When Texas went into lockdown three months ago, I recall the conversations around "What's next?" Many Texans felt their lives upended by stay-at-home orders, mandatory face masks and other measures aimed at "flattening the curve," and talked about whether officials had struck the right balance between public health and economic survival. It didn't take long for partisanship to enter the picture, and the use or non-use of facial coverings became (at least in some circles) a kind of political statement. Fast forward to this past week and we are seeing a different sort of conversation emerge: one in which a bipartisan consensus appears to be slowly growing that the division between public health versus our economic well-being is a false one. On Monday, a prominent Texas economist explained how the use of face masks was essential for returning to "business as usual." Without such steps to curb our current spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, people would remain fearful of sending their kids to camps, taking a trip to the beach or going to restaurants. Indeed, businesses now find themselves on the front lines of enforcement, facing local mandates to require face masks or face fines or closure. Now, restaurateurs themselves are asking the governor to intervene, and order the use of facial coverings in public. We've come a long way in three months. Or, looking at the data, have we, really? As we continue to follow this developing story, we encourage you to explore some of our latest coverage below. Until next week, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

The Texas Restaurant Association Wants A Statewide Face-Mask Mandate

The head of the association says putting the responsibility of face-mask enforcement on businesses and employees is an unfair burden, and puts staff safety at risk.

Disheartened By Protests, This Man Started His Own Conversations About Race In His Small Town

Nifa Kaniga says he wanted to start a conversation with locals in Dripping Springs about unconscious racism, white privilege and why people are protesting and more.

What Juneteenth Means To Texans In 2020

Black Texans reflect on the day enslaved people learned they were free. They still say there's work to do, 155 years later.

What It Means When Texas Trees And Fences Are Painted Purple

The color purple is a warning, “the same as you might see a ‘No trespassing’ sign.”

Texas Blood Bank Tries To Ease Shortage With New Perk: COVID-19 Antibody Testing (KERA)
Austin Businesses That Don't Comply With Face-Covering Requirement Could Face Fines (KUT)
Short Notice And Massive Turnout Complicates Coronavirus Testing At Sul Ross State University (Marfa Public Radio)
Study: Harvey Caused Skin Lesions, Brief Population Drop In Upper Galveston Bay Dolphins (Houston Public Media)

As a reporter, I’m used to rolling with the punches – sources change their minds about talking, officials don’t return my calls, government agencies take too long to respond to a request. Reporting during the coronavirus pandemic means expecting a few more "punches," and learning to be more flexible. Instead of doing in-person interviews, I’ve done most of my interviews virtually, from home. It isn’t ideal, especially if you want to capture certain sounds and specific details to describe a scene. But it’s a safe alternative. I have gone out for some assignments, but I always weigh the risks: Is this a story I can only get by going there in person? In some ways, the pandemic has forced me to think more creatively about my reporting. For example, I can ask the person I’m interviewing to record sounds, shoot video or take photos themselves, on their phone, and then share those with me. I also changed beats since the pandemic started. I used to cover education, but now I'm reporting more on immigration and demographics. The new focus allows me to tell stories about timely topics like the recent Supreme Court decision on DACA. And as we get closer to the November election, immigration will continue to be a major topic in politics. It’s a critical time, and I feel fortunate to be part of the KERA team, helping to keep the public informed.