Amidst the recovery from the Central Texas floods, Marble Falls Independent School District is inviting the community to join in honoring the life and legacy of Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department Chief Michael Phillips. Phillips still has not been found after being reported missing while responding to the devastating July 4th floods. view article

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With the first day of school less than a month away, Beaumont ISD is ramping up efforts to get students registered for the 2025–26 school year. As of July 8, just over 6,600 of the district’s approximately 15,000 returning students have completed registration—less than 50%. Dr. Anita Frank, BISD Associate Superintendent for Elementary Administration, tells 12News that registering now is essential to ensure students have a smooth start and the district can appropriately assign staff. view article

Texas is home to seven of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. with a population of more than 20,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released May 15.  A closer look: In the Austin metro, Hutto was the fastest -growing city in the area and ranked 13th overall in the nation with a year over year population increase of 9.4%.  How it works: The bureau’s population division estimates a city’s population as of July 1, 2024, and compares it to July 1, 2023. Following Hutto, the next five fastest-growing U.S. cities in Central Texas in 2024 were:  18th: Leander  29th: Seguin  49th: Manor  71st: Georgetown,  73rd: New Braunfels view article

Round Rock ISD students learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and kindness this summer during the district’s Boys to Men Empowerment Camp, a weeklong program hosted by the Enrichment Department at Herrington Elementary School. The camp was led by Fred Cavazos, a PE Coach at Gattis Elementary School, and focused on hands-on skill-building activities, including cooking, constructing birdhouses and doghouses, and learning how to repair bicycles. The experience was des view article

Publisher David Flash has been documenting the happenings in Jeff Davis County since 2020. Last year, he was banned from county buildings over allegations of harassment.  ODESSA — Rarely do Jeff Davis County commissioners’ meetings generate commotion in the county of fewer than 2,000 residents. A recent budget meeting was the exception.  David Flash paced around the room, lined with rows of wooden chairs inside this Far West Texas county courthouse, and took photos.  The independent publisher of the Big Bend Times regularly attends these meetings, documenting and recording live footage for the website and social media, where he has amassed 285,000 followers on Facebook.  His presence in the room — and county at large — has vexed officials. view article

DallasNews Corporation, the public parent company of The Dallas Morning News and Medium Giant, has signed a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by global media company Hearst, the companies announced Thursday morning. view article

Karmelo Anthony, the now 18-year-old accused of fatally stabbing another teen during an altercation at a Frisco ISD track meet in early April, was indicted for murder by a Collin County grand jury on Tuesday. Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was arrested on April 2 in connection with the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium. The teen, who is facing a first-degree murder charge, has been on house arrest since being released on a reduced bond on April 14. If convicted, Anthony could face a possible sentence of 5-99 years or life in prison. In the Texas criminal justice system, 17-year-olds are considered adults. view article

Our hearts are heavy. Over the past several days, many in our community have faced unimaginable loss and disruption due to the catastrophic flooding across Central Texas. Whether your family experienced the loss of a loved one, damage to your home, was forced to evacuate, or is simply grappling with the emotional toll of these events, please know that you are not alone. We see you, we care about you, and we are here to support you. And we continue to pray for the safe rescue and recovery of those who are still missing. view article

Midland ISD announced that it has surpassed goals in the 2025 Advanced Placement (AP) test results, showing continued growth and success in students. The district said 4,014 exams were taken by MISD students this year, 366 more exams than the number taken last year. This year’s results show that 43% of exams scored a three or higher, surpassing the district’s performance goal. view article

Search and rescue crews continue to sift through debris, hoping to find some of the victims swept away by floodwaters over the July 4 weekend alive. For family and friends, that means holding on to hope despite already enduring great loss. Jeff Wilson, a Humble ISD educator, was among those found dead in the recent flooding. His 12-year-old son, Shiloh, and wife, Amber, remain missing. view article

McAllen ISD is all in for giving back to the flood victims of Kerr County and Texas Hill Country by hosting an event to fill a bus full of donations. The district announced that the donation drop off will be at the McAllen ISD Administration Building, located at 2000 North 23rd Street. view article

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The Christian Service Center of Abilene began Operation Blue Jean on Tuesday, July 8, providing new clothing and shoes to children from the Abilene Independent School District (ISD) who are returning to school this fall. The event runs from July 8 to August 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It also opens on the following Saturdays, July 12, August 2, and August 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. view article

Speaking in front of the USDA with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and others, Brooke Rollins took a hard line against national security threats to the food industry. view article

The Humble Independent School District is mourning the loss of teacher Jeff Wilson, who died in the Kerrville flooding. In a post on X, Humble ISD said Wilson was a 30-year veteran in the district, located north of Houston. He taught at Kingwood Park High School in Kingwood and previously worked at Humble High School. view article

A Kerrville ISD teacher and high school soccer coach is among those who were killed in catastrophic flooding in Central Texas over Fourth of July weekend. Reece Zunker and his wife Paula died in the flash flood, Kerrville ISD officials said in a Facebook post. Reece worked at Tivy High School, where he was the head coach of the boys soccer team. Officials called Reece a “passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach.” view article

