Did you know that many of Texas' most decisive elections happen in March — not November? These party primaries typically draw far fewer voters than the general election, even though many March winners face limited opposition in November. Our latest newsletter takes a closer look at who these voters are and why it matters for the future of our state. view article

The first small modular nuclear reactor could be powering an industrial plant in Texas early in the next decade. And the state is pushing to become the leading site for testing and building the technology. Less than three years after Gov. Greg Abbott announced the creation of the Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group, Texas has become one of the main testing grounds in the United States for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), a technology long discussed but with few real-world examples to show for it. view article

The 2026-28 alignments have been posted for volleyball, basketball and football. You can access this information HERE.  view article

Your one-stop shop for information on Houston public, charter and private schools. view article

Keep up-to-date on important public and private school deadlines with our frequently-updated calendar of events.  School choice options are expanding, including charters, magnets programs and other alternatives within traditional public school systems.  Many districts allow families to apply outside their assigned school zones, with application windows typically opening in early January and closing in March or April. view article

In South Texas public schools, I learned about Robert E. Lee and George Washington and the histories of the United States and Texas. Yet not a single lesson addressed Mexican American history — our Indigenous and African roots or the men and women who shaped this country. It was as if only Anglos made history. view article

Students who took English and math college prep courses were less likely to complete college than their peers who were not considered college ready at all.  As Texas pushes more high schoolers to get ready for college and the workforce, new research suggests that some of the ways schools count students as ready don’t equally set them up for success after graduation.  The state rewards Texas school districts for preparing students for life after graduation, tying college and career readiness to more school funding and a higher school performance rating.  The Texas Education Agency has been increasingly strict on districts about college readiness. In the 2022-23 school year, state education officials raised the benchmark for schools to qualify for an A grade in the category of college and career readiness: Schools needed to get 88% of graduates ready for life after high school, up from 60% in prior years. view article

Use our map to search for schools or special programs near you. School boundaries have changed for the 2026-27 school year. view article

Five days into early voting for the March 3 primary, Bexar County voter turnout is higher than expected, Democrats are vastly outvoting Republicans and people who’ve never participated in a primary are turning out to help choose their party’s nominees.  The last midterm election was in 2022, where Republicans voiced their displeasure with then-newly elected Joe Biden’s presidency.  Don’t miss San Antonio Report’s essential politics coverage. ��️ view article

Greetings Pasadena! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. In today's newsletter:  How Pasadena ISD's purchasing team just hit a 10-year milestone  Have a Pasadena warrant? See how to clear it without arrest.  Which Pasadena ISD teacher will you send on a restorative retreat? view article

Residents and elected officials are speaking out against a proposed border barrier through Texas’ biggest state park and one of the jewels of the national park system.  REDFORD — Plans for a border wall through the Big Bend region of West Texas are raising alarms among residents and elected officials.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection intends to build border barriers throughout this remote region of Texas that encompasses ranchland, small towns and a cherished state and national park. view article

College Station ISD school board members announced they are extending the application deadline for its out-of-district transfer program. The application deadline was originally February 27th, but it will now remain open for the foreseeable future. According to College Station ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider, they’ve only received 15 applications so far view article

Trustees for the Houston-area school district narrowly voted last August to implement a policy that prohibits employees from discussing gender-related issues with students and requires them to notify students’ parents if they identify as transgender. That policy is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. view article

Local citizens who are preparing their own lawsuit against the chemical giant say Attorney General Ken Paxton’s suit could shield Dow from bigger penalties. view article

Early voting begins on Tuesday. Here’s a look at what the officials elected to several local offices oversee. view article

On a drizzly November morning, inside Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu—a strip mall gym wedged between an indoor driving range and a medical testing lab in North Austin—John Danaher sat on a mat near a vinyl logo advertising The Joe Rogan Experience.  view article

With the girls basketball postseason continuing this week with the area round, here is a rundown of the scheduled playoff matchups for all schools within Star Local Media markets. This list is continually being updated by the Star Local Media sports staff, so be sure to check back for information on all upcoming playoff games within the area. view article

The family of Don Huffines, a former Republican Texas senator who is now campaigning to become the state’s comptroller, bought the disgraced Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico after the child sex trafficker and molester died.“Four years after Mr. Epstein’s death, the Huffines family purchased property in New Mexico listed at public auction whose proceeds benefited his victims. Prior to the auction listing, they had never visited the property,” Huffines’ campaign spokesperson Allen Blakemore said in a statement Friday.  In a follow-up statement Monday, Blakemore said the family had not been approached by any authorities to search the property but would cooperate should they be. The statement was released in the wake of calls from officials in New Mexico for federal and state authorities to open a probe after an email recently surfaced that two girls may be buried at the ranch or near it.  The ownership was first reported earlier Friday by the Santa Fe New Mexican, which attributed its reporting to public records obtained through public information requests. view article

