We are just now getting long-awaited back-to-school guidelines.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
Hard to believe it was three weeks ago when Gov. Greg Abbott was telling fellow lawmakers that public schools would be reopening in the fall , and the Texas Education Agency was getting ready to take the wraps off a back-to-school plan that was then, reportedly light on safety guidelines. The following week, when the detailed plan wasn't made public, some wondered about the delay.  Within hours, officials announced coronavirus case numbers reversing and reaching new highs. Fast forward to this week, where Tuesday, Texas reported 10,000 new COVID-19 cases – a new record. We are just now getting those long-awaited back-to-school guidelines, which call for masks for teachers and (most) students, parental choice for online-versus-in person classes (in many districts) and screening rules for those going back to campus. But the back-and-forth hints at how attitudes in Texas toward the pandemic have been affected by politics and notions of personal responsibility. Check out our discussion on the latest public opinion survey about the pandemic from the Texas Politics Project and more of our coverage below. And make sure to visit TexasStandard.org for more on the back-to-school guidelines, too. Until next week, we'll see you on the radio.
 
- David Brown
Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

New Poll Shows How Seriously Texans Are Taking The Pandemic


The Texas Politics Project found a strong divide along party lines when it comes to how Texans perceive the threat of COVID-19.
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With People And Equipment In Short Supply, COVID-19 Situation In Hidalgo County Is Critical


“I hate to report that we’re in the most dire situation I personally have seen in my professional, 36-year career.”
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An Information Battle Looms If A COVID-19 Vaccine Is Approved


Health misinformation can thrive in Texas. Experts worry that could fuel vaccine hesitancy and prolong the pandemic.
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It’s Every American’s Job To Fix Systemic Racism


The responsibility shouldn't fall on Black Americans to combat systemic racism. "Racism in the United States is an American problem."
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  • 'We're All Just Emotionally Drained': Austin Bars Respond To Second Shutdown (KUT)
  • Texas GOP Votes To Hold In-Person Houston Convention Despite COVID-19 Concerns (Houston Public Media)
  • Army Troops Head To San Antonio To Support Local Hospitals (Texas Public Radio)
  • Permian Basin Hospitals Concerned Over Limited Staffing As Coronavirus Case Counts Rise (Marfa Public Radio)


I travel to Mexico at least once a year. My kids’ only living grandfather is there. (Looks good for 75, no?) So, it’s important for me that they see him, even during a pandemic. After we settled on all the safety precautions we'd be taking, we set off. This time, we knew it wouldn’t be a fun trip. Mexico, from the beginning, established more stringent restrictions than Texas. All children have to wear masks, for instance. They’re not allowed in supermarkets. Parks are cordoned off. So, there are very few places for kids to go. The trip was not fun – but it was magical. I learned a lot of about one unique hospital. (I’ll share it with you on-air soon.) I drove through one of the largest cities in the world – Mexico City – without any traffic, blaring horns, or stressed-out drivers flicking me their middle finger. And there wasn’t any air pollution. I could see the mountains that surround the city that was once a lake; I could see them so clearly it felt like I could touch them. Butterflies of many colors and sizes chased each other. My kids got to spend time with their grandfather in a way that felt real. Not at a tourist attraction, or over iPads. Mexico City is always in my heart. It’s where I grew up. But I had never experienced it in silence. And it was in that silence that I was able to hear it for the first time.
- Joy Diaz
@KUTjoydiaz

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