From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters, new state laws bring big changes to Texas schools
Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students. Full Story
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Atirikta Kumar was a summer 2025 Austin-based reporting fellow. She graduated from the University of Houston in May with majors in journalism and political science and minors in English and history. Atirikta previously interned for Community Impact and at NPR’s Houston affiliate station. She also worked as the community assistant editor for her campus newspaper, The Cougar. Atirikta is fluent in Hindi and hails from Nacogdoches. She loves to read in her free time, find new coffee shops and cheer on her favorite sports teams: the NHL’s Boston Bruins and Formula One’s Ferrari.
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![A sign depicting the Corpus Christi Independent School District's new cell phone policies is shown outside Calk-Wilson Elementary School in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 11, 2025.]()
Credit: John Oliva/Corpus Christi Caller-Times/USA TODAY Network via REUTERS -
Four-day school weeks are on the rise as Texas districts look for teacher perks on a tight budget
More than 500 schools are using four-day school weeks, a dramatic increase from two years ago driven by fierce competition for educators amid a statewide teacher shortage. Full Story
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![WOODSON, TEXAS — JULY 29, 2025: Casey Adams, superintendent of Woodson Independent School District (ISD), poses for a portrait at the Woodson ISD library in Woodson, Texas, on Tuesday, July 28, 2025. The district adopted a four-day school week model during the 2019–20 school year. CREDIT: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Desiree Rios for The Texas Tribune -
Texas identifies the 119 people killed in Kerr County floods
Most victims were Texans, but some were visiting from other states like California, Florida and Alabama. The youngest victims were 1 year old; the oldest was 91. Full Story
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![People gather at a memorial for the victims of the Kerr County flood during a vigil on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Kerrville.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Dallas and Fort Worth end their diversity efforts to keep federal funding
The North Texas city councils said hundreds of millions of dollars were in jeopardy if they didn’t shut certain programs to comply with the Trump administration. Full Story
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![Children play at the Nancy Best Fountain at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas on Sunday, July 27, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves bill to protect Texans from real estate fraudsters
Senate Bill 15 seeks to prevent the use of fraudulent deeds to sell someone else’s property or take out loans. It now heads to the House, where its fate is uncertain. Full Story
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![A San Antonio neighborhood on Saturday, May 25, 2024.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Newly formed Texas disaster preparedness and flooding committee will visit Kerr County
The joint House and Senate committee will first meet in Austin next week, then in Kerrville on July 31 to hear from Hill Country residents about their concerns. Full Story
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![An excavator picks up items damaged in the flood to be discarded in Hunt on Friday July 11, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Recovering from the floods will be a massive task. One Hill Country restaurant is focusing on the smaller picture.
As residents recover and rebuild, Grape Juice in downtown Kerrville is serving as a hub for people needing meals, supplies and other necessities. Full Story
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![People look towards the Guadalupe River at the Dallas Daughtry Memorial Pavilion in Kerrville on Friday, July 11, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
The floods swept away a young couple and their friends. Searching for them brought their families together.
The four friends are among the hundreds of victims. The bodies of three of them have been found. Their families have searched for their loved ones since Friday. Full Story
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![Thursday July 10, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
Judge dismisses Ken Paxton lawsuit challenging State Fair of Texas gun ban
Texas’ attorney general alleged the City of Dallas and the fair were violating state law and the second amendment with the ban, which was adopted after a 2023 shooting. Full Story
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![Crowds attend the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Oct. 14, 2024.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election for open state Senate seat
The contest coincides with the state’s November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to decide local offices and ballot measures. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate on July 14, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune