“BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.” view article

A former Montgomery County school employee was jailed in connection with an online child exploitation investigation.  Jaime J. Gonzalez, 63, was arrested and charged with online solicitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, as well as possession of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony.  Gonzalez is a former employee of both Tomball and Magnolia Independent School Districts. view article

Lawmakers plan to hear testimony Thursday in Kerr County. Questions remain about how state and local entities responded to flood warnings.  The day before the Guadalupe River rose 34 feet in the small Hill Country city of Kerrville and swamped areas along the river banks, Mayor Joe Herring Jr. messaged the city manager with anticipation.   “Big day tomorrow at LHP,” Herring wrote, likely referring to Louise Hays Park, where a Fourth of July festival was planned with bands and fireworks.“Yes it is!” City Manager Dalton Rice replied. “And it seems we got some rain too!”  A whole lot more rain was coming. view article

WASHINGTON—Over and over, Amy Neville forces herself to tell people what happened to her 14-year-old son.  “I relive it. ... I’m out there sharing the hardest thing that’s ever happened in my life,” she said. “It’s worth it, because I know we’re saving lives.”  Neville, 52, wiped away tears as she spoke those words during an interview with The Epoch Times on June 23. That day marked five years since her son, Alexander Neville, unknowingly ingested fentanyl and died—a tragedy that could easily befall any family, she said.  Through the nonprofit Alexander Neville Foundation, the grieving mother shares her personal pain with other parents. By her estimation, Amy Neville has given a couple hundred presentations in person and online; about 300,000 people have heard her warnings about the dangers that lurk on social media, leading to deaths such as Alex’s.  Neville also serves as the lead plaintiff in a groundbreaking court case that could affect the way Big Tech operates in the United States. view article

Texas law largely allows landowners to do what they want with the groundwater beneath them, potentially protecting the latest plan to ship water out of East Texas.  A Dallas millionaire is seeking permission to drill into the massive Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer to explore how much water is available. His enterprise, if fully realized, could drain 15.9 billion gallons of water from the massive body each year — more than triple the amount the city of Longview uses in a year.  Kyle Bass, through his company Conservation Equity Management, sees opportunity in the expanse of the aquifer, which has gone largely unstudied, to quench the thirst of the growing state. He purchased more than 11,000 acres in East Texas and plans to install more than 40 high-capacity water wells in Anderson, Houston and Henderson counties. view article

Kerrville declared a water supply emergency Monday due to the state of its water treatment plant, which has been impacted by flooding on the Nimitz Lake, according to the city.  Under the emergency, a ban on hoses, soakers and sprinklers that are either automatic or have hose ends went into effect at midnight due to "Stage 4" water conservation rules, according to a Facebook post by Kerrville officials. Repairs to the water treatment plant are ongoing, and the city has meanwhile used groundwater wells to meet the public's water demands, officials said. view article

In 2022, California regulators penalized a Houston compounding pharmacy for sending hundreds of vitamin injections they said were made with low-quality ingredients into the state. In 2024, Iowa restricted the same pharmacy’s ability to send drugs to its residents over “dangerous practices,” records show.  Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent the pharmacy a warning letter — its fourth in eight years — over quality control failures that the agency said put patients at risk.  Empower Pharmacy, which bills itself as the nation’s largest and most advanced compounding pharmacy, has been under scrutiny from federal and state regulators for much of the last decade. view article

Starting this fall, students across Fort Worth ISD will no longer be allowed to use their cellphones, smartwatches, earbuds, or other personal devices during the school day. The district’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new “Put it Away, Learn Today” policy at its July 22 meeting, aligning with a new state law that takes effect Sept. 1. view article

When Keller pastor Scott Venable thinks about the church’s role in immigration, his mind goes to two congregants who loved their neighbor. As federal funding paused for refugee resettlement agencies earlier this year, Northwood Church responded to Christian humanitarian organization World Relief’s call for congregations to help fill the gap. Since February, Northwood Church has been serving three refugee families who arrived in North Texas in December.   While the two church members come from different ends of the political aisle, they were the first to carry a couch up flights of stairs into a refugee family’s apartment, take them to the grocery store and help them get jobs, Venable said.  view article

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The number of people still missing in a Texas county ravaged by deadly flooding over the Fourth of July holiday weekend now stands at three, down from nearly 100.  The announcement Saturday by Kerr County that the list of missing has shrunk came after people who were previously reported missing have since been accounted for and as state lawmakers prepare to discuss authorities’ initial response and the possible improvements to warning systems. Flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with most deaths along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. The Hill Country is naturally prone to flash flooding because its dry, dirt-packed soil cannot soak up heavy rain.  The Texas Legislature is scheduled to convene Monday for a special session. Gov. Greg Abbott initially called lawmakers back to the Texas State Capitol in Austin for other reasons, but he and legislative leaders have added flooding-related issues to the agenda. view article

