It is hard to believe we are in August already. It is also hard to believe we are where we are today – with over 7,000 Texans hospitalized with the coronavirus. Earlier this week, when I was talking with the Nueces County judge (a segment produced by our own Jill Ament ), I was struck by her comments about how the spread of the virus in her region seemed to run counter to trends elsewhere in Texas. While the cold seemed to advance the spread of COVID-19 in many places last year, in the Coastal Bend the warm weather brought people out to the beaches, and that carefree sense of being out in the open on a sunny day by the water prompted folks to let their guard down. But after months of masking and social distancing, masks came off for so many Texans (both vaccinated and unvaccinated). People seemed to be ignoring those social distancing stickers on the floors of retail stores and restaurants, as if they were leftover relics of a distant past. As hospitalizations increase, especially among younger and unvaccinated Texans, many doctors on the front lines say patients in their 20's and 30's are becoming more severely ill. But comprehensive data is lacking. What is known is that the enemy we face today is more nefarious than the enemy we thought we knew and hoped we had beaten. The delta variant which is spreading like wildfire – especially in Texas and in Florida – seems also to have a more severe impact on pregnant women, as a doctor in Temple warned during an interview with the Standard on Tuesday. And with mask mandates banned by the governor, local officials are scrambling to come up with ways to slow the spread of the new variant before it upends the start of the school year … or worse. We'll be staying on top of this story, and you can get caught up on the latest in this weeks newsletter and at TexasStandard.org. Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Dr. Peter Hotez : It's Not Too Late To ‘Vaccinate Our Way Out Of This’

With the delta variant of the coronavirus taking hold in Texas, and making younger people sicker than before, a top virus expert says there’s no substitute for vaccination.

Greg Abbott’s Order On Migrant Transport Is ‘Wreaking Havoc’ In El Paso

An El Paso County commissioner and immigration lawyer calls the order “a distraction” that is getting in the way of normal proceedings.

Pregnant And Concerned About The COVID Vaccine? Skipping The Vaccine Is A Much Bigger Risk.

With the current hospitalization surge, pregnant patients are "more likely to end up in the ICU, they’re more likely to be intubated, they’re more likely to need life support."

A Match Made In Heaven: Two Family Owned Publishers Come Together

It’s easier to think of the acquisition of 36-year-old Cinco Puntos Press by Lee & Low Books as a marriage made in heaven, rather than the end for a Texas-based publishing house.

Mayor Sylvester Turner Mandates Masks For City Employees, Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s Ban (Houston Public Media)
Travis County Prosecutors Say Austin Police Are Playing Politics By Refusing To Investigate Crimes (KUT)
Texans In Tokyo: Biles Snags Bronze, U.S. Men's Basketball Advances To Semifinals & More (KERA News)
'Texas Matters' Interviews Don Huffines, Challenging Gov. Greg Abbott From The Right (Texas Public Media)

Hello everyone! My name is Carolina and I’m the border reporter for Texas Public Radio. I started this job in June through Report for America , a service program that places journalists in newsrooms across the country to report on under-covered issues. I was born in Colombia but spent the majority of my childhood in Stockton, California. I was a molecular biologist for a few years before I made the pivot to journalism to live out my dream of writing while serving the public. My move to the Rio Grande Valley is the first time I’ve lived outside of California. I’m still noticing the differences between the states and exploring the unique culture that comes from living along the border. There are so many stories and topics to cover in the Valley (which isn’t really a valley, right?) that I wish there were three of me covering it all. It’s a good problem to have! Unfortunately, the politicized depiction of the area has resulted in a lot of preconceptions and misguided assumptions. I aim to bring attention to systemic and overlooked issues such as flooding in colonias. While many view the border as an impenetrable wall, communities along the border are integrated in unconventional ways, such as the blood plasma market. Did you know 5-10% of the nation’s blood plasma comes from centers along the southern border? But lately, the current barrage of political attention and action have dictated my coverage, such as Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest executive order. I hope to highlight how these political actions impact those of us who live in these communities. If you have any tips, stories or want to say hi, please reach out! My email is [email protected]. Thank you!

- Carolina Cuellar
@Wzrd_of_Lnlynss

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