Texas Tribune Brief

Trump administration to cut refugee admissions to record low.

October 02, 2020 10:00 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MB

Texas is among the states that has accepted the most refugees within its borders since 2002. But those numbers have dropped under the Trump administration.

Houston Republicans sue to limit in-person and absentee voting options in Harris County

October 01, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.44 MB

Conservative activist Steve Hotze [pronounced HOHT-zee] and a number of Republican candidates and officials are asking the Texas Supreme Court to shorten the early voting period and limit drop-off locations for absentee ballots in the state’s largest Democratic county.

Williamson County sheriff charged with felony evidence tampering in Javier Ambler case

September 30, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 3.81 MB

Last year, Williamson County sheriff's deputies held Ambler down and stunned him four times with a Taser before his body went limp. It was filmed for a police reality TV show.

Race for Texas House majority has kept the contest for speaker quiet

September 29, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.47 MB

No House members have declared their candidacy for speaker. Many say they have their sights set on November first as Democrats aim to flip the lower chamber.

President Donald Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court

September 28, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.45 MB

Both of Texas' Republican U.S. senators have indicated they support moving forward with the Supreme Court confirmation process less than two months before the election.

Texas unemployment benefits aren't cutting it for this North Texas woman

September 26, 2020 10:00 - 7 minutes - 7.02 MB

Carrie Mansfield says while more relief from the government would be welcomed, more than anything she’s ready to get back to work. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. www.texastribune.org

You can now register to vote online when updating your driver’s licenses in Texas.

September 25, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.42 MB

The limited move, ordered by a federal judge, marks the first time Texans have been able to register to vote online.

Republicans sue to stop Gov. Greg Abbott's extension of early voting period during the pandemic

September 24, 2020 10:00 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MB

State party chairman Allen West, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and members of the Texas Legislature were among those who filed the suit against Abbott.

As Texas college towns emerge as coronavirus hot spots, universities try to keep students from infecting locals

September 23, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.45 MB

In counties where four-year college students make up at least 10% of the population, cases have grown 34% since Aug. 19, according to a Texas Tribune analysis. That’s compared with 23% in counties with a smaller proportion of students.

From abortion access to immigration, the battle over the open U.S. Supreme Court seat will affect Texas for a generation

September 22, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.46 MB

Just days after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Republicans and Democrats are already engaged in an expensive and divisive fight over the future of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ted Cruz and John Cornyn indicate support for confirming a new Supreme Court justice before the election

September 21, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.35 MB

If the U.S. Senate confirms a nominee of President Donald Trump, it could secure a conservative influence on the high court for a generation.

ov. Greg Abbott loosens coronavirus restrictions for restaurants and other businesses in most regions of Texas

September 18, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 4.6 MB

Restaurants, retail stores and office buildings will now be able to operate at 75% capacity, Abbott said. Three regions — the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Victoria — were excluded from the loosening of restrictions, however.

Gov. Greg Abbott loosens coronavirus restrictions for restaurants and other businesses in most regions of Texas

September 18, 2020 05:00 - 5 minutes - 4.6 MB

Restaurants, retail stores and office buildings will now be able to operate at 75% capacity, Abbott said. Three regions — the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Victoria — were excluded from the loosening of restrictions, however.

ICE deported a key witness in investigation of sexual assault and harassment at El Paso detention center

September 17, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.3 MB

Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department inspectors general are investigating allegations that ICE guards assaulted detainees in camera blind spots.

Officials in Texas change how the state reports positivity rate after testing backlogs skewed coronavirus data.

September 16, 2020 21:00 - 4 minutes - 4.15 MB

The Texas Department of State Health Services said it will now rely on a calculation that takes into account the date on which a coronavirus test was administered, rather than when it was reported.

Lawmakers call on Gov. Greg Abbott to plan to expand broadband access as pandemic worsens disparities

September 15, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.54 MB

A bipartisan group of 88 state lawmakers said in a letter that a statewide broadband plan is well overdue.

The Texas State Board of Education gives preliminary approval for revised school sex ed policy that excludes LGBTQ issues.

