Dallas ISD offering an extra $50 a day for substitutes

Dallas ISD substitute teachers are being offered an additional $50 per day to help with a teacher shortage caused by the COVID-19 omicron variant.

One in four North Texas hospital patients has COVID-19, officials say

The statewide positivity rate in Texas is now at 36.4 percent -- more than 4 times what it was just 30 days ago. And higher than during peaks in July 2020 and January 2021.

Pfizer: Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine human trials to begin late January

Pfizer confirmed it plans to start human trials of its omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine later this month, potentially making it available to the public as soon as March.

Mask mandates and closures: Local school districts make changes to combat COVID-19 surge

From a district dealing with a teacher shortage to another re-implementing a mask mandate, North Texas schools are trying their best to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19.

Private insurers to cover home COVID-19 tests starting Saturday

Under the new policy, Americans will be able to either purchase home testing kits for free under their insurance or submit receipts for the tests for reimbursement, up to the monthly per-person limit.

T cells from common colds may help protect against COVID-19, study suggests

T cells generated from the common cold may help protect against COVID-19, a new study found. But researchers stressed that "no one should rely on this alone."

Lake Highlands High School’s beloved resource officer dies of COVID-19

A much-loved school resource officer is gone after a brief battle with COVID-19. Officer Christopher Gibson is being remembered Monday by fellow officers and educators.

TEA updates COVID-19 quarantine guidelines for school staff

The Texas Education Agency updated its guidelines on Jan. 7 and says the changes come as a result of updated CDC guidance.

COVID sick time: Stay home or work? Omicron poses conundrum

Millions of workers whose jobs don’t provide paid sick days are having to choose between their health and their paycheck as the omicron variant of COVID-19 rages across the nation.

Georgia woman gets prison time for COVID relief fraud

Federal prosecutors say 49-year-old Hunter VanPelt of Roswell submitted six false loan applications to the Paycheck Protection Program from April to June 2020. She allegedly requested a total of more than $7.9 million and received more than $6 million.

Novak Djokovic had COVID-19 last month, lawyers argue in vaccine dispute

Lawyers for Novak Djokovic have filed court documents in his challenge against deportation from Australia that showed the tennis star contracted COVID-19 in the middle of last month.

Richardson Walmart temporarily closes for COVID-19 cleaning

The Walmart Neighborhood Market on Buckingham Road in Richardson closed Friday afternoon and won't reopen until Sunday morning at 6 a.m. for COVID-19 disinfecting.

Mother charged after son found in trunk of car at COVID-19 testing site, DA says

A Houston-area mother is charged after her teen son was found in the trunk of her car at a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site, according to court documents. She says her son had tested positive for COVID-19 and was trying to prevent her exposure.