Texas News & Current Events | Public News Service

The El Ni�o weather pattern, which produces unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean around Christmas, was originally recognized by fishermen off the coast of South America in the 1600s. (FengYu/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Forecasters: Texas Should Expect Drought, High Temps, El Niño

Memorial Day is considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States, with many Texans keeping an eye on what the weather has in store…

July 2022 was the hottest July since 1895 in Texas, according to Weather.com. (praewpailyn/Adobe Stock)

Texas Heatwaves are Coming; New Toolkit Available to Docs

Extreme heat kills about 700 people in the United States each year, but a new toolkit and weather alerts can protect folks in Texas and beyond…

ACLU Plans Lawsuit If TX Anti-Trans Bills Become Law

The culture war over transgender identity is spreading in GOP-led states, and Texas is among those passing the harshest laws. The Human Rights …

To stop the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, the public health order known as Title 42 was used nearly 3 million times to swiftly expel migrants at U.S. land borders. (AjdinKamber/AdobeStock)

Proposed Border Policing Unit Gains Traction in Texas

Legislation to create a "Border Protection Unit" is headed to the Texas Senate, while the governor said more needs to be done to secure the U.S.-…

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 …

Following the 2020 election, Texas passed a controversial voting law, Senate Bill 1, which banned drive-through voting and 24-hour voting. (MoabRepublic/AdobeStock)

Texas GOP Lawmakers to Decide Bills Aimed at Harris County Elections

Three weeks remain in the 2023 Texas legislative session with a bill under consideration that could ultimately throw out future election results in th…

Scientific evidence shows air pollution can contribute to adverse birth outcomes, infant mortality, damaged lung function, asthma, cancer and even neurological disorders and childhood obesity, according to UNICEF data. (SoloviovaLiudmyla/AdobeStock)

West Dallas Neighborhood Seeks Relief From Major Air Polluter

A West Dallas neighborhood, citing decades of air and noise pollution, wants an asphalt shingle plant to abandon its decades-old location - but foot-…

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 February survey, about 36% of Texas adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, compared with 32% of adults nationwide, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Nattakorn/AdobeStock)

Study: "Sunshine Calls" Hold Promise for Reducing Depression

Many Americans experience depression or anxiety, but a new Texas study shows a regular phone call to those suffering can reduce symptoms. Known as …

In Texas, abortion is completely banned with very limited exceptions. This forces patients to make two trips out of state, one for in-person counseling and another at least 24 hours later for the abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Showdown Over Abortion Medication Continues

The battle over a prescription drug used in abortions continues, now to be heard by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 17. The pill…

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 …

Insufficient sleep in the United States was estimated to cost $411 billion in missed work days and reduced productivity, according to a 2016 report by the Rand Corporation. (YuryZap/Adobe Stock)

Taking Sleep to the Next Level for Better Mental, Physical Health

There aren't many quick fixes for getting a restful night's sleep, but experts say if Texans want to improve their physical and mental health…

Experts are predicting an above-average tornado season in 2023, in part fueled by climate change. (jetcityimage/AdobeStock)

New Philanthropy Fund Helps With Tornado Recovery

A record number of tornadoes struck U.S. communities in the first three months of this year, prompting the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to …

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, many states have passed near-total bans on abortion, with some states criminalizing the procedure and those who assist others in obtaining one. (traci1/Adobe Stock)

Dueling Opinions Likely to Send Abortion Issue to U.S. Supreme Court

Access to medication abortion will be front and center this week after two competing court rulings, in Texas and Washington, were handed down Friday…

Award-winning journalist Molly Ivins worked at the Texas Observer in the 1970s, calling it a

The Texas Observer Lives to See Another Print Run

The Texas Observer, a nonprofit news organization known for its liberal, independent reporting and cultural criticism, will continue publishing…

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-…

San Antonio's retired Army Gen. Patrick Brady received the National Medal of Honor for his rescue of more than 5,000 people wounded in helicopter combat missions, during two tours in Vietnam. (National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Staff)

Veterans' Stories to Live On at TX National Medal of Honor Museum

Construction of the Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation is under way in Arlington, Texas - a place to pay tribute to those who've earned the …

The Castner Range contains cultural sites that document the history of Native tribes, while also providing habitat for wildlife such as the golden eagle, mountain lions and the western burrowing owl. (Dale/AdobeStock)

Texas' Poppy-Covered Castner Range Now State's Third National Monument

A celebration will be held in El Paso Friday after five decades of activism paid off, when President Joe Biden designated Texas' Castner Range a …

Texas, with about 367 miles of coastline, is expected to benefit from the output of offshore wind projects proposed by the Biden administration. (zentilia/Adobe Stock)

Texas Unions Want Offshore Wind to Provide Well-Paid, Safe Jobs

Offshore wind development is coming to Texas under the Biden administration's plan to grow America's clean-energy economy, and union members want the …

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 …

School board meetings have historically included intense cultural debates, such as the teaching of evolution, the removal of offensive sports mascots, or educator-required

Conservative 'M4L' Group Sets Sights on School Boards, Book Bans

A group formed to oppose COVID-19 mask mandates is expanding its agenda to influence school board elections, and a national watchdog group believes …

Non-traditional and online learning are touted as options to address the U.S. nursing shortage, attributed to burnout from the pandemic and many nurses searching for better pay and less stress. (JackF/AdobeStock)

