Gov. Greg Abbott says Amarillo has “turned a corner” after coronavirus flare-up
The Texas Panhandle, where a workforce of Hispanics and immigrants powers several meatpacking plants, is home to the highest rates of infection in the state. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the Capitol in Austin on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./POOL via The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Rising property values — and taxes — during an economic slump
Many Texas property owners are sweating potential increases in their taxes, which are based on property values that don't reflect a pandemic, an oil price collapse or a slumping economy. Full Story
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![A home in Austin, Texas. Feb. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Water parks, food court dining areas added to Texas’ latest wave of reopenings
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation Tuesday adding a few types of businesses to the list. Full Story
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![Toulouse Cafe and Bar in Austin opened for dine-in services.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Photos of Texas' continued reopening: Bars, bowling alleys and other businesses welcome back customers
As Texas gradually reopens, bars were allowed to open their doors to start off Memorial Day weekend. Texas Tribune photographers were out Friday and Saturday to capture how that went in Austin. Full Story
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![A bouncer sprays customer's hands with hand sanitizer, a common sight as Texas bars reopen on Friday.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
As day cares reopen, a Texas parent weighs the risks of sending her kids back
Latonya Stott is excited to return to work full time, but she wants to wait a couple of weeks before sending her two youngest children to day care again. She explains why in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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![Latonya Stott plans to wait a couple of weeks before sending her two youngest children back to day care.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Latonya Stott -
Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas is aiming to start college football on time, with fans in stands
The state is still working out a few issues, Abbott said Friday, but he predicted the season will return as scheduled, with at least some fans allowed to attend. 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 -
For some, forgoing masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic has become a political statement
Mask arguments among Texans are occurring everywhere from retail stores to the highest levels of government. 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 -
Texas families filing for SNAP food assistance almost doubled in April
Texas received a staggering 417,468 applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program last month, a sharp increase from March’s already high number of requests. Full Story
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![A volunteer loads a box of groceries into a truck for delivery to a nearby community in the the panhandle.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott lifts coronavirus restrictions for travelers from New York, Georgia and other hot spots
Travelers coming to Texas from select major states and cities previously had to undergo a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. Full Story
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![American Airlines jets fill Terminal A at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in April of 2019.]()
Credit: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren for USA TODAY via REUTERS -
Texas businesses returning during coronavirus are unlikely to spur fast economic recovery
As workers and customers reemerge into a society still grappling with a spreading coronavirus, the power Gov. Greg Abbott and officials across the globe used to close businesses in the first place does not extend to reviving the economy. Full Story
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![Donna Heath, floor manager of The Barn Door Restaurant, poses for a portrait during her shift in front of the restaurant in San Antonio on May 18, 2020.]()
Credit: Christopher Lee for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Bars are back, but questions remain on child care and voting by mail in a pandemic
In this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Aliyya and Ross about the latest reopenings in Texas amid missed benchmarks, child care complications for low-income parents and swirling voting-by-mail questions. Full Story
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![At an Austin location, reopened retailer Urban Outfitters limits occupancy and requires customers to wear masks and maintain social distance. May 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott instructs state agencies to trim budgets by 5% to prepare for "economic shock"
Some state agencies are exempt from the cuts, including the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Department of Public Safety. 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 -
Analysis: In spite of it all, a Texas government that’s running full-steam ahead
The pandemic has devastated the Texas economy. The state comptroller says that will mean billions of dollars less than expected for the current budget. But state agencies haven't received any orders to cut their spending. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen brief 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 -
Dancing is discouraged: Bars, sports and child care centers can open if they follow these rules
Among the businesses reopening are day and overnight youth camps, professional sports without spectators and massage services. Full Story
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![People dancing at the Broken Spoke in Austin.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Child care centers, bars and sporting events scheduled for Texas' next phase of reopening
Child care opens immediately, bars can open Friday and sports will be allowed to return at the end of the month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday. 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 -
With COVID-19 cases rising, El Paso officials ask governor to exclude them from next phase of reopening
As state officials and some Texas cities tangle over local COVID-19 restrictions, El Paso officials say their area isn't ready for the next phase of reopening. They want Gov. Greg Abbott to give them an exemption. Full Story
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![Downtown El Paso is vacant during the coronavirus pandemic.]()
Credit: Emily Kinskey for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas tiptoes down the road to normal
As some pandemic doors are slowly opened, others are getting kicked in. Either way, individual choices are quickly replacing the weeks of government instructions about what and what not to do. Full Story
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![Bar and Restaurant.]()
Credit: Anneke Paterson for The Texas Tribune -
More than 700 new cases of coronavirus reported after testing at meatpacking plants in Amarillo region
Gov. Greg Abbott says the cases were detected by targeted testing at meatpacking plants. Full Story
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![Dumas, Texas on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As Texas reopens for business, this San Antonio teen is scared about the risks of working as a restaurant hostess
In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, listen to the 17-year-old describe the backlash she says she faced from customers when enforcing the governor's social distancing guidelines. Full Story
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![The Yellow Jacket is one of many businesses in Austin offering take-out during the COVID-19 pandemic. May 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
As Texas reopens, coronavirus cases are increasing while testing misses benchmarks
Texas has seen a modest but steady increase in the growth of new coronavirus cases in the two weeks since some businesses reopened at 25% capacity. Gov. Greg Abbott sees hope in other metrics. Full Story
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![Medical Assistants with Mi Doctor operate a testing clinic at the La Gran Plaza in Fort Worth. The drive thru testing station has been operating every day for the last 7 weeks. May 1, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune