NO MORE EXCUSES: Texas Set to End Schools’ ‘Sovereign Immunity’ in Sex Abuse Cases

The State Senate unanimously approved a House measure to hold school districts accountable for protecting students from sexual predators.
Supreme Court Sets Month-Long Briefing Schedule for Quorum Busters Case

Gov. Greg Abbott wants the Supreme Court of Texas to declare Gene Wu’s seat vacant. The Supreme Court of Texas has announced a briefing schedule in Gov. Greg Abbott’s bid to remove the House Democrat Caucus chairman, Gene Wu of Houston, from the legislature. It combined that with the case brought by Attorney General Ken Paxton against Wu and a dozen other quorum-busting lawmakers. The Court requires briefing papers to be filed from Wednesday, August 20, through Thursday, Sept. 14.
Special Session Ending, and Starting, Today

Even though the 30-day clock is not set to expire until Tuesday, the House and Senate are expected to adjourn out of the special session today. They will, however, be called immediately by the governor into a second special session that restarts the legislative process. The Senate has completed all of the work set forth by the governor in the original special session call. In contrast, nothing was accomplished in the House because Democrats—rather than fight—fled out of the state to disrupt the quorum requirements for conducting legislative business. The governor has said this second special session will have the same agenda, including congressional redistricting. Speaking at an event in Williamson County yesterday, State Sen. Charles Schwertner said he expects his chamber to move quickly to re-file and pass all the legislation again within the first few days. Constitutionally, the legislative process must start anew with each special session.
Some Texas private schools hire relatives and enrich insiders. Soon they can do it with taxpayer money.

An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing and conflicts of interest among 27 private schools that likely would have violated state laws had the schools been public.
Liberty Hill ISD proposes potential tax-rate election

LHISD has lowered the tax rate 37 cents over six years. Prop A would add 6 pennies back to the tax rate. Prop A adds funding for teacher salary increases, instructional programs, and extracurricular programs. State and federal officials have cut education funding. At the same time, inflation has driven up LHISD operating costs such as utilities, fuel, and insurance. LHISD has already cut $2 million in expenses. If Prop A does not pass, LHISD will have to make additional cuts, which may include up to 10 percent of our teaching staff.
Abbott’s bid to expel the House Democratic leader goes to a court filled with his appointees

The Texas Supreme Court said in 2021 the Constitution allows members to thwart legislation by leaving the state. Abbott wants them to reconsider. Texas Democrats had been out of state for less than 48 hours when Gov. Greg Abbott moved to have their seats declared vacant. The emergency legal filing represents an unprecedented escalation of Abbott’s effort to pass a new congressional map that adds additional GOP seats, as demanded by President Donald Trump. It flies in the face of Texas’ own founding documents, centuries of legal precedent and a recent Supreme Court of Texas ruling, legal experts say. Even Attorney General Ken Paxton, a fellow Republican, threw cold water on Abbott’s strategy, filing his own brief saying that while he “appreciates the Governor’s passion,” he does not have the authority to bring this type of case.

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As the floods hit, Kerrville officials’ messages show lack of information about what was coming

July 3108:40 AM

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

Austin leaders make moves to create Texas’ first FAA air traffic control academy

July 3108:37 AM

Just a few months shy of the one-year anniversary of a near-miss incident at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin City Council members approved a resolution July 24 urging the Federal Aviation Administration to prioritize staffing at the airport. Austin City Council member Vanessa Fuentes, who authored the measure, said the call to action includes several components, among them an FAA-approved air traffic controller academy in partnership with Austin Community College. “We want to continue to ask and demand that the FAA take action, but also add a local solution,” Fuentes said in an interview with Community Impact. “Rather than pointing a finger, we are lending a hand, trying to address and help solve for the staffing shortages.” If the city succeeds in establishing a certified air traffic controller program locally, it would be the first and only one of its kind in Texas. view article

Patrick-Backed THC Ban Clears Senate

July 3108:35 AM

The THC ban passed the Senate again despite an earlier veto by Gov. Abbott. The Texas Senate has passed legislation to ban the sale of THC products, reviving a fight over intoxicating marijuana products that sparked a rare public rift between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott. Senate Bill 5, authored by State Sen. Charles Perry (R–Lubbock), passed the Senate on a 20-9 vote. It would prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of consumable hemp products that contain any form of THC while still allowing products that contain only CBD or CBG. Perry portrayed the bill as necessary to eliminate products that were never intended to be legal under the 2019 law that permitted hemp cultivation in Texas. He reiterated that the measure targets consumable products and does not affect non-consumable hemp goods like textiles or construction materials. view article