September 14, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.04 MB

After marathon meetings over three days, the Republican-dominated board also rejected efforts to teach students about consent. It is expected to take a final vote in November.

Bryan woman questions coronavirus restrictions at Texas nursing homes

September 12, 2020 10:00 - 8 minutes - 7.89 MB

Jimmie Arnold's mother-in-law and mother were in the same nursing home in Bryan when Gov. Greg Abbott barred all visitation to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, listen to why Arnold says after six months, it’s taking its toll. www.texastribune.org

Unemployed Texans will no longer receive an extra $300 in weekly payments

September 11, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.21 MB

The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified state officials Wednesday that the payments for out-of-work Texans have ended, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, which handles unemployment claims.

Gov. Greg Abbott calls on all Texas candidates to sign pledge against police budget cuts

September 10, 2020 10:00 - 5 minutes - 4.68 MB

The pledge is the governor's latest political move in an election season consumed by debates on policing reforms and funding.

Student athletes get COVID-19 tests three times a week, while experts say testing for other university students is lagging

September 09, 2020 10:00 - 5 minutes - 5.07 MB

Public health experts say colleges need to dramatically ramp up testing in order to catch “silent spread” fueled by students who are infected but don’t have symptoms.

A UT-Austin nursing student navigates in-person classes during a pandemic

September 05, 2020 10:00 - 8 minutes - 7.56 MB

In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, listen to why a University of Texas at Austin sophomore says attending in-person labs during the pandemic is worth the risk. www.texastribune.org

Nearly 3.4 million Texans have filed for unemployment relief since mid-March

September 04, 2020 10:10 - 3 minutes - 3.41 MB

The coronavirus pandemic has steered the economy into a recession. In Texas, the state’s unemployment rate remains more than double what it was at the start of the year, and nearly 3.4 million people have filed for unemployment relief since mid-March.

Absent widespread testing, Texas schools have limited tools to prevent coronavirus spread.

September 03, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MB

Coronavirus cases are inevitable as Texas schools reopen. The challenge for administrators will be preventing large-scale outbreaks.

As the school year begins online, thousands of Texas students are being left out of virtual learning

September 02, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.19 MB

One Central Texas superintendent estimated that up to 7,000 students in his district struggled to access virtual learning, and new iPads are not likely to arrive before October. In South Texas, students share computers, phones and spotty internet with siblings.

The State tells Harris County not to send all voters applications for mail-in ballots.

September 01, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.1 MB

The secretary of state's office threatened legal action against Harris County if it goes ahead with a plan to send applications for mail-in ballots to more than 2 million registered voters.

Officials want to cut funding for women's health services in Texas while preserving an anti-abortion program.

August 31, 2020 10:00 - 5 minutes - 4.8 MB

A budget document shows funding for the anti-abortion program would be maintained, but reduced for doctors and clinics that provide reduced-cost contraception and health screenings.

Hurricane Laura downgraded to Category 1

August 28, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.02 MB

Gov. Greg Abbott cautioned that the state is not out of the woods yet, as a true damage assessment has yet to be conducted.

Harris county sending mail-in ballot applications to millions of registered voters

August 27, 2020 10:00 - 6 minutes - 5.58 MB

Not all of Harris County’s registered voters will ultimately qualify. Texas is among a handful of states with strict eligibility requirements to vote by mail.

Nearly 350,000 unemployed Texans don't qualify for extra $300 weekly benefit

August 26, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.29 MB

Texans receiving less than $100 in weekly unemployment benefits do not qualify for the extra $300 weekly payments the Trump administration is distributing to Texas and other states.

Students said pandemic-era tuition should be cut. But it’s going up at some schools due to distance learning fees.

August 25, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.22 MB

Students grappling with financial upsets and a hurting economy say tuition should be lowered at their Texas universities. But some colleges are adding new fees related to an increase in distance learning.

With no end to the shutdown in sight, Texas bar owners and employees are on the brink of losing everything

August 24, 2020 10:00 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MB

Some bar owners are planning to reopen in defiance of the moratorium, a desperate attempt to generate income — and draw Gov. Greg Abbott’s attention.

