El Paso Independent School District recently unveiled a slate of new educational initiatives to coincide with its 2024-25 school year registration, which opens Monday. A slate of new educational initiatives are being rolled out across the El Paso ISD system, which are "designed to support student success both inside and outside the classroom," EPISD said in a statement. view article

Rusk ISD has canceled classes for Rusk High School Monday after a fire inside of a classroom Sunday evening. Superintendent Grey Burton said the fire was contained, but there is smoke in the building. Classes will be canceled Monday so the building's electrical system can be checked. view article

As pandemic-era education funding disappears, Corpus Christi ISD is bracing for impacts to learning loss recovery efforts like its after-school program. The after-school program was funded by the Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports grant program. Both TCLAS and the third round of the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Education Relief Fund, another pandemic-era program, are coming to an end. view article

On a warm March afternoon across from Bendwood Elementary School, students took Spring Branch ISD's financial crisis into their own hands. Beneath a sign blaming the Legislature for the “lemons” it handed the district in the form of a $35 million budget deficit, students sold lemonade at the park as a token gesture to keep afloat their beloved gifted-and-talented program, called Spring Branch Program for Improving Reasoning and Accelerating Learning, or SPIRAL. view article

Since Randall Mays was sentenced to death in 2008 for the murder of two sheriff’s deputies, his lawyers have argued his intellectual disability exempts him from execution.  The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals re-sentenced a 64-year-old man on death row to life in prison without parole on Wednesday after a state expert confirmed in trial court that he is intellectually disabled.  Randall Mays was sentenced to death in 2008 for the murder of two sheriff's deputies in Henderson County but in the years since his legal team has filed multiple appeals arguing he is exempt from execution due to his mental competency and intellectual disability.  Over two decades ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that executing people with intellectual disabilities violates the Eighth Amendment’s restriction of cruel and unusual punishments, which the criminal appellate court cited in its resentencing decision. view article

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Ten months ago, things looked bleak for Attorney General Ken Paxton. The beleaguered Republican had just been impeached and suspended from office by more than 70% of his own party in the Texas House. He faced an array of career-threatening legal battles: a federal investigation into corruption allegations lodged by his former top deputies, a whistleblower lawsuit from those deputies who said they were illegally fired for reporting Paxton to law enforcement, a separate lawsuit from the state bar seeking to penalize Paxton for attorney misconduct, and of course, an indictment on three felony counts of securities fraud that have loomed over nearly his entire tenure as attorney general. The outlook is now considerably brighter for Paxton, whose political stock continued its ascent this week when prosecutors agreed to drop the nine-year-old fraud charges if he fulfills the terms of a pretrial agreement. It was another major vindication for Paxton after the Senate acquitted him of the House’s impeachment charges last fall, bringing him one step closer to a political career devoid of legal drama and burnishing his reputation among the party’s most conservative flank as a fighter who has defied political “persecution.” “The pundits, lobbyists and consultants have written his political obituary many times and yet they greatly underestimated General Paxton’s tenacity and grit,” said Nick Maddux, a Paxton adviser and political consultant, in an email. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. Once seen as a political liability within his own party, Paxton now has the wind at his back. With two major political and legal wins behind him, he’s poised to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in 2026, a prospect he has openly entertained. The end of Paxton’s most persistent legal woe also provides another burst of momentum for the Texas GOP’s hardline wing as it looks to build on a March primary where a record number of House Republicans were unseated by Paxton-aligned firebrand challengers. view article

Days after Beaumont ISD voted to close Martin Luther King Middle School, the district gave parents a chance to ask questions and learn more about the closure during a sparsely-attended meeting at the school Wednesday night. view article

There is a massive construction project underway at Glen Park Elementary in Fort Worth. The construction crew may be in third grade but they’re focused on building better grades with a swimming pool on the side. "We need to count each side of these but not in the corners," said one student, while calculating dimensions. view article

After a monthslong delay, construction is expected to resume in the coming months on a highly anticipated 3D printed home in Houston that has been described as the nation’s first two-story, 3D printed house. The home launched in 2022 to much fanfare because of its scale — a 4,000-square-foot, two-story structure that is reportedly much larger than previous 3D-printed homes in the U.S. Designed by a pair of Cornell University professors, the home is meant to be an experiment in integrating conventional construction techniques with 3D printing. But roughly a year after the initial announcement, activity at the project site on Emnora Lane in Spring Branch quieted. With just the 3D printed walls on the site for several months, speculation about the project’s future abounded on social media. view article

