For many weeks – even months now – the various gauges of where we stand with the pandemic in Texas have been moving in encouraging directions. That's no longer true. With the holidays upon us and as families and friends gather once more, the Texas Tribune reports hospitalizations, average new COVID-19 cases and new deaths are all increasing compared with the seven day average a week ago. On Tuesday, we reported the first case of the Omicron variant in Texas, discovered in Harris County. Add to that word from KXAN-TV in Austin that two of Texas' 22 COVID trauma service areas are reporting rates of over 18% . That's above the 15% threshold the state previously used to trigger partial shutdowns and mask requirements. A few hours ago, I spoke with Dr. Ogechika Alozie, an El Paso physician and a member of the Texas Medical Association's COVID-19 Task Force. El Paso is one of the two regions seeing increased hospitalization rates (the other is in the Panhandle). Dr. Alozie says though little is yet known about the spread and severity of the Omicron variant, there may be a silver lining of sorts as more Texans line up to get immunized. Texas' rate of immunization is now approximately 55% and lines for shots are certainly growing with news of the new COVID variant. There's lots more in this week's newsletter – including something special for fans of the Fab Four and those who've been watching the docuseries "Get Back": a profile of the Texas-born "fifth member" of the Beatles, the amazing Billy Preston. We hope you enjoy this week's picks from our producers and, until next week, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

What’s behind the DOJ’s lawsuit over Texas redistricting maps

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland says the maps "deny or abridge the rights of Latino and Black voters." Learn more.

Data shows Austin will soon be the least affordable non-California city in the nation

As growth brings well-paid tech workers to Central Texas, long-time residents, especially people of color, are being pushed out.

Kermit Oliver: A retired postal worker, family man and world-class artist

The Texas painter has never sought the spotlight, but he spoke with the Standard during a career retrospective exhibit in Waco.

Listen: ‘Get Back’ proves the Fifth Beatle was Texas' own Billy Preston

The keyboardist featured in the new Beatles docuseries was born in Houston. He went on to make music history in other ways.

Prescribing abortion pills online or mailing them in Texas can now land you in jail (KUT Austin)
New report out from Dallas nonprofit shares hard truths from the city's racist past (KERA North Texas)
Social justice and labor rights activists are protesting a major energy conference (Houston Public Media)

Hello, Texans. I’m Jack Morgan and I report on arts and culture in San Antonio. Yes, the symphony, the ballet, the opera. But also stories on conjunto music that have kept me out until the wee hours. And the San Antonio artist who lost his painting arm in Vietnam, and then taught his remaining one to paint – so beautifully. Another story I did was about the San Antonio woman largely credited with saving Central Park when New York wasn’t stepping forward to do so. South Texas is an incredibly soulful place with a deep well of creativity and the artists and thinkers with the cojones to compete on the world stage. My beat is an interesting one. From covering acoustic concerts in a cave 100 rocky feet below the hill country to sharing the work of the Tubameisters – a couple of hundred tuba players who show up at the Arneson River Theater and play Christmas carols. There are thousands of stories to be told here. Telling them isn’t just a pleasure, it’s an incredible honor. And having Texas Standard share San Antonio’s stories is a real treat for all Texans. Texas is now the proving grounds for making radio and digital content like it’s never been done anywhere else. Our statewide collaboration on Texas Standard is what all others nationwide will be measured against. I don’t think it’s a stretch to call what we do a work of art. Catch me on the Standard, or at tpr.org.

- Jack Morgan
@jackmorganii

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