No Mask, No Vax, No Entry? The Battle Between Local and State Leaders Continues.

Texas officials meddle with local COVID measures

"...Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued mandates last week requiring face masks at all public schools,..."

Aug. 20, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Austin Commits to Local Mask Requirement Amid State Rollback on COVID Restrictions

City will enforce masks, public health measures under local health authority emergency rules expiring in April

"...will continue to require the community to wear face masks, despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's rolling back a statewide..."

March 12, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Austin ISD Mandates Masks for Back to School

Austin joins Texas districts in defying Abbott's COVID-19 orders

"...in defying Gov. Greg Abbott's COVID-19 orders and requiring masks for students, teachers, staff, and visitors when in-person learning..."

Aug. 13, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Travis County District Judge Upholds Austin’s Mask Rule

Face masks required until at least April 15; state expected to appeal

"...temporary injunction against Austin’s public health rules requiring face masks be worn to reduce the spread of COVID-19...."

March 26, 2021 News Post by Beth Sullivan

Faster Than Sound: Austin Music Stays the Course on Mask Precautions

Steady on safety guidelines, Austin promoters and club owners juggle an unclear concert calendar

"...The mask mandate from Austin and Travis County stays in place..."

March 19, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Top Austin Headlines of 2021: Abbott’s Anti-Mask Moves Spur Revolts

July 29: Gov. Greg Abbott issues executive order GA-38, which prohibits local governments from mandating face masks to combat the spread of COVID-19

"...GA-38 executive order banning local governments from mandating face masks, even as the highly transmissible Delta variant and vaccine..."

Dec. 17, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Austin Updates COVID Protocols Amid Abbott's Tightening Grip on Local Authorities' Powers

Local and state officials wrestle over mask mandates, again

"...in indoor and outdoor private gatherings without wearing face masks if allowed by businesses, while partially vaccinated or unvaccinated..."

May 21, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

The Common Law

School mask mandate – what’s the current state of the law?

"...I'm super confused. I know that AISD has a mask mandate. But I also know that Governor Abbott doesn't..."

Sept. 3, 2021 Column by Luke Ellis

Austin Police Live by Their Own COVID Rules, It Seems

A closer look at vaccine and mask policies among Austin's first responders

"...against severe illness should one become infected. And wearing masks and face coverings indoors reduces transmission of the virus,..."

Oct. 1, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

“Our House, Our Rules”: Austin Restaurants School the Governor on Limited Government

Local eateries make plain – mask requirements aren't going anywhere

"...After Gov. Abbott announced his latest executive order lifting mask mandates and capacity limits, a critical mass of Austin..."

March 19, 2021 News Feature by Jessi Cape

Musicians Get Sinking Feeling as Fall Festivals Loom and COVID Surges

Will the beat go on? (Outside? Behind a mask?)

"...anniversary weekend programming would be at reduced capacity, with masks required indoors and recommended outdoors...."

Aug. 6, 2021 News Feature by Kevin Curtin

Austin Requires Masks in All Public Schools, Including Colleges

Local orders push back against Abbott’s ban on mask mandates

"...this week Austin and Travis County ordered that face masks are required at all public schools, as well as..."

Aug. 13, 2021 News Post by Beth Sullivan

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...Mask Up, It's Back to School: Next Tuesday, Aug. 17,..."

Aug. 13, 2021 News Feature

Abbott Lifts COVID Rules: Will a Surge Follow?

Governor's move seen as premature, reckless by local leaders, businesses

"...and with few or no statewide health and safety mandates to combat the pandemic...."

March 5, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

COVID-19 Update: ICU Bed Availability Drops to All-Time Low

And then there were two

"...local entities are barred from requiring vaccinations and face masks. Earlier this week, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins was..."

Aug. 13, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Deep-Pocket Donors Fund Right-Wing School Board Candidates in the Austin Suburbs

Drama outside of town

"...Fueled by mask mandates and culture wars reinvigorated by the Texas Legislature,..."

April 29, 2022 News Feature by Morgan O’Hanlon

Public Notice: Being Brave

School districts set to defy Abbott's political posturing

"...made the surprise announcement that AISD would implement a mask mandate for all school facilities, effective this week. Her..."

Aug. 13, 2021 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Closing AISD Middle Schools, One Grade at a Time?

Two historically Black and Latinx middle schools set to lose sixth grade

"...No more mask mandates: At a special called meeting last week, Elizalde..."

March 11, 2022 News Feature by Morgan O’Hanlon

Public Notice: Texas vs. Austin vs. COVID-19

In the courts and schools and bars, the battle rages

"...about last week, fighting school districts to stop their masking requirements as the fall semester begins, and even as..."

Aug. 20, 2021 News Column by Nick Barbaro

Austin Officially Enters Stage 5, Highest Level of COVID Precautions

Fully vaxxed? Mask up. And if you’re not? Get vaxxed already.

"...also recommends should dine outdoors with precautions like face masks. While under Stage 5, it’s strongly recommended that low-risk..."

Aug. 5, 2021 News Post by Beth Sullivan

Vaccine or Ventilator? You Decide

As COVID-19 surges, the unvaxxed overwhelm Austin hospitals – again

"...had always leaned toward "individual responsibility" and away from mandates, but they included provisions to address local surges and..."

Aug. 6, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Round Rock ISD Drama Nears Climax

TEA superintendent investigation results to be revealed this week

"...as Azaiez defied Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order banning mask mandates in public schools by implementing a districtwide mask..."

Feb. 11, 2022 News Feature by Morgan O’Hanlon

Top 10 Local Political Quotes of 2021

Some spoke truth to power and others introduced foot to mouth

"...Livingston on Texas A.G. Ken Paxton's challenge over Austin's mask rule (April 2)..."

Dec. 17, 2021 News Feature

COVID Stage 4 “Imminent” as Delta Variant Looms

Austin Public Health reports troubling increases in new cases and hospitalizations

"...– regardless of vaccination status – wear a face mask while indoors...."

July 23, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

AISD Decides: Back-to-School Means On Campus, In Person, No Virtual Learning

District cites funding fears after Lege's failure to act

"...Although mask mandates in schools won’t be allowed, thanks to an..."

June 18, 2021 News Post by Clara Ence Morse

Headlines / Quote of the Week

"...To Mask or Not? Austin Public Health is no longer mandating..."

May 28, 2021 News Feature

Bill of the Week: Bracing for a School Choice Battle

Senate Bill 176 would create "parental empowerment accounts"

"...debates, but attitudes have shifted after COVID shutdowns and mask mandates, an epidemic of mental health crises among students,..."

Feb. 24, 2023 News Feature by Maggie Q. Thompson

Grassroots Bakers Effect Change, One Cupcake at a Time

From suffrage to City Council races, flour power abounds

"...Kaden as very politically and fairness-minded, having advocated for mask mandates in his classroom during the 2021-22 school year...."

Sept. 2, 2022 Food Feature by Melanie Haupt

Opinion: Brené Brown – Join Our Union and Take Another Principled Stand

Union organizers argue the UT administration remains beholden to a political leadership that regularly dismisses students' and workers' concerns

"...demanding COVID precautions on campus – specifically vaccine and mask mandates and hazard pay. Members testified to the UT..."

March 4, 2022 Column by Sol Weiner

Round Rock ISD Boils Over as Superintendent Fate Is in Limbo

Board of Trustees punts its final decision

"...Azaiez's resignation along with the conservative culture-war agenda (lifting mask mandates, banning critical race theory, etc.), but they aren't..."

Feb. 25, 2022 News Feature by Morgan O’Hanlon

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