Long lines linger at Houston’s biggest airport as TSA agents miss work during partial government shutdown

The ongoing partial government shutdown has led to long security lines at airports across the country, but no airport has felt the effects as acutely as George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. On Thursday, wait times at Bush, one of the nation’s busiest airports, reached four hours or more, with lines extending outside its terminals. Passenger volume at Bush is expected to get worse this weekend, driven by major events in Houston, including the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament. The lines are a result of many Transportation Security Administration officers — who aren’t getting paid during the shutdown — not coming to work. As airline passengers waited in long lines and congressional negotiators appeared far from a deal to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, President Donald Trump late Thursday said on social media that he will sign an emergency order for the department, which oversees TSA, to immediately pay TSA officers. He did not elaborate where the money for the agency, unfunded by Congress for more than a month, would come from.
Northside ISD has nearly $200 million in 2022 bond project ‘on hold’

Nine school improvement projects totaling nearly $200 million from Northside Independent School District's 2022 bond issue are "on hold" with no indication of when the projects will be built. Just four years after its nearly $1 billion bond election, San Antonio's largest school district intends to seek voter approval in November on a bond package for security upgrades and other improvements. Northside's Building Committee got an update Wednesday on the $198.47 million in projects that were approved nearly four years ago but have not since been executed. Superintendent John Craft told a panel of trustees he wants to "be careful in not putting millions and millions of dollars into these facilities and then having to come back in a very short amount of time (and saying), 'Well, we really need more science labs.'
147 measles cases reported in Texas so far this year, most of them in federal detention centers

Local officials report that 108 of the cases originated in a contracted detention facility in Hudspeth County. The largest outbreak is in a single contracted federal detention facility in Hudspeth County, as of March 18, according to DSHS. Hudspeth County Judge Joanna MacKenzie told The Texas Tribune that the 108 cases are all at the West Texas Detention Facility, which is managed by LaSalle Corrections, a private company. The facility has previously housed immigrant detainees, though it’s not clear if it still does. It does not appear on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s list of detention facilities. “Not having jurisdiction, my office is not involved in response,” MacKenzie added in a statement, “however I remain in communication with DSHS and LaSalle, as I regularly do.”
Why an East Texas rancher donated part of his water rights to the state

JEFFERSON COUNTY — Bob Sanders bumps along the dirt roads of his 1,100-acre ranch in a beat up burgundy Chevrolet Suburban, the engine roaring as his sprawling cattle operation, known locally for its wagyu beef, stretches around him. A shotgun rides in the passenger seat and battered binoculars sit on the dashboard. The sloping pasture where his rust-colored cows graze gives way to trees that flank a narrow ribbon of water. It doesn’t look like much, just a slow-moving channel threading through sweetgums and cypress, but this 2.6-mile stretch of the Big Cypress Bayou carries a lot of weight — it connects Lake O’ the Pines, the region’s main water supply, to Caddo Lake, the state’s only natural lake. Water feels abundant in the area. But even in this lush corner of the state, water is increasingly top of mind. For Sanders and many of his neighbors, the bayou represents something increasingly fragile in Texas: water that still belongs to the landscape it came from. The sloping pasture where his rust-colored cows graze gives way to trees that flank a narrow ribbon of water. It doesn’t look like much, just a slow-moving channel threading through sweetgums and cypress, but this 2.6-mile stretch of the Big Cypress Bayou carries a lot of weight — it connects Lake O’ the Pines, the region’s main water supply, to Caddo Lake, the state’s only natural lake. Water feels abundant in the area. But even in this lush corner of the state, water is increasingly top of mind. For Sanders and many of his neighbors, the bayou represents something increasingly fragile in Texas: water that still belongs to the landscape it came from.
Muslim parents, private schools sue Texas over exclusion of Islamic institutions in voucher program