As Texas schools reopen, this mom is keeping her 4-year-old home

August 22, 2020 11:00 - 7 minutes - 6.75 MB

Amy Mason says there are just too many unknowns for her to feel comfortable sending her four-year-old to school, at least not yet. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. www.texastribune.org

In Texas, USPS woes and state deadlines could leave voters without enough time to return mail-in ballots

August 21, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4.37 MB

In Texas' major counties, almost 99% of mail-in ballots were counted during the July primary runoff election, a Tribune analysis shows. But election officials say postal service disarray and a record number of requests mean people should ask for their absentee ballots well before November's Election Day.

Sam Houston State University canceled its in-person graduation and fall sports — but hosted a Tiffany Haddish comedy show

August 20, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 3.9 MB

The school allowed up to 675 students into its indoor Johnson Coliseum to watch comedian Tiffany Haddish on the first day of classes.

Gov. Greg Abbott, other Texas leaders want to freeze property tax revenues for cities that cut police budgets

August 19, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 4 MB

In announcing their legislative plans, the state's three top elected leaders fiercely criticized Austin officials, who cut one-third of their police department's budget last week.

Texas becomes fourth state to surpass 10,000 COVID-19 deaths

August 18, 2020 11:00 - 3 minutes - 7.25 MB

New Jersey, New York and California have also exceeded 10,000 known COVID-19 fatalities. Experts say official death tolls are all but certain to be undercounts. www.texastribune.org

The Democratic National Convention is giving two Texans prime-time speaking roles

August 17, 2020 11:00 - 2 minutes - 5.03 MB

Dallas-area lawmakers, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and State Rep. Victoira Neave, are set to speak Tuesday received bit roles in Tuesday night's lineup of the four-day convention that gets underway today.

Texas teacher starts group to help educators prepare for schools reopening

August 15, 2020 11:00 - 7 minutes - 7.1 MB

In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, listen to why Ambra Hernandez felt compelled to launch a Facebook group to help teachers fulfill their longer-than-normal wish lists. www.texastribune.org

Austin City Council votes to cut police department budget by one-third

August 14, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 6.62 MB

Gov. Greg Abbott said Austin officials' vote “puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk" — and vowed that the Texas Department of Public Safety will "stand in the gap." www.texastribune.org

Texas Democrats hope Kamala Harris will help them flip the state in November

August 13, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 7.54 MB

State Democrats see Harris as someone who can excite key voting groups but who won’t alienate more moderate voters. www.texastribune.org

$400 in extra unemployment benefits remain uncertain in Texas after Trump's executive order

August 12, 2020 10:00 - 5 minutes - 4.76 MB

The order could face legal challenges, and Texas might have to chip in a quarter of the cost. State leaders have not said how they'll respond.

Restaurants, bars and breweries scramble to reinvent themselves to get around Gov. Greg Abbott's bar shutdown

August 11, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 3.89 MB

Hospitality businesses that make most of their money through alcohol sales were closed down by Abbott's latest shutdown order, leaving them to maneuver through loopholes to reopen.

Attorney General Ken Paxton says local governments can't stop or delay evictions.

August 10, 2020 10:00 - 3 minutes - 3.2 MB

The nonbinding opinion comes as housing experts and advocates fear that the COVID-19 recession will prompt a surge in evictions across the state.

South Texas mom says pandemic is taking a toll on her mental health

August 08, 2020 10:00 - 8 minutes - 14.9 MB

Anna Garza says that since losing her job in late May, her anxiety and depression have made it "very difficult to try and keep it together." Listen to her story in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

UT-Austin will test 5,000 people a week for coronavirus and cover out-of-pocket costs for students

August 07, 2020 10:00 - 4 minutes - 3.87 MB

The university plans to test all of its campus residence hall students by the beginning of September. It will continue to conduct random testing and identify individuals or groups on campus strategically to test those at a higher risk of disease spread.

An abrupt change to the census deadline shortened the response period by a month, increasing fears of an undercount in Texas

August 06, 2020 10:00 - 5 minutes - 4.83 MB

The Census Bureau on Monday lopped a month off the time people have to respond to the 2020 count. Texas is already lagging behind the country in response rates, with low-income and Hispanic Texans at high risk of being missed.

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