Trials of two Uvalde school officers see delays amid federal lawsuit, venue change

Pete Arredondo, the district’s former police chief, and ex-officer Adrian Gonzales face charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting. The trials for the two former school police officers facing charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde will be delayed, and one will be moved out of the city where the attack occurred, their lawyers said Tuesday. Former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo and officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to dozens of counts of child endangerment and abandonment in connection with the massacre at Robb Elementary School. Both men were set to stand trial on Oct. 20. Gonzales’ trial will be moved to a January start in Corpus Christi, about 200 miles from the school, attorney Nico LaHood said Tuesday. Judge Sid Harle confirmed the agreement for a change of venue for Gonzales, but said no formal order had been filed yet.
Trials of two Uvalde school officers see delays amid federal lawsuit, venue change

Pete Arredondo, the district’s former police chief, and ex-officer Adrian Gonzales face charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting. The trials for the two former school police officers facing charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde will be delayed, and one will be moved out of the city where the attack occurred, their lawyers said Tuesday. Former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo and officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to dozens of counts of child endangerment and abandonment in connection with the massacre at Robb Elementary School. Both men were set to stand trial on Oct. 20. Gonzales’ trial will be moved to a January start in Corpus Christi, about 200 miles from the school, attorney Nico LaHood said Tuesday. Judge Sid Harle confirmed the agreement for a change of venue for Gonzales, but said no formal order had been filed yet.
Central Texas School District Confirms ‘Alphabet Soup’ Club on Hold Pending Review

A new state law prohibits school districts from authorizing or sponsoring a student club based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Austin ISD families and trustees respond to sweeping school closure plan

Families across Austin mourned the potential closure of or changes to their neighborhood campus over the weekend after the Austin school district released a proposal Friday to shutter 13 campuses, revamp six others as non-zoned special program schools and dramatically redraw attendance boundaries across the entire district. If approved by trustees in November, the plan will significantly shift boundaries for thousands of students only six years after another emotional school closure process. Roughly one-quarter of all district students could be impacted under the sweeping proposal.
Texas selects company that will help develop its school voucher program

Finance and technology company Odyssey will help design the application process, manage payments and review complaints for the state’s education savings accounts. Texas’ chief financial officer on Monday named the organization that will help the state build the school voucher program lawmakers approved earlier this year. Odyssey, a technology company, will work with the comptroller’s office, which oversees finances for all of Texas state government, to design the process through which Texas families can apply to receive thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds to cover their children’s private or home-schooling costs. Odyssey will also develop a system for those families to shop for educational products and pay tuition. Applications for Texans to participate in the program are expected to open at some point early next year. The program, named “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” will then launch at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
Texas selects company that will help develop its school voucher program

Finance and technology company Odyssey will help design the application process, manage payments and review complaints for the state’s education savings accounts. Texas’ chief financial officer on Monday named the organization that will help the state build the school voucher program lawmakers approved earlier this year. Odyssey, a technology company, will work with the comptroller’s office, which oversees finances for all of Texas state government, to design the process through which Texas families can apply to receive thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds to cover their children’s private or home-schooling costs. Odyssey will also develop a system for those families to shop for educational products and pay tuition. Applications for Texans to participate in the program are expected to open at some point early next year. The program, named “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” will then launch at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.

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The federal government has shut down. Here’s what it means for Texas

October 0105:00 AM

Many federal employees are required to continue working without pay, though furloughs — or the usual uptick in workers calling in sick — could disrupt some services. view article

Whitesboro Officials Approve Huge Property Tax Increase

October 0105:00 AM

City council members unanimously approved a tax rate that will raise average homeowners’ property tax bills by 61 percent—an extra $498. view article

Gov. Abbott Directs DPS To Step Up Security at Texas Churches

October 0105:00 AM

Texas has taken several steps in recent years to allow churches more freedom to protect themselves and their congregants. Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to ramp up security around places of worship across the state. The announcement comes after a horrifying assault over the weekend at a Mormon church in Michigan, where authorities say 42-year-old Thomas Sanford drove a truck into the building, opened fire, and set the structure ablaze. Four were killed in the attack, and eight others were injured. view article

