Deluge of new COVID-19 cases forces Austin-area health officials to limit testing, shift tracing strategy
Fighting antiquated fax machines and a sharp rise in the demand for testing, officials said contact tracers are not able to get in touch with residents quickly enough to prevent the spread of the virus.
CommUnityCare will no longer test asymptomatic people for COVID-19 as testing demand swells
CommUnityCare Health Centers is now only testing individuals who show symptoms, those who have a known exposure to the coronavirus or those with other existing health conditions.
Travis County adds 571 COVID-19 cases; new restriction put in place ahead of holiday weekend
Overall in Travis County there has been a total of 10,695 cases since mid-March.
Travis County Judge supports state masking order, says county will enforce
After Gov. Greg Abbot's statewise mandate to wear masks that cover mouth and nose, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe voiced his support.
Austin police will no longer arrest for low-level marijuana possession
Austin police will no longer arrest or issue citations for most marijuana possession offenses under 4 ounces.
Gov. Greg Abbott: Texans must wear masks in public starting July 3
"COVID-19 is not going away," Gov. Abbott said. "In fact, it is getting worse."
Survey: Texans support emphasis on improving economy, safety, pollution to address overall health
“COVID-19 is clearly showing what Texans already know: the state needs to address underlying, non-medical conditions that have a dramatic impact on their health,” Episcopal Health Foundation President and CEO Elena Marks said.
Read the latest on 4th of July celebrations in Central Texas
Area cities have canceled or modified their Independence Day events.
Construction begins on new fire and EMS station in Southwest Austin
As one of five new stations geared at improving citywide response times, the new station will serve the Sunset Valley and Travis Country communities.
Austin shuts down main greenbelts, all programs and amenities through July; parks, trails will remain open
City officials are working to contain a recent surge in the spread of the coronavirus.
Celebrate Independence Day in Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs with these events
Many Fourth of July events are canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, but some outdoor and virtual events are still on.
Travis County adds 597 new coronavirus cases July 1
There have been more than 10,000 total coronavirus cases in Travis County as of July 1.
Construction nears completion for Lantana Pass office and retail development in Southwest Austin
A pair of retail and office buildings in Southwest Austin are close to completion as tenants prepare to move in.
Roundup: 5 Southwest Austin businesses celebrating anniversaries in July
Proof & Cooper, Crow Bar and HHS are among those hitting milestones in Southwest Austin this month.
Comptroller: Texas June sales tax revenue totaled $2.7 billion, down 6.5% from a year ago
The Texas comptroller's office has released June sales tax revenue figures.
Texas Education Agency: 1 in 10 students have disengaged during the pandemic
More than 600,000 Texas public school students didn't complete assignments or respond to outreach during the coronavirus pandemic.
Austin City Limits Music Festival canceled for 2020
The annual festival brought more than 75,000 fans per day across two weekends last year and had a $291 million impact on the local economy.
Capital Metro employee dies after testing positive for COVID-19
The employee of the public transportation agency tested positive for the virus June 18.
Students to be required to take STAAR test in 2020-21 school year
While there are many unknowns regarding public education operations next year, one thing is for certain: Students will be required to take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test.
Pressure builds as Austin City Council members question city manager’s ability to bring transformational police reform
Several City Council members said without transformational changes to policing, Austin might need a new city manager.
Travis County has seen 6,265 new coronavirus cases this month after June 30 update
There were 558 new coronavirus cases in Travis County on June 30.
Travis County continues Tesla deliberations with no date set for vote on economic incentives
Travis County commissioners continue to gather public input and hold closed-session discussions regarding a possible local factory for the electric carmaker.
Health care: Learn how COVID-19 is impacting the South Austin community, county health ranking, recent health updates and more
The following information shows how South Austin has been impacted by the ongoing pandemic, how Travis and Hays counties compare to their peers and what medical resources are available residents.
H-E-B to require all shoppers to wear masks amid coronavirus
H-E-B officials confirmed via email June 30 that all stores will require shoppers and employees to wear masks beginning July 1.
Work search requirement paused for Texans on unemployment benefits
Texans receiving unemployment benefits will have a little extra time before they have to prove they are actively looking for work to continue receiving state assistance.