In first visit, President Joe Biden commits to being "true partners" with Texas through storm recovery, vaccination effort
Biden was joined by Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, among other officials. Full Story
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![U.S. President Joe Biden bumps elbows with a person at the Houston Food Bank on Feb. 26, 2021.]()
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Texas judge rules federal eviction moratorium unconstitutional. Lawyers and advocates disagree on what that means for tenants.
The judge opted against issuing an injunction that would block the federal ban on evictions, instead signaling that he expected the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to withdraw its moratorium. Full Story
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![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters like Biden’s COVID-19 response better than his overall performance, UT/TT Poll finds
Texas voters give President Joe Biden good marks on COVID-19 response, but they're split on his overall job performance, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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![President-elect Joe Biden during a briefing where he delivered remarks on the United States' response to the COVID-19 outbreak, at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 29, 2020.]()
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Many rural Texas counties currently left out of federal disaster aid eligibility for winter storm
Rural counties endured the same storm as big cities, but many haven't fallen under President Joe Biden's major disaster declaration. Officials say it's because those counties lack data on damages. Full Story
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![Marfa Food Pantry volunteers Gary Oliver and Alisha Waller load pallets with boxes of food for Saturday morning distribution. West Texas Food Bank delivered food Friday night after power was restored in Marfa.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas National Guard deployed to get COVID-19 vaccines to older Texans who are homebound
Gov. Greg Abbott said he wants the majority of Texans who are 65 and older to be inoculated against COVID-19 by the end of March. He said the state could announce more eligibility for the vaccines next month. Full Story
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![National guard members worked at mobile COVID-19 testing site at Uhland Elementary School on June 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott weighing end to mask order, other statewide coronavirus rules, says announcement coming “pretty soon”
Abbott has kept Texas under a mask mandate since July. Full Story
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![COVID-19 related street art on Sixth Street in downtown Austin on May 6th, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Winter storm could cost Texas more money than any disaster in state history
Lawmakers and analysts say it is too soon for an exact estimate, but the financial damage from the storm has left state lawmakers scrambling to account for the storm in the middle of the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol during the winter storm on Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: What's next for Texas after last week's winter storm?
On this week's TribCast, Matthew talks with Ross, Alana and Erin about the political fallout from the winter storm and what the state might do to prevent future widespread power outages. Full Story
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![An aerial view of southbound Interstate 35 at Stassney Lane in south Austin after a severe snow storm hit the state. Feb. 15, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott, in statewide address, promises answers on winter weather disaster
"Tragic does not even begin to describe" the suffering Texans endured, Abbott said Wednesday evening. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott spoke at a press conference about the winter storm that was approaching Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott sets May 1 special election to fill seat of late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright
Candidates have until March 3 to file, and early voting begins April 19. Full Story
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![People vote at Audelia Road Branch Library on the first day of early voting in Dallas on Oct. 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
A family is suing Texas’ power grid operator after their son died from suspected hypothermia. But ERCOT may be shielded from lawsuits.
A Conroe family is suing ERCOT and Entergy Texas for a total of $100 million after their son died inside his bed from suspected hypothermia. Full Story
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![Cristian Pavon Pineda, 11, was found dead in his family's home in Conroe after a severe winter storm plummeted temperatures below freezing.]()
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Analysis: Texas failed in a storm, again. Will we be ready next time?
State leaders will start an investigation this week to figure out why utilities in Texas were outmatched by a weeklong winter storm. They did the same thing 10 years ago, and we still weren't ready. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says power is almost fully restored statewide and grocery stores will soon be restocked
Abbott said power should be fully restored across the state Sunday night or Monday. Full Story
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![Volunteer Catherine Tuppen helps with the water and beverage station at Kelly Village, a supply distribution site, on Feb. 19, 2021, in Houston.]()
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Texas officials block electricity providers from sending bills, disconnecting utilities for nonpayment
Texans are reporting receiving exorbitant electric bills despite not having power during the storm. One Texan, according to The New York Times, received a $16,752 electric bill. Full Story
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![Snow surrounds an Austin Energy station in Austin on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021.]()
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“We are resilient people”: Texans share how they weathered the winter storm
From a new mom in Pflugerville who struggled to keep her baby warm to a Houston teacher worried about her students, listen to what some Texans endured in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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![An eastbound view of East Stassney Lane in south Austin on Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As Texans endured days in the dark, the state failed to deliver vital emergency information
When the lights went out this week and Texans lost access to power and clean drinking water, the Texas Division of Emergency Management failed to provide accessible and life-saving updates on outages and inclement weather. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas is working to bring in more plumbers, help cities test their water
Abbott will be joined by emergency officials for his update from Austin. Many Texans remain without power, and water access has been disrupted for millions across the state. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas. Feb 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Busted pipes, water damage, hotel bills: As power flickers on, costs loom for storm-weary Texans
Texans face a cascade of frustrations and expenses as the state tries to recover from the storm. Insurance companies are bracing for claims rivaling those after major hurricanes, and homeowners are trying to find plumbers and electricians. Full Story
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![Fire damage at an apartment building at The Park on Brodie Lane. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A winter storm leaves Texas with a black eye
The Texas government's failures in the face of a winter storm have been very hard on Texans, and could do lasting damage to the state's reputation. Full Story
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![From left to right, Martin Xoxa, Chelsea Pursley and Joe Williams build a fire to keep warm outside of Pursley's home in East Austin. The group has been without power since Monday evening. Feb.17, 2021.]()
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"What happened is completely unacceptable": Gov. Greg Abbott calls for winterization of Texas energy system
Abbott also blasted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for its handling of the recent winter storm. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas. Feb 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune