COVID-19

A Frisco couple received 40-year prison sentences after federal prosecutors say they ran a $30 million pyramid scheme that victimized more than 10,000 people nationwide during the pandemic.

An attorney complained about Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 Judge D'Metria Benson's mask mandate in her courtroom. She says it's in place because she has a compromised immune system.

Dallas is the second Texas county to sue over public health cuts after a judge ordered the Trump administration to return $20 million to Harris County last summer.

Public health officials warn law enforcement and border patrol activity are discouraging people from getting vaccines and other types of preventive health care. A North Texas health leader was among the officials who highlighted the issue.

Cold and flu season typically happen during the fall and winter. Though it comes around every year, there's still a lot of confusion about viruses, vaccines and how to avoid getting sick. Experts and providers offer advice heading into the holiday season.

This year’s respiratory virus season comes with some unique challenges. Experts and providers say they’re worried about how misinformation and confusion about new federal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations will affect vaccination rates, which could lead to more infections and severe health outcomes.

The hospital system disputed the allegation that it's violating a new state law, saying it does not have a policy requiring transplant recipients to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or any other disease. Medical experts have said transplant recipients benefit from a COVID-19 vaccine.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton is accusing the Texas Medical Association of undermining new federal vaccine guidelines after the group included additional organizations in its list of resources for doctors.

Dallas County health director Dr. Philip Huang told county commissioners new federal limits on who's eligible for the updated COVID-19 vaccine could affect how the county distributes its shipment.

Nimbus, the new COVID-19 variant, has caused an uptick in cases, while federal funding cuts have forced Dallas County to lay off staff and hold fewer vaccination clinics.

Public health departments relied on COVID funding to expand testing, lab and vaccination capabilities. Local health leaders say the federal government's clawback of $11.4 billion will undermine that growth.

North Texans and public health officials said there's still a lot of work to do to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.