Tensions rise as Texas Governor readies to lift more rules

A woman wearing a face mask for protection against COVID-19 passes a business that has reopened in San Antonio, Thursday, May 14, 2020. Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has warned officials in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas that the cities could face lawsuits if they do not relax coronavirus measures he says go further than state law allows. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Local leaders on the Texas border are asking Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to delay letting more businesses reopen next week. Health officials in El Paso say they’re worried about relaxing lockdown measures after COVID-19 cases in their community surged by 60% in the past two weeks.

Abbott is set to announce on Monday that patrons can return to gyms. Abbott has defended the pace by emphasizing that hospitalization and infection rates are steady as Texas tests more people.

In Oklahoma, lawmakers who were irritated by local officials imposing stricter measures during this health crisis passed a House bill that would weaken cities’ power during the next one.