Nicole Coblerncobler@statesman.comView CommentsGov. Greg Abbott scolded Texans in their 20s for letting their guard down, saying they’ve refused to wear face masks or practice social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.“What we’re seeing there is that people of that age group, they’re not following these appropriate best health and safety practices,” he said in an interview Monday with Lubbock’s KLBK-TV. “They’re not wearing face masks, they’re not sanitizing their hands, they’re not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record...…Nicole Coblerncobler@statesman.comView CommentsGov. Greg Abbott scolded Texans in their 20s for letting their guard down, saying they’ve refused to wear face masks or practice social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.“What we’re seeing there is that people of that age group, they’re not following these appropriate best health and safety practices,” he said in an interview Monday with Lubbock’s KLBK-TV. “They’re not wearing face masks, they’re not sanitizing their hands, they’re not maintaining the safe distancing practices. And as a result, they are contracting COVID-19 at a record...WW…

 The former longtime chief executive of Blue Bell Creameries is facing felony charges alleging that he directed a conspiracy to conceal unsanitary conditions and a deadly 2015 listeria outbreak at the company’s ice cream plants.Paul Kruse, who retired from Blue Bell three years ago, was behind a cover-up to hide "potential and/or confirmed listeria contamination in Blue Bell products from certain Blue Bell customers," according to the U.S. Justice Department, which charged him with criminal conspiracy Friday in U.S. District Court in Travis County.Kruse’s lawyer said his client denies...… The former longtime chief executive of Blue Bell Creameries is facing felony charges alleging that he directed a conspiracy to conceal unsanitary conditions and a deadly 2015 listeria outbreak at the company’s ice cream plants.Paul Kruse, who retired from Blue Bell three years ago, was behind a cover-up to hide "potential and/or confirmed listeria contamination in Blue Bell products from certain Blue Bell customers," according to the U.S. Justice Department, which charged him with criminal conspiracy Friday in U.S. District Court in Travis County.Kruse’s lawyer said his client denies...WW…

Austin American-StatesmanView CommentsLast week, an anonymous donor allocated a $400,000 gift to Statesman Season for Caring and a $300,000 gift to the Central Texas Food Bank in addition to a $100,000 gift the donor made to the food bank earlier this year.The $400,000 gift is the largest single gift made to the Season for Caring program since it began in 1999. With this gift, Season for Caring has raised $1,205,665, including $113,545 in in-kind donations this year. It is the most raised in any single year.Each year, the Statesman highlights the needs of 12 families nominated by local...…Austin American-StatesmanView CommentsLast week, an anonymous donor allocated a $400,000 gift to Statesman Season for Caring and a $300,000 gift to the Central Texas Food Bank in addition to a $100,000 gift the donor made to the food bank earlier this year.The $400,000 gift is the largest single gift made to the Season for Caring program since it began in 1999. With this gift, Season for Caring has raised $1,205,665, including $113,545 in in-kind donations this year. It is the most raised in any single year.Each year, the Statesman highlights the needs of 12 families nominated by local...WW…

Austin American-StatesmanView CommentsIn January, Mike Robertson was tooling through Bertram, a town northwest of Austin, when he spotted the Globe Theatre, an unusual rock-fronted auditorium that doubles as a movie theater. It sports a vertical sign of stacked neon circles and a streamlined marquee that looks new.Robertson, pastor of the Sanctuary Church in Austin’s Tarrytown neighborhood, rolled down his window and snapped a picture with his iPhone. That could have been the end of that.Not long after, however, on another road trip, he spied the flamboyant Edna Theater in the town of...…Austin American-StatesmanView CommentsIn January, Mike Robertson was tooling through Bertram, a town northwest of Austin, when he spotted the Globe Theatre, an unusual rock-fronted auditorium that doubles as a movie theater. It sports a vertical sign of stacked neon circles and a streamlined marquee that looks new.Robertson, pastor of the Sanctuary Church in Austin’s Tarrytown neighborhood, rolled down his window and snapped a picture with his iPhone. That could have been the end of that.Not long after, however, on another road trip, he spied the flamboyant Edna Theater in the town of...WW…

 Texas state Sen. Kel Seliger tested positive for the coronavirus, he confirmed in a tweet Wednesday evening.Seliger, a 67-year-old Republican from Amarillo, represents Senate District 31, which stretches from the Panhandle to the Permian Basin."I have tested positive for COVID-19," Seliger tweeted. "I began to exhibit symptoms last night. I appreciate the well wishes while I diligently comply with isolation and contact tracing guidelines as put out by the Governor and CDC."I have tested positive for COVID-19. I began to exhibit symptoms last night. I appreciate the well wishes while I...… Texas state Sen. Kel Seliger tested positive for the coronavirus, he confirmed in a tweet Wednesday evening.Seliger, a 67-year-old Republican from Amarillo, represents Senate District 31, which stretches from the Panhandle to the Permian Basin."I have tested positive for COVID-19," Seliger tweeted. "I began to exhibit symptoms last night. I appreciate the well wishes while I diligently comply with isolation and contact tracing guidelines as put out by the Governor and CDC."I have tested positive for COVID-19. I began to exhibit symptoms last night. I appreciate the well wishes while I...WW…

