The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The firebrand Austin conservative spoke with The Texas Tribune's Evan Smith about reopening the economy, voting in person and how he practices social distancing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/634ac07d6b19ee09a21b472f3f2ab6d2/.roytoodark)
State Reps. Briscoe Cain and Steve Toth said there's no reason to continue banning businesses from operating as long as they follow CDC guidelines. Such restrictions, the two said, are hurting the Texas economy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8cbeb4cf029ef1724a33994cb4078890/Cain%20Toth%20Haircut%20TT.jpg)
President Donald Trump has nominated the congressman from Texas to oversee the nation's 17 intelligence agencies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/25517aa09970530d85658c22c9e68a79/John%20Ratcliffe%20REUTERS%20TT.JPG)
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/841bf359b804080ac0bd765ec8d88763/ATX%20Food%20Drive%20April%2030%20EG%20TT%2006.jpg)
Gonzalez's office said he took a 12-foot fall at his home in McAllen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2eea7f1219d6d4ba9b0ff82423ca4f0b/Vicente%20Gonzalez%20DY%20TT%2001.jpg)
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)
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)
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)
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, is alleging that a provision in the $2.2 trillion stimulus package known as the CARES Act that denies the benefit to mixed-status families in unconstitutional. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/09/MegaMarch-2.jpg)
As the coronavirus spreads, black people are less likely to have access to proper health care and more likely to have health issues that make the virus more dangerous. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/09447f0207d94e8d9eede371a81a6ca2/HTX%20COVID%20Testing%20Site%20RM%20TT%2006.jpg)
Parties of six or less, disposable menus and limited capacity are among the new rules businesses will follow if they open this Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ffa1eb00bc375a79b73f4c78d0636eb0/ATX%20Drone%20Covid%20April%20MG%20TT%20REDO%2013.jpg)
The suit claims Hidalgo has exceeded her authority by implementing orders more restrictive than those of Gov. Greg Abbott, which take precedence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0a2207bc316a983998e5e9a26bb2d600/NRG%20Hospital%20HTX%20AM%20TT%20146.jpg)
The order doesn't apply to many categories of immigrants, but Immigrant advocates worry that the order is the beginning of even stricter measures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6df92c1c6f729fd2c12c804b33605da/02_Trump_immigration_remarks_REUTERS_TT.jpg)
The high court did not weigh in on the arguments that Gov. Greg Abbott's order went beyond his executive powers in a disaster. Instead, it ruled that the Harris County judges were the wrong plaintiffs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5167de8622d257bd49f6c3d6e7ceb28/Harris%20County%20Jail%20CR%20TT%2001.jpg)
GOP officials called it "tyranny" and "government overreach," taking issue in particular with the $1,000 fine associated with violating the mask requirement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ab9055c379a1e9bca90cb7b7eb148598/Houston%20COVID%20File%20MS%20TT%2020.jpg)
A new order from Republican Gov. Greg Abbott that took effect Wednesday allows more procedures to resume in health care facilities that agree to reserve a certain number of beds for coronavirus patients and refrain from seeking scarce protective equipment from public sources. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d8a6d44bcb4602f26a92afaa2ceed93/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20CR%20TT%2004.jpg)
While some companies can access small-business funds, the major stimulus that has made its way through Congress has no specific help for the energy sector. Members from Texas are looking for other ways to help. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5b40b16a593955f1b59dee28d224ad86/Eagle%20Ford%20Oil%20Patch%20JV%20TT%2004.jpg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5ec92cbcf4e20f8ac3b29e40caa766f3/Colleyville%20City%20Council%20TT.jpeg)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/704faf4b3a4113eb8f3c4983c1ea717a/.BadPatrickPhoto)
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1fe7782e04e06555d528c018e3c7c0c6/Womens%20Health%20Clinic%20TK%20TT%2005.jpg)