Gov. Abbott Directs DPS To Step Up Security at Texas Churches

October 0105:00 AM

Austin ISD School Custodian Arrested for Child Sex Crime

September 3008:41 AM

A regional custodial specialist in the Austin Independent School District was arrested by federal authorities and charged with sexually abusing a child. Agustin Ibarra Lopez was arrested September 24 by U.S. Marshals on a felony charge of indecency with a child, according to a letter Austin ISD sent to district families on the 25th. Talent Strategy Officer Brandi Hosack advised that Lopez had served as a custodian at several Austin ISD schools since 2016: Bowie High School (2016–17 and 2017–18 school years), Akins High School (2018–2021), Mendez Middle School (2022), Casey Elementary School (May 2022), and Anderson High School (2023-24 school year). view article

Texas investigation into teachers’ posts after Charlie Kirk’s death violates their free speech, experts say

September 3008:40 AM

Free speech experts say that when teachers speak in their personal capacity, even on school grounds but outside their official duties, they retain their right to comment on matters of public concern. view article

Shrinking Resources Cast New Doubt on Operation Lone Star Prosecutions

September 3008:34 AM

Texas’ border jurisdictions are scrambling to manage thousands of pending Operation Lone Star cases after key state partners abruptly pulled out, leaving local officials to coordinate housing and transportation for defendants. Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith told Texas Scorecard the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), both of which helped provide housing for illegal crossers arrested under the border security initiative, are no longer handling those responsibilities. The Del Rio Processing Center is reportedly shutting down, along with Val Verde County’s detention facility—the original epicenter of Operation Lone Star (OLS) prosecutions. “We’re left holding the bag,” Smith said. “Counties are having to figure this out on their own without the infrastructure the state had in place.” view article

Diboll school board OKs partnership with Georgia-Pacific to train students through AC for jobs upon graduation

September 3008:33 AM

DIBOLL — Career technical education director Joshua Slack presented a new partnership with Georgia-Pacific to train students through Angelina College using DISD robotics and engineering equipment during the Diboll school board’s monthly meeting Monday evening inside the district’s administration boardroom. Slack said Diboll is very family-oriented, and students want to stay in town with well-paying jobs. The program will allow students to pursue two certifications: a 22-hour electrical apprenticeship and a 20-hour electronic technology certificate, thus rendering them eligible for jobs with Georgia-Pacific upon graduation. Slack said Georgia-Pacific is an important community partner that needs a sustainable worker pipeline. The board unanimously approved the program’s initiation, which will start in October with 12 lessons. Assistant superintendent Katherina Crager presented a report on the district’s rating through the Texas Education Agency’s. Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST). The 2024-25 school year rating was calculated based on data from fiscal year 2024. view article

Texas’ investigation into teachers’ posts after Charlie Kirk’s death violates their free speech, experts say

September 3008:30 AM

Retired Texas Elementary Teacher Arrested on Federal Child Porn Charges

September 3008:30 AM

A retired elementary school “Teacher of the Year” was arrested on federal charges of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material. Robby Lynn Mason, 56, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count each of receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor under the age of 12 years old. Mason taught 3rd grade math at Sunset (Dumas South) Elementary in Dumas Independent School District from 2018 until 2023, when he retired. Dumas ISD is located in the Texas Panhandle north of Amarillo and has about 4,300 students and 650 staff. Mason previously taught in Sunray ISD and Canyon ISD. view article

Democratic Rep. Jon Rosenthal will run for Texas Railroad Commission

September 3007:30 AM

The day after the four-term Houston lawmaker launched his statewide bid, his former chief of staff, Odus Evbagharu, announced he was running to succeed his former boss in the Texas House. view article

Federal Judges To Decide Texas Redistricting Case

September 3005:00 AM

A legal showdown over Texas’ new congressional map begins Wednesday in an El Paso federal court. The outcome will determine whether the state’s latest congressional boundaries can be used in upcoming elections. The new congressional map—signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in August—added five new Republican-opportunity seats ahead of the 2026 midterm election. view article

