We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Check back for updates.

Fort Worth parents, students face technical difficulties on 1st day of online learning

Parents and students were frustrated Tuesday morning as they faced internet connectivity issues on the first day of virtual learning in Dallas-Fort Worth, although many said they appreciated help from teachers in resolving the problems.

The Fort Worth Independent School District website was down for part of the morning, and some students had issues logging on or could not log on at all to virtual learning.

Fort Worth ISD posted on its Facebook page Tuesday morning about the issue. “As of an hour ago, the Fort Worth ISD website has experienced slow loading or a failure to load,” the post said about 9:15 a.m.

Tuesday’s technical problem came from a website vendor who also serves Dallas ISD and Houston ISD, which had the same problems, said Clint Bond, a FWISD spokesman. Fort Worth ISD told students they could bypass the district website and access Classlink directly by going to launchpad.classlink.com/fortworth. Bond said the FWISD website was back up and accessible as of 11:45 a.m.

“It never had any impact on our learning platforms,” Bond said. “All of those are on a different server from another, separate provider.”

But some parents said their kids could not sign on all day.

Amber Lee’s 10-year-old daughter was in tears when she was unable to log onto the learning portal for the entire day. Lee had her daughter start reading some books for class instead.

Is your business struggling because of COVID-19? Fort Worth has more grants available

Fort Worth opened another round of grants for small businesses hurt by the coronavirus slowdown — nearly $9 million is available for qualified companies and it won’t have to be paid back.

The city’s Preserve the Fort program has $8.8 million to dole out to small businesses and nonprofits having a hard time making payroll, paying leases or meeting other expenses because of coronavirus. Applications for the grants opened Tuesday afternoon through FortWorthTexas.gov/preserve-the-fort. Business owners and nonprofit administrators can apply through Oct. 2. More information can be found by calling 817-515-2603.

A small business will be eligible for up to 1.5 times its gross average monthly revenue, capped at $100,000. Bars and music venues can receive up to three times the lost average monthly revenue. The city expanded criteria to businesses with up to 500 employees, in addition to self-employed individuals. A priority is being given to bars and restaurants that were forced to close. Owners must demonstrate a financial impact since the March 13 coronavirus declaration.

Nonprofits can receive grants that cover up to 75% of expenses related to reopening amid the pandemic. The grant can cover the cost for personal protective equipment, plexiglass barriers, sanitizer stands and other supplies.

Tarrant County passes 43,000 COVID cases, reports 6 more deaths, including 4 in suburb

Tarrant County reported 257 coronavirus cases and six deaths on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 deaths include four Azle residents — two women in their 80s, one woman in her 90s, and a man in his 80s. The others were a Fort Worth woman in her 70s and a Grapevine man in his 80s.

All six had underlying health conditions, according to officials.

Tarrant County has reported 43,055 COVID-19 cases, including 582 deaths and 37,811 recoveries.

The county did not reported pandemic-related data the previous two days because of the holiday.

Dallas County passes 74,000 COVID cases but reports second-fewest new cases since April

Dallas County reported 139 coronavirus cases and three deaths on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s cases include 63 from September that were previously unreported from the Texas’ Department of State Health Services data reporting system.

The 139 COVID-19 cases are the second-fewest reported since April. The fewest since April was 127 on Aug. 30.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a release that the lower number may be the result of less data being reported over the Labor Day holiday.

The latest deaths include two Dallas women in their 50s and a Dallas man in his 60s. Each had underlying health conditions, according to officials.

Dallas County has confirmed 74,100 COVID-19 cases, including 948 deaths. The county does not report recoveries.

Estimated active cases over time

Coronavirus daily active case estimates by local counties in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex, beginning April 8, 2020. Data provided by Texas Health and Human Services.

Steve Wilson swilson@star-telegram.com

Big 12 stumbling out of gates to play football amid COVID as another game is postponed

The Big 12 is stumbling out of the gates with its plans to play a football season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Baylor-Louisiana Tech game scheduled for Saturday in Waco has been postponed, Baylor announced after multiple reports surfaced Tuesday night. That is the conference’s third game scheduled for opening weekend to be delayed amid the pandemic.

TCU-SMU had to postpone its scheduled opener with TCU having an outbreak amongst its players, and Oklahoma State-Tulsa is delayed at least a week because Tulsa had to pause its training camp due to COVID protocols.

The Baylor game sustained a setback after Louisiana Tech had an outbreak on the heels of Hurricane Laura, according to Yahoo’s Pete Thamel. Thamel said 38 players on Louisiana Tech’s roster had tested positive as Hurricane Laura eliminated power in 90% of the area for 7-10 days.

“That prompted many players to move elsewhere and made social distancing difficult, which contributed to the spread,” Thamel wrote.

Fort Worth Symphony shifts concerts to Will Rogers after Bass Hall postpones reopening

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is moving its fall Symphonic Series to the Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium after officials learned that Bass Hall was going to remain closed through at least December.

The fall series concerts will still begin on Sept. 18, according to a news release.

The symphony previously announced its 2020-2021 Pops series, which will begin on Sept. 11 with Asleep at the Wheel – Celebrating 50 Years. The event will be held at Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium.

“We were extremely surprised to receive this disappointing news just two weeks before the opening of our Symphonic Series, especially after working with Bass Hall management all summer on detailed plans for a safe reopening,” said Keith Cerny, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

According to the news release, the Fort Worth symphony was among the first in the country to test musicians and staff for COVID-19 before each weekend of performances.