The organization has responded to the viral incident.   A peaceful prayer in a Plano park was disrupted Sunday when a man shouting Islamophobic remarks harassed members of the congregation.  The Islamic Relief at the University of Texas at Dallas (IRUTD) had gathered at the park for a Barakah Breakfast—a community centered event focused on reflection, connection and service, according to the organization.  During prayer, a man was filmed harassing the group, calling Islam a "disgusting fake religion" and yelling that members would "go to hell" unless they repented, among other inflammatory and offensive remarks. An Instagram account seemingly belonging to the instigator also posted a partial video of the harassment.  view article

The Texas Lyceum, the state’s premier nonpartisan leadership development organization, recently welcomed 15 business and civic leaders from across the state as new directors, leading the organization into its 46th year of service to Texas. Among those sworn in was Lufkin community leader Jeff Walker. Walker is the president of Collegiate Edu-Nation and the former executive director of Partners for Rural Impact - East Texas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Hardin-Simmons University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University. Walker is actively engaged in regional civic leadership, serving on the executive board of the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce and in leadership roles with several East Texas community organizations. view article

Voting for the 2026 primaries starts Tuesday. Texas Republican and Democrat voters will pick which candidate they want to represent their interests and their party on the ballot for the November general election.  Before you head to the polls, you should know you have rights as a voter and there are certain rules in place at voting locations about what you can bring and wear. You also need an approved photo ID to vote in person. view article

The temporary moratorium is intended to allow for completion of an investigation into various Chinese companies that manufacture parts for wind, solar, and battery storage projects.   With rural counties across Texas looking for ways to push back on industrial‑scale, unreliable energy projects and foreign‑linked equipment, Van Zandt’s move will likely serve as both a roadmap and a test of how far local officials can go without violating state limits on county power. view article

A mass “sickout” is planned across Houston ISD on Thursday, as parents, students and community members continue protesting the state takeover of the district. Organizers are calling on families to keep students home or bring them to school after lunch so they will be counted absent. The goal, they say, is to send a message to state leaders and demand the return of the district’s elected school board. view article

Students at Mansfield ISD high schools participated in walkouts on Thursday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies. A small group of students gathered outside Summit High School. Organizers said the turnout was modest, but the issue was important to them. “I organized this up because the ICE stuff is really unfair to people who come here for better chances,” Summit High School student and organizer Naima Jean said. view article

During its Feb. 9 meeting, the Frisco Independent School District Board of Trustees took several actions affecting staff pay, state funding waivers, student rights policies, grievance appeals and the district's athletic apparel contract. The board approved a resolution to pay all employees for days schools were closed during the January 2026 winter storm, even if they were unable to work. Both salaried and hourly staff will receive regular pay, and work calendars will remain unchanged. view article

Commissioners voted down the proposal after a public letter from state lawmakers.  Texas county rejects a moratorium on data center development amid AI boom  The 3-2 vote from Hood County commissioners Tuesday came after they received a letter from a state senator saying they did not have the power to issue a moratorium. view article

Round Rock Independent School District has launched a First Offender Program (FOP) aimed at diverting students caught for the first time with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vape products away from the criminal justice system. Under Texas Law, possessing a THC concentrate is a felony. Possession of less than one gram is a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to two years. Penalties increase sharply with weight, with the highest being up to life in prison for more than 400 grams. view article

Dozens of parents, students and community members spoke out during a public workshop Feb. 11 over possible campus consolidations or closures, a move United ISD leaders say could help address a multi-million-dollar budget deficit. The meeting lasted more than three hours, with families demanding answers and accountability from district leaders. view article

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District has officially rescinded a controversial policy the board adopted two years ago that banned certain chapters from science textbooks. view article

A stunning report revealed that many university professors now find themselves teaching students who struggle to read, not just to interpret literature or write essays, but to understand basic text on a page. According to Fortune, a growing number of Gen Z students enter college unable to "read effectively," forcing professors to break down even simple passages line by line. view article

More than 50 students from the Houston Academy for International Studies walked out of school Tuesday protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the United States. The protest, which students said they started planning last week, started just after noon. While chanting "ICE off our streets, ICE off our streets," several students said they were there to call attention to the treatment of immigrants under the Trump administration. view article

Dallas Independent School District campuses saw a wave of walkouts on Tuesday. The walkout at Townview Magnet Center was one of North Texas’ largest walkouts in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. view article

Leaders at Liberty Hill ISD are considering a shift to the school district's current hybrid schedule, which includes some four-day weeks. view article

Armed officers may patrol every Longview ISD campus by this fall after Gregg County commissioners approved an agreement to support the district’s new police force. Seventeen officers will stand guard at every campus. The new force will include five sworn officers, 11 school marshals and a police chief working across a district that stretches both inside and outside city limits. view article

The Austin Independent School District has given its staff updated guidelines on how to respond to student-led protests after seeing an uptick in demonstrations in recent weeks. "We have managed past walkouts by giving students space and freedom to express themselves," AISD Superintendent Matias Segura said in a letter to families on Friday. "However, the number of protests, combined with demonstrations moving off campus, has prompted our leaders to develop more detailed protest protocols to ensure the safety of our students and staff while maintaining our focus on on-campus instruction." view article