My job was to cover the coronavirus pandemic, until I became part of it

News and updates from Austin's news in your inbox Email not displaying correctly? [View Online]( [Statesman]( MORNING HEADLINES Start your day with a fresh roundup of news, features and commentary. Friday's Top Story [My job was to cover the coronavirus pandemic, until I became part of it]( [My job was to cover the coronavirus pandemic, until I became part of it]( I know how to prepare for a disaster.My first job as a photojournalist was in Florida, where on top of weathering hurricanes, I covered them. When the coronavirus began to get close to the U.S., I thought I was ready. [Read More »]( Local News [Coronavirus in Travis County: Confirmed cases now up to 351]( [Coronavirus in Travis County: Confirmed cases now up to 351]( The number of confirmed cases of people in Travis County with COVID-19 climbed to 351 on Thursday.The new number is up from the 305 positive cases officials reported Wednesday - an increase of 46 new cases. [Read More »]( [Austin could tap emergency funds amid coronavirus woes]( [Austin could tap emergency funds amid coronavirus woes]( Some Austin City Council members want the city to tap as much as $16 million in emergency funds to speed up aid to those whose pocketbooks have been adversely affected by the coronavirus. [Read More »]( [How to get help in Austin with food, healthcare during coronavirus pandemic]( [How to get help in Austin with food, healthcare during coronavirus pandemic]( The city of Austin has a website that provides information in multiple languages on COVID-19, including symptoms to look for, community resources, and information for those who are sick, travelers and businesses. [Read More »]( [Colleges spend thousands managing COVID-19 as they face an uncertain financial future]( [Colleges spend thousands managing COVID-19 as they face an uncertain financial future]( Earlier this month, as the coronavirus began to close in on Austin, officials at the University of Texas, like all U.S. colleges, had to make some big decisions. [Read More »]( [Dennis Bonnen has choice words for UT spring breakers]( [Dennis Bonnen has choice words for UT spring breakers]( Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen had a harsh message for the 44 University of Texas students who contracted the coronavirus after chartering a plane to Cabo San Lucas for spring break. [Read More »]( Business [Austin deploying IBM s tech to share coronavirus info]( [Austin deploying IBM’s tech to share coronavirus info]( The city of Austin is joining a handful of organizations that will begin using IBM's artificial intelligence-enabled virtual assistant service to provide information on the coronavirus pandemic. [Read More »]( [Coronavirus in Texas: Jobless claims soar amid crisis]( [Coronavirus in Texas: Jobless claims soar amid crisis]( About 276,000 out-of-work Texans filed for unemployment benefits last week, putting the total making initial claims over 430,000 in just the past two weeks - 16 times more than the same period a year ago - as efforts to combat spread of the coronavirus grind the economy to a near standstill."There really is nothing comparable to this," in terms of the abrupt halt to most business activity and the ensuing job losses, said Bernard Weinstein, a Southern Methodist University [Read More »]( [Austin Motel and Hotel San Jose closing during coronavirus outbreak]( [Austin Motel and Hotel San Jose closing during coronavirus outbreak]( Austin Motel and Hotel San Jose say they have temporarily closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. [Read More »]( Sports [Iowa State becomes first Power Five school to make big financial cuts due to coronavirus]( [Iowa State becomes first Power Five school to make big financial cuts due to coronavirus]( College athletic departments are starting to prepare for steep financial losses from the coronavirus pandemic, which is crippling the world economy. [Read More »]( [Bohls: Options for football seasons are all over the map]( [Bohls: Options for football seasons are all over the map]( While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:1. Please, Lord. [Read More »]( [Temporary changes in college sports may be needed due to coronavirus, athletic directors survey indicates]( [Temporary changes in college sports may be needed due to coronavirus, athletic directors survey indicates]( A new survey of major-college athletic directors indicates that some have interest in short-term changes to the pay of highly compensated employees and to the NCAA's academic rules as their programs deal with impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. [Read More »]( [Dallas Cowboys agree to terms with Aldon Smith, who last played in NFL game in 2015]( [Dallas Cowboys agree to terms with Aldon Smith, who last played in NFL game in 2015]( Aldon Smith hasn't played an NFL game in 1,599 days. That didn't stop the Dallas Cowboys from signing the former All-Pro defensive end on Wednesday night. [Read More »]( [Working out from home but want to run a marathon? Here s how one man did just that.]( [Working out from home but want to run a marathon? Here’s how one man did just that.]