The Omicron Variant Has Ravaged Texas Schools
The newest COVID-19 variant has wreaked havoc on public schools in the state, forcing closures as districts scramble for adequate staff.
coronavirus
Is Texas Inflating Its COVID-19 Testing Numbers by Including Antibody Tests?
The state health department is including some antibody test results in its case totals, potentially clouding information on the current spread of the virus.
How COVID-19 Upended Texas Prisons
While prison officials insist they’re doing their best in the face of an unprecedented crisis, Governor Greg Abbott has effectively ignored the pandemic inside the Texas prison system.
Texas Has Stopped Kicking Thousands of Kids Off Medicaid Each Month During the Pandemic, but Advocates Point to Delays for New Enrollees
Texas' frequent eligibility checks for kids on Medicaid are on hold during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Lawrence Wright Embraces Pandemic Panic in ‘The End of October’
The latest novel from the Texas author proves a thriller for our times.
COVID-19 Has Infected Workers at a Tyson Beef Plant in Amarillo, Employees Say
The infections are the latest in the surge of coronavirus cases at Texas meatpacking plants and in the Panhandle.
Texas Health Officials Undercount COVID-19 Cases by Excluding Some Prisoners Who Tested Positive
The Observer identified at least nine Texas counties where current prison cases make up more than 10 percent of the total COVID-19 cases in the county.
7 Texas Arts and Culture Causes to Consider on Giving Tuesday
Today is #GivingTuesdayNow. If you’re looking for causes to donate to, consider supporting the individuals and organizations that make Texas’ art, culture, and media great.
Will Grocery Workers Still Be ‘Heroes’ When COVID-19 Subsides?
In Texas, grocery employees labor for low wages and few benefits. Now they’re part of a nationwide struggle in which workers are fighting for their lives.
In Rural Counties, COVID-19 Cases are Likely Undercounted. Greg Abbott Wants to Reopen them Anyway.
More than 100 Texas counties—many with limited medical resources—will be able to reopen businesses to 50 percent capacity on Friday.