The federal lawsuits argue Texas officials are engaging in religious discrimination by preventing Islamic private schools from accessing state voucher money. Four Muslim parents and three private schools have sued Texas leaders for excluding Islamic private schools from participating in the state’s private school voucher program. The two federal lawsuits ask the court to block the voucher program from discriminating on the basis of religion. The first suit, filed March 1 by a parent acting on behalf of two children who attend a Houston private school, names Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and Education Commissioner Mike Morath as defendants. A second suit filed March 11 by three parents and three schools names Hancock and Mary Katherine Stout, education savings account program manager, as defendants. Here’s what to know.
As Superintendent Karen Molinar exits takeover, Texas signals a hard reset for Fort Worth ISD

FWISD Superintendent Karen Molinar observed the children learning as she visited classrooms Monday and Tuesday, knowing the clock on her three decades in Fort Worth schools was winding down. Molinar, 51, learned her time in the district that grew her from a reading teacher into a principal and, eventually, the leader of its schools was over after the Texas education commissioner told her last week she won’t serve during the state takeover. She informed families and staff Wednesday that she will not remain as superintendent. “I promised them at the beginning of this that I would be transparent, and I would give them updates,” Molinar told the Fort Worth Report. “I had to do that even when it came to what would happen to me personally and professionally. I had to stand up to my word.” Her impending departure from FWISD drew mixed reactions. Some teachers, parents and city leaders praised Molinar’s decades of service and insisted she should remain in the role during the takeover. Others argued new leadership is necessary as state leaders try to turnaround years of failing academics in Fort Worth.

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Preventive Law: Viewing AI Risk Through a School Law Lens

April 0710:28 AM

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) use is on the rise in Texas schools. From lesson-planning platforms to student-facing chatbots, AI is reshaping how instruction happens. But as more people use AI, one question lingers: Who is responsible when mishaps occur? In Texas, AI creates legal complexities where education law already demands careful attention to student privacy, curriculum standards, and teacher certification. Because AI provides a new way to violate state and federal laws, even inadvertently, educators and administrators must be mindful when using AI to ensure that the law is still being followed.

Texas is cutting undocumented immigrants off from school, work and driving

April 0708:40 AM

The sweeping rule changes, all enacted outside the typical legislative process, have upended life for noncitizens, including those who are here legally. Over the last year, Texas Republicans have enacted sweeping regulatory and legal changes that have upended all facets of life for noncitizens. The state has limited who can get an occupational license; register or buy a car; obtain commercial driver’s licenses; and get in-state tuition at colleges and universities. Over the last year, Texas Republicans have enacted sweeping regulatory and legal changes that have upended all facets of life for noncitizens. The state has limited who can get an occupational license; register or buy a car; obtain commercial driver’s licenses; and get in-state tuition at colleges and universities. The changes are wreaking havoc on the 1.7 million people without documentation in Texas, as well as tens of thousands of refugees and people with protected legal status, like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Already, more than 6,400 refugees and DACA recipients have lost their commercial driver’s licenses. Many more noncitizens are expected to lose the ability to work in licensed industries from construction and medicine to air conditioning and cosmetology.The changes are wreaking havoc on the 1.7 million people without documentation in Texas, as well as tens of thousands of refugees and people with protected legal status, like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Already, more than 6,400 refugees and DACA recipients have lost their commercial driver’s licenses. Many more noncitizens are expected to lose the ability to work in licensed industries from construction and medicine to air conditioning and cosmetology. view article

Texas Moves To Block Professional & Commercial Licenses for Illegal Aliens

April 0705:00 AM

The rule comes after a recent opinion by Attorney General Ken Paxton requiring licensing authorities to obtain social security numbers from applicants. Beginning May 1, Texas will bar individuals who cannot prove they are lawfully present in the U.S. from obtaining or renewing state‑issued professional licenses. It will also impact occupational and trade licenses. Commissioners for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) approved a new rule on Tuesday to check the lawful presence of people applying for or renewing state licenses when they are flagged for verification. The new rule requires TDLR to verify an applicant’s eligibility under federal immigration law when that applicant is selected for verification under department procedures. It applies across all TDLR‑regulated licenses. If an applicant is selected, they must submit documentation before a license can be issued or renewed. view article

GRAPELAND ISD HIRES JIM DUNLAP OF ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

