Abbott Nutrition has restarted production at the Michigan baby formula factory that has been closed for months due to contamination, the company said Saturday, taking a step toward easing a nationwide supply shortage expected to persist into the summer.

The February shutdown of the largest formula factory in the country led to the supply problems that have forced some parents to seek formula from food banks, friends and doctor's offices.

Video above: Get the Facts: Baby Formula Shortage

Abbott said it initially will prioritize production of its EleCare specialty formulas for infants with severe food allergies and digestive problems who have few other options for nutrition. The company said it will take about three weeks before new formula from the plant begins showing up on store shelves.

"We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements," Abbott said in a statement.

The plant's reopening is one of several federal actions that are expected to improve supplies in the weeks ahead. President Joe Biden's administration has eased import rules for foreign manufacturers, airlifted formula from Europe and invoked federal emergency rules to prioritize U.S. production.

Abbott closed the Sturgis, Michigan, factory in February after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant. Two of the babies died. The company continues to state that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains.

FDA inspectors eventually uncovered a host of violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols. The FDA has faced intense scrutiny for taking months to close the plant and then negotiate its reopening. Agency leaders recently told Congress they had to enter a legally binding agreement with Abbott to assure all the problems were fixed.

Abbott's February recall of several leading brands, including Similac, squeezed supplies that had already been strained by supply chain disruptions and stockpiling during COVID-19 shutdowns.

The shortage has been most dire for children with allergies, digestive problems and metabolic disorders who rely on specialty formulas. The Abbott factory is the only source of many of those products, providing nutrition to about 5,000 U.S. babies, according to federal officials.

Abbott is one of just four companies that produce about 90% of U.S. formula. The company's recalls and shutdown triggered a cascade of effects: Retailers have limited customer purchasing to conserve supplies and parents have been told to switch brands to whatever formula is in stock.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf recently told lawmakers it could be about two months before formula supplies return to normal levels. The agency has waived many of its regulatory requirements to accept more formula from the United Kingdom, Australia and other nations.

U.S. manufacturers, including Reckitt and Gerber, have also stepped up production, running plants 24/7 and sourcing more formula from alternate facilities.

Two of the biggest names in Texas politics could be headed to overtime in their efforts to fend off primary challengers.

Texas kicked off the nation's 2022 midterm election calendar Tuesday, holding the nation's first primaries. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott easily defeated two vocal but poor-performing rivals and is now set for a marquee battle with Democrat Beto O'Rourke, the former congressman, in the fall, per CNN projections.

But down-ballot, the primary fireworks aren't over yet: Texas requires candidates to top 50% in order to advance directly to the general election. Otherwise, the top two primary finishers square off in a head-to-head runoff in May.

CNN projected that embattled Attorney General Ken Paxton will face a runoff against state Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the latest member of the Bush family's political dynasty to emerge in Texas politics. Paxton's failure to reach the 50% threshold was the only negative mark on Tuesday for former President Donald Trump, whose slate of endorsed candidates largely cruised in GOP primaries.

And the Democratic primary in Texas' 28th District -- between Rep. Henry Cuellar, the party's most conservative member of the U.S. House, and progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros -- was still undecided as of early Wednesday morning.

Here are six takeaways from the Texas primaries:

Governor's race is set

Texas is set for a heavyweight match-up between Abbott, a prolific fundraiser with a $50 million war chest, and O'Rourke, the former Democratic congressman who has been his party's only hope at winning statewide in recent years.

Abbott, who is seeking a third term, was always the favorite to win his party's nomination despite far-right criticism of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in its early days.

But he spent $15 million to be sure of it, fending off former Florida congressman and Texas Republican Party chairman Allen West and former state Sen. Don Huffines.

O'Rourke, meanwhile, is seeking office for the third time in five years. His near-miss in the 2018 race against Republican Sen. Ted Cruz ignited Texas Democrats' hopes that the state, with a diverse and growing population and suburbs that have moved leftward, would soon become a battleground.

Now, with a campaign focused on Abbott's management of the grid failure that left much of Texas without power after a winter storm last year, he'll seek to deliver on that promise in a year in which the national political environment could be much tougher for Democrats.

Embattled AG faces runoff against Bush

Texas Attorney General Paxton was unable to reach the 50% support he needed to avoid a runoff, and will face a head-to-head match-up with a member of the state's best-known political family.

Paxton, a Republican with former President Donald Trump's endorsement thanks to the attorney general's lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, faced a crowded field of challengers.

The efforts to oust him center on his legal troubles: Paxton has been under indictment since 2015 on securities fraud charges, and is being investigated by the FBI after former aides accused him of abusing the power of his office to help a political donor.