A nuclear power plant hasn’t been built in Texas in decades because of cost and public fears of a major accident. Now the governor wants to find out if smaller reactors could meet the state’s growing need for on-demand power.  Gov. Greg Abbott took the stage at the University of Texas at Austin last August to discuss building up an energy source in the state. Unlike the oil and gas industry that Abbott often promotes, this fuel could create reliable power without also pumping pollution into the air.  Abbott was there to talk about nuclear power — not big reactors like the ones that already operate in Texas, but a new generation of smaller nuclear reactors that companies are pitching as both safe and less financially risky than large nuclear power plants because they cost less. view article

STARR COUNTY — In 2009, on a plot of shrub-covered cattle land about 45 miles northwest of McAllen, Shell buried and abandoned a well it drilled to look for gas. The well turned out to be a dry hole. Vegetation grew back over the site. In 2021, a Houston-based energy company run by former Shell employees came looking for it. This company wasn’t drilling for oil or gas, though. Its engineers were looking for a place to experiment with their technology for producing geothermal energy, created by Earth’s underground heat. view article

While recent polls have shown that some voters are not super enthusiastic about the current slate of presidential candidates, one North Texas man has decided to take the race into his own hands. A North Texas school teacher and U.S. Army veteran has legally changed his name to Literally Anybody Else and announced he is running for U.S. president. Else, formerly known as Dustin Ebey, said he is deeply unhappy with 2024 presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump so he legally changed his name in January to make a point. “People are fed up,” Else told the Dallas Morning News. “Government is supposed to be by the people, for the people, but that’s not what we have here. We have a billionaire and a career politician.” He lives in North Richland Hills and teaches seventh-grade math. Else knows he faces near-impossible odds and getting on the ballot would be difficult. view article

Montgomery County officials adopted a new policy on Tuesday empowering a citizen committee to review, and potentially remove, library materials at the request of the public. County Judge Mark Keough, the policy’s author, said the process will prevent children from accessing inappropriate books, while critics argued the new guidelines strip librarians from the reconsideration process and will target books featuring LGBTQ+ characters. The local library policy adopted by the county north of Houston comes amidst the spread of book bans in school districts across Texas and a newly passed state law that requires book vendors to rate the explicitness of materials sold to schools. In January, an appellate court partially blocked the law after booksellers sued the state for violating their free speech protections. “Nowhere are we talking about banning any books,” Commissioner Robert Walker said on Tuesday during a commissioners court meeting. “The whole goal of this mission … was to put these books in a place where the adults would have to get them for their kids, not where the kids can walk up and pick up books right in front of them.” view article

Houston Community College is the top school Houston ISD graduates select if they pursue higher education, according to the district postsecondary enrollment report by the Class of 2022. According to a Houston Chronicle report, around 6,000 students graduated in HISD's Class of 2022, and many opted to enroll in a college or university within a year of graduating. Of those students, 32 percent went to four-year colleges, while 23 percent went to two-year institutions. Around 1,700 HISD students enrolled in HCC after graduating, and it has consistently been the favorite for students in the state's largest school district for a few years. view article

Bryan ISD and College Station ISD will still have school on April 8 during the total solar eclipse, but they have an exciting day planned for students. The total solar eclipse will travel through a section of the U.S. including most of the Brazos Valley. Some school districts in Texas will be closing during the eclipse but Bryan and College Station ISD will have regular school hours. view article

Over 400 female students gathered at Dekaney High School on Saturday for the sixth-annual Spring ISD Girls’ Empowerment and Leadership Summit. Hosted by the Spring ISD Family and Community Engagement Department, this yearly event is designed to equip young girls with the skills needed for future leadership while addressing their current social, emotional, and academic needs. view article

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - The Texas Science and Engineering Fair took place Friday and Saturday where more than 1,200 6th - 12th grade students competed. This year, four College Station ISD students competed in the fair: Evelyn Nolan, Mallory Zumwalt, Samikshya Mahapatra, and Samita Shankar. KBTX spoke with both Samikshya Mahapatra and Evelyn Nolan about their projects. Mahapatra is a junior at College Station High School. She says this Science and Engineering Fair is preparing her for life after graduation. view article

