DFPS report: More than 2,000 children in foster care went missing in 2020
By April Bamburg | Jun 21, 2021
Human trafficking affects males and females, kids, teens and adults too.
Additional unaccompanied minors, single adults increase risk for human trafficking at Texas border
By April Bamburg | Apr 30, 2021
Human trafficking, an immense problem, is becoming more so in Texas as the numbers of unaccompanied minors and single adults entering the country continue to rise.
Abbott thanks IKEA U.S. Community Foundation for $4.9 million donation
By April Bamburg | Nov 21, 2020
Gov. Greg Abbott thanked the IKEA U.S. Community Foundation for a gift of $4.9 million – the equivalent of what the state paid IKEA workers in Texas who had been furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Texas Public Policy Foundation sets 2022-23 Conservative Texas Budget limit at $246.1 billion
By April Bamburg | Oct 7, 2020
The Texas Public Policy Foundation released its threshold for the 2022-23 Conservative Texas Budget, which is the organization's recommended limits to the state budget in order to keep it from outpacing the ability of Texans to pay for it.
Indiana, Texas apply different reopening approaches in face of COVID-19
By April Bamburg | Oct 5, 2020
Across the country, states are dealing with the public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Indiana and Texas are at very different stages in the coronavirus fight.
Fox's Ingraham takes Texas governor to task for bar, restaurant closures
By April Bamburg | Sep 30, 2020
In a recent interview with The Committee to Unleash Prosperity's Phil Kerpen, Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbot for what she called “artificially low restrictions” on the number of people that restaurants and bars can seat and serve due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
International studies show students to be less likely to transmit COVID-19
By April Bamburg | Sep 1, 2020
A French study of COVID-19 has found that it is less likely for children to pass the virus on to other kids or adults in their lives.
Internet access, student engagement a growing concern for educators
By April Bamburg | Aug 18, 2020
Whether students of Texas schools attend in-person classes or not this fall may come down to their access to reliable internet connections.
Flynn loses hold of House District 2 as Slaton takes GOP primary on third try
By April Bamburg | Aug 18, 2020
Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) clinched the Republican nomination last month to represent Texas State House District 2, defeating incumbent Dan Flynn (R-Van) in what was the pair’s third showdown.
Parents, teachers' groups express safety concerns over school reopening policies
By April Bamburg | Aug 15, 2020
Parents around the nation are worried about sending their children back to school for in-class instruction amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% of them would prefer that schools provide a mix of online and in-person classes, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted between in July.
Energy analyst: Iberdrola Texas could struggle to remain competitive
By April Bamburg | Jul 21, 2020
A new entry into Texas’ electricity market faces problems, says energy analyst Bill Peacock in an opinion piece in Texas Scorecard.
NWEA projects increased student learning losses from COVID-19 school closures
By April Bamburg | Jul 11, 2020
During normal summers, researchers expect students to lose small portions of the information they learned the previous school year; but the Northwest Evaluation Association released a report in April projecting significant learning losses in some subjects when students return in the fall of 2020 – thanks to what they are calling the “COVID-19 slide.”
Pair arrested in Oklahoma for human trafficking of a Texas teen
By April Bamburg | Jul 6, 2020
The discovery of a missing Texas teenager on a local ad for prostitution resulted in the arrest of two people in Tulsa, Oklahoma on suspicion of human trafficking.
TEA delays the release of health guidance for student attendance this fall
By April Bamburg | Jun 25, 2020
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) pulled back on health guidance for schools in the state to reopen this week, after the Texas Tribune found draft documents on the TEA website, according to a June 23 report by the El Paso Times.
Texas Education Agency considers changes to 2020-2021 academic year
By April Bamburg | Jun 23, 2020
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its recommendations for the 2020-2021 academic year after the disruption brought by the COVID-19 crisis, according to a June 16 report by Houston’s Community Impact newspaper.
Texas Education Agency to use federal money for revenue shortfalls instead of funding districts
By April Bamburg | Jun 16, 2020
Instead of sending additional CARES Act funds to state school districts, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has decided to use the money to mitigate losses suffered during the 2019-2020 academic year, according to a June 9 KVUE report.
Supreme Court schedules conference on follow-up to Janus v. AFSCME ruling
By April Bamburg | Jun 12, 2020
The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled a conference June 18, when it could discuss whether to hold a hearing for a follow-up to the Janus v. American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council (AFSCME) decision, The Center Square reported.
Texas Railroad commissioner Ryan Sitton talks oil and gas status, future
By April Bamburg | May 2, 2020
Texas Railroad commissioner Ryan Sitton talks about the status and future of the oil and gas industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rep. Roy suggests changes to the Paycheck Protection Program to help restaurants, hotels
By April Bamburg | Apr 22, 2020
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is raising concerns with the way the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is administered, and on April 18 he sent a letter to the other members of Congress, suggesting ways to fix the PPP and serve more businesses.
Texas railroad commissioner proposes options to stabilize energy markets
By April Bamburg | Apr 8, 2020
Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton has sent a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Broiullette, proposing options that he believes could help stabilize the U.S. energy economy and help the Trump administration to balance the oil market.
