Public News Service

Texas no cuenta con registro de votantes en l�nea, pero puede actualizar su informaci�n o solicitar una tarjeta de registro de votantes en www.votetexas.gov. (Rob Goebel/Adobe Stock)

Se alienta a los votantes de TX a verificar el estado de su registro de votantes

El clima político se está calentando en Texas a medida que nos acercamos a las elecciones generales de noviembre. El gobernador de Texas…

Texas does not have online voter registration, but you can update your information or request a voter registration card at www.votetexas.gov. (Rob Goebel/Adobe Stock)

TX voters encouraged to check status

The political climate is heating up in Texas as we get closer to the general election in November. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says more than one …

Human symptoms of U.S. avian influenza cases to date include conjunctivitis, mild respiratory symptoms and some increased lethargy, according to Crystal Heath of Our Honor. (Scott Griesel/Adobe Stock)

Growing concern over avian influenza in humans

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

Organizers say the Swingman Classic is the closest a modern-day fan can get to the historic Negro Leagues. (Danny Hooks/Adobe Stock)

HBCU students highlighted during MLB All-Star Week in TX

Major League Baseball's All-Star week kicks off tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington with the Swingman Classic featuring 50 student athletes from …

Environmentalists say the plastics and fossil fuel industries driving plastic pollution and related problems have made false promises about efforts to address the pollution. (aryfahmed/Adobe Stock)

TX environmental groups fight for global plastics treaty

Environmental groups in Texas are backing a proposed global plastics treaty set to be finalized by the end of the year. The treaty aims to minimize …

A report from the nonprofit Inseparable found the rollout of 988 is something with which states are struggling and support is available to get it done. (bnenin/Adobe Stock)

Report: TX lawmakers can do more to support 988 crisis hotline

Mental health workers are urging lawmakers to draft bipartisan policies to expand access to mental health care services. The 988 Suicide and Crisis …

Administrators says the comprehensive pathway will allow students to seamlessly transition from high school to higher education and complete a degree in record time. (ktsdesign/Adobe Stock)

Texas Tech, TTU K-12 offer six-year degree plan

Texas Tech University and the online public-school TTU K-12 are teaming up to offer high school students an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in…

Los administradores dicen que el camino integral permitir� a los estudiantes realizar una transici�n sin problemas de la preparatoria a la educaci�n superior y completar una carrera en un tiempo r�cord. (ktsdesign/Adobe Stock)

Texas Tech y TTU K-12 ofrecen plan de estudios de seis años

Texas Tech University y la escuela pública en línea "T-T-U-K-12" se unen para ofrecer a los estudiantes de preparatoria la oportunidad de ob…

Families say they agreed to the settlement with Uvalde because they did not want to bankrupt the city. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Remembering the Uvalde mass shooting; two years ago today

Two years ago today, a teenager killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The families of those shot and killed have …

Migrants are put on buses from Texas to other states, often without knowing where they are going. (afishman64/Adobe Stock)

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing …

Broadband funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are expected to connect more than 2.5 million households in Texas.(ThomBal/AdobeStock)

TX nonprofit helps rural towns secure infrastructure improvement grants

A lack of staff and know-how often means rural towns miss out on grants to improve their communities, and a Texas group is trying to balance the …

Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows Texas to begin enforcing Senate Bill 4, calling the decision a

Texas’ SB 4 in limbo again after late-night court decision

Story has been updated to reflect late-night 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision.(8:01 a.m. MST, Mar. 20, 2024) The U.S. Supreme Court handed …

Texas's effort to opt out of the federal immigration system and create its own rules has been blocked by a federal judge. (MaxSafaniuk/Adobe Stock)

Texas' battle over right to arrest suspected illegal immigrants will continue

A law aimed at immigrants crossing the border in Texas will not take effect tomorrow, after a federal judge halted enforcement until a court battle …

Los condados de Travis y Collin, en Texas, ten�an el mayor porcentaje de personas con un t�tulo de asociado o superior en 2022. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

Dilema de universidad en TX: Recompensas a largo o corto plazo

Texas está progresando en el porcentaje de personas que completan niveles superiores de educación, pero sigue por detrás de la media …

Neighborhoods lacking sidewalks can discourage people from getting exercise which could improve their health. (JacobLund/AdobeStock)

TX health foundation broadens focus beyond the doctor's office

There are Texas ZIP codes where people with lower incomes and few health services have a 20-year difference in life expectancy than those who are more…

A new report shows most states have increased their performance expectations for public schools in the past 15 years, but also reduced funding. (Victor/Adobe Stock)

Persistent state budget cuts create inadequate funding for TX schools

A new report shows persistent state budget cuts in 80% of U.S. states -- including Texas -- deprive public schools of the funding they experienced …

Gun raffles have become a popular way to raise money for local causes, but in the wake of deadly shootings, some have been cancelled. (boyrcr420/Adobe Stock)

