Back-and-forth legal rulings have left some school districts with the choice of flouting Abbott and mandating masks — or waiting for the dust to settle.

Dallas and Bexar counties had approved mask orders despite Abbott's order banning such local mandates.

Sheyla Moraes – an intensive care nurse – says this latest surge of the coronavirus pandemic is particularly draining because it was preventable. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.

The state’s Hispanic population is now nearly as large as the non-Hispanic white population, with Texas gaining nearly 11 Hispanic residents for every additional white resident since 2010. Those trends set up a pitched battle for political control when state lawmakers redraw legislative districts.

COVID-19 is surging again in Texas. Hospitalizations are increasing faster than at any other time. Local officials and school leaders are pushing back against Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on mask mandates.

The local officials are asking for courts to rule that Abbott’s ban on local mask mandates is unenforceable.

Abbott's request was one of several steps to address rising coronavirus case numbers and hospitalizations. He did not back down from his refusal to allow local mask mandates.

Both chambers convened at noon Saturday for a second overtime round ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott. The first 30-day stretch ended in an impasse after House Democrats left the state to block a controversial GOP elections bill.

Gov. Greg Abbott is standing firm on his ban against mask mandates in schools. Some parents are concerned for their children's safety as in-person classes resume.

The governor said Thursday the second special session will get underway at noon Saturday, with a 17-item agenda.