Texas SNAP recipients barred from retail food discounts, USDA warns

As SNAP benefits stall during the shutdown, the USDA reminds retailers that offering exclusive discounts to EBT users violates federal program rules.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is warning Texas stores against offering special discounts or treatment to shoppers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. view article

Teacher sentenced to nearly two centuries in prison for child sex abuse conviction

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New Emails Show What Happened Before a Texas A&M Professor’s Firing

When Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III fired a professor after a video of her children’s literature class went viral in early September, he framed his decision as “academic responsibility.”  The discussion of gender and sexuality captured in the video, recorded on July 29, didn’t “align with any reasonable expectation of standard curriculum,” Welsh said. He added that he only learned “yesterday” — September 8 — of a decision by two administrators that approved plans for a fall course teaching content inconsistent with its published description, which led him to both fire the instructor and view article

Another Celina ISD Coach on Leave Over Alleged Misconduct

Wrestling coach Neil Phillips is accused of making sexually inappropriate comments to students in Melissa ISD, where he previously worked.   view article

Federal Appeals Court To Take Up Texas’ Ten Commandments Law

5th Circuit will hear arguments in Texas, Louisiana Ten Commandments cases in January  A federal appeals court next year will hear Texas’ arguments against a ruling that blocked nearly a dozen school districts from displaying posters of the Ten Commandments.  The 17 active judges on the U.S. 5th Court of Appeals in January will hear both the Texas case and a similar case happening in Louisiana, which was the first state to pass a requirement to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms.  A federal judge in August found Texas’ Ten Commandments law unconstitutional and temporarily blocked it from taking full effect, following an initial lawsuit against 11 school districts. The complaint was brought forth by 16 families of various religious and nonreligious backgrounds, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and a coalition of religious freedom organizations. The civil rights groups later sued 14 more districts.  The ruling only applied to the 11 school districts named in the groups’ first lawsuit, though attorneys expressed hope in court that other districts would not implement the law. But those lawyers later told the same court in a legal filing that many districts are implementing the new law or have signaled an intent to do so. view article

It’s Election Day in Texas. Here’s everything you need to know.

It's the first Tuesday in November, and it's Election Day.  Seventeen changes to the state constitution are on the ballot. All Texas voters can have their say on the matter.  More locally, the voters of the city's 18th Congressional District will get to choose a successor for U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, who died in March. A long list of candidates are running for the position.  There are other races happening here, from Houston City Council to the various school boards. If you haven't managed to get out and vote yet, you can consult our voter guide to help you make an informed decision at the polls.  view article

More Families Sue Celina ISD Over Locker Room Recording Scandal

More families are suing Celina Independent School District, accusing the district of gross negligence for enabling a middle school coach’s alleged illicit locker room recording of student athletes while the boys were undressed and showering.  The new lawsuit was filed this week by families of three Moore Middle School students who were victimized by their coach William Caleb Elliott.  Caleb Elliott is the 26-year-old son of Celina ISD’s longtime Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Bill Elliott.  The petition describes Caleb Elliott as “a predator enabled by nepotism and willful blindness” and asserts that his father Bill Elliott’s “on-field success” in football “translated into outsized influence within Celina ISD.” view article

Less than half of arrested immigrants had criminal convictions

In its first term, the Trump administration focused on the southern border as hundreds of thousands of immigrants, many from Central and South America, came seeking asylum. The administration implemented policies such as the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the “remain in Mexico” policy, under which more than 70,000 non-Mexican people were forced to wait in Mexico until their asylum cases wound through U.S. immigration courts.  But the second Trump administration has been even more aggressive in clamping down on undocumented immigrants in the nation’s interior, setting a goal for ICE of at least 3,000 arrests a day. The data show that in the first six months of this term, ICE averaged 727 arrests a day, more than doubling the 304 daily arrests under Biden. view article

Houston City Council Pushes Through $16 Million Homeless Hub

A $16 million homeless “super hub” that was pulled from two consecutive agendas amid public backlash has now been approved.   The Houston City Council has officially approved a $16 million plan to create a homeless “super hub” east of downtown—despite objections from nearby residents who say City Hall shut them out of the process. view article

Dallas Sued for Enforcing Ordinances in Violation of Texas Constitution

Local residents are suing the City of Dallas for enforcing 89 ordinances that the City itself admitted are in violation of the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act and the Texas Constitution, according to allegations from the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act (TRCA)—referred to by critics as the “Death Star Bill”—is designed to rein in out-of-control local governments and protect Texans from tyrannical local regulations.  The act—passed in 2023—preempts local governments from adopting, enforcing, or maintaining ordinances related to agriculture, business and commerce, finance, labor, natural resources, occupations, and property. view article

Inside Texas’ pregnancy care in prison: Where women such as Kristina Chambers stay and are treated

After being sentenced to more than 10 years in state prison, Kristina Chambers will join the small population of incarcerated expectant mothers. For pregnant women spending time in prison, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice maintains specialty programs and facilities to ensure that expectant mothers receive the proper care. A total of 7,995 incarcerated women were admitted in 2024, only 87 of whom were pregnant, according to last year's TDCJ report on pregnant inmates.   Chambers, who is four months pregnant, was sentenced Monday to 11 years and 14 days in state prison for the 2023 death of a pedestrian she hit with her Porsche 911 Carrera while driving drunk. As of Friday, she was awaiting transfer to prison from jail. view article

Teachers, parents express hope, fear as Texas takes control of FWISD’s future

De Zavala Elementary parents see an opportunity through the state takeover of Fort Worth ISD: Possibly saving their school.  Teacher Scott Blanco-Davis and FWISD PTA Council President Lupe Lynch said they will continue pushing for better support for educators and increased parental engagement.   The United Educators Association’s Steven Poole, though, warned of a potential teacher exodus once the state fully assumes control.  Parents, FWISD staff and community members voiced hope and concerns Tuesday during the trustees’ first meeting since the Texas Education Agency launched a takeover of the 67,500-student district. The locally elected school board will soon lose its authority to the state. view article

Secretary of State Moves to Dismiss Texas GOP’s Lawsuit to Close the Primaries

Secretary of State Moves to Dismiss Texas GOP’s Lawsuit to Close the Primaries  Secretary of State Jane Nelson filed official responses opposing the Texas GOP’s effort to close the primaries in federal court late Thursday.  Nelson’s filings urge dismissal of the GOP’s lawsuit against the State and directly oppose the joint consent judgment Attorney General Ken Paxton and GOP leaders sought earlier this month to close Republican primaries immediately.  “This lawsuit is about protecting Republicans’ right to choose their own standard-bearers,” said Texas GOP Chair Abraham George when the party filed the lawsuit.  Already implemented in states like New York and Florida, closed primaries would allow only registered Republican voters to select Republican nominees. Currently, Texas operates an open system where any voter—including Democrats—may vote in Republican primary elections.  view article

Fort Worth ISD Parents Fear the Same Chaos that State Takeover Has Brought to Houston ISD

Despite months of community protests, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced last week that it would begin the process of taking over Fort Worth Independent School District, Texas’ ninth largest school district with 68,000 students. The move marks the second-largest district to be taken over by the state, next to the highly controversial takeover of Houston ISD in 2023, and is part of an increasing trend of state intervention into locally controlled public education systems.   In a letter to district leaders, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said he planned to appoint a superintendent, a conservator, and a new board of managers, thereby deposing the currently elected school board, after the appeal process ends on October 30.  view article

Houston is home to the best charter middle school in Texas, U.S. News says

A new ranking from U.S. News & World Report says Houston is home to the best charter middle school in Texas, and two of the top 10 charter elementary schools in the state. Cornerstone Academy, an in-district charter in Spring Branch ISD, was ranked No. 1 in the state in the gorup's 2026 ranking of charter middle schools. It also ranked highly among the state's best public middle schools, earning the fourth spot in the region after two Houston ISD campuses and one in Stafford MSD. It's the second time Spring Branch ISD has topped the U.S. News list for charter schools. In August, Westchester Academy, a charter high school also in Spring Branch, was named one of the top 100 charter schools in the U.S.  view article

Preventive Law: Negotiating With Vendors

Preventive Law: HB 6 and Special Education

Texas is getting older, but its child population is growing

Texas is growing older faster than the rest of the nation. While the number of young people in the U.S. has shrunk, the population of children in Texas has grown.  The population of Texans age 65 and older grew faster than any other age group since the start of the decade, growing by 3.8% from 2023 to 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. They grew faster than working-age adults and children under the age of 18.  Their numbers show that people are living longer than in past generations. And, as they age, they'll increasingly rely on those of working age, a population that isn’t growing as quickly, said Holly Heard, vice president of data and analytics at Texas 2036.  In Texas, which has the highest levels of people without health insurance, elder Texans will likely face more ailments as they age.   view article

Preventive Law: Innovation Interrupted? Why It’s Time to Rethink Your DOI Plan

Preventive Law: More TEA “Special Investigations” are Imminent

Preventive Law: Hit the Ground Running: Setting Yourself up for Success at the Beginning of a Construction Program

Preventive Law: Tips on Preparing to Testify Under Subpoena

Preventive Law: Spring Break Cometh: Special Education Refresher for Mid-year Transfers

