5:44 PM on May 27, 2020 CDT — Updated at 7:30 PM on May 27, 2020 CDTUpdated at 7:30 p.m. Revised to include new information throughout. AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that lack of immunity to COVID-19 alone is not a physical disability that qualifies people to vote by mail.The ruling is a victory for Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has argued that only a physical illness or disability that prevents voters from going to the polls should qualify people to vote by mail. It is a loss for the Texas Democratic Party and voting rights groups who had pushed for expanded mail...…5:44 PM on May 27, 2020 CDT — Updated at 7:30 PM on May 27, 2020 CDTUpdated at 7:30 p.m. Revised to include new information throughout. AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that lack of immunity to COVID-19 alone is not a physical disability that qualifies people to vote by mail.The ruling is a victory for Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has argued that only a physical illness or disability that prevents voters from going to the polls should qualify people to vote by mail. It is a loss for the Texas Democratic Party and voting rights groups who had pushed for expanded mail...WW…

1:14 PM on Jun 16, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Workforce Commission will bring back its work search requirement for unemployment recipients beginning next month.The commission decided at its Tuesday meeting to bring back the requirement beginning July 6. The first time that recipients would have to prove they’ve been looking for work would be two weeks later while requesting their benefits payment.The state had previously work search requirements because many businesses were closed due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.“As Texas begins to recover and Gov. Greg Abbott works to reopen the Texas...…1:14 PM on Jun 16, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Workforce Commission will bring back its work search requirement for unemployment recipients beginning next month.The commission decided at its Tuesday meeting to bring back the requirement beginning July 6. The first time that recipients would have to prove they’ve been looking for work would be two weeks later while requesting their benefits payment.The state had previously work search requirements because many businesses were closed due to the COVID-19 lockdowns.“As Texas begins to recover and Gov. Greg Abbott works to reopen the Texas...WW…

3:35 PM on May 1, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday said that election officials in Texas who offer mail ballots to people who normally wouldn’t qualify but are afraid of catching the coronavirus could be subjected to criminal punishment.Paxton’s guidance to county election officials comes two weeks after a state judge in Travis County ruled that Texas voters who fear catching the coronavirus could .In his to county officials Friday, Paxton, a Republican, said he had appealed that decision by State District Judge Tim Sulak, a Democrat, and therefore the order was stayed...…3:35 PM on May 1, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday said that election officials in Texas who offer mail ballots to people who normally wouldn’t qualify but are afraid of catching the coronavirus could be subjected to criminal punishment.Paxton’s guidance to county election officials comes two weeks after a state judge in Travis County ruled that Texas voters who fear catching the coronavirus could .In his to county officials Friday, Paxton, a Republican, said he had appealed that decision by State District Judge Tim Sulak, a Democrat, and therefore the order was stayed...WW…

12:58 PM on Apr 27, 2020 CDT — Updated at 7:45 PM on Apr 27, 2020 CDTUpdated at 1:52 p.m., April 28, 2020: to correct that Abbott lifted the 14-day self-quarantine order only on road and air travelers from Louisiana, not on air travelers from New York and other COVID-19 hotspots.AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said his statewide stay-at-home order on coronavirus will expire on Thursday as scheduled, while Texas malls, stores, movie theaters and restaurants may open the next day — with 25% occupancy.Barber shops, hair salons, gyms, massage establishments, tattoo parlors, video arcades...…12:58 PM on Apr 27, 2020 CDT — Updated at 7:45 PM on Apr 27, 2020 CDTUpdated at 1:52 p.m., April 28, 2020: to correct that Abbott lifted the 14-day self-quarantine order only on road and air travelers from Louisiana, not on air travelers from New York and other COVID-19 hotspots.AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said his statewide stay-at-home order on coronavirus will expire on Thursday as scheduled, while Texas malls, stores, movie theaters and restaurants may open the next day — with 25% occupancy.Barber shops, hair salons, gyms, massage establishments, tattoo parlors, video arcades...WW…

8:11 PM on May 15, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court late Friday an appeals court’s order that had allowed election officials across the state to temporarily give mail ballots to people who are afraid of being infected with the coronavirus.Attorney General Ken Paxton said the court accepted his that mail ballots should not be granted to voters who fear catching COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. He said the Supreme Court’s order stops the distribution of mail ballots under those conditions until his appeal is heard.“I am pleased that today the Texas Supreme Court confirmed...…8:11 PM on May 15, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court late Friday an appeals court’s order that had allowed election officials across the state to temporarily give mail ballots to people who are afraid of being infected with the coronavirus.Attorney General Ken Paxton said the court accepted his that mail ballots should not be granted to voters who fear catching COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. He said the Supreme Court’s order stops the distribution of mail ballots under those conditions until his appeal is heard.“I am pleased that today the Texas Supreme Court confirmed...WW…

3:05 PM on Apr 15, 2020 CDTUpdated at 7:13 p.m. with reaction from Paxton.AUSTIN — A state judge said Wednesday afternoon that all voters in Texas afraid of contracting COVID-19 through in-person voting should be allowed to vote by mail during the pandemic.State District Judge Tim Sulak of the 353rd District Court in Travis County said he will issue a temporary injunction allowing voters who fear catching the new coronavirus to qualify for mail-in voting through the disability clause in the state’s election code.The lawsuit was filed by the Texas Democratic Party and several voting rights...…3:05 PM on Apr 15, 2020 CDTUpdated at 7:13 p.m. with reaction from Paxton.AUSTIN — A state judge said Wednesday afternoon that all voters in Texas afraid of contracting COVID-19 through in-person voting should be allowed to vote by mail during the pandemic.State District Judge Tim Sulak of the 353rd District Court in Travis County said he will issue a temporary injunction allowing voters who fear catching the new coronavirus to qualify for mail-in voting through the disability clause in the state’s election code.The lawsuit was filed by the Texas Democratic Party and several voting rights...WW…

12:26 PM on Oct 24, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Saturday a lower court’s order that had Gov. Greg Abbott’s order limiting counties to one mail ballot drop-off site.The decision followed a ruling Friday by Texas' Austin-based Third Court of Appeals that had upheld a . The state had appealed the Third Court of Appeals order.The state Supreme Court was still reviewing whether to take further action in the case and ordered both sides to file their responses by 5 p.m. Monday. By then, there will be just more than one week left for voters to return their mail ballots in person to...…12:26 PM on Oct 24, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Saturday a lower court’s order that had Gov. Greg Abbott’s order limiting counties to one mail ballot drop-off site.The decision followed a ruling Friday by Texas' Austin-based Third Court of Appeals that had upheld a . The state had appealed the Third Court of Appeals order.The state Supreme Court was still reviewing whether to take further action in the case and ordered both sides to file their responses by 5 p.m. Monday. By then, there will be just more than one week left for voters to return their mail ballots in person to...WW…

9:21 PM on Oct 9, 2020 CDTUpdated at 2:42 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 with appeal of judge’s orderAUSTIN -- A federal judge in Austin blocked Gov. Greg Abbott’s order a county can have.In an issued late Friday night, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman of Austin put on hold Abbott’s order thereby allowing counties to have multiple mail ballot drop-off sites.The order said agents of the state are blocked from taking any action to inhibit election administrators from offering more than one drop-off location for ballots in their respective counties.The decision, issued by a Barack Obama appointee, is...…9:21 PM on Oct 9, 2020 CDTUpdated at 2:42 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 with appeal of judge’s orderAUSTIN -- A federal judge in Austin blocked Gov. Greg Abbott’s order a county can have.In an issued late Friday night, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman of Austin put on hold Abbott’s order thereby allowing counties to have multiple mail ballot drop-off sites.The order said agents of the state are blocked from taking any action to inhibit election administrators from offering more than one drop-off location for ballots in their respective counties.The decision, issued by a Barack Obama appointee, is...WW…

6:00 AM on Aug 10, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Democratic Party will announce Monday that it is doubling down on its vote-by-mail campaign with a goal of reaching 1.7 million potential mail voters by the end of the month — the most for an election cycle in the state party’s history.To reach that goal, party officials will launch an effort to send out more than 815,000 vote-by-mail applications by the end of August to those already eligible to receive the ballots, such as those over 65 and people with disabilities.Those mail ballot applications may play a major role in this year’s crucial...…6:00 AM on Aug 10, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — The Texas Democratic Party will announce Monday that it is doubling down on its vote-by-mail campaign with a goal of reaching 1.7 million potential mail voters by the end of the month — the most for an election cycle in the state party’s history.To reach that goal, party officials will launch an effort to send out more than 815,000 vote-by-mail applications by the end of August to those already eligible to receive the ballots, such as those over 65 and people with disabilities.Those mail ballot applications may play a major role in this year’s crucial...WW…

7:30 AM on Jul 30, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — As Republicans look to win back state House seats in Dallas this November, the party’s slate of candidates is as diverse as the county’s demographics.Leading that charge is a lineup that includes four women, several millennials, two immigrants, an African American and a biracial candidate.The new look comes at a crucial time. Two years ago, the Dallas County GOP lost five seats in the Texas House, which made up nearly .Now, they’re trying to and prevent for the first time since 2001.But with so much on the line, will the GOP’s diversity of candidates be...…7:30 AM on Jul 30, 2020 CDTAUSTIN — As Republicans look to win back state House seats in Dallas this November, the party’s slate of candidates is as diverse as the county’s demographics.Leading that charge is a lineup that includes four women, several millennials, two immigrants, an African American and a biracial candidate.The new look comes at a crucial time. Two years ago, the Dallas County GOP lost five seats in the Texas House, which made up nearly .Now, they’re trying to and prevent for the first time since 2001.But with so much on the line, will the GOP’s diversity of candidates be...WW…