As votes were being counted late Tuesday night, the second-leading vote-getter was Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. He led former state Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Trump ally.

Bush had aligned himself much more closely with Trump than other members of the Bush family. He told supporters Tuesday night that Paxton "is going to divert attention away from his legal problems and personal challenges" during their runoff.

Cisneros, Cuellar could be headed for another round

The rematch between Rep. Henry Cuellar, the most conservative Democrat in the U.S. House, and progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros, who nearly defeated him in 2020, was neck-and-neck Tuesday night. It could be headed for a runoff.

Though Cuellar and Cisneros are both from Laredo, the race split along geographic lines: Counties closer to San Antonio overwhelmingly supported the more progressive Cisneros; along the border, Cuellar was dominant.

Cuellar is a rare figure in Washington: a pro-gun rights, anti-abortion rights Democrat who outperforms the national party in an area where Democrats have rapidly lost ground to Republicans in recent presidential election cycles.

The FBI searched Cuellar's house weeks before the primary election. He largely dropped off the campaign trail, relying on television ads. That progressives could not defeat a hobbled Cuellar offered a window into the party's left flank's struggles to connect with Latinos in South Texas.

A silver lining for progressives

Progressives did have one victory to celebrate Tuesday night: Greg Casar, a former Austin city councilman, was projected to win the 35th Congressional District primary outright, avoiding a runoff.

Casar, who was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and campaigned with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the favorite to win the seat in November.

The 35th District, which stretches from Austin to San Antonio, is a new one drawn by Texas lawmakers during last year's redistricting. It became a target for progressives after Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett, the incumbent who had represented parts of the new district, chose to run in a neighboring district.

15th District also heads to a runoff

The most competitive U.S. House race in Texas this year could come in the 15th District, a South Texas district that stretches from towns east of San Antonio to the Rio Grande Valley.

Republican Monica De La Cruz, who came within 3 percentage points of defeating Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in 2020, will win the Republican nomination, CNN projected. Gonzalez, meanwhile, is running in the neighboring 34th District.

But Democrats will have to wait until May 24 to determine her opponent. On Tuesday, the results of the Democratic primary remained to be seen. Ruben Ramirez, an attorney and Afghanistan war veteran, led the field, followed by a tight contest between Michelle Vallejo, a progressive favorite, and attorney John Villarreal Rigney for the second runoff spot.

Trump's 'big night in Texas'

Trump took a victory lap Tuesday night after every candidate he endorsed in Texas either won or advanced to a runoff.

"Big night in Texas! All 33 candidates that were Trump endorsed have either won their primary election or are substantially leading in the case of a runoff," Trump said in a statement.

That was partly by design: Trump only endorsed Republicans who were either already favored or were locks to win. His endorsement carried weight, but was not enough to help Paxton avoid a runoff.

Trump did not involve himself in the 8th District race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady. But virtually all of his allies, and every other power player in the GOP, did.

Related video above: Beto O’Rourke says he will run for Texas governor

Actor Matthew McConaughey announced Sunday in a video message on Twitter that a future in political leadership is not in the cards -- right now.

After acknowledging that he had taken time exploring politics and considered a run for the governor of Texas, McConaughey said he's decided to focus his efforts in the private sector.

"As a simple kid born in the little town of Uvalde, Texas, it never occurred to me that I would one day be considered for political leadership. It is a humbling and inspiring path to ponder. It is also a path that I'm choosing not to take at this moment," he said.

He also noted that he has been studying Texas politics and American politics.

"What have I learned? A lot. That we have some problems we need to fix. That our politics needs new purpose. That we have divides that need healing," he said.

McConaughey also said that he is going to continue to support entrepreneurs, businesses and foundations that he "believes are leaders."

"Establishments that I believe are creating pathways for people to succeed in life. Organizations that have a mission to serve and build trust while also generating prosperity -- that's the American dream," McConaughey said. "Politicians, the good ones, can help us get to where we need to go ... but let's be clear, they can't do anything for us unless we choose to do for ourselves."

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will run for a third term in Texas. Beto O'Rourke, the former Texas congressman who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, launched his campaign earlier this month.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday penned a letter to the Texas Association of School Boards and asked the group to remove books he claims "promote pornographic or obscene material," firing the latest salvo in the political fight to control what's taught in state classrooms.

The letter, addressed to Texas Association of School Boards executive director Dr. Dan Troxell, says the board has an "obligation to determine the extent to which such materials exist or are used in our schools and to remove any such content."

Abbott did not cite specific examples of books that may contain such materials.

The association has not yet issued an official response, but a spokesperson said in a statement to NPR that the group "did not believe it had authority over school districts" to remove books from libraries and "does not set the standards for instructional materials, including library books."

