Gov. Greg Abbott raises idea of "George Floyd Act" at Houston visitation
Without offering specifics, Abbott said he is committed to working with lawmakers and Floyd's family to prevent police brutality. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces his plan to reopen the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Pool/Austin American-Statesman -
Analysis: Events — and their own words — put Texas Republicans in an election year bind
Texas Democrats convened last week. But it was the state's Republicans giving them the most hope about the coming November elections. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol Building.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Conspiracy theories and racist memes: How a dozen Texas GOP county chairs caused turmoil within the party
On Friday morning, five GOP county chairs were facing backlash for sharing racist social media posts. The Texas Tribune identified seven other GOP county chairs across the state who shared similar posts. Full Story
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![The Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas to increase coronavirus testing — and study the virus’ impact — in black and Hispanic communities
The state’s data on the impacts of the pandemic on people of color has been incomplete. Full Story
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![Harris County Health Department nurse Harriet Lewis administers a test at a Harris County testing site located at Stallworth Stadium in Baytown on March 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Reggie Mathalone for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas grapples with a pandemic, officials must also prepare for what could be an unusually active hurricane season
State and local officials are adjusting their plans during the coronavirus outbreak to inform residents in the Houston area and along the Gulf Coast of safe steps they could take in advance of the year’s first storm. Full Story
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![Damage from Hurricane Harvey near the gulf coast on August 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Tomas Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune -
In false Facebook posts, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller accused George Soros of paying protesters to “destroy” the country
The posts are similar in tone to racist posts by local GOP officials that drew calls for resignation from leaders of their party. Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller addressed delegates at the Texas Republican Convention. June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Five Texas GOP county leaders share racist Facebook posts, including one juxtaposing an MLK quote with a banana
Gov. Greg Abbott called on two Republican county chairs in Bexar and Nueces counties to resign after they shared a racist conspiracy theory about George Floyd's death. The post was also was shared by the GOP chairs in Comal and Harrison counties. Full Story
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![Republican Party emblems and signs at the Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Almost all Texas businesses are allowed to open at 50% capacity, Gov. Greg Abbott says
The governor announced his third phase Wednesday of reopening the state’s businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. 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 in April.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr/The Texas Tribune -
Dallas mayor blamed "outsiders" for violence at protests. But almost everyone arrested was from North Texas.
Of the 185 people the Dallas Police Department arrested, 172 people live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, arrest records provided by Mayor Eric Johnson's office showed. Full Story
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![A protester is arrested by Dallas police at a march against the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in Dallas on May 29, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: For a state in pain, a little empathy is only a start
Gov. Greg Abbott has avoided the president's militaristic tenor and has expressed empathy with nonviolent demonstrators protesting George Floyd's death. But the conversations about what's next haven't started. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump speaks with Gov. Greg Abbott in the Oval Office on May 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Tom Brenner/POOL via REUTERS -
As coronavirus hits Texas, the state's top health official is spending 30 hours a week on a second job — that pays $600,000
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
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
As Donald Trump threatens to deploy the military, Texas officials urge calm after a weekend of protests
Curfews remain in place in Dallas and Fort Worth. Gov. Greg Abbott will travel to Dallas on Tuesday. Full Story
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![U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a statement on the ongoing protests over racial inequality in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis. June 1, 2020.]()
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Texas sales tax revenue dips 13.2% in May, the largest year-over-year decline in a decade
"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
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![Brentwood Social House cut its hours of operation, closed its dine-in services and asked its customers to order and wait outside the coffee shop. Taken on March 23, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declares state of disaster after George Floyd protests
In a statement, Abbott said the declaration would allow him to designate federal agents to serve as peace officers in Texas. Full Story
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![Austin police officers stand on Interstate 35 and watch protesters on the frontage road. Police officers would occasionally shoot into the crowd to disperse protesters. May 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
President Donald Trump to visit Dallas as he resumes in-person campaign fundraisers
The president is set to attend a high-dollar fundraiser June 11 in the North Texas city. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump smiles during a campaign rally in Dallas on Oct. 17, 2019.]()
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Three top Texas GOP officials who oppose expanding mail-in voting have each used it
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
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![From left: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas elected leaders condemn the death of George Floyd as “horrific,” “senseless”
In a TV interview Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott said said that the death of Floyd, a black man who was killed Monday in Minneapolis police custody, “should not have happened.” But Texas’ GOP congressional officials declined to comment on President Donald Trump’s “looting” tweet. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott briefs reporters during a press conference on a Domestic Terrorism Task Force roundtable held at the capitol on Jan. 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas will extend early voting period this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott says
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
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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 -
Texas sports fans will soon be allowed to attend outdoor pro games, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Starting Friday, most Texas counties will be able to host in-person spectators for outdoor sporting events in venues. But occupancy will be limited to 25%. Full Story
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![Dallas Cowboys fans cheer during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at AT&T Stadium.]()
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Coronavirus in Texas: State attributes new single-day record for positive cases to holiday weekend lag, increased testing in prisons
Live updates: About 2.2 million Texans have filed for unemployment during the pandemic. Gov. Greg Abbott allows spectators for pro sports. Full Story
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![Roppolo's Pizza manager, C.J. Oyakhire, waits for customers on the first night that bars reopened after shutting down in March to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Austin. May 22, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Nuri Vallbona
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