The State of Texas: Beer recommendations to help you get through another weekend in quarantine

Plus, Texas records its highest single-day COVID-19 death count so far, and Abbott will announce another phase of his plan to reopen Texas next week. [View in browser]( [Become a Texas Monthly Subscriber ](  [Texas Monthly][Texas Monthly](    The State of Texas   May 15, 2020 In today's State of Texas: What to drink while in lockdown, Texas records its highest single-day coronavirus death count so far, and Governor Greg Abbott will announce another phase of his plan to reopen Texas next week. –Leif Reigstad  Editor's Pick   food & drink [We Could All Use a Quarantine Beer]( Our beer correspondent shares what he’s been drinking in lockdown—and recommends some favorite Texas brews to try. [Read Story]( By aaron chamberlain Quote of the Day "People should not be punished because they don’t happen to have citizenship at a time when we have a pandemic that is impacting all of us. It's just unthinkable we would deny children something because the father happened to be someone who is not a citizen." —Congressman Al Green, a Houston Democrat, on the federal government [withholding stimulus checks]( from taxpayers because they are immigrants, including U.S. citizens, or live with immigrants.  The State of Texas  Texas records its highest single-day COVID-19 death count so far Fifty-eight new COVID-19 deaths were reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services on Thursday, the biggest single-day increase in deaths so far during the pandemic. As of Thursday, Texas had reported 1,216 total deaths. According to the [Houston Chronicle]( the state had only reported as many as 50 deaths once before, on April 30. The death toll comes as Governor Greg Abbott eases restrictions implemented to slow the spread of the virus. Health experts have warned that lifting stay-at-home measures too soon will result in more deaths. Abbott to announce next phase of reopening on Monday As the death toll continues to climb in Texas, Governor Abbott will announce on Monday the next phase of his plan to reopen the state, the [Texas Tribune]( reports. In the past few weeks, Abbott has authorized the reopening of select businesses, including restaurants, retailers, and hair salons, with some limitations. Many businesses, for example, have to limit customers to 25 percent capacity. Abbott has also banned cities from enforcing the remaining restrictions, including a prohibition on the reopening of bars. Appellate court rules Texans can vote by mail during pandemic A state appeals court upheld an order by a state judge to allow Texans to vote by mail if they are afraid of contracting the coronavirus at the polls, according to the [Dallas Morning News](. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston ruled 2-1 on Thursday to keep the decision by a Travis County judge to expand the vote-by-mail program, after the Texas Democratic Party and voting rights groups filed a lawsuit seeking the expansion. Attorney General Ken Paxton had filed the appeal challenging the previous ruling, and has also asked the Texas Supreme Court to intervene in an effort to block the expansion. SPONSORED [Give A Little Optimism]( Time is running out! Don't miss your chance to nominate a Texan to receive a free optimism care package complete with self-care goodies, gift cards, and other fun swag, courtesy of the Texas Optimism Project. [Learn More](    the culture [Jess Williamson's Eclectic, Dreamy New Album Brings Her Back to Texas]( With 'Sorceress,' the North Texas native adds to the growing canon of alternative country music inspired by the Lone Star State. By WILL SCHUBE    food & drink [Taco News Roundup: Restaurant Reopenings, Representation (or a Lack Thereof), and a Taco Robot]( Plus: the history of Sweden's "Taco Friday." By JOSÉ R. RALAT    the stand up desk [Texas Monthly Staffers Featured on the Podcast 'Selena: A Star Dies in Texas']( The true crime podcast tackles a murder that continues to confound fans around the world. By texas monthly    Top Headlines  - [Where Have All the Briskets Gone?]( - [Erykah Badu and Jill Scott’s Verzuz Battle Felt More Intimate Than a Live Show]( - [Arrested Dallas Hairdresser’s GoFundMe Launched Before She Even Reopened]( - [Texas Sheet Cake]( - [The FBI Agent Who Can’t Stop Thinking About Waco](   [Give a Little Optimism ](    Let's get social [Facebook](  [Instagram](  [Twitter](    [Texas Monthly]( PO Box 1569, Austin, TX 78767 You are receiving this message because you signed up for our newsletters. Want more? Check out our [other newsletters](. [Manage your preferences]( or [unsubscribe]( Â