April 0208:35 AM

The board of trustees of the Grapeland Independent School District has contracted with Mr. Jim Dunlap of Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. He will be assisted by GISD superintendent Mr. Terry Myers. Information and the application process is available on arrowsearchinc.com and the TASA Supersearch page. view article

Bullard ISD officially names Dr. Micah Dyer as superintendent

March 1805:00 AM

The Bullard ISD Board of Trustees officially named Dr. Micah Dyer as the district’s new superintendent during a special meeting Tuesday. Trustees had previously selected Dyer as the lone finalist in February, with state law requiring a 21-day waiting period before a formal hire. He will begin his new role on March 30, following Interim Superintendent Dr. Jan Hill’s last board meeting next Monday. “She’s been a blessing to this district and helping them with this transition,” Dyer said. “I look forward to the opportunity to get to work with her as I transition into this job full time.” Read more at: https://tylerpaper.com/2026/03/18/bullard-isd-officially-names-dr-micah-dyer-as-superintendent/ view article

Texas education officials pushed to delay new social studies standards. Here are the issues

April 0908:40 AM

Dozens of parents, students and teachers asked the State Board of Education to pause its process for overhauling the state’s standards for social studies ahead of a vote on proposed revisions that have been months in the making. view article

HISD high school soccer captain deported to Honduras after nearly 4 months in ICE custody

April 0908:40 AM

A high school soccer captain whose detention by immigration officials last year sparked a widespread outcry has been deported to Honduras, lawmakers and sources close to the family confirmed to the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday. Mauro Yosueth Henriquez, 18, a senior at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center, was detained with his father, Mauro Rigoberto Henriquez, on Dec. 16 during a routine check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Houston. The father and son were held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe until Feb. 12, when the younger Henriquez was unexpectedly sent to a federal detention facility 50 miles northeast. view article

HISD adds another campus to its list of closures. Here’s the latest.

April 0908:30 AM

HISD has quietly closed its Harper Disciplinary Alternative Education Program this school year, moving all its high school students and some staff from the Garden Oaks campus to another disciplinary program near Houston’s Fifth Ward. The school offered students in ninth through 12th grade a structured, temporary setting after they were removed from their regular campus for disciplinary reasons. The consolidation marks HISD's 14th campus closure decision this school year alone. HISD also closed the Las Américas Newcomer School for immigrant and refugee students, and 12 more schools will close or consolidate next school year due to low enrollment. view article

Data center opponents put Ken Paxton in bind ahead of Senate runoff

April 0908:30 AM

Last month, county commissioners in Fayette County, a deeply Republican area between Houston and Austin, approved a resolution opposing the development of data centers after word spread that tech companies were targeting the area. The push from cities and counties across Texas to slow the flood of data center development comes as Republican leaders are heralding their arrival as another economic boom, putting pressure on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in ahead of his runoff next month with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. view article

Texas could incentivize data centers to bring their own power supply, cut usage on command

April 0908:30 AM

The flood of data centers signaling interest in Texas keeps growing to ever more impossible heights, prompting questions and anxiety about how the state’s power grid can keep up. To manage this growth, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is debating a proposal to incentivize data centers to bring their own power generation, or reduce their power usage any time the grid operator tells them to. In exchange, ERCOT would promise a faster grid connection. view article

Houston-area school districts near more charters see higher student losses, Rice report says

April 0908:24 AM

Houston-area school districts with more charter schools in their boundaries are seeing fewer students enroll in their schools, according to a new Rice University study.The report, which analyzed enrollment and birth rates across the Houston metropolitan area, found that districts are seeing fewer kindergarten students, especially in areas that have an abundance of other, non-traditional education options. This comes as local districts grapple with declining student enrollment. view article

Houston-area school districts near more charters see higher student losses, Rice report says