Traces of measles were found in Travis County wastewater, Austin Public Health officials confirmed Monday.  The virus was detected during wastewater surveillance during the first week of July, and APH was notified July 18.  Measles is a respiratory disease spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets can linger in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves an area. It’s extremely contagious and dangerous — nine out of 10 unvaccinated people near someone with measles will become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. view article

Belton High School teacher Pietro Giustino is charged with possessing child sexual abuse material including depictions of minors engaged in sexual intercourse. view article

Experts say poison control data don’t specify which calls are related to hemp versus more dangerous K2, but show that most THC poisonings cause minor side effects.  Texas lawmakers across the political spectrum have thrown around various claims about the dangers of hemp-derived THC to children, emphasizing its proliferation was a “life and death” matter that necessitated a ban on the intoxicating chemical.  “When you look at the data, the Texas Poison Control Center reported a 495% increase in marijuana-related calls involving children age five and under from 2017 to 2022,” said Sen. Cesar Blanco, D-El Paso, earlier this year as the Senate debated a bill that would have banned THC products. “Many of us are parents. As a father, I can’t ignore that, and as a body, I don’t think we should ignore it.”  Data provided from the Texas Poison Center Network confirms a sharp increase in marijuana-related calls starting in 2019, a year after hemp-derived THC was legalized by the federal government, from 923 to 2,592 calls in 2024. view article

As the number of Texas measles cases tied to a West Texas outbreak slows to a trickle, South Plains public health director Zach Holbrooks remembers the call from a colleague in an adjacent county six months ago that would change both his — and the state’s — entire 2025.  “Katherine was the first person to let me know there was a case,” said Holbrooks, referring to Lubbock’s public health director, Katherine Wells. A Mennonite child from Seminole’s Gaines County — one of four counties under Holbrooks’ charge — had been hospitalized in Lubbock with measles. “So that’s what got the communication rolling between me and Katherine and the state.” view article

H-E-B notes its roots in Kerrville as it deploys its mobile kitchen and $5 million in aid.   Before H-E-B formally announced its rapid response to the torrential rain and flooding that hit the Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend, the grocer's jump to action was likely expected by many Texans who have witnessed H-E-B's disaster relief for years. This time, however, the grocer's efforts feel deeply personal since H-E-B traces its founding back to Kerrville, which experienced some of the most devastating flooding.  view article

n Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott held a news conference and now says there have now been 135 deaths statewide from flooding view article

The long-awaited arrival of tropical downpours could make a mess of Friday commutes in Houston as a Gulf Coast disturbance soaks Louisiana and a good slice of Southeast Texas.  A minor flood risk evolves Friday afternoon and evening, especially across far southeastern Texas near Beaumont. Will tropical downpours persist through the upcoming weekend?  view article

Volunteers are hoping to find the owners of stuffed animals, photographs and other keepsakes salvaged from the debris. view article

Eighteen news organizations including The Texas Tribune have been seeking the records since 2022, when 19 children and 2 teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School. view article

A spokesman for Camp Mystic, the Texas enclave devastated by a July 4 flash flood, is raising concerns about communication failures during the disaster view article

The storm system is expected to reach the coast of Louisiana by Thursday.  A low-pressure system offshore of Florida's east coast, now designated as Invest 93L, is making its way westward across the Florida Panhandle and is likely to emerge or redevelop over the northern part of the Gulf on Wednesday.  The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported on Wednesday morning that the tropical disturbance is forecasted to head toward the far northeastern to north-central part of the Gulf in the late afternoon or potentially evening hours. The disorganized activity is still expected to reach the coast of Louisiana by Thursday. view article

It’s the first time Operation Border Health has canceled in 26 years. More than 6,600 people received check-ups, dental services, diabetes screenings and more last year.  It’s the first time Operation Border Health has canceled in 26 years. More than 6,600 people received check-ups, dental services, diabetes screenings and more last year. view article

Two Amarillo Independent School District principals presented a report to the AISD Board of Trustees Monday evening, July 14 about the recent cell phone policy enacted by the district and how it worked for students, teachers and parents. view article

As the public scrutinizes parts of the Hill Country for a lack of sirens during the July 4 floods, Crockett turned its own tragedy into preparedness. view article