Jessica Priest, USA TODAY NETWORKView CommentsHer daughter was hospitalized after she drank from a well it poisoned.It made the roads in her neighborhood so treacherous, she has nightmares about her family being swallowed up in 20-foot-deep sinkholes.And now the company responsible might get the green light to continue.Because of COVID-19, Pennsylvania environmental regulators canceled a hearing about changes to a pipeline for natural gas liquids and, with it, what seems like Rosemary Fuller’s best chance to get the company to publicly answer for the damage it has already caused.“No public...…Jessica Priest, USA TODAY NETWORKView CommentsHer daughter was hospitalized after she drank from a well it poisoned.It made the roads in her neighborhood so treacherous, she has nightmares about her family being swallowed up in 20-foot-deep sinkholes.And now the company responsible might get the green light to continue.Because of COVID-19, Pennsylvania environmental regulators canceled a hearing about changes to a pipeline for natural gas liquids and, with it, what seems like Rosemary Fuller’s best chance to get the company to publicly answer for the damage it has already caused.“No public...WW…

PolitiFact.comView CommentsSince the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, concerns about mental health care have grown, especially as the number of people living under stay-at-home orders has increased. reported that the Texas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has seen a 300% increase in calls to its helpline in March and April.Matt Rinaldi, a former Republican state representative from Irving, and added his own remark: “The Coronavirus RESPONSE is leading to a major crisis in mental health.”In reply, state Rep. Tom Oliverson, an anesthesiologist from...…PolitiFact.comView CommentsSince the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, concerns about mental health care have grown, especially as the number of people living under stay-at-home orders has increased. reported that the Texas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has seen a 300% increase in calls to its helpline in March and April.Matt Rinaldi, a former Republican state representative from Irving, and added his own remark: “The Coronavirus RESPONSE is leading to a major crisis in mental health.”In reply, state Rep. Tom Oliverson, an anesthesiologist from...WW…

 The Texas Republican Party’s virtual state convention stumbled its way toward a messy conclusion Sunday that could leave its legitimacy in doubt."This convention will be challenged in court and should be challenged in court," Amy Hedtke, who along with retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West was challenging Texas Republican Party Chair James Dickey for reelection as the concluding business of the convention, told the American-Statesman."I've already told the West campaign to count me in on anything they file," Hedtke said. "And worst-case scenario, or best case, depending on how you look at...… The Texas Republican Party’s virtual state convention stumbled its way toward a messy conclusion Sunday that could leave its legitimacy in doubt."This convention will be challenged in court and should be challenged in court," Amy Hedtke, who along with retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West was challenging Texas Republican Party Chair James Dickey for reelection as the concluding business of the convention, told the American-Statesman."I've already told the West campaign to count me in on anything they file," Hedtke said. "And worst-case scenario, or best case, depending on how you look at...WW…

 If you want to vote in the upcoming elections, it’s time to make sure your affairs are in order.Monday is the deadline to register to vote in Texas in the Nov. 3 local and national elections, including the races for president; congressional and legislative seats; governor; lieutenant governor; and city and county government and judicial posts. (Find comprehensive election news coverage at statesman.com/elections.)Here are five things you need to know about getting on the voter rolls and making sure your registration is correct and up to date:1. Find out if you are already registered...… If you want to vote in the upcoming elections, it’s time to make sure your affairs are in order.Monday is the deadline to register to vote in Texas in the Nov. 3 local and national elections, including the races for president; congressional and legislative seats; governor; lieutenant governor; and city and county government and judicial posts. (Find comprehensive election news coverage at statesman.com/elections.)Here are five things you need to know about getting on the voter rolls and making sure your registration is correct and up to date:1. Find out if you are already registered...WW…

Nicole Cobler / ncobler@statesman.comView CommentsOne day after an Austin man sued U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in federal court for banning him from Cornyn’s Twitter feed, the Texas Republican unblocked him Friday.Tod Beardsley, the director of research at Massachusetts-based cybersecurity firm Rapid7, argued that Cornyn engaged in “viewpoint-based discrimination and censorship” on a public forum.But after the American-Statesman contacted Cornyn’s office for comment, a spokesman for the senator said Beardsley was “inadvertently” blocked. By Friday afternoon, Beardsley was able to access Cornyn’s...…Nicole Cobler / ncobler@statesman.comView CommentsOne day after an Austin man sued U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in federal court for banning him from Cornyn’s Twitter feed, the Texas Republican unblocked him Friday.Tod Beardsley, the director of research at Massachusetts-based cybersecurity firm Rapid7, argued that Cornyn engaged in “viewpoint-based discrimination and censorship” on a public forum.But after the American-Statesman contacted Cornyn’s office for comment, a spokesman for the senator said Beardsley was “inadvertently” blocked. By Friday afternoon, Beardsley was able to access Cornyn’s...WW…