Texas town calls off rifle raffle after newspaper questions legality

Mass shootings across the U.S. have many calling for more gun restrictions. But it wasn't until a Texas newspaper raised legal questions about a …

A decline in local news is often correlated with the decline in voter participation, according to research by Northwestern University. (V.J. Matthew/Adobe Stock)

Study: Rural vibrancy diminishes with death of local newspapers

The media landscape has dramatically changed in the past 20 years, evidenced by a new study that shows three million residents in more than 200 …

Studies show math and reading scores are higher in schools staffed with full-time certified librarians. (CulturaAllies/Adobe Stock)

Librarians often 'unsung heroes' at Texas schools

Starting in the early years and continuing through 12th grade, it's often the school librarian students know best - seeking them out for help with …

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott believes new laws and the continuation of Operation Lone Star are necessary to

Civil rights groups call Texas' proposed laws, razor wire dehumanizing

A set of border security bills under consideration by Texas lawmakers will cause harm to migrants, residents, and state law, according to a state …

El gobernador de Texas, Greg Abbott, cree que las nuevas leyes y la continuaci�n de la Operaci�n Lone Star son necesarias para

Grupos de defensa consideran que las leyes propuestas en TX y el alambre de púas son inhumanas

Un conjunto de proyectos de ley de seguridad fronteriza que están siendo considerados por los legisladores de Texas causará daño a los …

The United States has warned nearly 100 countries that Russian intelligence is ramping up efforts to destabilize democracies by raising doubts about elections integrity. (Argus/AdobeStock)

Democracy experts worry about chaos, violence ahead of 2024 elections

An election law expert says guilty pleas from Trump lawyers in Georgia's election interference case probably won't change the minds of voters who thin…

Estados Unidos ha advertido a casi 100 pa�ses de que la inteligencia rusa est� intensificando sus esfuerzos para desestabilizar las democracias sembrando dudas sobre la integridad de las elecciones. (Argus/AdobeStock)

Expertos en democracia temen caos y violencia antes de las elecciones de 2024

Un experto en derecho electoral dice que las declaraciones de culpabilidad de los abogados de Trump en el caso de interferencia electoral de Georgia p…

Texas is among 17 states with the lowest public school spending per student, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Texas Senate makes school vouchers its priority in education funding

Public schoolteachers in Texas say the state desperately needs to boost its overall investment in students and education programs. Instead, lawmakers …

People with additional years of education beyond high school tend to be more civic-minded and interact more with neighbors and family members, according to a recent Gallup poll. (GetStock/Adobe Stock)

Polarizing social issues complicate college choice for high-schoolers

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

Census data from 2020 shows 95% of Texas' growth is communities of color that vote Democratic, but redistricting maps heavily favor Republican candidates. (AndriiKoval/Adobe Stock)

Amid multiple lawsuits, Texas' redistricting gets D- from elections watchdog

A Texas math professor who studies redistricting is not surprised a nonpartisan elections watchdog group has given the state's redistricting process a…

The number of Texans who skipped or postponed some sort of health care because of cost has reached an all-time high, according to a new survey by the Episcopal Health Foundation. (Malik/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

Poll: Texans skip, delay medical care as affordability, access worsens

More than half of those who responded to a new Texas health care poll said it is becoming more difficult to afford, and the number of those who do …

Due to service disruptions caused by the three-year pandemic, the Social Security Administration plans to implement a new telephone platform for its toll-free number by the end of 2023. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Many Texans May Be Unaware They're Eligible for SSI Benefits

Most people eligible for Social Security know what's required to access the program, but another federal program aimed at underserved communities …

Texas groups opposed to a controversial law regulating drag performances say it's unconstitutional and want a preliminary and permanent injunction before it goes into effect Sept. 1. (annne/Adobe Stock)

Texas 'Drag Ban' Headed to Court Ahead of 9/1 Implementation

Opponents of a new Texas law governing drag performances say it's so vague and broad, it could have a chilling effect on all free expression and …

Prison guards in the Lone Star State make between $42,000 and $51,000 a year, depending on experience, and received a 5% pay raise on July 1, according to the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice. (AnyaSlepyan/Daily Yonder)

TX Fills Prison, Jail Job Vacancies with High School Recruits

Texas high schools offering training in corrections and law enforcement are being tapped by the state's Department of Criminal Justice to address mass…

As of Sept. 1, a new Texas law will repeal ordinances enacted by Austin and Dallas establishing 10-minute breaks every four hours, to allow construction workers to drink water and get out of the sun. (thebigland45/Adobe Stock)

Amid Heat Wave, New TX Law Limits Outdoor Workers' Water Breaks

Parts of Texas have been suffering from dangerous heat, just after Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott signed a law to strip authority from cities, including …

Parents, educators and others protested Thursday ahead of the first public board meeting since the Texas Education Agency took over the Houston Independent School District. (ACLU of Texas)

