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

SAN JUAN, Texas – From Monday, July 25, to Saturday, July 30, the Texas Health and Human Services will carry out Operation Border Health/Preparedness (OBHP). OBHP is a program that sets up sites around the Rio Grande Valley, offering residents free health services. Services include general physician services, immunizations, screenings, sport physicals, dental services, vision services, and more. Although assisting the public in maintaining their health is a goal of OBHP, the underlying purpose is to assist the community in preparing for disasters. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said Operation Border Health Preparedness allows state, local, and nonprofit entities to practice setting up and operating health clinics that may be needed in the case of a public health emergency, while providing free care to the community. He said services include medical exams, immunizations for children and adults, sports physicals for students, health and diabetes screenings, and dental and vision exams. “Operation Border Health Preparedness is a great example of a smart policy that not only ensures we are prepared for future public health crises, but also provides an immediate public benefit in the process,” Hinojosa said. view article

Police officials and law enforcement experts say there’s no guarantee that officers will follow their training and confront a shooter — no matter how much training they have.  In the weeks since officers in Uvalde waited more than an hour to confront a gunman who killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school, police departments across the state have asked themselves a crucial question: If they faced a similar situation, would they be able to quickly stop the gunman?  The images of parents and students pleading with officers to take action at Robb Elementary School on May 24 before a tactical team of federal agents finally breached a classroom and fatally shot the 18-year-old gunman deeply disturbed Marfa police Chief Estevan Marquez. view article

An increase in COVID-19 cases among children in El Paso is resulting in more absences at some schools. "Last week my child had a light cough so we decided not to take her to school to not expose the other children to her cough," said El Paso ISD parent Guerrero Garcia. view article

Some Brenham ISD parents are concerned about the safety of their children aboard school buses, while the district struggles to find people to drive them. Overcrowding and longer run times for some buses has parents worried and debating whether their children should be using school transportation. One parent, Cassi Harrison, has pulled her three children off after she says her daughter had to sit on the floor of her elementary school bus, which had students from two bus routes. Harrison says the safety of the children needs to be addressed. view article

Saying positive cases of COVID-19 are climbing to "very high rates" in the district, the Richardson ISD says they are once again temporarily implementing a mask requirement for everyone inside K-12 schools. In a letter to parents, the district said active cases of COVID-19 have increased from 49 on Dec. 7 to 1,089 on Jan. 6, an increase of more than 2100%. The previous pandemic-high number of positive cases in RISD was 367 on Sept. 3. view article

They say participation is strictly voluntary, but the Fort Worth Independent School District is offering a one-time $500 incentive to employees who get fully vaccinated against COVID. Administrators say the money is an ‘effort to provide safe and healthy environments for students, staff and visitors’. view article

In a video address by the Conroe ISD superintendent, Dr. Curtis Null gave an update on the latest numbers on Friday as COVID-19 cases in the district continue to climb. Dr. Curtis Null, the Conroe ISD Superintendent, said, “We need to do something as a community to help make sure that we can keep our schools open and keep our kids safe.” According to the district in the first two weeks of the school year, there have been over 1,100 reported positive cases that included 962 students and 176 staff. view article

Houston ISD students and employees who refuse to wear masks when the school year begins could face discipline and be forced to temporarily learn online under new guidelines released by the district. With exceptions and reasonable accommodations made for people with a “documented medical disability,” the district’s updated back-to-school plan, released Friday evening, says that those who refuse to comply with the mask mandate will face consequences. view article

As COVID-19 cases rise and schools begin to come back into session, the safety of students is a top priority for many school districts. According to a social media post by Jim Hogg County Judge Juan Carlos Guerra, JHC ISD is taking precautions to protect students against rising case numbers. view article

The largest school district in the San Antonio area said Wednesday they will not be enforcing a mask mandate, “for now,” despite a county-wide requirement issued Tuesday that students and teachers wear masks in public schools. A Northside Independent School District spokesperson told KSAT that the district will continue to “strongly encourage the use of facemasks by students, staff, and visitors to district facilities and events” but stopped short of requiring them. Meanwhile, they will “closely monitor the changing guidelines and directives” and alert the public of any change to the policy before the district’s start date on Aug. 23, the spokesperson said. view article

Round Rock ISD parents are divided on COVID-19 masking protocol, with some fighting to keep mask rules in place for their schools and others wanting it to be a choice. The school district's board of trustees recently considered relaxing the mask requirement, but voted to keep the rules in place through the end of the calendar year. view article

All Fort Worth ISD employees will soon be offered a COVID-19 vaccine. Superintendent Kent Scribner sent the information to employees on Thursday. The email states that all employees, including part-time and substitute workers, will be invited to sign up for the vaccine through the school district. view article

During and after a Nov. 9 meeting, Friendswood ISD board members and parents discussed the merits and challenges of structural changes to the district’s virtual learning program. Guidance from the Texas Education Agency released Nov. 5 gave the district significantly more options when it comes to virtual learners, officials said. But that guidance continues to change. view article

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Mackenzie Middle School has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 at the school. Mackenzie Middle School release a statement to parents confirming the case of COVID-19 on August 26, 2020. view article

School districts across the Brazos Valley will be heading back to school in the next few weeks but many are dealing with new protocols as the pandemic continues into the new school year. One area that many districts are dealing with is extracurricular activities. KBTX spoke to Bryan ISD’s Fine Arts Director, Patrick Corbett about how the district’s protocols are adjusting to fit the needs and safety for those who choose to participate. view article

The union for Austin Independent School District employees is asking the district and the state not to send employees back to school buildings in August. Union members say it is unsafe for employees and children to be in classes together. During an online news conference Wednesday, Education Austin President Ken Zarifis said the union is asking AISD to commit to online learning only for the first nine weeks of the semester, while monitoring Covid-19 cases in the city. He also asked that increased pay for employees like cafeteria workers and other support staff continue. view article

Manor ISD is confirming that an employee who recently prepared and distributed curbside meals at Manor New Tech High School has tested positive for COVID-19. According to Manor ISD, the employee’s last day on campus was April 9. All staff who may have had contact with the employee have been contacted and directed to self-quarantine for the next 14 days. view article

Alief ISD has been notified that a female in her 40‘s who works for Owens Intermediate School has been diagnosed as positive with COVID-19, the district said Tuesday. The district said Owens Intermediate School continues to be deeply sanitized and although schools and offices have been closed since March 13 and remain closed at this time, all Alief ISD employees and students have been instructed to continue to follow CDC guidelines and recommendations and to continue to practice social distancing. view article

Austin ISD is announcing changes to its food services amid the coronavirus outbreak. After the City of Austin announced the first cases of coronavirus in Travis County, AISD canceled classes and extended Spring Break for students. view article