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The latest economy news from The Texas Tribune.

Texas cities face difficulties counting their unsheltered homeless population — at a time when their numbers matter most

By Megan Menchaca Feb. 4, 2021

Despite changes to the regular count of people experiencing homelessness, support organizations are hoping they’ll still be able to capture a clear picture of who is unhoused in Texas as the pandemic continues. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Nearly a year into the pandemic, grocery workers in Texas are more fatigued than ever as they await vaccine access

By Duncan Agnew Feb. 4, 2021

After the Department of State Health Services neglected to include front-line essential workers in the latest phase of the vaccine rollout, grocery store workers juggle stressful work while waiting for the vaccine. Full Story

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
Texas tenants behind on rent will soon be able to seek aid from $1.3 billion assistance program

By Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: Feb. 11, 2021

The statewide program will start on Feb. 15 and will be able to help tenants with past and future rent. Full Story

Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune
"We do a lot of work": Texas' low-wage workers hope for more as Biden, Congress push minimum wage hike

By Mitchell Ferman Jan. 29, 2021

The minimum wage in Texas pays $7.25 an hour, well below a livable wage and far lower than the minimum hourly pay in most states. Full Story

Credit: May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribune
As Gov. Greg Abbott vows to ban homeless camping in public, Austin officials and unsheltered residents push for better housing access

By Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: Jan. 28, 2021

A year and a half after Austin lifted a local ban on camping in public, some city officials are pushing to turn hotels into housing for people experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, a state-sanctioned encampment in the city is full and can't accept new residents. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Analysis: At a time like this, who needs another emergency?

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 27, 2021

Gov. Greg Abbott will give a State of the State speech next week, an occasion where governors can declare “emergency items” for early legislative consideration. It would be hard to top the emergencies already on the agenda. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune
Gov. Greg Abbott pushes Legislature to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits

By Mitchell Ferman Jan. 26, 2021

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, unsuccessfully pushed for similar federal legislation. Abbott's support comes as Texas intensive care units are filling up with coronavirus patients. Full Story

Credit: Bronte Wittpenn/Austin American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK/REUTERS
Texans receiving federal food assistance could soon get more aid under Joe Biden's executive order

By Duncan Agnew Updated: Jan. 27, 2021

To combat food insecurity during the pandemic, the new president is increasing assistance for families receiving help to make up for free and reduced-cost school lunches. He also wants to increase food stamp benefits. Full Story

Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
Analysis: A call for unity in government — in Texas, two years ago

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 25, 2021

State leaders started their last legislative session, in 2019, with a call for unity. By their measure, they got what they set out to accomplish. They’re back to normal this year — not at odds, but not singing “Kumbaya,” either. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.
Texas Republicans are angry at big tech’s reaction to U.S. Capitol siege. But few mention the GOP’s role in sowing election misinformation.

By Duncan Agnew and Bryan Mena Jan. 21, 2021

The state’s GOP leaders have launched a campaign against technology and social media companies after officials and followers faced repercussions for sowing the election doubts that fueled the Capitol insurrection. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
A Texas lawmaker worked with the state restaurant association to draft an alcohol-to-go bill. His wife lobbies for the group.

By Mitchell Ferman and Juan Pablo Garnham Jan. 13, 2021

State Rep. Charlie Geren filed legislation that would let restaurants battered by the coronavirus pandemic permanently sell alcohol to go. The measure already has backing from top state officials. Full Story

Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune
Analysis: The Texas Legislature isn’t like Congress, right?

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 11, 2021

The Texas Legislature is more bipartisan than Congress, historically speaking. But a unique set of issues to address and an atmosphere of division emanating from Washington, D.C., could test that in the session that starts Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
A lender sued thousands of lower-income Latinos during the pandemic. Now it wants to be a national bank.

By Kiah Collier and Ren Larson, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Jan. 8, 2021

Oportun, which lends in only a dozen states, applied for a bank charter late last year. Consumer and Latino civil rights groups are pushing back, citing the findings of a joint investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. Full Story

Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune
Watch: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on vaccines and the state’s economic recovery

By Mitchell Ferman Updated: Jan. 14, 2021

Texas’ uncertain economic recovery is tied to the coronavirus vaccine, Hegar said, as state lawmakers convened this week to begin working on a new state budget with less money than they had to spend during the last legislative session. Full Story
Trump signs stimulus bill granting most Americans $600 in pandemic aid

By Seung Min Kim, Jeff Stein, Mike DeBonis and Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post Updated: Dec. 27, 2020

The president's decision to back down and sign the measure released $900 billion in stimulus funds into the economy that had been held up for nearly a week. Full Story

Credit: Joshua Roberts /REUTERS
A grieving daughter, a dedicated teacher and a former bar owner: We check back in with Texans about the pandemic and 2020

By Alana Rocha, Justin Dehn and Todd Wiseman Dec. 26, 2020

Like so many people, everyone we spoke to for this special edition of The Brief podcast said they're ready for this year to be over. Full Story

Credit: The Texas Tribune
Analyzing 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 24, 2020

We've selected some columns from 2020 on the coronavirus. Full Story

Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune
Hungry and homeless Texans are waiting anxiously for Congress to act. The day after Christmas, pandemic jobless aid expires.

By Mitchell Ferman, The Texas Tribune, and Sally Beauvais, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica Dec. 23, 2020

President Donald Trump has suggested he will veto COVID-19 aid legislation, creating uncertainty about when assistance may reach Americans. Meanwhile, Texans are living in cars and the state is sitting on unspent relief money. Full Story

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
Trump suggests he won't sign relief bill into law unless Congress makes changes including increasing stimulus checks to $2,000

By Rachel Siegel, Josh Dawsey and Mike DeBonis, The Washington Post Updated: Dec. 22, 2020

The outgoing president described the groundbreaking legislation as “a disgrace” and suggested he would not immediately sign off on aid for millions of Americans. Full Story

Credit: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Texas extends rental assistance program designed to avoid evictions until March 15

By Kate McGee Dec. 22, 2020

The move comes after Congress passed a stimulus bill Monday extending the federal moratorium on evictions through the end of January. The moratorium order was set to expire at the end of the year. Full Story

Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune