, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Gov. said Tuesday that he banned state agencies, political subdivisions and organizations receiving public funds from creating "vaccine passports" or otherwise requiring someone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to receive services.This comes as vaccine credentials, often referred to as vaccine passports, are being developed around the world as a way to quickly prove someone's vaccination status. It has become a fierce debate, with Republicans largely opposing the move, saying it is an...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Gov. said Tuesday that he banned state agencies, political subdivisions and organizations receiving public funds from creating "vaccine passports" or otherwise requiring someone to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to receive services.This comes as vaccine credentials, often referred to as vaccine passports, are being developed around the world as a way to quickly prove someone's vaccination status. It has become a fierce debate, with Republicans largely opposing the move, saying it is an...WW…

--At least four organizations canceled conferences or conventions in Austin, citing health concerns after Texas ended its statewide mask mandate earlier this month. The cancellations cost the Hilton Austin hotel $350,000 in revenue, according to Austin Convention Enterprises, a city-created corporation that owns and manages the hotel."These were rooms that were already on the books, and largely what we saw was fallout, ironically, from the governor opening the economy," said Joe Bolash, Hilton Austin general manager, during a March 16 Austin Convention Enterprises board meeting. "It was...…--At least four organizations canceled conferences or conventions in Austin, citing health concerns after Texas ended its statewide mask mandate earlier this month. The cancellations cost the Hilton Austin hotel $350,000 in revenue, according to Austin Convention Enterprises, a city-created corporation that owns and manages the hotel."These were rooms that were already on the books, and largely what we saw was fallout, ironically, from the governor opening the economy," said Joe Bolash, Hilton Austin general manager, during a March 16 Austin Convention Enterprises board meeting. "It was...WW…

Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.At least four organizations canceled conferences or conventions in Austin, citing health concerns after Texas ended its statewide mask mandate earlier this month. The cancellations cost the Hilton Austin hotel $350,000 in revenue, according to Austin Convention Enterprises, a city-created corporation that owns and manages the hotel.“These were rooms that were already on the books, and largely what we saw was fallout, ironically, from the governor opening the economy,”...…Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.At least four organizations canceled conferences or conventions in Austin, citing health concerns after Texas ended its statewide mask mandate earlier this month. The cancellations cost the Hilton Austin hotel $350,000 in revenue, according to Austin Convention Enterprises, a city-created corporation that owns and manages the hotel.“These were rooms that were already on the books, and largely what we saw was fallout, ironically, from the governor opening the economy,”...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue Travis County and the City of Austin if officials don't back down on local orders that continue to require masks despite Gov. ending the statewide mask mandate on Wednesday.Austin and Travis County public health leaders recently announced even though Abbott forbade local authorities from superseding his order. County judges can order COVID-19 restrictions if hospitalizations from the virus rise above 15% of the bed capacity in that hospital region for...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue Travis County and the City of Austin if officials don't back down on local orders that continue to require masks despite Gov. ending the statewide mask mandate on Wednesday.Austin and Travis County public health leaders recently announced even though Abbott forbade local authorities from superseding his order. County judges can order COVID-19 restrictions if hospitalizations from the virus rise above 15% of the bed capacity in that hospital region for...WW…

Texas lawmakers investigating this month’s devastating power outages during a massive winter storm grilled power-grid officials Thursday and questioned whether state regulators did enough. Most of what they got during simultaneous public hearings in the Texas Senate and House was finger pointing.“This is the largest train wreck in the history of deregulated electricity,” said state Sen. , R-Conroe.Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas avoided taking full responsibility for the in subfreezing temperatures and for large swaths of the state. ERCOT officials, energy...…Texas lawmakers investigating this month’s devastating power outages during a massive winter storm grilled power-grid officials Thursday and questioned whether state regulators did enough. Most of what they got during simultaneous public hearings in the Texas Senate and House was finger pointing.“This is the largest train wreck in the history of deregulated electricity,” said state Sen. , R-Conroe.Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas avoided taking full responsibility for the in subfreezing temperatures and for large swaths of the state. ERCOT officials, energy...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Officials in Travis and Harris counties are launching separate investigations into the events that led up to last week's massive power outages. Harris County will be probing decisions made by the board that operates the state’s power grid, energy providers and the Public Utility Commission.“Members of our community died in this disaster, and millions of Texans languished without power and water while suffering billions in property damage,” Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said in a Tuesday...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Officials in Travis and Harris counties are launching separate investigations into the events that led up to last week's massive power outages. Harris County will be probing decisions made by the board that operates the state’s power grid, energy providers and the Public Utility Commission.“Members of our community died in this disaster, and millions of Texans languished without power and water while suffering billions in property damage,” Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said in a Tuesday...WW…

US Surpasses 20 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases : Coronavirus Updates In less than two months, the country doubled its total number of infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Updated at 6:41 p.m. ET The United States has reached a sobering milestone while marking the new year. On Friday, the first day of 2021, the U.S. recorded its 20 millionth confirmed coronavirus case since the beginning of the pandemic. That's according to numbers from Johns Hopkins University, . Over 83 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide. The U.S. reached . In less than two...…US Surpasses 20 Million Confirmed Coronavirus Cases : Coronavirus Updates In less than two months, the country doubled its total number of infections, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Updated at 6:41 p.m. ET The United States has reached a sobering milestone while marking the new year. On Friday, the first day of 2021, the U.S. recorded its 20 millionth confirmed coronavirus case since the beginning of the pandemic. That's according to numbers from Johns Hopkins University, . Over 83 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide. The U.S. reached . In less than two...WW…

'Balloon Boy' Parents Pardoned By Colorado Governor for 2009 Hoax The incident captured the attention of many as authorities sought to save the boy, thought to be stuck in an airborne weather balloon. Later, authorities called the situation a hoax.The so-called balloon boy incident captivated television audiences in 2009 as the parents of a 6-year-old — appropriately named Falcon — he had been carried away in a large, UFO-like balloon, thousands of feet in the air. News media helicopters tracked the balloon. The National Guard sent another two helicopters in a rescue attempt. Denver...…'Balloon Boy' Parents Pardoned By Colorado Governor for 2009 Hoax The incident captured the attention of many as authorities sought to save the boy, thought to be stuck in an airborne weather balloon. Later, authorities called the situation a hoax.The so-called balloon boy incident captivated television audiences in 2009 as the parents of a 6-year-old — appropriately named Falcon — he had been carried away in a large, UFO-like balloon, thousands of feet in the air. News media helicopters tracked the balloon. The National Guard sent another two helicopters in a rescue attempt. Denver...WW…

Native Americans Receiving Coronavirus Vaccine After Struggle With Pandemic : Coronavirus Updates Native Americans have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and are four times as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19.Health officials are administering the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine in Indigenous communities across the U.S., one of the populations most vulnerable in the pandemic. About will initially be distributed among the population, the Indian Health Service . Doses began to arrive this week and will first be given to the elderly and health care...…Native Americans Receiving Coronavirus Vaccine After Struggle With Pandemic : Coronavirus Updates Native Americans have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and are four times as likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19.Health officials are administering the first doses of a coronavirus vaccine in Indigenous communities across the U.S., one of the populations most vulnerable in the pandemic. About will initially be distributed among the population, the Indian Health Service . Doses began to arrive this week and will first be given to the elderly and health care...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.The Texas Senate passed a bill Wednesday to create a new statewide court of appeals that would hear cases that have statewide significance — including ones that challenge state laws, the constitution or when the state or its agencies are sued.Currently, when such cases go to the intermediate appellate level, they are mostly heard by the 3rd Court of Appeals based in Austin. That court’s judges are elected by voters in Democratic-leaning Travis County. , though, would send the cases to the new appellate...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.The Texas Senate passed a bill Wednesday to create a new statewide court of appeals that would hear cases that have statewide significance — including ones that challenge state laws, the constitution or when the state or its agencies are sued.Currently, when such cases go to the intermediate appellate level, they are mostly heard by the 3rd Court of Appeals based in Austin. That court’s judges are elected by voters in Democratic-leaning Travis County. , though, would send the cases to the new appellate...WW…