CNN reports that Abbott's letter came a week after state lawmaker Jeff Cason called on Texas' attorney general to investigate books he considered to be "pornography."

Also, last week, state Rep. Matt Krause announced he was leading an investigation into a list of 850 books that may be in school libraries despite "objections from students, parents and taxpayers." A Dallas Morning News investigation has found that a significant portion of the books on the list were written by women, people of color or LGBTQ authors.

Texas is just one of several states where conservative lawmakers are taking the "culture wars" into the classroom. Republican Glenn Youngkin prevailed in the Virginia gubernatorial election earlier this week after raising concerns about the use of "critical race theory" in classrooms.

AUSTIN, Texas —

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Monday to prohibit any entity, including private business, from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on workers and called on state lawmakers to pass a similar ban into law.

The move comes as the Biden administration is set to issue rules requiring employers with more than 100 workers to be vaccinated or test weekly for the coronavirus. Several major companies, including Texas-based American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, have said they would abide by the federal mandate.

"No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19," Abbott wrote in his order.

Abbott, who was previously vaccinated and also later tested positive for COVID-19, noted in his order that "vaccines are strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one, but must always be voluntary for Texans."

Abbott previously barred vaccine mandates by state and local government agencies, but until now had let private companies make their own rules for their workers. It was not immediately clear if Abbott's latest executive order would face a quick court challenge.

Abbott's new order also carries political implications. The two-term Republican is facing pressure from two candidates in next year's GOP primary, former state Sen. Don Huffines and former Florida Congressman and Texas state party chairman Allen West, have attacked Abbott's COVID-19 policies and have strongly opposed vaccine mandates.

"He knows which the way the wind is blowing. He knows conservative Republican voters are tired of the vaccine mandates and tired of him being a failed leader," Huffines tweeted.

West announced this week he tested positive for COVID-19 and has been hospitalized, but also tweeted he remains opposed to vaccine mandates.

Texas has seen a recent decrease in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. But a rising death toll from the recent surge caused by the delta variant has the state rapidly approaching 67,000 total fatalities since the pandemic began in 2020.

In May, the Supreme Court agreed to hear oral arguments from Mississippi's case, Dobbs v. Jackson's Women's Health Organization, in an attempt to ban abortion after 15 weeks.

This decision came around the same time Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the country's strictest ban on abortion into law, known as the Senate Bill-8. The law prohibits women from getting the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy or when cardiac activity is detected.

In a five-to-four decision, the Supreme Court declined to block the Texas ban, effectively changing the precedent of the 1973 landmark decision of Roe v. Wade that made abortion a constitutional right. The law forced many clinics to close and incentivizes individuals to enforce the ban by placing a $10,000 bounty on anyone who helps women get an abortion.

After the Supreme Court's ruling, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas to protect the constitutional rights of women.

Also, in early October, a federal judge issued an order to block the law, but Abbott immediately appealed the decision.

Similarly, Mississippi's only abortion clinic is in jeopardy. In the South and Midwest, where abortion is already difficult to access, if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, it will eliminate the procedure entirely.

In December, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to uphold Mississippi's abortion restriction. The court generally releases the majority of its decisions in mid-June.

In this episode of Clarified, learn about how the 48-year precedent of Roe v. Wade is being challenged.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday signed an order that will create a state border security task force and announced plans to build more physical barriers at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Abbott made the announcement at a border security summit in Del Rio. CNN reports that the order Abbott signed appropriated $1 billion for border security.

While Abbott expressed the need for Texas to begin building "border barriers," he did not go into specifics about where such barriers would be built.

It's unclear how much authority Abbott has to build such a wall since much of the land bordering Mexico is owned by the federal government or is private property. CNN reports that Abbott will provide more information about the barriers next week.

During remarks on Thursday, Abbott added that he wanted law enforcement to begin arresting migrants who trespass on private property.

"It's not the red carpet that the Federal administration rolled out to them," Abbott said. "They're going to jail in the state of Texas."

Abbott added that any barriers the state constructs will be used to prosecute migrants.

"When anybody tries to modify or attempt to get through, that is a crime for which they can be arrested," Abbott said.

Abbott added that the plan to arrest migrants would require the cooperation of local governments and that he would work with county officials to provide more jail space if needed.

Laredo Mayor Peter Saenz told CNN that he was present at a summit meeting where Abbott described plans for his wall. Saenz said that Abbott repeatedly described the barrier as a "fence" and did not go into details about how it would be built.

Abbott's announcement came days after Vice President Kamala Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico in an effort to work with officials in those countries in the hopes of slowing the rate of undocumented immigrants coming into the country.

"Do not come. Do not come. The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border. There are legal methods by which migration can and should occur," Harris said Monday.