Why Parents Are Suing Snapchat Over Fentanyl Deaths

July 3108:30 AM

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

Austin ISD announces staffing cuts amid federal grant uncertainty

July 3108:25 AM

Austin ISD will move forward with staffing cuts as it faces uncertainty over millions of dollars in federal education grants, district officials announced on Wednesday. In a letter to families, Superintendent Matias Segura said the decision comes after more than $9 million in federal grants were not released as expected on July 1. Segura said while the federal government eventually committed to releasing the funds on July 25, the disruption forced the district to prepare for future funding losses. view article

After Central Texas floods, Austin urges FEMA to restore grant for stalled levee project

July 3108:16 AM

Austin city leaders are urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reinstate $50 million in funding for flood protection upgrades to critical city utility infrastructure — money that was pulled earlier this year. In 2022, FEMA appropriated $50 million for part of the Fallwell Lane Capital Renewal Project, which aims to bolster flood resilience at a water treatment plant and a power plant in Del Valle, both of which border the flood-prone Colorado River. But the Trump administration canceled the FEMA program that provided the funds. Without those funds, the back half of the project — meant to protect $1.4 billion of infrastructure and prevent sewage overflow and power outages — has been stuck in financial limbo. view article

Former Sid Miller allies told police the ag commissioner feared the DEA, told a friend to get rid of marijuana

July 3108:00 AM

A former friend of Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told a Texas Ranger that in 2022 Miller asked him to dispose of three bags of marijuana cigarettes and gummies because he was afraid that the Drug Enforcement Administration might find them on his property. At the time, the friend, Michael Hackney, was living in a motorhome on Miller’s Stephenville ranch, where Miller was licensed to grow hemp. “I’ve got to get rid of this. I've had it at the house, and if the DEA comes, I can't get caught with this stuff,” Miller said, according to Hackney. “He says, ‘You do with it whatever you want. Get rid of it. But don't leave it here.’” Hackney added, "He was really, really nervous about that deal." view article

Texas House Republicans unveil new congressional map that looks to pick up five GOP seats

July 3105:00 AM

The first draft of the lower chamber’s new redistricting map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas. view article

Legislation to Ban Local Governments from Hiring Lobbyists Clears Senate Vote 

July 3105:00 AM

Senate Bill 12 is designed to close loopholes and stop the flow of taxpayer funds to registered lobbyists. Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Costs Millions as Texas House Failed to Act view article

Texas House Republicans unveil new congressional map that looks to pick up five GOP seats

July 3105:00 AM

Texas GOP lawmakers released their first draft of the state’s new congressional map Wednesday, proposing revamped district lines that attempt to flip five Democratic seats in next year’s midterm elections. The new map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas. The draft, unveiled by Corpus Christi Republican Rep. Todd Hunter, will likely change before the final map is approved by both chambers and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Democrats have said they might try to thwart the process by fleeing the state. This unusual mid-decade redistricting comes after a pressure campaign waged by President Donald Trump’s political team in the hopes of padding Republicans’ narrow majority in the U.S. House. view article

PGISD Board approves price increase for cafeteria meals per TX Dept of Agriculture requirement

July 3008:37 AM

TEXARKANA, Texas -- Pleasant Grove Independent School District's Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Monday afternoon where multiple considerations were approved by the board. view article

Board member’s wife named lone finalist for super at Edcouch-Elsa ISD

July 3008:29 AM

The school district’s interim superintendent Sandra “Sandy” Ochoa was named lone finalist for the position here on Monday night. She is married to school board member Ricardo Ochoa. Only having discussion in executive session, board member Norma Linda Peña asked president Juan Jose Ybarra for a roll call vote. view article

Texas House redistricting committee’s Houston hearing draws criticism over absence of maps

July 3008:25 AM

Democratic members slammed the process, questioning why hearings were happening before maps were available for review. Chair Cody Vasut said follow-up public hearings will be scheduled once maps are filed. view article

