesses in Colleyville, bucking Abbott’s stay-at-home order
Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton appears to be the first mayor in Texas to move ahead with plans to relax stay-at-home orders aimed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Full Story
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![Mayor Richard Newton, center, and the Colleyville city council.]()
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Watch Gov. Greg Abbott give an update on the state's response to the novel coronavirus
Tuesday's news conference comes a day after the governor announced plans for the Texas National Guard to mobilize more than 1,200 personnel for COVID-19 mobile testing teams. Watch Abbott's live update from the state Capitol starting at 2 p.m. Central time. 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 April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick says “there are more important things than living and that’s saving this country”
Patrick went on Fox News on Monday evening to defend comments he made last month where he said he would rather die from the widely spreading coronavirus than see the economy destroyed for his children and grandchildren. Full Story
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Coronavirus in Texas: U.S. Senate backs new round of economic aid; Dallas County extends stay-at-home order
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A shuttered store front on El Paso Street in downtown El Paso during the the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Life after foster care was already tough. Now these Texans are facing the coronavirus pandemic, too.
As millions of Texans clamor for public benefits during the global health crisis, the pandemic has exposed gaps in support for young adults who have aged out of foster care. Many have experienced homelessness. Full Story
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![Montoya Thomas, 23, outside of her apartment in Houston on April 1, 2020. Thomas was recently let go of her bartending job and is only taking one online class at Lone Star College. She is trying to navigate her new normal during the COVID-19 pandemic.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
President Donald Trump says he's temporarily halting immigration during coronavirus pandemic
Trump tweeted Monday night that he will issue an executive order but gave few details about what it would do — or when he would issue it. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump at the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2020.]()
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Federal appeals court says Texas can block pill-induced abortions during pandemic
In March, Gov. Greg Abbott barred all procedures not “immediately medically necessary,” and the state’s attorney general declared that the restriction applied to abortions — sparking a weekslong court fight and prompting some women to seek abortions out of state. Full Story
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![An ultrasound machine at women’s health clinic in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas oil price plummets into the negatives as the coronavirus pandemic's economic woes continue battering the state
It's the lowest price for a barrel of crude since at least the 1980s and another sign, experts say, of rough economic times ahead — especially for Texas' energy sector. Full Story
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![An oil pump jack near Odessa.]()
Credit: Ben Powell for The Texas Tribune -
Drive-thrus and free pencils: Texas plans for July elections with in-person voting
Other states may be shifting to increased mail-in voting, but Texas' GOP leaders are fighting efforts to expand the practice. That leaves local elections officials to try to make polling places safe in a pandemic. Full Story
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![People wait to vote after polling places' official 7:00 closing time, at Tompkins High School in Katy in Fort Bend Co. on Nov. 6, 2018.]()
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Officials knew coronavirus could spread at the Houston Rodeo and proceeded with the event anyway
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the city’s largest annual event, attracting 2.5 million people and generating nearly $400 million. But officials pushed forward with this year's 20-day event until there was a positive coronavirus case from community spread. Full Story
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![The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was shut down after concerns of the spread of the coronavirus in Houston]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: Most state parks reopen; National Guard to open new testing sites
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Caprock Canyon State Park]()
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Is this rural community really Texas’ sickest county?
State data indicates that Donley County in the Panhandle has the highest coronavirus infection rate in Texas. But county Judge John Howard — also the only local doctor — believes that's because he's testing far more than other counties. Full Story
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![Kearney Street in Clarendon.]()
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Analysis: In an important election year, politics takes a back seat
The 2020 election year was already momentous, and then a pandemic broke out, demanding the full attention of the voters whom politicians depend on. Everything from how we vote to when we vote is now in question. Full Story
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![Downtown Austin with considerably less traffic during the coronavirus outbreak on March 23, 2020.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: Neiman Marcus preparing to declare bankruptcy; thousands line up for food in Houston
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![Medical equipment in an intensive care unit during a media tour of a medical shelter at NRG Park in Houston on April 11, 2020. The facility was built in less than a week for possible overflow of coronavirus cases in the Houston area.]()
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Texas utility regulators have programs to prevent shutoffs during the pandemic. But some Texans are falling through the cracks.
Although some counties have moratoriums on disconnections, in most of the state customers need to apply for the benefit. Full Story
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![Carly Eaves poses for a portrait at her parent's home on April 15,]()
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Texas officials project optimism on hospital capacity, medical resources
Concerns that Texas hospitals would be unable to accommodate a surge of COVID-19 patients seem to have been assuaged in recent days. Full Story
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![Cots are spread out along a tiled floor in one of the medical tents at NRG Park in Houston on April 11, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott relaxes ban on nonessential medical procedures, says courts will decide if abortions can proceed
Abbott's original ban was intended to preserve medical resources. On Friday, he said Texas had ample hospital bed space and a strong supply chain of personal protective equipment. Full Story
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![One of the six exam rooms at Haven Health Clinics in downtown Amarillo on Dec. 9, 2013. The clinic provides services for women and some men in the 26 county region of the Texas panhandle.]()
Credit: Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribune
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