EL PASO, Texas — Nearly 3.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week — almost five times the previous record set in 1982 — amid a widespread economic shutdown caused by the coronavirus. The surge in weekly applications was a stunning reflection of the damage the viral outbreak is inflicting on the economy. Filings
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AUSTIN, Texas — Leaders in El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston and Austin on Tuesday joined a growing a list of Texas cities including Dallas and San Antonio that have ordered people to stay at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The announcements came as Gov. Greg Abbott, who has declined to issue a statewide shelter-in-place
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Tx Lt Gov Dan Patrick says grandparents would be willing to die to save the economy for their grandchildren pic.twitter.com/wC3Ngvtsbj— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) March 24, 2020 AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday night that he’s “not living in fear” of the novel coronavirus pandemic and is “all in” on lifting social
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RICHMOND, Texas — A counselor who works in a Texas prison has tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first time the disease caused by the novel coronavirus has been reported in the country’s largest prison system. Meanwhile, San Antonio-area officials reported their first COVID-19-related death and Dallas County health officials reported that county’s third and
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AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to President Trump on Monday requesting a presidential declaration of a major disaster in Texas due to the impact of the coronavirus, which has now claimed nine lives in the state. The three new deaths reported Monday included a woman in her 80s who is the San
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AUSTIN, Texas — The governor and attorney general of Texas are moving to ban most abortions in the state during the coronavirus outbreak, declaring they don’t qualify as essential surgeries. Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday that the order issued over the weekend by Gov. Greg Abbott barred “any type of abortion that is not
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EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso area hospitals released a joint statement Monday outlining a new no-visitor policy that takes effect immediately. El Paso Children’s Hospital, The Hospitals of Providence, Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare and University Medical Center of El Paso all said the policy is necessary to reduce the risk of coronavirus
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AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott declined at a news conference Sunday to follow the lead of other states with a statewide “shelter in place” order even as the number of cases in Texas swelled by at least 30 in a day. The death toll went from five to six. Abbott said the increase in
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AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott announced new measures Sunday to free up hospital resources to address the coronavirus pandemic, as Texas saw it’s sixth death tied to disease. Abbott said at a news conference that he issued executive orders to allow hospitals to treat two patient in a room, rather than one, and directing
Continue Reading DALLAS, Texas — The number of coronavirus cases in Texas now tops 300, the Texas Department of State Health Services said Saturday. The department reports 304 people have tested positive for the virus, up from about 200 on Friday, while the death toll in the state remained at five. Dallas County has the greatest number
Continue Reading SANDY SPRINGS, Georgia — Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on records and on TV, died Friday night. He was 81. He died at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, representative
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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that he has postponed the May 26 primary runoff elections throughout the state until July 14 because of the coronavirus threat. Abbott signed the postponement order Friday under the emergency powers of his previous statewide disaster declaration. Dozens of runoffs are ongoing for party nominations to
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EL PASO, Texas – As businesses close their doors for the foreseeable future to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, many Texas restaurants are left searching for ways to maintain some sort of revenue. But thanks to a special exception from the state government, restaurant delivery and take out menus can now include alcohol. Texas
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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order Thursday that shuts down all dine-in operations for restaurants and bars across the state. It also requires that gyms be closed, restricts access to nursing homes, and asks all Texans to avoid gatherings of 10 people or more. Abbott unveiled the order, effective at 11:59 p.m.
Continue Reading ARLINGTON, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott said he would make an announcement Thursday about the potential statewide closure of gyms, bars and restaurants to combat the coronavirus, acknowledging that the spread of it in Texas has increased dramatically over the past several days and now caused three deaths. His remarks came in response to a reporter’s question
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SAN DIEGO, California — The Trump administration is considering a plan to turn back all people who cross the border illegally from Mexico, two administration officials said Tuesday, using powers they say the president has during pandemics like the coronavirus outbreak to mount what would be one of the most aggressive attempts to curtail illegal
Continue Reading AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a video conference with Texas hospitals on Tuesday to talk about the spread of the coronavirus amid word of the state’s first two deaths. “That conversation really ran the gamut,” said Ryan Mielke, a spokesman for University Medical Center in El Paso, who indicated the topics included the
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EL PASO, Texas — Whataburger announced late Monday that the fast food chain will close the dining rooms in all restaurants and offer drive-thru service only due to the coronavirus outbreak. The restaurant dining rooms will all close by 3 p.m. Tuesday and will remain closed until further notice, according to the Texas-founded burger chain.
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HOUSTON, Texas — The outbreak of the novel coronavirus prompted the top Texas criminal appeals court on Monday to stay for 60 days the scheduled execution of a man condemned for killing his family. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected all grounds of John William Hummel’s appeal but said it would postpone the scheduled
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DALLAS, Texas — Nightlife in two of America’s largest cities is shut down for at least the next week in an aggressive attempt to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, the mayors of Dallas and Houston announced. The mayor of Dallas issued an emergency order Monday closing bars and entertainment venues, limiting the operation
Continue Reading SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The number of Texans testing positive for the new coronavirus is likely to dramatically rise as the state’s testing capacity ramps up and cases of community spread continue to climb, Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday. In a news conference Abbott held with other local and state officials, it was said an updated emergency
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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has canceled the state’s requirement for high-stakes standardized testing as public schools face the prospect of long-term closures to combat the coronavirus. Abbott’s Monday morning announcement said he’s also asking the federal government to waive its education testing requirements for the school year. For most people, the new
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MIDLAND, Texas — A man who allegedly stabbed four people, including two children, at a Midland Sam’s Club was charged with attempted capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, officials said Sunday. Jose Gomez, 19, was arrested following the stabbings that happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. As of Sunday afternoon, no bond had
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AUSTIN, Texas — The new coronavirus continues popping up throughout Texas and at least 62 people have now tested positive, according to the latest statewide figures released Saturday. There are cases in each of the state’s five largest urban areas, though the virus has now also appeared in counties ranging from East Texas to the
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HOUSTON, Texas — Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas announced that he will now extend his self-quarantine until March 17 after “a second interaction” with an individual who tested positive for coronavirus. Cruz is is also speaking out critically about the Trump administration’s handling of coronavirus testing. Cruz, who has been a loyal supporter
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ORLA, Texas — An apparent tornado touched down Friday night near the small west Texas town of Orla, destroying a recreational vehicle park and injuring at least three people. Reeves County Sheriff Art Granado told KOSA-TV that crews were searching through the debris at the severely damaged Orla RV Park for the possibility of people
Continue Reading DALLAS, Texas — Texas’ governor declared a state of disaster Friday as the coronavirus pandemic spread to all of the state’s biggest cities. The declaration came as the number of COVID-19 cases climbed and reached into San Antonio and Austin, where illnesses were reported for the first time Friday. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said that
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AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas President Gregory Fenves and his family are now in self-isolation after his wife, Carmel, tested positive for coronavirus, or COVID-19. Fenves said a second member of his family is presumed to have the virus as well and the three of them are in self-isolation. He said he has now been
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AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott isn’t making decisions on canceling public gatherings in response to the coronavirus outbreak, even as some local officials seek guidance and other U.S. governors urge bans on big crowds and school closures. It is a stance that puts Abbott, a Republican, in contrast with governors in both parties
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DALLAS, Texas — Officials have announced a ban on gatherings and events of more than 500 people in Dallas County in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The decision came as the state’s second-most populous county reported five new virus cases, two of which resulted in the victims currently being hospitalized. The announcement
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