April 0908:24 AM

Typhus Cases Surge in Texas: Symptoms and Prevention

April 0905:00 AM

Health officials are warning Texans about flea-borne typhus, a once-rare disease that is making a comeback in Texas, with cases higher than in past decades. Once considered uncommon enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped tracking cases in 1987, the disease is now reappearing in Central and North Texas. Historically, typhus was a widespread threat. In the 1940s, San Antonio was a hotspot and even served as a site for experimental studies. Dr. Gregory M. Anstead, a San Antonio-based infectious disease specialist and professor at UT Health San Antonio, told Texas Public Radio that cases have surged in recent decades. “(In) the 1990s, there were only about 200 cases in the state of Texas. And then if you go ahead, 20 years to the 2010 to 2019, the number of cases went up 12-fold in the state of Texas,” he said. view article

Surprising links between autism, Alzheimer’s could change how we treat both

April 0905:00 AM

The idea that two conditions at opposite ends of life might be biologically linked is beginning to upend long-standing assumptions in brain science, blurring a divide that has shaped the field. Joseph Buxbaum was initially unconvinced. When early hints of a connection between autism and Alzheimer’s began to appear in the medical literature a few years ago, they struck him as implausible — one a condition of early brain development, the other driving decline in old age. But the signals kept accumulating, and over time, his skepticism gave way to a new line of inquiry that could transform scientists’ understanding of the two diseases. “I came to this kicking and screaming. I didn’t want to believe it,” said Buxbaum, a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and genetics/genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. view article

Surprising links between autism, Alzheimer’s could change how we treat both

April 0905:00 AM

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These Texans want better schools for Black students. They disagree on vouchers as the answer.

April 0808:44 AM

One Black Texan sees education savings accounts as an escape from a burning house. Another fears they threaten a robust public school system. Jennifer Lee and Kyev Tatum agree that Texas’ Black students do not receive the same academic support as their peers, that schools punish them unfairly and that recent state laws silence Black history and perspectives in the classroom. But the two Black Texans sharply diverge on whether the state’s new voucher program will make education in Texas better or worse for students who look like them. view article

Typhus Cases Surge in Texas: Symptoms and Prevention

April 0808:40 AM

Texas sees a resurgence of flea-borne typhus, with cases rising sharply since the 1990s. Health officials warn of symptoms, spread, and prevention methods. Health officials are warning Texans about flea-borne typhus, a once-rare disease that is making a comeback in Texas, with cases higher than in past decades.Once considered uncommon enough that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped tracking cases in 1987, the disease is now reappearing in Central and North Texas. Historically, typhus was a widespread threat. In the 1940s, San Antonio was a hotspot and even served as a site for experimental studies. view article

TribCast: Anti-Muslim rhetoric in Texas politics

April 0808:40 AM

Rep. Salman Bhojani, one of the first Muslim state legislators, joins TribCast to talk about the backlash his community has experienced in state government. view article

Podcast project reshapes reading in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD second-grade class

April 0808:30 AM

Reading teacher Christi Cooper had an important question as her second-grade students gathered around a table with a laptop, an iPhone and handwritten scripts scattered across the top. “Do you want the fuzzy one or the squishy one?” Cooper asked. Picking the right type of microphone was important for her students before Cooper hits record on her phone. Cooper’s class at Heritage Elementary hosts a podcast called “Only Readers in the Building” where students discuss the books they’ve recently read. The fuzzy mic is a favorite among the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD students as they record the podcast that replaces the traditional book report. view article

Waskom ISD board appoints interim superintendent Read more at: https://marshallnewsmessenger.com/2026/04/08/waskom-isd-board-appoints-interim-superintendent/

April 0808:29 AM

Waskom ISD trustees have named Ross Boyett as interim district leader after the March death of former Superintendent Chris Guastella. Boyett was Waskom ISD’s director of student services and safety. Read more at: https://marshallnewsmessenger.com/2026/04/08/waskom-isd-board-appoints-interim-superintendent/ view article

Carthage ISD superintendent resigns before end of school year

April 0808:29 AM

Carthage ISD Superintendent Jarrod Bitter has announced his resignation ahead of the end of the school year, according to a statement released by the district. In a press release, district officials said an agreement was reached between Bitter and the Board of Trustees allowing him to step down and “pursue other interests” while the board begins its search for a new superintendent. view article

