Local, state leaders battle COVID surge, each other

Texas topped 1 million COVID-19 cases as some counties reimposed restrictions that had been loosened after this summer’s spike. Particularly hard-hit El Paso extended its temporary shutdown of nonessential businesses, but the Texas Eighth Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 Friday to block County Judge Ricardo Samaniego’s order. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Gov. Greg Abbott and some El Paso…