Texas Assumes Leadership of Houston's Largest School District

Parents and educators in the Houston Independent School District said they are all for improving schools but do not believe a state takeover by an une…

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid approved by Congress in 2020 will delay application availability from Oct. 1 until December this year. (cienpies/AdobeStock)

TX Rural Students Face College Shutout Without Changes to FAFSA

Texas educates more rural students than any other state at nearly 700,000, and there is concern a new law meant to simplify applying for college …

An estimated 44% of the world's mail volume is processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. (Vivoo/Adobe Stock)

USPS Workers Protest in TX, Elsewhere Over 'Hostile' Working Conditions

Postal workers in San Antonio and other cities want Congress to know their work environment is toxic due to understaffing and managers they claim "har…

Employees at the Texas Department of Agriculture could be terminated if they come to work with

Texas Ag Department Issues 'Biological Gender' Dress Code

New lawsuits are likely coming in Texas as LGBTQ+ people working for the state are now being targeted in dress code regulations. Agriculture …

In a survey, 50% of small business owners say hospital consolidations lead to a lack of competition, making hospital services more expensive for employees and eating into their pay, according to Small Business for America's Future. (ASHFAQ/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Hospital Consolidation Makes Employee Healthcare Tougher in TX

Small businesses owners in Texas are looking for help from lawmakers as the cost they pay to provide employees with health care coverage continues to …

Sheriffs In Texas, Elsewhere Seek Validation as New Election Police

By Jessica Pishko for the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the Pulitzer Center-…

Legislation being considered by Texas lawmakers would prevent Houston from adopting labor union bills meant to protect workers from the summer heat. (peuceta/AdobeStock)

TX Lawmakers Consider Legislation to Prevent Cities from Self-Governance

Texas' GOP-dominated legislature is considering bills to flip the script on powers traditionally afforded home-rule cities, instead forcing them to …

Peer-reviewed research on the use of misoprostol alone for abortion, published this month by the University of Texas at Austin, found it was 88% effective, with few serious adverse events or signs of complications. (ivanko80/AdobeStock)

TX Court Ruling with Nationwide Implications for Abortion Expected Soon

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

The 2020 Census estimates that Black residents are 14.2% of the total population, but nationwide they make up only 5.3% of all practicing physicians, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. (Adobe Stock)

Black History Month: Calling Attention to Women's Health Disparities

Black and African American communities are at greater risk for multiple health conditions, a health care disparity highlighted during February's …

Black renters receive a disproportionate share of eviction filings and experience the highest rates of eviction filings and eviction judgments, according to the publication Sociological Science. (WayhomeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Study: TX Cities Spend More on Police, Less on Community Supports

The five largest cities in Texas are spending far more money on criminal justice than on community services, according to a new study. The Social …

Approval of labor unions is at its highest point since 1965, according to a Gallup poll conducted in August 2022. (Nelos/AdobeStock)

Microsoft Video Game Studios in Texas, Maryland Vote to Unionize

For decades, many in the video game industry have objected to low pay, poor working conditions and discrimination. Now, some people at Microsoft - …

The 2023 U.S. Congress will include lots of new faces, but many of the same old problems of divided government. (chaiyapruek/Adobe Stock)

Opinion: A Survivable Future through Contraction, Not Expansion

It's 2023, and with it lawmakers will focus on some new, and plenty of old, problems. A retired Texas journalism professor believes while short-term …

A reform bill passed by the Texas House of Representatives in 2021 to reduce penalties for minor marijuana possession died in the State Senate. (VictorMoussa/AdobeStock)

Texas University Changes Drug Discipline Policy Amid Suggestion of Racism

A fledgling Texas newspaper is claiming credit for a change in policy by the Texas State University System regarding penalties for students found to h…

A report headed to the Texas Legislature urges state lawmakers to expand

Report: Addressing Non-Medical Factors a Game-Changer for Texans

Investing in factors outside the doctor's office could improve Texans' health and save the state money, according to a report from a group appointed …

Wages for healthcare workers in the U.S., primarily women of color, are among the lowest in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (DraganaGordic/Adobe Stock)

DOL Recovers Over $1 Million in Back Wages for TX, LA Healthcare Workers

Women of color working in health care are the most likely to lose out on wages they have earned because employers fail to pay what they owe, …

The U.S. Army had its highest number of active duty personnel in 2020, according to Statista.com. (PatouRicard/Pixabay)

TX Writer: Low-Income Youths Targeted for Military Service

By Aina Marzia for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service Collaboration …

From July 2021 to June 2022 across the nation, there were 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles, according to Pen America. (prettysleepyart/Pixabay)

TX ACLU Promotes 'Students' Rights Hub' During Banned Books Week

Ahead of Banned Books Week, the ACLU of Texas published what it calls a Students' Rights Hub. Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas…

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TX: Social Justice