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Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

All content by Marisa Huerta
UT students discuss separation from family after Biden eases COVID-19 travel restrictions

UT students discuss separation from family after Biden eases COVID-19 travel restrictions

Marisa Huerta, News reporter December 17, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the November 2 flipbook. The Biden administration will lift COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international travelers Nov. 8., and some...

UT students support APHA’s push for prison abolition

UT students support APHA’s push for prison abolition

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter November 30, 2021
The APHA passed a statement Oct. 26 urging federal and local governments to move toward prison abolition and highlighting health concerns in carceral settings.
Gov. Greg Abbott leads by 9 percentage points in gubernatorial hypothetical matchup poll by TT/UT

Gov. Greg Abbott leads by 9 percentage points in gubernatorial hypothetical matchup poll by TT/UT

Marisa Huerta November 21, 2021

Early hypothetical polling shows Gov. Greg Abbott is leading by 9 percentage points against Beto O’Rourke for next year’s governor election.  The Texas Politics Project, in collaboration with The...

UT community hopes for speedy Supreme Court decision on Texas’ new abortion law

UT community hopes for speedy Supreme Court decision on Texas’ new abortion law

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter November 12, 2021
Following various protests and social movements across the country, the United States Department of Justice filed suit against the state of Texas in September, challenging the constitutionality of the law.
Updated delta-8 rule causes confusion among some students

Updated delta-8 rule causes confusion among some students

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter November 3, 2021

On Oct. 15, Texas health officials updated their website to list the cannabis extract delta-8 as an illegal substance, causing confusion among some UT students.  Delta-8 is a minor cannabinoid found...

UT students say access to emergency contraception is important in wake of anti-abortion law

UT students say access to emergency contraception is important in wake of anti-abortion law

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter October 25, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the October 8th flipbook.  When Lindsey Guajardo had to buy Plan B, she found herself in a 24-hour Walgreens only to realize they had run out....

UT students say new congressional zone consolidates student votes but excludes underrepresented communities in Riverside

UT students say new congressional zone consolidates student votes but excludes underrepresented communities in Riverside

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter October 25, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared as part of the October 5th flipbook.  Highly student populated areas around UT may gain a new U.S. House seat and have greater consolidated voting power if...

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UT professors say Texas Legislature should do more to improve power grid structure reliability

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter October 22, 2021
Senate Bill 3 requires the Texas Railroad Commission to finalize rules for weatherization upgrades among state industries such as natural gas, oil and electricity.
UT students say HEERF funding is crucial for those facing financial insecurity during pandemic

UT students say HEERF funding is crucial for those facing financial insecurity during pandemic

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter October 19, 2021
Over 35,000 students received funds through block grants upon meeting the FAFSA criteria, while other students received funds by applying and demonstrating financial need.
Austin-Travis County to vote on Prop A, students encourage UT community to vote

Austin-Travis County to vote on Prop A, students encourage UT community to vote

Marisa Huerta October 17, 2021

Austin voters will decide whether to increase the Austin Police Department’s budget to the highest number recorded in history at the Nov. 2 local election. If voters pass Proposition A, the city would...

Students celebrate city approval of Austin Climate Equality Plan

Students celebrate city approval of Austin Climate Equality Plan

Marisa Huerta October 6, 2021

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared as part of the October 1 flipbook. UT students and other community members gathered outside City Hall on Thursday to celebrate City Council’s approval...

COVID-19 cases lower than model consortium predictions

COVID-19 cases lower than model consortium predictions

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter October 6, 2021

Editor's Note: This story first appeared as part of the September 21 flipbook.  The number of positive COVID-19 cases in the UT community fell below UT’s COVID-19 modeling consortium predictions....

UT-Austin community members say new John Chase building is a step in the right direction

UT-Austin community members say new John Chase building is a step in the right direction

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter September 21, 2021

A historic building designed by Texas’s first licensed Black architect, John S. Chase, will open to serve the Black UT-Austin community following a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. Chase attended...

UT experts say segregated bathroom sign discovered in Battle Hall should be preserved

UT experts say segregated bathroom sign discovered in Battle Hall should be preserved

Marisa Huerta September 21, 2021

Editor's Note: This first appeared in the September 17 flipbook issue.  UT experts said a handwritten sign discovered in a University library, which reads “Whites only,” can help confront the University’s...