Ransomware attackers who have taken control of the Tarrant Appraisal District website have demanded $700,000, the district announced Monday. The attackers have threatened to release “sensitive” information if their demands are not met, but the district does not know if they actually have any information, said Lindsay B. Nickle, a cybersecurity attorney hired by the district. The district said it is weighing its options, but does not want to pay, Nickle said. Board members were meeting in a closed session about the matter Monday afternoon.  The site has not worked since the attack on Thursday, the second time it crashed in two weeks. TAD’s email and phone lines are still down.  After the initial crash on March 14 — which the district blamed on a “database failure” — the district rolled out its new website ahead of its planned launch.  The Tarrant Appraisal District did not answer an inquiry about whether it has paid or negotiated with those responsible for the attack.  Security issues and website crashes are nothing new to the Tarrant Appraisal District.  In October 2022, a cyberattack exposed taxpayer data, though none of it was compromised, according to a report released March 1. view article

The event called “Draggieland” will be hosted for the fifth year in a row. Despite the federal courts siding with a campus within the Texas A&M system against drag shows, the flagship campus in College Station will be hosting a risque program later this week. The event is called “Draggieland,” a student-run drag show that features six “drag queens/kings that compete for the crown of Draggieland in a pageant-style show.” The show is hosted by the Queer Empowerment Council. It began in 2020 and has faced challenges from students and officials who disagree with the performances. This year’s theme is based around “Alice in Wonderland” and is set to take place Thursday night at the university’s Rudder Theater Complex. The show is advertised as 18-plus. TAMU’s decision to host a drag show on campus creates an interesting contrast to West Texas A&M, which is in the same system and refused to allow its students to host a drag show on their campus. view article

The event called “Draggieland” will be hosted for the fifth year in a row. Despite the federal courts siding with a campus within the Texas A&M system against drag shows, the flagship campus in College Station will be hosting a risque program later this week. The event is called “Draggieland,” a student-run drag show that features six “drag queens/kings that compete for the crown of Draggieland in a pageant-style show.” The show is hosted by the Queer Empowerment Council. It began in 2020 and has faced challenges from students and officials who disagree with the performances. This year’s theme is based around “Alice in Wonderland” and is set to take place Thursday night at the university’s Rudder Theater Complex. The show is advertised as 18-plus. TAMU’s decision to host a drag show on campus creates an interesting contrast to West Texas A&M, which is in the same system and refused to allow its students to host a drag show on their campus. view article

People around the world know Kaylee Hottle for her roles in the 2021 film "Godzilla vs. Kong" and its forthcoming sequel "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," which debuts Thursday. But those at the Texas School for the Deaf in Austin know her as a classmate, student and friend — in addition to her big-screen exploits. view article

Lake Travis ISD may build its second high school to accommodate 500 fewer students as the district projects lower enrollment growth. The board of trustees discussed changing the capacity and design of High School No. 2 following a demographic update from Population and Survey Analysts President Stacey Tepera at a March 20 meeting. view article

“There’s a lot of excitement but there’s a lot of unknown as well,” said Cassie Thomas, Director of Community Services with the City of McGregor. Central Texas is just two weeks away from one of the biggest events of the year. When the solar eclipse happens on April 8, neighborhoods all over Central Texas will be among the best spots to experience it. view article

The AI program listens to students read aloud and corrects their pronunciation in real-time. view article

Some students in Dallas are getting more than a high school education; they're also getting an education in business. Dallas Independent School District students are preparing to open the first student-run food truck in Texas. Around 250 Dallas ISD students are working together to open Curbside Delights, a student-operated food truck that will launch later this school year. view article

Don’t have eclipse glasses? A pasta colander, straw hat or homemade pinhole projector could provide an alternate way to enjoy the April 8 total solar eclipse. It will only be safe to directly look at the sun during totality, when the moon completely blocks its bright face. Observers should not look at the sun before and after this brief period without eye protection. And viewers in cities that are not along the path of totality, including Houston, will need eyewear or to use an indirect viewing method for the whole time. view article

