Politics
Federal Judge Allows Texas’ Ban On Mask Mandates To Continue — For Now
Posted on · Disability Rights Texas had asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order to allow schools to require masks ahead of a trial date in October.
Health & Science
Study Finds 1 In 8 Texas Households Struggles To Get Food In Texas
Posted on · Texas saw a spike in food insecurity at the start of the pandemic, according to a new report from the USDA. But that largely leveled off due to rent relief, eviction bans and expanded food-access programs.
COVID-19
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Has Tested Positive For COVID-19
Posted on · Abbott is currently isolating at the governor's mansion in Austin.
Energy & Environment
Texas Winter Storm Death Toll Goes Up To 210, Including 43 Deaths In Harris County
Posted on · Harris County leads the state in freeze-related deaths.
Texas
In Texas Cities, Protests Over Police Violence Lead To Clashes
Posted on · Despite some violent encounters between police and protesters Friday night, Houston's weekend of protests was largely peaceful compared to other cities.
Guns
Texas’ Attorney General Says Cities And Counties Can’t Restrict Gun Sales Under Emergency Orders
Posted on · Cities and states across the country are asking whether firearms sales and gun-related businesses should be considered essential as they shelter-in-place and restrict businesses to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus.
Texas
Gov. Abbott Closes Schools, Bars And Restaurants, Limits Gatherings Amid COVID-19 Outbreak
Posted on · Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order that temporarily closes schools, bars and gyms – and limits restaurant service to takeout and delivery orders only amid COVID-19 concerns.
News
Texas Researchers Say They Found A Way To Help Cops ID Pot With 100% Accuracy – Using Lasers
Posted on · Texas AgriLife researchers have come up with a new testing method.
Texas
Just In Time For Your Awkward Holiday Parties, Texas Will Soon Allow App-Based Booze Deliveries.
Posted on · The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission expects to clear apps like Favor and Instacart for deliveries by the third week of December.
Texas
Courts Struggle To Collect Debt In Texas, Study Says. That’s Costly And Puts Poor Violators In Jail.
Posted on · On average, Texas courts could not collect roughly 40% of fines and fees between 2012 and 2018.
Texas
Abbott Vows To ‘Unleash’ State Resources If Austin Doesn’t Change Its Homelessness Rules By Nov. 1
Posted on · The Austin City Council is currently considering revising ordinances it passed in June that effectively legalized camping, sitting or lying down in public.
Immigration
ICE Says It Arrested 52 People In Texas Immigration Raids Last Week
Posted on · ICE says its agents were targeting immigrants with final deportation orders and previous criminal records.
Texas
Coming To A Gulf Of Mexico Near You: A ‘Dead Zone’ The Size Of Massachusetts
Posted on · An oxygen-sapping, fish-killing swath of algae is headed to the Texas coast this summer.
Texas
New Labor Rule Means Gig Economy Workers In Texas Can’t Get Unemployment Benefits
Posted on · The rule exempts app-based companies that hire contractors – like Uber or DoorDash – from paying state unemployment insurance taxes for those workers.
News
UT Austin Is Sued Over College Admissions In Class-Action Lawsuit
Posted on · The suit alleges UT and seven other universities were engaged in a scheme in which affluent families paid to secure students' admission through falsified test scores or recruitment as student-athletes.