Judge issues gag order for Frisco ISD track meet stabbing, Karmelo Anthony case

July 3008:23 AM

A gag order regarding the fatal stabbing at a Frisco ISD track meet has been issued by a Collin County judge, CBS News Texas confirmed. This gag order issued by Judge John Roach applies to anyone associated with the defense or the prosecution on the case. view article

Communities in Schools provides layers of support to San Antonio area students

July 3008:21 AM

Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Based directly inside schools throughout Bexar County and surrounding areas, Communities In Schools of San Antonio connects children and their families to educational and community-based resources tailored to each student’s needs. view article

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Denton ISD senior urges removal of ‘manipulative and demoralizing’ football coach at board meeting

July 3008:21 AM

A Denton ISD student is calling for the removal of his football coach, claiming the team’s leadership has created a toxic environment that's causing athletes to quit. Braswell High School student Dustin Sharp addressed Denton ISD trustees during public comment at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The 17-year-old, who will begin his senior year this fall, used his three-minute window to voice concerns about campus athletic director and head football coach Kent Laster. view article

Grusendorf: Texas Is a School Choice Success Story – And a Blueprint For the Future

July 3008:05 AM

The education system in Texas will soon change drastically for the better, thanks to Governor Greg Abbott’s leadership and determination. After years of political infighting, the 2025 legislative session finally granted Texas families academic freedom like never before. The law signed by Governor Abbott in May, aptly named the Texas Education Freedom Act, established universal education saving accounts (ESAs) for families statewide — a direct cash grant that can be put toward private school tuition, learning materials or education services. This law will reshape the future of Texas education — putting power back in the hands of students and parents as intended by our Texas Constitution and giving kids the chance to pursue the academic pathway that’s right for them. Freedom in education has finally won the day. view article

The Latest: Trump’s EPA moves to repeal finding that underpins US climate regulation

July 3008:00 AM

President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday proposed revoking a scientific finding that has long been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. Senate Democrats are imploring Trump ‘s administration to intervene as Palestinians suffer and starve in Israeli-controlled Gaza, with more than 40 senators signing onto a letter Tuesday urging the resumption of ceasefire talks and sharply criticizing an Israeli-backed American organization created to distribute food aid. Trump has been playing more golf Tuesday in Scotland on the White House has called a working trip including meetings with world leaders. Here’s the Latest: view article

In Kerr County, some summer camps are reopening after the devastating July 4 flood

July 3007:29 AM

At least two summer camps in the Texas Hill Country have invited campers back after sustaining little to no damage from the flood. Other camps are still combing through the rubble. view article

A fight to save an Austin middle school puts families at odds with Texas over how to rate schools

July 3005:01 AM

Julieta Crispín Castro arrived early for her first day of summer camp, ready to prepare for the state’s standardized test, when the 13-year-old learned that one of her favorite people at Dobie Middle School would not be around next fall.“I’m not qualified to come back,” English language arts teacher Tatiana Brown-Gomez told Crispín, borrowing language the Austin school district used to explain why she was laid off as part of a sweeping staff shakeup. Crispín’s face deflated. “What? That doesn't make any sense,” she said. The Austin Independent School District fired Brown-Gomez, a handful of other teachers and the principal after Texas gave Dobie two consecutive F ratings under its accountability system, a state tool largely based on scores from STAAR, the state’s standardized test. view article

Seven House Democrats making day trip to New Mexico amid redistricting battle

July 3005:00 AM

With a quorum break on the table for the minority party as a way to thwart a GOP bid for more congressional seats, members travel out-of-state for a third time. view article

Greg Abbott is pushing a new plan to lower property taxes: cap how much cities can spend

July 3005:00 AM

Gov. Greg Abbott boasted about plowing another $3.5 billion into cutting homeowners’ property taxes in the latest legislative session. Now, he wants state lawmakers to go even further during the special session by capping how much cities and counties can increase their spending. The Texas Republican has framed the issue as his next major legislative battle after signing long-sought private school vouchers into law earlier this year. “What I would like to see done is to make sure that every property taxing jurisdiction must live just within the same spending limits that the state has to live in,” Abbott said in an interview with Hearst Newspapers. “And if they're confined in that … their ability to impose greater property taxes is going to be hamstrung.” view article

Oklahoma authorities investigate reports of explicit images on state education chief’s TV

