Tag Archives: Greg Abbott

The Dallas News reports: Gov. Greg Abbott sternly warned Texans of “rampant” spread of coronavirus that took the state to a new high Tuesday of more than 5,000 new cases in a single day. Saying Texans should stay home unless they have a good reason to venture out, Abbott late Tuesday afternoon gave local officials more powers to limit public …

The Texas Tribune reports: Two staffers for the hardline conservative group Empower Texans have been caught on an audio recording disparaging Gov. Greg Abbott with profanity and joking about his wheelchair use. Upon the comments surfacing Friday morning, Abbott’s office and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick denounced them and Empower Texans said the staffers were “suspended from all public activities with …

The Texas Tribune reports: Texas students will be returning to public schools in person this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott told state lawmakers Thursday morning. The state’s top education officials confirmed the plans in a statement to The Texas Tribune. “It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this …

The Texas Tribune reports: The mayors of nine of Texas’ biggest cities urged Gov. Greg Abbott in a letter Tuesday to grant them the “authority to set rules and regulations” mandating face masks during the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to climb in Texas, an executive order from Abbott bans local governments from imposing fines or criminal …

The Texas Tribune reports: With the number of people hospitalized for the new coronavirus continuing to climb in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday that there’s “no real need to ratchet back the opening of businesses in the state.” One of the reasons, he said in an interview with KYTX television in Tyler, is “because we have so many hospital …

The Texas Tribune reports: For the third day in a row, Texas has reported a record number of patients hospitalized with the new coronavirus, a metric Gov. Greg Abbott has said he’s watching as businesses continue reopening and limits on their operations are loosened. Data released Wednesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services shows 2,153 people were hospitalized …

CNBC reports: Texas reported a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations Monday — weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott took the lead among governors in easing social distancing measures to help bring jobs back. There are currently 1,935 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the state, topping the previous hospitalization record of 1,888 patients on May 5, according to new data from the …

The Texas Tribune reports: Republican leaders in five Texas counties shared racist Facebook posts, some of which also floated conspiracy theories, leading Gov. Greg Abbott to call for two of them to resign. Abbott and other top Texas Republicans called for the resignation of the GOP chairs in Bexar and Nueces counties after they shared on social media a conspiracy …

The Houston Chronicle reports: Just after sunrise, several Texas families decided to make an early start to be the first in line at Big Rivers Waterpark in New Caney. “Boy, it was wild,” guest Anthony Welsh said. “We’ve been waiting in line since 7:30 a.m. They wouldn’t let anybody move until about 10 a.m.” Right outside the gate, crowds gathered …

The Austin Statesman reports: Gov. Greg Abbott Monday unveiled his plans for an accelerated return to a semblance of normal life Monday, immediately reopening child care centers, Scouting and other youth clubs, as well as massage, tattoo, piercing and other personal services, with a limited reopening of bars, bingo halls and bowling alleys Friday, when restaurants will be allowed to …

The Austin Statesman reports: State health officials reported 58 new deaths related to the coronavirus and 1,448 new cases Thursday, the highest single-day increase for both numbers. The record number of fatalities brings the statewide death toll from the coronavirus to 1,216, according to the latest data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. The previous high was 50 …

CBS News Dallas reports: After supporting the actions of a Dallas salon owner who was jailed for violating executive stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Greg Abbott has now modified his executive orders and eliminated confinement as a punishment for violating the mandates. “Throwing Texans in jail who have had their businesses shut down through no fault …

The Daily Beast reports: During a private call on Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott admitted that “every scientific and medical report shows” state reopenings “ipso facto” lead to an increase in novel coronavirus cases, even as he publicly announced plans that same week to end an executive stay-at-home order in the state. “How do we know reopening businesses won’t result …

The Austin Statesman reports: Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday his stay-at-home order “has done its job” and he will let the restriction expire at the end of April. “We’re not just going to open up and hope for the best,” he said in a Capitol news conference. “Opening Texas must occur in phases.” The governor’s “Phase One” plan will begin …

The Christian Post reports: In an interview with Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas on his faith and response to the COVID-19 disease, Gov. Greg Abbott told the viewers they have “support you can lean on that will always be there for you, and that’s Jesus Christ.” “God’s hand is working through the scientists across this great …

The Hill reports: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Friday that Texas schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year but that other aspects of life would soon begin to slowly reopen. Abbott also said that he’s forming a new task force comprised of lawmakers, businesses leaders and doctors that will create a reopening strategy. “Texans are …

Fox News reports: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday he plans to sign an executive order next week outlining guidelines for how businesses in the state can start to reopen after being shut down over coronavirus. “Next week I will be providing an executive order talking about what will be done in Texas about reopening Texas businesses,” Abbott said during …

The Freedom From Religion Foundation reports: The Freedom From Religion Foundation has won its case at the appeals court level against censorship of its display in the Texas Capitol by Gov. Greg Abbott. The unanimous opinion by the three-judge court panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today granted FFRF additional relief. The judgment, written by Judge Stephen …

ABC News reports: Texas expanded its quarantine requirement for out-of-state travelers on Sunday, adding to a growing patchwork of domestic travel rules aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Greg Abbott targeted some of the pandemic’s hot spots, ordering that air travelers from California, Washington state and several other places must self-quarantine for two weeks after arriving in …

CNN reports: All 16 of Texas’ Catholic bishops have issued a joint statement slamming Gov. Greg Abbott, who is Catholic, for announcing the state will bar refugees in 2020. The bishops call Abbott’s decision “misguided” and say it “denies people who are fleeing persecution, including religious persecution, from being able to bring their gifts and talents to our state and …