by Nick VinZant It started with the number of COVID-19 cases. The coronavirus spread to every corner of the nation, but people of color were affected more — more likely to contract the virus, more likely to be hospitalized and more likely to die. Then came the layoffs. In one year, the unemployment ...

A Texas Senate committee on Friday passed an elections bill that would tighten the state’s voting rules by limiting extended early voting hours, requiring proof of disability to qualify for mail-in voting and prohibiting drive-thru voting. Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is...

Staff Report More Texans will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine soon. Beginning on Monday, all adults will be allowed to receive a vaccine, according to an announcement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). While an increase in vaccine supplies is expected for next week, DSHS h...

By Megan Wehring and Sahar Chmais HAYS COUNTY — Businesses are in a difficult position right now. Owners have to decide whether to implement their own safety protocols. If they enforce a mask rule, they may lose some customers; if they do not enforce the rule, they could also lose customers. Effecti...

by Megan Wehring To mask or not to mask is a burning question circulating in the education community following Governor Greg Abbott’s removal of the mandate effective on March 10. The answer for many school districts in Hays County is masks will still be required unless the school board votes otherw...

By Sahar Chmais Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are available at private medical clinics in Hays County in the first week of rollouts, beginning March 8. The J&J vaccine is 85% effective in preventing severe disease about 28 days after vaccination, according to the company’s data. Unlike Moder...

By Sahar Chmais  Since Governor Greg Abbott announced that he will remove the mask mandate, many parents were left worried about how it would affect schools. After one day of the announcement, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) came up with a solution – masks will remain mandatory.  Nothing in the TEA...

By Sahar Chmais In a tougher than normal budget year, State Rep. (D-45) Erin Zwiener has been appointed as the vice chair of the appropriations subcommittee Article 3, handling the education budget for PreK-12 and university students. This time-consuming position is not her only role – Zwiener is al...

By Sahar Chmais  District 45 Representative Erin Zwiener has filed six additional legislation pieces which would affect a spectrum of residents.  In the new bills, Zwiener offers an alternative writing assessment for Texas students, an incentive for nature-based infrastructure projects and a request...

By Sahar Chmais The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is giving Texans an extension to file various individual and business tax returns and payment until June 15, due to winter storm Uri. Those affected by the storm, whether they are business owners or Texas residents, qualify for tax relief, according...