‘More than housing.’ Lockhart ISD approves housing partnership for staff

April 0808:26 AM

The Lockhart Independent School District Board of Trustees on Monday night approved an innovative housing partnership, marking an initiative the district says is a “step forward” in addressing housing challenges for district employees. In a press release, the district said the approved partnership is with Upward Communities and Public Private Development Corporation. The approved community, Wildflower at Juniper Springs, will be developed by Upward Communities, and be built by BOSC Construction, a Perry Homes company. view article

New Wylie ISD campus gym to double as a storm shelter

April 0808:26 AM

It's severe weather season here in West Texas which means it’s the perfect time for Wylie ISD to show off its new storm shelter at it’s South Elementary school campus. For Mike Thompson, Wylie ISD’s communications director, safety is always at the top of his mind. view article

Austin ISD projects $181M deficit, cuts to staff and art programs

April 0808:26 AM

More cuts are likely coming to Austin Independent School District campuses next year — including school-level staff layoffs and teacher planning time changes — as district officials seek to reduce a deficit that could reach $181 million next school year. view article

Austin ISD faces growing budget shortfall

April 0808:25 AM

Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura is warning staff and families about deeper budget cuts as the district faces a growing financial crisis. view article

Hutto ISD teacher receives Milken Educator Award

April 0808:25 AM

A Hutto elementary school teacher received a life-changing surprise during a school assembly on Tuesday. Hutto kindergarten teacher Olivia Joseph is now the state’s only honoree for the 2025-26 school year and the first ever from Hutto ISD to receive the Milken Educator Award. view article

Taft High administrator bitten after trying to pet Northside ISD police K-9 without muzzle

April 0808:25 AM

A female school administrator was injured after a Northside Independent School District Police K-9 bit her on Tuesday, according to a district spokesperson. The incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. in the office area at Taft High School. view article

Podcast project reshapes reading in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD second-grade class

April 0808:24 AM

What Lubbock ISD schools are at risk of closure? See list

April 0808:23 AM

The Lubbock Independent School District has approved and laid out a list of criteria schools need to meet before district leadership weighs in on whether to close the campus. In early 2026, Lubbock ISD's Board of Trustees approved the District Optimization Plan that laid out three criteria a school has to hit before the district engages in talks about the possible closure and consolidation of the campus. view article

Sherman ISD holds event to help families get future Kindergarten students ready for next school year

April 0808:20 AM

Sherman ISD held a “Kindergarten Round-Up” event Tuesday to help families get ready for next school year. The event helped families enroll incoming Kindergarten students for next year. view article

Hutto ISD kindergarten teacher surprised with $25K national award

April 0808:19 AM

A kindergarten teacher in Hutto Independent School District (ISD) received a major honor and a big surprise on Tuesday. Olivia Joseph at Howard Norman Elementary was presented with a $25,000 "Milken Educator Award" during a school assembly. The award recognizes outstanding educators for their impact in the classroom and future potential. view article

Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees names interim superintendent

April 0808:15 AM

The Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees has appointed an interim superintendent. Alda Benavides was officially named as the interim superintendent on Tuesday during a regular school board meeting. view article

Austin ISD projects $181M budget shortfall in 2026-2027 school year, superintendent says

April 0808:14 AM

Austin ISD is projecting a $181 million budget shortfall in the 2026-2027 academic year. In a message sent Tuesday night to families and staff, AISD superintendent Matias Segura said declining enrollment, rising costs and a dip in Austin's property values are all factors behind the current projections. view article

No injuries reported in crash involving Rio Grande City Grulla ISD bus

April 0808:11 AM

No injuries were reported in a crash involving a Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District bus on Tuesday morning. School district officials say school bus No. 12 was involved in a crash while taking students to Ringgold Middle School. view article

April is National Volunteer Month. Did you know:

April 0708:40 AM

April is National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize the people who give their time and energy to strengthen their communities. Here in Fulshear, that includes residents who serve on local boards and commissions, roles that may not always be visible but play a meaningful part in how our city grows and evolves. view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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April 9, 2026