Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations.   While vaccine requirements have not changed for Texas students this year — despite federal efforts to drop and space out some inoculations — Becca Harkleroad understands how many parents are confused.   “Despite all the confusion that hits the news … nothing’s changed,” said Harkleroad, the executive director of the Texas School Nurses Organization.  In January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped the rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines from the recommended list. But a federal judge in Massachusetts — and a Biden appointee — halted that move in March, keeping the pre-2026 vaccine recommendations in place. The federal government is appealing that decision. view article

Documents obtained by NBC 5 reveal new details about the shooting of a Dallas ISD police officer in North Dallas last week. According to an arrest affidavit from the Dallas Police Department, 27-year-old Jose Pantoja-Morales was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a public servant after taking Dallas ISD Officer Justin Jones’ gun and shooting him. view article

O.D. Wyatt High School in Fort Worth was placed under lockdown Monday afternoon as authorities investigated a potential firearm threat on campus. view article

ABILENE, Texas — The first day of school is quickly approaching and it's important to be safe if you're on the roads or walking.  KTXS spoke with the Abilene Police Department who gave us some safety tips for parents and students to know before going back to school.  "A lot of people function off of a routine," Abilene Police Department's Traffic Division Sergeant, Andrew Mason, said. "And so the last two months they've been in the summertime and they've been in the routine of not having to drive through school zones and worry about schoo view article

ABILENE, Texas — As Big Country students return to class, health officials remind families of a few simple steps to prevent flu and other illnesses in the classroom. view article

Balmorhea ISD's Board of Trustees has released new details regarding an investigation into Superintendent John Massey. According to a letter from the board president, the allegation against Massey had already been reported to and investigated by the Child Protective Services division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Texas Rangers. view article

For most of Stacey Ladd’s career at Child Protective Services, she was taking families apart.  It was for a noble effort — keeping children safe — but her role was effectively taking kids away from parents.  A year into leading a new program at ACH Child and Family Services, the industry veteran of more than 30 years sees her role differently.   “We’ve seen so much success, and that’s because our perspective has changed,” Ladd said. “We really see ourselves now as building families.”  Last year, ACH and Our Community Our Kids, the regional adoption and foster agency, began implementing Intercept, a nationwide program meant to keep families together and prevent children from entering foster care.  view article

The floodwaters are gone, but volunteers say families across the Hill Country still need help clearing debris and rebuilding their lives.  AUSTIN, Texas — The frantic search and rescue response to the devastating July floods in South Texas and the Hill Country has given way to a new phase: recovery.  Weeks after floodwaters swept through communities across the region, volunteers with Austin Disaster Relief Network spent the weekend helping families clear debris, salvage belongings and begin rebuilding their lives. view article

Although several synthetically derived cannabis products will be banned on July 31, delta-9 THC products will still remain legal.  Texans’ access to a variety of hemp-derived THC products will significantly narrow on Friday. view article

TEXARKANA, Texas -- Coaches and directors of extracurricular activities are pivoting under new heat guidelines from the University Interscholastic League to keep their students safe in fiery temperatures. view article

An arrest affidavit concerning a Forney ISD teacher reveals two incidents involving violence with special need students, as well as the suspect's previous criminal history when known by a different name at a different school district. view article

A former Stockdale Independent School District teacher was sentenced to 13 years in prison after he was accused of having an improper relationship with a student. In a news release Thursday, 81st Judicial District Attorney Audrey Gossett Louis announced sentencing for Peter Aaron Leach, who will serve the term at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility. view article

The parents of a second-grade student have filed a lawsuit against Plano ISD, a Brinker Elementary principal and former teacher Paul Campbell — alleging school officials ignored warning signs before Campbell was arrested on child sex crime charges earlier this month. The lawsuit, filed Thursday, names Plano ISD, Brinker Elementary Principal Jennifer King and Campbell as defendants. It was brought on behalf of the parents of a minor identified as Janie Doe. view article

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information about data center and manufacturing tax exemptions from the National Taxpayers Union. Texas lawmakers are considering cutting a decade-old tax break for the state’s booming data center industry, although the cost of the program could continue to grow before next year’s legislative session.The big picture  A 2013 law waived state sales taxes for certain data centers and the tax exemption took effect in 2014, allowing qualifying companies to purchase electricity, cooling systems, software and related technology infrastructure tax-free. Some data center projects also qualify for additional state or local tax breaks and grants. view article

Katy ISD has approved new language in its 2026-27 Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct that bans students from operating a wide range of motorized vehicles on school campuses, saying the change is intended to improve student safety. School board members unanimously approved the updated discipline plan during Monday night's board meeting after discussing concerns raised by families and the need for consistent rules across the district. view article

More victims have come forward in a child sexual abuse investigation involving longtime Plano ISD teacher Paul Campbell, according to Plano Police. Campbell, who taught at Brinker Elementary School for 28 years, faces three additional warrants for indecency with a child. The 64-year-old was booked into the Plano City Jail earlier this month on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. view article

Expanded weapon detection screenings, enhanced lockdown drills and campus security projects were among the topics discussed during the Alvin ISD safety committee's July 23 meeting. view article

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) forced a recall of Taylor Farms iceberg-lettuce products in Texas and 14 other states last week, determining the products contained Cyclospora. Taylor Farms then published a statement Sunday in which they said the FDA "apologized" for their error, which was declared a false positive. The FDA then refuted that statement Sunday.  view article