Debunking the Non-Traditional Higher-Education Stigma

Many college students balance family and work responsibilities with academics - making non-traditional higher education a lifeline to a future degree …

Soot is the most widespread and deadliest air pollutant in the United States and can lead to heart ailments, lung disease, asthma attacks and shortened lives. (Liubomir/Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules for "Soot" Pollution Could Improve Air for Texans

Most Texans take breathing for granted - unless the air is polluted. It's a health issue the Biden administration hopes to mitigate through new …

College and university students are more racially and ethnically diverse than ever, but obstacles in many states can reduce their voter turnout. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

Texas Lawmaker Files Bill to Ban Voting on College Campuses

Texas voting advocates say a bill before the Legislature to ban polling sites on college campuses for fear of mass shootings is instead a direct attac…

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 …

Texas is the largest state in the lower 48, but the National Education Association says teacher compensation has stagnated, ranking Texas 28th in the nation for teacher pay, $7,652 less than the national average. (JokePhatrapong/AdobeStock)

PTA Designates Week to Re-Engage With Your Child's School, Teachers

Parent participation at school is often tied to a child's success. And this week, Texas parents are encouraged to engage as the National Parent …

The green scarf is a symbol of the abortion-rights movements, created in Argentina in 2003 and popularized in the United States in 2022. (Clara/Adobe Stock)

TX Judge to Decide Abortion Pill Case with Nationwide Repercussions

Medication is now believed to be used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S., but a Texas judge could soon force one of two abortion pills …

A survey of Texans found only public education ranked higher than a need for increased spending on health care, according to the Episcopal Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />

Survey: More Texans Support Increased Mental Health-Care Funding

For the past five years, Texans' priorities for improving health care have not changed, but in the latest survey, the need for more mental health …

For every $1 invested in ARRIBA - El Paso's workforce development program - the local economy receives $28 back, according to a 2021 study by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

TX Model Transforms Low-Income Students Into Skilled Professionals

For more than two decades, a workforce development program in El Paso has invested in the economically disadvantaged to help them attain the …

Eye doctors warn that kids who spend excessive time on laptops, cell phones and tablets could end up with vision problems as adults. (Marco/Adobe Stock)

Protecting the 'Eyes of Texas' in the Age of Digital Overload

It is not a pandemic yet, but eye doctors worry the constant use of digital devices could eventually result in long-term health problems for many …

Since the 2020 election, GOP-led states have enacted 102 new election penalties, according to an analysis by States Newsroom and the Voting Rights Lab. (niyazz/AdobeStock)

TX Lawmakers Consider Bills to Restrict, Expand Voting in 2023 Session

By nearly every measure, voter fraud in U.S. elections is rare, but that isn't stopping the Texas Legislature from considering dozens of bills this …

The Permian Basin, the most prolific oil-producing region of the United States, has an estimated<br />oil recoverable-resource potential of 20 billion to 75 billion barrels, according to the U.S. Energy Department. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates Urge Stronger Oil and Gas Methane Rules at Well Sites

Conservation groups in Texas want the Environmental Protection Agency to continue its push for tighter restrictions on methane emissions at oil and ga…

Federal agencies such as FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the EPA now offer guides on how communities can incorporate nature-based, green solutions. (clcwa.org)

TX Climate Change Mitigation Project Could Benefit Other Communities

By Katie Watkins for Houston Public Media.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public …

The 50-story Trammel Crow Center in the downtown Dallas Arts District has received multiple green building certifications since it was completed in the 1980s. (dallaswartsdistrict.org)

TX Among Top 10 States for Green Building in 2022

The 2022 ranking of "green" buildings shows Texas in 9th place, demonstrating a commitment to LEED certification, according to the U.S. Green …

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 - …

To curb the dramatic spike in drug overdose deaths, largely due to fentanyl, federal funding was made available to states in 2021 for the purchase of rapid fentanyl test strips. (Harald/AdobeStock)

TX Governor Signals Support for Legalization of Fentanyl Test Strips

Texas may soon join other states with legalized fentanyl test strips, used by those with drug addictions to detect the presence of the often lethal …

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 …

California has the most imperiled biodiversity of any state in the contiguous United States, according to NatureServe, but it also has more land under biodiversity protection than any other of the lower 48 states. (iNaturalist.org)

Imperiled Global Species Map Shows Texas Ranks High

When a scientist with the nonprofit group NatureServe began studying where biodiversity is most at risk in America, she never expected Texas to rank …

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 …

Texas has produced more oil and natural gas than any other state, and remains the largest daily producer. (RobertCoy/Adobe Stock)

Texas Could Reduce Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Wells in 2023

As part of the U.S. energy transition, the Biden administration has made slashing methane emissions a priority, and supplemental federal rules aim to …

Nationally, the child uninsured rate in the U.S. was 5.4% in 2021, but twice that in Texas, at 11.8%. (NicholasB/Adobe Stock)

Number of Uninsured Kids Drops in TX During COVID; Still 50th Nationwide

It wasn't huge, but Texas saw a decline in the number of uninsured children, falling from 12.7% in 2019 to 11.8% last year, according to research by …

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 50-year ruling that guaranteed the right to abortion, emboldened conservative groups now want the courts to impose further restrictions. (Inna/AdobeStock)

Anti-Abortion Groups Ask Texas Judge to Ban Mailing Abortion Pills