The Texas AI boom goes public: $715M IPO set to shake up the market

September 3005:00 AM

A high-profile IPO this week could make former Texas Gov. Rick Perry—and his family—very wealthy. Fermi Corp., a nuclear-powered artificial intelligence startup co-founded by Perry, is expected to hit the Nasdaq with a valuation that could top $8 billion. view article

Audit: Texas Inconsistent with Federal Commercial Driver’s License Requirements

September 3005:00 AM

A nationwide audit conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows a lack of compliance with federal law by several states for commercial license requirements, with Texas included on the list. Late last week, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy released new emergency rules to help clarify and strengthen the current licensing system. “What our team has discovered should disturb and anger every American,” Duffy announced. view article

UNT Police Agree To Protect Conservative Student

September 3005:00 AM

The University of North Texas Police Department has agreed to protect a student facing harassment and threats. An audio recording of a prior meeting revealed that police originally asked the student to come up with a safety plan. Texas Scorecard obtained a Sunday email from University of North Texas Police Chief Ramona Washington to Randee Hallmark, the mother of UNT student Mary-Catherine Hallmark. Washington offered for Lt. Christopher Boesch to meet with Mary-Catherine Hallmark to review a “safety plan.” Hallmark is the UNT student who opposed a classmate celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination. She said she’s been harassed and threatened since then. view article

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Texas State Professor Calls for Overthrow of US Government

September 3005:00 AM

A recording caught a Texas State University professor expressing support for overthrowing the U.S. government. Tom Alter, associate professor of history, expressed these views this past weekend at the virtual Revolutionary Socialism Conference 2025. In a video obtained by author Karlyn Borysenko, Alter spoke about various left-wing groups during his address to the Revolutionary Socialism Conference. He asked, “[W]ithout organization, how can anyone expect to overthrow the most bloodthirsty, profit-driven, mad organization in the history of the world, that of the U.S. government?” This followed Alter’s discussion of why he found political organization—in this case through the Democratic Socialists of America—insufficient. view article

Apple Springs superintendent Moree retiring at end of year

September 3005:00 AM

APPLE SPRINGS — The Apple Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees has announced that superintendent Cody Moree will retire effective Dec. 31 after 20 years of service to the district. Since arriving in Apple Springs in 2005, served for eight years as principal before assuming the role as superintendent. Moree has guided the district through a period of growth, innovation and recognition, always with a focus on the district’s motto, “Where Character Counts.” During his tenure, Apple Springs became one of the first East Texas districts to provide one-to-one technology for every student and staff member, launched its own school app, and equipped every classroom with interactive monitors. The district also expanded academic opportunities through dual-credit college courses and industry-based certifications, with graduates entering the workforce as nurses, welders, cosmetologists and other licensed professionals. Apple Springs has also gained national and state recognition, repeatedly named among the “Best Schools in America” by U.S. News & World Report and designated a “Texas Honor Roll District.” view article

Communities In Schools of Texas

September 2909:00 AM

Communities In Schools (CIS) is a dropout prevention program funded in part by the Texas Legislature and administered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). CIS works in collaboration with school personnel to develop and provide a comprehensive Integrated Student Support (ISS) program uniquely tailored to address unmet academic and non-academic barriers to students' success. CIS staff complete a thorough campus needs assessment to identify campus needs, gaps in service, available resources, and the goals and priorities of the campus administration. CIS staff use this information to then develop a plan of service to address identified needs. view article

https://texasscorecard.com/local/mom-still-concerned-after-plano-isd-addresses-moldy-murphy-middle-school/

September 2909:00 AM

Darcy Hood mailed her voter registration application to the Tarrant County elections department in July, after she turned 18. Months later, her application still hasn’t been processed. And it’s unclear when it will be. With the Oct. 6 deadline to register to vote in November’s constitutional amendment election approaching, tens of thousands of Texans are in the same situation, waiting in suspense for their applications to go through, a process that normally takes a few days or weeks In interviews, private conversations, and emails, county elections officials from across the state point the finger at the state’s voter registration system, known as TEAM, which has long had functionality problems. They say that after the software was overhauled in July, the problems began proliferating: Voters’ previous addresses override their new ones, their voting precincts don’t populate correctly, and sometimes the registration information doesn’t save at all. view article

These S.A. school districts are in danger of TEA intervention. Here’s how they plan to avoid it.