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered multiple state agencies to investigate healthcare providers accused of facilitating unlawful birth tourism, expanding the state’s enforcement efforts through a new executive order.  Tuesday’s executive order directs the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Department of State Health Services, the HHSC Office of Inspector General, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas Board of Nursing, and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to investigate claims of birth tourism within Texas’ healthcare industry.  It authorizes those agencies to take enforcement action against any licensed or regulated individual or entity found to be advertising, soliciting, engaging in or otherwise participating in unlawful birth tourism schemes, or assisting with or providing such services. Potential penalties include license suspension or revocation, disqualification from state contracts, denial of state benefits, and other enforcement actions permitted under state law. view article

The restrictions are a result of the Texas Supreme Court upholding regulations made by the Department of State Health Services in 2021. 
Several THC products will be banned in the state on July 31, following attempts by Texas lawmakers in 2025 to restrict the substance.  Among the products that will be banned are those containing delta-8, delta-10, delta-6, and THCP.   The ban is a result of the Texas Supreme Court upholding regulations made by the Texas Department of State Health Services in 2021, which classify anything other than delta-9 THC as a controlled substance.   Last year, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick championed a full ban on the sale of THC products during the 89th Legislative session. Although the ban was approved by both chambers, it was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott. view article

The U.S. Department of Education threatens to withhold federal funds if school districts fail to protect children from sexual predators. view article

A San Antonio man who helped lead a violent online extremist network that targeted children was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Tuesday, prompting the FBI to issue a renewed warning to parents about the growing threat posed by online groups that groom and exploit vulnerable minors.   Alexis Aldair Chavez, 19, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, after pleading guilty to racketeering, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography in connection with his role in an online network, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.  view article

Three Alvin ISD employees have been fired after allegedly mishandling special education students in a classroom, according to Nolan Ryan Junior High's principal. Principal Dana Green said in a statement to Nolan Ryan Junior High families that the incident involving the inappropriate physical handling of students occurred in May, at the end of the 2025-26 school year. view article

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has revealed the cause of death of a Lindale ISD elementary student who died April 16 at Velma Penny Elementary School in Lindale. The office determined Adrian Sue Thompson, 8, died as a result of choking and her death was ruled accidental, according to a death investigation report. view article

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In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the governor and other top Republican state leaders largely avoided commenting on it. view article

A former Temple High School substitute teacher has been charged with four counts of improper relationship between educator and student and two counts of sexual assault of a child, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by 6 News. view article

There have been 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States since May 1, and more than 5,100 additional cases are being investigated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday — a sharp increase in cases compared with recent years.  A growing outbreak in Michigan and Ohio has also been linked to cases in West Virginia and Kentucky, the agency said. People with cyclosporiasis may have symptoms, including watery diarrhea, cramping and bloating, for weeks.  Since May 1, cases have been identified in 34 states. Federal health officials said there are multiple investigations underway, some tied to the large outbreak in the Midwest, some involving single states and some involving cases not yet tied to any cluster. view article

More details have been released in the case of a Plano Independent School District teacher who is accused of sexually abusing a second grader at Brinker Elementary School. Police arrested 64-year-old Paul Campbell on Wednesday and charged him with the continuous sexual abuse of a child. view article

More details about the arrest of a Plano Independent School District teacher on charges of sexual abuse against a child under the age of were revealed in court documents provided to WFAA. Paul Campbell, 64, was arrested and jailed on Wednesday, July 8, after an 8-year-old student reported the abuse to school officials. view article

A man has been arrested following an investigation with the Texas Attorney General’s Office and Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office. On July 7, 2026, deputies with the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, working in coordination with the Texas Attorney General’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Unit, served a felony arrest warrant on Larry Plant, the maintenance director for Martin’s Mill ISD, the sheriff’s office said. view article

A longtime Plano ISD teacher is facing a child sexual abuse charge after being arrested Wednesday, according to Plano police. Paul Campbell, who taught at Brinker Elementary School for at least two decades, was booked into the Plano City Jail on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child. view article

A former Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD teacher is facing charges for an alleged improper relationship with a student. According to the Irving Police Department, Denton police initially arrested 28-year-old Haley Radabaugh in May for child grooming. view article

The overall news is still very mixed, but it’s at least something.  While more than 92% of Texas kindergarteners and 7th graders were fully vaccinated in the 2025-26 school year for each vaccine required to attend school, the coverage rates remained lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic, state data released Wednesday shows.  Of note in the latest report released by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the statewide measles coverage rate of kindergarteners increased from 93.2% to 93.3% after dropping about four percentage points in a decade. Also, the rate of kindergarteners opting out of the measles vaccine via a “conscientious exemption” increased by more than half of a percentage point, the largest single-year increase in more than a decade.  The latest data comes on the heels of the 2025 West Texas measles outbreak that resulted in the deaths of two school-age children. Texas lawmakers also approved a bill last year that did away with a requirement that the state must mail vaccine exemptions forms to parents, and instead, ma view article

The Texas Tribune has created a searchable database of the latest vaccine rates for school districts and private schools and how they’ve changed in the last year.  The rates of students exempt from required immunizations for conscientious or religious reasons increased statewide this past school year. Meanwhile, the percentage of students up to date on vaccinations — also known as coverage rates — varied by vaccine.  Kindergarten vaccination rates across the state and nation have dropped in recent years compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic as exemption rates have risen. view article