Free medical services to be offered during Operation Border Health /Preparedness

SAN JUAN, Texas – From Monday, July 25, to Saturday, July 30, the Texas Health and Human Services will carry out Operation Border Health/Preparedness (OBHP). OBHP is a program that sets up sites around the Rio Grande Valley, offering residents free health services. Services include general physician services, immunizations, screenings, sport physicals, dental services, vision services, and more. Although assisting the public in maintaining their health is a goal of OBHP, the underlying purpose is to assist the community in preparing for disasters. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said Operation Border Health Preparedness allows state, local, and nonprofit entities to practice setting up and operating health clinics that may be needed in the case of a public health emergency, while providing free care to the community. He said services include medical exams, immunizations for children and adults, sports physicals for students, health and diabetes screenings, and dental and vision exams. “Operation Border Health Preparedness is a great example of a smart policy that not only ensures we are prepared for future public health crises, but also provides an immediate public benefit in the process,” Hinojosa said. view article

Clint Independent School District approves pay raises, $2,500 payments for some employees

The Clint Independent School District on Thursday approved pay raises and a one-time $2,500 payment for qualifying employees during the upcoming school year. view article

After Uvalde school shooting, Texas police wonder how much training is enough — and will it matter?

Police officials and law enforcement experts say there’s no guarantee that officers will follow their training and confront a shooter — no matter how much training they have.  In the weeks since officers in Uvalde waited more than an hour to confront a gunman who killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school, police departments across the state have asked themselves a crucial question: If they faced a similar situation, would they be able to quickly stop the gunman?  The images of parents and students pleading with officers to take action at Robb Elementary School on May 24 before a tactical team of federal agents finally breached a classroom and fatally shot the 18-year-old gunman deeply disturbed Marfa police Chief Estevan Marquez. view article

Report: Austin ISD has not met minimum TX exam standards for disabled students in 4 years

The Austin school district has not met minimum state exam standards for students with disabilities in the past four years, according to an independent review of the district’s special education programs. Stetson and Associates, a consulting firm, conducted a review of the Austin school district’s services for students with disabilities starting during the 2019-20 academic year, although the evaluation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in leadership at the district. view article

Watch: Dallas ISD softball coach trumpets national anthem before every home game

Who says you can't mix two passions together? For Dallas Independent School District softball Coach Mark Stout, he's done it weekly this season. Stout warms up his team at W.T. White High School every home game and then, for a brief moment, plays the national anthem on the trumpet to get to that exciting umpire line: play ball! He started doing it before games last season. view article

Manor ISD Breaking Ground on New Early College High School

Officials with the Manor Independent School District are celebrating the groundbreaking today of the new Early College High School. “This is a great day in Manor ISD,” said Dr. Andre D. Spencer, Manor ISD Superintendent. “We are breaking ground on a new building for a group of scholars who we expect to break ground academically in their respective fields of interest. We expect great things to come out of this facility and the scholars who will call this home.” view article

Extreme bus driver shortage affects local school district

Across the nation, school districts are having a hard time keeping and hiring bus drivers. One local school district, Comal ISD, is becoming greatly effected. As one of the fastest growing and largest districts in the San Antonio area, the district covers over 500 square miles in five different counties with over 27,000 students attending. view article

Many voting locations throughout Texas did not open because of staff shortages

In some voting locations where a party’s appointed polling judge didn’t show up, election officials allowed the other party’s judge to operate both parties’ voting machines in an effort to keep the polling place running. view article

Mesquite ISD Hiring From Within To Fill Superintendent Spot; Ángel Rivera Is Lone Finalist

The Mesquite ISD Board of Trustees announced its unanimous selection of Dr. Ángel Rivera as the lone finalist for the role of Superintendent of Schools on Monday, Feb. 14. Dr. Rivera currently holds the position of deputy superintendent for the district, which serves nearly 40,000 students. view article

Ysleta ISD sees uptick in COVID-19 related absences following winter break

An increase in COVID-19 cases among children in El Paso is resulting in more absences at some schools. "Last week my child had a light cough so we decided not to take her to school to not expose the other children to her cough," said El Paso ISD parent Guerrero Garcia. view article

BRENHAM ISD ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ELIOT ALLEN ACCEPTS NEW POSITION WITH BASTROP ISD

Brenham ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Eliot Allen has accepted a position with a new school district. Brenham ISD announced this (Thursday) afternoon that Allen has been selected as Director of Athletics for Bastrop ISD. He will begin his new position next week. view article

Cy-Fair ISD board member faces calls to resign after comments about Black teachers, dropout rates

A growing number of Houston-area leaders are calling for the resignation of a Cy-Fair ISD board member after he made comments suggesting that the more Black teachers a district has, the greater the dropout rate. The comments were made Monday night during a work session about Cy-Fair ISD's equity audit report. view article