“A woman’s body is not a commodity.” UT-Austin community members say new Texas abortion law threatens womens’ safety

“A woman’s body is not a commodity.” UT-Austin community members say new Texas abortion law threatens womens’ safety

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter September 14, 2021
The law took effect Sept. 1 and prohibits abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy, offering no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The law will not be enforced by the state, but will allow private citizens to sue abortion providers.
UT students say new voting bill won’t protect from voter fraud, will make it harder for Texans to vote

UT students say new voting bill won’t protect from voter fraud, will make it harder for Texans to vote

Marisa Huerta September 9, 2021

Some UT students said the new voting bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Greg Abbott is a measure of voter suppression and won’t protect election integrity. Senate Bill 1 seeks to tighten election...

Mental Health Assistance and Response Team to join UTPD on mental health crisis calls

Mental Health Assistance and Response Team to join UTPD on mental health crisis calls

Marisa Huerta September 8, 2021

A team of trained counselors will now accompany University of Texas Police Department officers on mental health calls. However, some students fear the presence of police will still hinder students from...

Potential impacts on undocumented students after new DACA ruling

Potential impacts on undocumented students after new DACA ruling

Marisa Huerta September 1, 2021

Undocumented students could be greatly impacted after a Texas federal judge ruled on July 16 that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is illegal and that the federal government should no longer accept...

Latest census data shows increased diversity, population growth in West Campus

Latest census data shows increased diversity, population growth in West Campus

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter August 31, 2021
City demographer Lila Valencia said these changes will be significant when the city redraws district lines this fall, as students will vote for representatives that align with their interests.
Students vaccinated on campus can recover vaccine cards through UT Health Austin website

Students vaccinated on campus can recover vaccine cards through UT Health Austin website

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter August 25, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the August 23 flipbook. A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found the majority of Americans support...

Campus organizations protest at tower, demand for vaccine, mask mandate at UT

Campus organizations protest at tower, demand for vaccine, mask mandate at UT

Marisa Huerta August 25, 2021

On Wednesday, campus organizations and community members demanded the University implement weekly testing and a COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandate during a protest at the UT Tower. The rally was assembled...

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Students in between leases must look out for early move-ins or couch surf

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter July 29, 2021

Some students who must be in Austin during the summer face a unique challenge of finding a place to stay in early August when leases from the previous year end and new ones do not begin for weeks. While...

West Campus businesses discuss raising minimum wage, combat worker shortages

West Campus businesses discuss raising minimum wage, combat worker shortages

Marisa Huerta July 26, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the July 20 flipbook. While the post-pandemic demand for labor has increased with businesses returning to full-capacity operations in March, some...

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Democrats take stand for voting rights during special session

Marisa Huerta July 15, 2021

During the Texas Legislature’s special session Monday, a majority of Democrats left Texas for Washington D.C. to avoid voting on an elections bill that would restrict voting opportunities — a move...

‘It's just an utter waste of our time and resources’: Some UT faculty say building Texas-Mexico border wall is a misuse of state funds

‘It’s just an utter waste of our time and resources’: Some UT faculty say building Texas-Mexico border wall is a misuse of state funds

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter July 5, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the June 28 flipbook. Gov. Greg Abbott recently placed a $250 million “down payment” to continue construction of the Texas-Mexico border wall....

‘What the legislature has done is make the state less safe’: Safety advocates, UT professors react to Texas’ newest gun law

‘What the legislature has done is make the state less safe’: Safety advocates, UT professors react to Texas’ newest gun law

Marisa Huerta June 28, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the June 22 flipbook. CW: Discussions of gun violence, death. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 1927 on June 16, allowing for...

UT-Austin experts say energy infrastructure improvements will likely hike prices for Texans

UT-Austin experts say energy infrastructure improvements will likely hike prices for Texans

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter June 24, 2021

UT-Austin experts say Texas’ planned infrastructure enhancements will drive up energy bills and cut off access for residents in low income neighborhoods.  After several power plants failed during...

UT professors say ‘critical race theory’ bill is harmful to students’ learning

UT professors say ‘critical race theory’ bill is harmful to students’ learning

Marisa Huerta June 17, 2021

Editor's Note: This article first appeared as part of the June 14 flipbook. UT professors said a bill that would ban discussion of racial inequality in schools harms students’ education and social...

UT-Austin students join protests against Texas anti-abortion legislation

UT-Austin students join protests against Texas anti-abortion legislation

Marisa Huerta, News Reporter June 6, 2021

Saturday’s protest on the steps of the Texas Capitol saw hundreds of students advocating for reproductive rights in the wake of recent anti-abortion legislation in Texas. On May 16, Gov. Greg Abbott...

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