The Canutillo Independent School District says it's developing new guidelines around a state law banning cell phones during school hours. In a public statement, the school district says policies will include consequences for students who don't follow the requirements. It also says the law allows exceptions for students with medical and special education accommodations. view article

Corpus Christi Independent School District is preparing to implement new cellphone restrictions for students in compliance with recently passed Texas legislation. Texas House Bill 1481, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, prohibits student use of cellphones and other personal electronic communication devices during the school day. view article

The passage of House Bill 1481, a new statewide law forbidding students from using personal communication devices during the school day, has local school districts scrambling to address their cell phone policy. Many Texoma school districts have already begun addressing the new law. Burkburnett ISD announced that students must leave electronic devices at home, or powered off and put away if brought on campus, with some exceptions. view article

Big changes are coming to WFISD as board members approve and move forward with the purchase of body cameras for the district’s police officers this upcoming school year. During the regular school board meeting on Monday, July 14, WFISD Superintendent Dr. Donny Lee said board members approved the purchase of body cameras through a grant totaling $140,000. view article

Several law enforcement personnel from Liberty County, including members of the Cleveland ISD Police Department, the Liberty County Pct. 6 Constable’s Office, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, recently completed school-based law enforcement (SBLE) training hosted by the Texas School Safety Center. According to Pct. 6 Constable Zack Harkness, the training took place from Tuesday, July 8, to Friday, July 11, at a Clear Creek ISD campus in League City. view article

Although a new round of floods elsewhere prompted emergency rescues Sunday, no injuries or deaths were reported.  Crosses honoring the victims of the Hill Country floods, seen on July 11, 2025, were erected by artist Roberto Marquez next to the Guadalupe River in Guadalupe Park. Search efforts were suspended Sunday amid new warnings of potential flash flooding in the region. Storms on Sunday brought more floods across Central and North Texas, leading to rescues and evacuations in several counties. Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune view article

At least 132 people have died. State and local leaders say getting an exact figure of the missing is difficult because so many people were visiting the Guadalupe River on the holiday weekend.  More than 10 days after catastrophic July Fourth floods along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, the official death toll across six Hill Country counties has risen to 132 people, while an estimated 101 remain missing, state officials said Monday. view article

Today's weather: There’s a 10% chance of some morning showers. Otherwise, the day will be mostly sunny with a high near 84 and a heat index as high as 102.  Kerr search stalled due to weather  With more than 100 people still missing following July 4 flooding in the state, search efforts in the Texas Hill Country were cut short Monday for the second day in a row as rain continued to drench the region.  Search teams and recovery crews were called off again Monday afternoon when a renewed downpour swelled the Guadalupe River.  The Guadalupe River at Hunt was up 11 feet and continuing to rise by mid-afternoon.   Authorities restricted even emergency vehicle access to Highway 39, one of the places where homes were washed away. view article

Armies of Texan volunteers are leading flood recovery and cleanup, supplementing official efforts even as more flooding hits and the search for the missing continues view article

KERRVILLE — The distinct, earthy scent of bread wafted through Daric Easton’s restaurant and wine bar on the edge of this Hill Country downtown Saturday as workers and local residents filled the place with a typical weekend bustle.  But Grape Juice wasn’t open for business.  Instead, the place that normally seats about 55 people looking for a place to relax not far from the Guadalupe River was operating as a hub for residents and business owners trying to chart a new normal in the aftermath of Kerr County’s catastrophic and deadly July Fourth flood.  Piles of sanitary products, shoes, canned goods and countless other necessities are now just as common inside Grape Juice as the dining tables and racks packed with wine bottles. Residents whose homes were damaged or washed away came Saturday for boxes of food and household items. Or just for a roll of toilet paper. view article

A state appeals court has ruled the Texas Education Agency can release its 2024 ratings of the state’s school districts, overturning a previous ruling in a legal battle that has stretched nearly two years.  Several Texas school districts had sued against the release of last year's accountability scores over concerns about education officials rolling out an automated computer system to grade the state’s standardized tests.  On July 3, the 15th Court of Appeals — all Republicans appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott —granted the state approval to release the 2024 scores after doing the same for 2023 ratings in April. Previously, it ruled that TEA Commissioner Mike Morath did not overstep his authority when he changed the college readiness metrics that help determine schools' performance ratings.  This time, the court similarly found "no evidence" supporting claims that issuing the 2024 ratings went beyond the commissioner's authority. In a written opinion, Chief Justice Scott Brister declared that "it is time for local courts to stop obstructing those policies," while acknowledging how Texans rely on the accountability system to assess public school performance. view article