( Editor's note: Part four of USA TODAY's Working Out From Home (#WOFH) series focuses on maintaining your strength at home if you're used to working out in a gym. Sign up for Good Sports, our weekly newsletter that will bring you more home workout tips + stories of the good throughout the world of sports. [Read More »]( Opinion [Herman: Update from solitary]( [Herman: Update from solitary]( How's your day going? Mine's pretty good, considering. And thanks for asking. [Read More »]( [Pflugerville ISD student: Coronavirus is virtually changing my life]( [Pflugerville ISD student: Coronavirus is virtually changing my life]( The only homework I received over spring break was researching COVID-19 from a scientific standpoint. [Read More »]( [Editorial: All Together ATX needs our help now]( [Editorial: All Together ATX needs our help now]( Here, in the midst of the uncertainty, stress and disruption of the coronavirus outbreak, is something meaningful we can do. [Read More »]( [Commentary: Trump s bumbling coronavirus response puts people in danger]( [Commentary: Trump’s bumbling coronavirus response puts people in danger]( I agree with President Donald Trump, we're at war with an invisible enemy. [Read More »]( Nation [Judge won t delay Wisconsin election but extends voting]( [Judge won’t delay Wisconsin election but extends voting]( MADISON, Wis. [Read More »]( [New York virus toll doubles in 72 hours as hot spots spread]( [New York virus toll doubles in 72 hours as hot spots spread]( NEW YORK (AP) " New York rushed to bring in an army of medical volunteers as the statewide death toll from the coronavirus doubled in 72 hours to more than 1,900, while the global number of people diagnosed with the illness edged closer to 1 million on Thursday. [Read More »]( [Economic fallout mounts, along with competition for gear]( [Economic fallout mounts, along with competition for gear]( NEW YORK (AP) " The coronavirus outbreak has thrown 10 million Americans out of work in just two weeks, in the swiftest, most stunning collapse the U.S. job market has ever witnessed, and economists warn unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression, as the economic damage from the crisis piles up around the world. [Read More »]( [Infrastructure often embraced by both parties, to no avail]( [Infrastructure often embraced by both parties, to no avail]( WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump wants to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure projects to create jobs and help the collapsing economy rebuild from stunning blows of the coronavirus pandemic. [Read More »]( [Economic fallout mounts, worldwide cases top 1 million]( [Economic fallout mounts, worldwide cases top 1 million]( NEW YORK (AP) " The coronavirus outbreak has thrown 10 million Americans out of work in just two weeks, the swiftest, most stunning collapse the U.S. job market has ever witnessed, and economists warn unemployment could reach levels not seen since the Depression, as the economic damage piles up around the world. [Read More »]( World [ We love you NHS : UK health service gears up for virus peak]( [“We love you NHS”: UK health service gears up for virus peak]( LONDON (AP) " Dr. Nishant Joshi is on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic " and he's angry. [Read More »]( [The daily terrors: Improvising in a makeshift ICU in Spain]( [The daily terrors: Improvising in a makeshift ICU in Spain]( BADALONA, Spain (AP) " The tension is palpable. There is no non-essential talking. [Read More »]( [UK vows to massively increase virus testing amid criticism]( [UK vows to ‘massively’ increase virus testing amid criticism]( LONDON (AP) " Political opponents, scientists and even usually supportive newspapers lambasted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday over his government's broken promises on wider testing for the COVID-19 virus. [Read More »]( [The Latest: Australia to send doctors to cruise ships]( [The Latest: Australia to send doctors to cruise ships]( The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. [Read More »]( [The Latest: WHO: Over 95% who died in Europe were over 60]( [The Latest: WHO: Over 95% who died in Europe were over 60]( The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. [Read More »]( Austin360 [SXSW Film lives online! Amazon, Austin fest team up]( [SXSW Film lives – online! Amazon, Austin fest team up]( The cancellation of South by Southwest 2020 rocked the entertainment world. [Read More »]( [Want Garrison Brothers most exclusive bourbon? Donate $1K to coronavirus relief]( [Want Garrison Brothers’ most exclusive bourbon? Donate $1K to coronavirus relief]( This summer, Garrison Brothers Distillery had intended to release its newest bourbon - its oldest to date - with great fanfare. [Read More »]( [Coronavirus in Austin: Great food trucks still serving takeout]( [Coronavirus in Austin: Great food trucks still serving takeout]( Food trucks have been in the takeout food business since they came into existence. Now, during the time of the coronavirus pandemic, many of these walk-up operators have added online ordering and curbside service to their business models, helping to ensure social distancing. [Read More »]( [We Love This So Much: Dua Lipa is the sound of quarantine]( [We Love This So Much: Dua Lipa is the sound of quarantine]( Here’s a piece of pop culture that we would kiss if we could.“Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa (Warner)On some corners of the internet, new content from an entertainer is heralded as that person “keeping us fed.”I’ll buy into the metaphor. [Read More »]( [For stay-at-home fun during coronavirus, try a backyard campground]( [For stay-at-home fun during coronavirus, try a backyard campground]( Last week, a message from Alana Waters-Piper went out to South Austin neighborhoods through the Nextdoor app.“We’re planning a backyard campout this Friday night. [Read More »](   [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Manage Account]( | [Contact Us](mailto:customercare@statesman.com) | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Newsletters]( We have an app for whatever you want - news, weather, entertainment and more. Statesman Live: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Statesman Weather: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Austin360: [iPhone®]( [Android]( Statesman does not participate in unsolicited email. 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