September 2908:59 AM

After several of their campuses received another failing grade on the state's accountability ratings, four San Antonio school districts now face the possibility of being assigned a state-appointed conservator to help boost student performance. The Texas Education Agency has ordered Northside, San Antonio, Judson and Edgewood Independent School Districts to submit turnaround plans for their schools that have continued to fall short of state standards. view article

Indian Tribe Building Casino in Polk County Offsite of Main Reservation

September 2908:35 AM

Indian Tribe Building Casino in Polk County Offsite of Main Reservation The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe has announced that it is building a new casino resort on land owned by the tribe but not located on its reservation. The proposed Class II casino would be built near Leggett, Texas, on land that is not on or contiguous to the main reservation. On December 6, 2023, the Biden administration adopted new rules allowing tribes to acquire and transfer land into trust for the development of casinos. The rules went into effect on January 11, 2024. These rule changes were opposed by state and local authorities because the process by which tribes would be allowed to acquire land to develop casinos would circumvent local stakeholders. Until the adoption of this rule, tribes were generally prohibited from this activity. view article

Anti-DEI crusader Sid Miller urged UT to enroll student emphasizing her race and socioeconomic status

September 2908:32 AM

In May 2023, Miller wrote a letter urging university leaders to reconsider admitting a student whom he described as a “biracial Latina,” who was also the daughter of his political associate. In January, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller declared “war on DEI,” directing his agency to stop working with businesses that embrace policies that give advantages to people based on “race, color, sex, sexual preference, religion, or national origin.” He condemned the Biden Administration for allowing “unfair” diversity, equity, and inclusion policies “to infect all aspects of our federal government, major corporations, financial institutions, the medical industry, and institutions of higher education,” Miller said in a press release. But in May 2023, he wrote a letter to leaders of the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas at Austin emphasizing a student’s ethnicity and socioeconomic status as he urged the schools to reconsider her enrollment. view article

Trump asks Supreme Court to let him end birthright citizenship

September 2908:30 AM

President Donald Trump is asking the Supreme Court to revive his controversial policy to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants and to visitors on short-term visas. In petitions submitted to the high court on Friday, Solicitor General D. John Sauer asked the justices to hear arguments on the issue early next year, which would likely lead to a ruling by June. view article

Students and staff safe after threat at Lorenzo ISD

September 2908:27 AM

In a social media post Friday afternoon, the Crosby County Sheriff’s Office said they were working with Lorenzo ISD to investigate a phone threat made against the district. They stated that all students and faculty were safe and that no incident had taken place at the time of writing. In addition, they urged parents to not come to the school, with a normal dismissal schedule still in place. view article

Temple ISD supports first-year teachers with classroom supply shopping spree

September 2908:25 AM

Temple ISD supports first-year teachers with classroom supply shopping spree view article

Parents push back as Coppell ISD considers closing school

September 2908:21 AM

Parents in Coppell ISD are pushing back as the district considers plans to close another elementary school. view article

North Texas teacher apologizes for feeding live kitten to snake in classroom

September 2908:19 AM

A North Texas high school teacher fed an “ailing” live kitten to a snake in her classroom but did not do it in front of students, according to a message Alvord ISD sent to families in the district. view article

Leander ISD pauses dozens of books in classrooms in response to state law

September 2908:16 AM

Dozens of books are temporarily pulled from Leander ISD classrooms to make sure they comply with a new state law. The books are now paused for review due to SB 12, which went into effect on Sept. 1. view article