T-Squared: Associated Press, Texas Tribune to share select news content in new collaboration  The Associated Press and The Texas Tribune today announced a content sharing agreement, in which both organizations will benefit from each other’s journalism.  The Texas Tribune will receive access to AP’s Texas news and its comprehensive immigration coverage from across the United States and beyond. The AP will now distribute the Tribune’s reporting on Texas to its members and customers, complementing the news organization’s existing coverage of the state.  “This agreement is a great example of how two mission driven news organizations can work together to bolster their news report and better serve their audiences,” said AP’s U.S. News Director Josh Hoffner. “It’s an exciting step toward strengthening the news ecosystem in a state that produces huge amounts of news every day.” view article

Another North Texas school district has approved moving to a 4-day school week. Starting in October 2024, students in the Sanger Independent School District will attend classes from Monday through Thursday. The district's website said the switch is an effort to retain and recruit teachers due to a "statewide teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas." The district covers Sanger, Texas, and also serves portions of Denton, and the unincorporated community of Bolivar. view article

The staff at China Spring ISD is excited to get their students involved in the total solar eclipse on April 8th. Teachers are preparing different tools for their students to understand the eclipse and the science behind it. Kristen Dutschmann, who is the Executive Director for Curriculum and Information Assessment for China Spring, says that they “want kids to know what the eclipse is and have some hands-on activities.” view article

Austin ISD announced in its newsletter Thursday that schools will remain open on April 8, the day of the total solar eclipse. The district said students and staff will be able to “embrace this historic moment” and keeping schools open will ensure “all students have the opportunity to see the eclipse.” view article

Gainesville Independent School District is looking at partnering with CASA for elementary safety lessons. The idea was presented to the Student Health Advisory Council, a group that looks at potential ways to improve the health and safety of the students. This semester, the group looked at the curriculum for sex ed. “We had an unanimous vote in favor of all the curriculum that was presented,” said Paula Parkhill, a member of the SHAC, at the GISD school board meeting Monday afternoon. “That was from the GISD nurses, the sex ed and abstinence curriculum … It’s the same, it didn’t change, so we just voted for that to continue.” view article

Information-rich public libraries using their websites, facilities to address the ever-increasing demand for counseling, housing, and substance abuse services. SMITHVILLE – When the COVID-19 pandemic first shut down the Smithville Public Library, it was as if a vital community artery had been severed. “We did see a lot of anxiety when people felt cut off from reading materials,” recalled Judith Bergeron, the library’s director. “Some of that anxiety led to anger directed at library staff, so it was important to us to try to provide whatever services we could remotely.” But for Bergeron, libraries – especially in small Texas towns like Smithville – are more than a book lending depot. In 2018, she recognized a need for mental health services in this 4,000-person town 45 miles east of Austin, and she set up a “Coffee with a Counselor” program allowing patrons who need to, a private study room to meet with a mental health professional over coffee. view article

In the staunchly conservative Panhandle, LGBTQ+ Texans say political and legal battles overlook their humanity. West Texas A&M University students Bear Bright and Marcus Stovall held their breath for months. Yes, university President Walter Wendler canceled last year’s on-campus drag show. But as a lawsuit accusing Wendler of violating students’ First Amendment rights wended through the courts, Bright and Stovall booked a student center banquet hall, secured insurance and organized nearly a dozen performers for the Don’t Be a Drag performance slated for Friday night. The two students at the university in Canyon, about 20 miles south of Amarillo, didn’t approach the new event as a salvo in the larger battle over freedom of expression in America that is still pending before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. To them, it was about producing a joyful student performance celebrating queer identities — the kind of show that happens every night without controversy in other parts of Texas. view article

ODESSA — Maria del Carmen’s body went stiff in her living room Tuesday night when the television news broadcast announced yet another update on the new Texas immigration law. Her eyes were glued to the screen as she tried to make sense of the bold letters. The U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that Senate Bill 4, a new law authorizing police to arrest people who officers suspected of having crossed into Texas from Mexico anywhere other than a legal port of entry, could take effect. The 37-year-old grabbed her phone and texted her husband, who reassured her, saying everything would be okay. Hours later, a new headline appeared on her phone: Another court had stopped the law from going into effect. view article