Analysis: A virus unfettered among the unvaccinated

Latest News

• As Texas COVID-19 cases surge again, some local officials urge everyone to wear masks and unvaccinated residents to stay home

  by Colleen DeGuzman Updated: July 24, 2021

  Officials in Dallas, Harris and Travis counties want residents to take stronger precautions as the delta variant drives an increase in coronavirus infections across Texas. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers file bill to block UT-Austin from leaving Big 12 for SEC

  by Heidi Pérez-Moreno July 23, 2021

  The move is largely symbolic as the legislative session has been ground to a halt by the quorum-busting Democrats who fled Texas 11 days ago. Even if the Democrats returned, Abbott would have to add the item to his special session agenda for it to have a chance at passing. Full Story 

• Texas veterans homes overseen by George P. Bush were often the deadliest places to be during COVID-19 pandemic

  by Shannon Najmabadi, The Texas Tribune, Jay Root, Houston Chronicle, and Carla Astudillo, The Texas Tribune July 23, 2021

  Seven of the state’s nine veterans homes had a fatality rate of 25% or more, far higher than the statewide average of 11% for nursing homes. Bush has vowed to not renew the operators’ contracts. Full Story 

• Texas has seen nearly 9,000 COVID-19 deaths since February. All but 43 were unvaccinated people.

  by Colleen DeGuzman Updated: July 23, 2021

  Preliminary data shows 99.5% of COVID-related deaths in Texas were among unvaccinated people, according to the Department of State Health Services. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott promised “transparency and accountability” for border wall donations. But donors don’t have to use real names.

  by James Barragán July 23, 2021

  Despite promises from Abbott that transparency in the crowdfunding process for the border wall would be paramount, donor information released to The Texas Tribune for the first week of collections was bereft of any way to verify the identities of the majority of the donors. Full Story 

• Lawmakers concerned about UT leaving Big 12 conference make their case to Gov. Greg Abbott's office

  by Patrick Svitek and Matthew Watkins July 22, 2021

  Four prominent lawmakers — one each with ties to Baylor University, Texas Christian University, Texas Tech University and Texas A&M University — met with Gov. Greg Abbott’s staff Thursday, one day after news broke that the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma had reached out to the Southeastern Conference about joining. Full Story 

• Texas House Democrats trying to block the GOP voting bill are pinning their hopes on Congress. So far Congress is unmoved.

  by Abby Livingston July 22, 2021

  Over the past few days, the Texas delegation has met with nearly all of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, save for President Joe Biden. But there is not yet clear movement to revive the congressional Democrats’ federal voting legislation. Full Story 

• Texans not expected to lose power through the rest of the summer, regulators say

  by Mitchell Ferman July 22, 2021

  The state’s electricity regulators said they’re taking steps to assure a skeptical public that the power won’t go out again if Texas experiences extreme weather this summer. Full Story 

• Beto O’Rourke group gives $600,000 to Texas House Democrats’ stay in Washington, D.C.

  by Cassandra Pollock July 22, 2021

  Members left Texas about 10 days ago and have said they plan to stay out of state until after the special session ends Aug. 6. Full Story 

• Pandemic show and tell: Texas second graders’ drawings and words reveal how COVID-19 touched their lives

  by Bekah McNeel, The74Million.org July 22, 2021

  Fear, happiness and relief show up in the artwork of San Antonio students asked to depict their reactions to the challenges of the past year. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott says he won’t impose new mask mandate despite increasing COVID-19 cases

  by Patrick Svitek Updated: July 21, 2021

  Abbott reiterated Tuesday that Texas schoolchildren will not face mask requirements as they return to school later this summer. Full Story 

• Converted Texas prison gets first immigrant detainees as Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security effort ramps up

  by Jolie McCullough, The Texas Tribune, and Lomi Kriel, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica July 21, 2021

  Border-crossing immigrants are being arrested by Texas troopers on state charges like trespassing, and they’re starting to trickle into a prison emptied to house them. Full Story 

• Texas Supreme Court may decide next plot twist in the Democratic walkout, and the fate of 2,100 state employees

  by Reese Oxner July 21, 2021

  The state’s highest civil court has been asked to decide if Gov. Greg Abbott has the power to cut off funding for legislative staff, a move Abbott hoped would keep Democratic lawmakers from leaving the state and shutting down a special legislative session. Full Story 

• Without Trump’s endorsement, Jake Ellzey pushes for upset in TX-6 special election runoff against Susan Wright

  by Patrick Svitek July 21, 2021

  Ellzey and Wright are vying to succeed her late husband, U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington, in the 6th District in North Texas. Early voting for the runoff started Monday and ends Friday. Full Story 

• Returning to school as pandemic lingers, San Antonio students inundate counseling center

  by Bekah McNeel, The74Million.org July 21, 2021

  Counseling services launched just before the pandemic to help students adjust to new schools are now seeing high levels of stress and anxiety among many students preparing to return to classrooms, and their parents. Full Story 

• UT hired consultant for up to $1.1 million to revamp battered image of “Eyes of Texas” song

  by Kate McGee Updated: July 20, 2021

  The consultant, Brad Deutser, is listed as a member of the committee tasked with chronicling the full history of “The Eyes.” But some students who spoke with him said they felt he was trying to convince them to accept the school's position on the song. Full Story