This Central Texas school district has canceled its varsity football season

September 2908:12 AM

The "Friday night lights" have gone out for McDade ISD. The district's athletic director announced on social media this week that this year's varsity football season is canceled. "This decision was not made lightly and come after careful consideration of various factors impacting the team's ability to safely and effectively compete this year," Athletic Director Jonathan Wells said in a statement. "We understand how disappointing this is for our players, coaches, and supporters, and we appreciate everyone's dedication and hard work leading up to this point." view article

Corrigan-Camden ISD student athlete collapses on sidelines

September 2908:12 AM

A Corrigan-Camden ISD student is in critical condition after collapsing on the sidelines of a football game Friday, the ISD said. The student was there to support his team, but he suffered a medical emergency unrelated to the game, according to a letter from Superintendent Brian Aiken and Athletic Director Brett Ratliff. view article

Mom Still Concerned After Plano ISD Addresses ‘Moldy’ Murphy Middle School

September 2905:00 AM

Officials in Plano Independent School District finally addressed the issue of mold in Murphy Middle School after students, parents, and teachers complained. But for some, the issue is not resolved. Principal Tramy Tran emailed Murphy families on Tuesday to “address recent concerns” regarding air quality and “potential black mold” in the building. Tran confirmed that the district had hired a third party to conduct a “limited” mold inspection, which concluded that air quality inside the school was “well within acceptable range and presents no health concerns.” At least one Murphy student’s mom is still concerned, as are several staff members. view article

UT-Austin Assigned Readings on ‘Depressed Transsexuals’ and ‘Queer Theory’

September 2905:00 AM

The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies teaches these concepts in an entry-level class. An academic department at the University of Texas at Austin pushes LGBT ideology on students. A university spokesman stated it is auditing classes and curriculum and that “courses in this area of study” will be reviewed as part of it. The Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, housed within the College of Liberal Arts, offers three distinct academic degrees. One is a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. They also offer both a minor and a certificate in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Sexualities (LGBTQ) Studies. UT-Austin uploaded 31 syllabi for classes under the heading “women’s and gender studies” for the fall 2025 semester. view article

Texas Tech Memo Mandates Faculty Uphold Biological Reality

September 2905:00 AM

Texas’ congressional delegation obtained tentative funding for infrastructure improvements, university research and other initiatives, but the nearly 350 earmarks are all in jeopardy. Left-wing media outlets are criticizing a memo written by the Texas Tech University System’s chancellor which mandates faculty adherence to laws recognizing only two biological sexes, framing it as an attack on LGBT ideology without legal basis. On September 25, Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd Mitchell sent a memo to the presidents of the system’s institutions. He wrote that state and federal law recognize male and female as the only two human sexes. He cited three sources: President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order, Gov. Greg Abbott’s January 2025 letter, and new state law House Bill 229. HB 229 defined biological sex and required Texas agencies to record only male or female in vital statistics data. Abbott’s letter ordered agencies to reject gender identity policies and follow laws recognizing two sexes. Trump’s executive order directed federal agencies to use only biological sex and to remove gender identity from policy. view article

Texas’ guidance on end of in-state tuition for undocumented students doesn’t clear confusion, advocates say

September 2609:00 AM

The state is being criticized for advising colleges to verify students’ status with immigration authorities, which could put them at risk. view article

Christian activist David Barton will advise Texas State Board of Education during social studies overhaul

September 2609:00 AM

Before finalizing changes to Texas’ social studies standards next summer, the Republican-dominated State Board of Education will consider input from a conservative Christian activist who views church-state separation as a myth and the Ten Commandments as foundational to American education.Announced by Republican members Brandon Hall and Julie Pickren last week, David Barton will serve as one of several expert content advisers to the board as it develops a new social studies agenda that will dedicate more time across school grades to Texas and U.S. history while placing less attention on world history and cultures. Board members can nominate content advisers to review and provide feedback during the revision process. Barton served in a similar role when the board revised its social studies standards in 2010. His appointment comes ahead of what are expected to be intense debates about Texas’ social studies framework, specifically how and what students should learn about history. Those discussions will take place as Texas’ Republican leaders increasingly push to inject Christian beliefs and values into public school classrooms. view article

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