July 2908:30 AM

An Oklahoma sheriff’s office Monday opened an investigation over reports that images of nude women were displayed on the state’s school superintendent office television during a meeting with education board members. Top Oklahoma lawmakers have sought answers over accounts given by two State Board of Education members, who said they saw the images during a meeting in Ryan Walters 's office Thursday. Another board member, Chris Van Denhende, said he was not in a position to see the television but that “something was on the screen that should not have been,” based on Walters’ reaction. view article

Beloved Texas chain Shipley Do-Nuts has been acquired by a California private equity firm

July 2908:30 AM

Houston-based chain Shipley Do-Nuts no longer has Texas ownership after being acquired Monday by a California private equity firm, Houston TV channel KHOU reports. A spokesman for Peak Rock Capital announced Monday that the Austin-based firm had sold Shipley to Leichtman Capital Partners, based in Beverly Hills. Also included in Leichtman's portfolio are Cici's Pizza and Nothing Bundt Cakes. Shipley Do-Nuts, one of the largest donut companies in the country, got its start as a small Houston shop in 1936. Now, the nearly 90-year-old business has more than 375 stores operating in 14 states. view article

East Texans condemn Dallas millionaire’s plan to pump 16 billion gallons of their groundwater to other parts of the state — every year

July 2908:30 AM

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

Nacogdoches ISD moves forward with library advisory committee for book selections

July 2908:25 AM

East Texas school districts are making plans for a new state law that would create a public catalog of what books are in the libraries and classrooms. Senate Bill 13 allows school districts to decide which books are permitted in their school libraries. The law goes into effect on September 1. Nacogdoches ISD Superintendent, Gray Burton said the district is working on updating several campus library catalogs. They will also add books from teachers’ classrooms as of Monday. view article

Midland ISD board to vote on teacher pipeline, student device ban

July 2908:22 AM

The district is seeking the approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the University of Phoenix to support a collaborative teacher preparation program aimed at expanding the local educator pipeline. view article

New Waco ISD teacher compensation plan approved

July 2908:20 AM

Video Only view article

Kingsville ISD hopes lawmakers eliminate STAAR testing for Texas students

July 2908:19 AM

Several school districts in Texas have sued against the release of the STAAR tests to help determine schools' performance ratings. Kingsville Independent School District started that lawsuit in 2023. The lawsuit argues it's against the Texas education agency accountability rating system, adding the STAAR test results are not 'valid and reliable' and should not be used to assign school ratings. view article

Back to school boom: What’s driving hundreds of families to one Houston-area district?

July 2908:19 AM

With just over two weeks to go before the first day of school, Klein ISD is experiencing a major spike in enrollment — and families are traveling from all over to be part of it. District leaders say the interest is so high that they hosted a two-day mega-enrollment event to accommodate the influx of new students. The results? More than 1,500 new students enrolled, a 15% increase over last year’s numbers. view article

Canutillo ISD wins architecture award for innovative middle school designs

July 2908:16 AM

A school district in the borderland said it has earned a prestigious award for its architectural designs of two new middle schools. According to the Canutillo Independent School District, the designs for the new Canutillo and Alderete middle schools won the district the Texas Society of Architects 2025 Studio Award. view article

New resource center to open in August, replacing Richardson ISD’s Dobie Pre-K school

July 2908:16 AM

Children’s crafts and certificates of achievement remain in some corners of Dobie Pre-Kindergarten School. The campus officially closed its doors in May 2025 as part of Richardson ISD’s Project RightSize consolidation plan. Dallas County and Richardson ISD were able to strike a deal to repurpose the campus into a resource hub. view article

Ector County ISD kicks off school year by welcoming new teachers

July 2908:15 AM

Ector County ISD welcomed hundreds of new teachers Monday afternoon to kick off the upcoming school year. The special event aimed to make new staff feel supported and at home, including around 70 international hires from countries such as the Philippines, Spain and Colombia. The celebration featured marching bands, cheerleaders and giveaways, all designed to show teachers they’re not alone as they begin their careers. view article

Dallas ISD will receive $22 million after Trump administration reverses course on freeze

July 2908:06 AM

Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde on Monday said she is lifting a hiring freeze on central administration positions after the federal government gave billions of dollars back to public schools last week. The Trump administration announced it would release billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. Federal officials withheld $6 billion in funding on July 1 as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House’s priorities. view article

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