Despite promotional claims of being “family-friendly,” the Houston Pride Festival and Parade included open drug use and sexualized displays—all occurring in shared public spaces where children were present.  Texas Scorecard documented numerous instances during the event, which was officially promoted by the City of Houston and sponsored by multiple taxpayer-funded entities.  The event, organized by Pride Houston 365, featured many men masquerading as women and dancing provocatively in front of children. view article

President Trump heads back to Florida on Tuesday to tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a controversial new detention facility in the Everglades to incarcerate those who immigrated illegally or face deportation.  Why it matters: The $450 million 1,000-bed facility of trail  ers and tents is the largest of its kind and solidifies Florida's position as the top state cooperating with Trump's immigration crackdown.  Florida already leads the nation in cross-deputizing local police to enforce federal immigration laws, a priority of Gov. Ron DeSantis.  The idea and name of "Alligator Alcatraz" is the brainchild of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was appointed by DeSantis after serving as his chief of staff. view article

Many forms of gambling are outlawed in Texas, but chance decided who would represent District B on the Pasadena City Council.  The seat was chosen Monday by a coin toss – incumbent council member Bianca Valerio was sworn in for another term minutes after successfully calling heads at Pasadena City Hall, located about 20 miles southeast of Houston.  "I freak out when I lose $20, so to lose an entire position of representation, it's a lot to put on the line," Valerio said after the toss. "And it's not something that I can work for – that's what's really important to me. I would have rather had the chance to go and campaign again and get some more (votes), but that wasn't an option this time." view article

The largest employer in Webb County, United ISD promotes a special culture where compassionate, caring employees focus on the task at hand - educating our children. And United ISD is also an amazing place for its workers. view article

They’ve crossed the stage, diploma in hand. But for most seniors in the El Paso Independent School District, something is missing: a career credential that proves they’re ready for work. Newly released district data from the June 18 school board meeting shows that just 16% of EPISD seniors in the Class of 2025 earned an industry-based certification, or IBC. view article

The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees is set to consider tonight what district officials say could be a new exciting early childhood education initiative. Trustees will review a proposed partnership pilot between Seguin ISD and the Will Smith Zoo School (WSZS), an innovative early learning program operated by the San Antonio Zoo. If approved, the partnership would establish a nature-based pre-kindergarten program at the district’s Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center (ILOLC), along with co-enrollment opportunities for Seguin ISD students at the WSZS campus in San Antonio. view article

A new lawsuit against the Houston Independent School District (HISD) is accusing the district of using a name and pronouns that does not match the child's assigned sex at birth –a case that could have severe implications for Texas educators. Two parents have filed a lawsuit alleging that several HISD employees referred to their child, who attends Bellaire High School, with he/him pronouns and a different name. view article

The Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a new cellphone ban, which will take effect this fall. The decision comes in response to House Bill 1481, which requires all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting the use of personal communication devices during the school day on school property. view article

The Dallas Independent School District board early Friday approved a new cell phone ban ahead of the statewide policy that's also set to go into effect this upcoming school year. Dallas ISD experimented with different ways to keep cell phones out of the classroom, but now that it is state law, the school board moved quickly to approve a new district wide policy. view article

The Texas Water Development Board has declared an interregional conflict between water Region C and Region D over the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir.  According to the Texas Water Code, if a water region planning group voices that an interregional water conflict exists with another region group in the development of its proposed water plan, the Texas Water Development Board is responsible for determining the validity of the claim. If a conflict does exist, the board is to coordinate mediation between the two water region groups. view article

Cryptocurrency advocates rejoice as Texas invests in Bitcoin. view article

Two Lufkin ISD buildings will soon be on the market after the school board voted Tuesday to start the process of selling them. Lufkin ISD board meetings currently take place at the district’s administration building in downtown Lufkin. It was at that same building Tuesday that board members agreed they didn’t need the space anymore. view article

The provision, which passed the U.S. House with billions allocated for Texas’ border security operations, has passed a committee hurdle to stay in the Senate version. view article

Although Georgetown has long been known for its older population—driven largely by the presence of Sun City and several other senior living facilities—the number of residents age 18 and younger increased 15.27% from 2019-2023, leading to the need for more pediatrician and family health care services. view article

The course’s textbook claims adolescence is “a golden age of romantic and sexual freedom.” view article

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 26,000 children under 17 years old in Bexar County who live with some form of disability. Many of these children are learning to thrive not only in school but also in friendships. Three kids have found a way to connect and are mentoring each other through their unique journeys. Since the start of the year, these three Northside Independent School District students have been meeting regularly to learn how to use a program designed to simplify their schoolwork. view article

How a radical nationwide organization’s tentacles extend into Texas higher education. view article

The agreement targets the environmental review process and cuts down the time it takes for new highways to be approved.  The U.S. Federal Highway Administration and Texas Department of Transportation filed a new version of an agreement expanding Texas’ ability to conduct environmental reviews in an effort to accelerate critical bridge and highway construction projects.  The agreement, announced Friday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, is part of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, Assignment Program, which allows states to assume certain federal environmental reviewing responsibilities to streamline construction projects. Those reviews analyze contruction’s impact on ecosystems, neighborhoods and other surrounding areas and planning processes for environmental protections. The most recent report from 2024 found “inconsistencies” with the state’s construction planning for noise barriers, which block noise pollution from highways. view article