Texas schools are hiring more teachers without traditional training. They hope the state will pay to prepare them.
Schools are hiring instructors with different types of backgrounds to deal with critical staff shortages. Full Story
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Elijah Nicholson-Messmer
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Elijah Nicholson-Messmer was a summer 2024 data visuals fellow and a graduate of Berea College and Northeastern University, where he studied English and data journalism, respectively. Elijah’s work has been published by The Boston Globe, WBUR and WCVB, and he has interned at Bloomberg News, Financial Planning through the Dow Jones News Fund, and The Drive.
Past Contributions
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![First year educator Amanda McIntyre interacts with her students at Freeport Intermediate School in Freeport, Texas, on August 16,2024. She recently completed her teacher apprenticeship program.]()
Credit: Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune -
Texas takes its first steps to protect its mountain lions
While many other states limit hunting of the apex predator, Texas is only now introducing rules to ban canned hunts and require regular checking of traps. Full Story
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![Mountain lions generally are found in remote mountains, canyonlands, or hilly areas with good cover. In Texas, they are found throughout the Trans-Pecos region, the brushlands of South Texas and parts of the Hill Country.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife -
More Texans join unions although national membership is down
The growth in union membership came from the technology and nonprofit sectors, as well as coffee shops. Full Story
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![Soleil Baker, a supervisor at the Bartonville Starbucks, in front of the building on Sunday, July 28, 2024. Baker has been at this location for about two years, but has worked for Starbucks for around three years total.]()
Credit: Maria Crane for The Texas Tribune -
Unregulated oilfield power lines are suspected of sparking Texas wildfires
No state agency is taking responsibility for making sure the privately built lines that power many oil and gas sites are safe. Such lines have been blamed for sparking two recent Panhandle fires. Full Story
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![Craig Cowden shows parts of his property that are negligent from oil companies using his land, Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Breezy Point Ranch in Pampa, Texas. Cowden has made numerous complaints about the live wires and trash on his property.]()
Credit: Annie Rice for The Texas Tribune -
Most Texas adults support school vouchers, new survey finds
Most respondents agreed with arguments against paying for private schools with public funds — but ultimately favored creating the programs. Full Story
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![Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Interstate 27 has divided Lubbock for decades. North and east side residents want that to change.
After repeated attempts to convince the City Council to make zoning changes, residents asked the federal government to intervene. Full Story
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![Northbound motorists drive on I-27 south of Plainview, a route traveled by many that seek abortion healthcare while headed out of Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Rogers for The Texas Tribune -
A look at the Texas mental health workforce shortage
A guide to some of the professions that make up the mental health workforce. Full Story
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![The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists holds a discussion with the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards regarding the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Austin. Mariann Burnett-Atwell, PSY.D., Michelle Paul, PH.D., Jennifer Laforce, PH.D., Hao Song, PH.D., and Alex Siegel, J.D., PH.D. sat on the panel during the discussion.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
“They need to fix something quick”: Texans without power for days are getting angry
Nearly a million Texans were still without power on Friday. And the utility company with the most outages was facing threats of violence. Full Story
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![Seby Godinho and Jack Souza run a convenience store without electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Oyster Creek, Texas, on July 9, 2024.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif -
More than 100 Texas counties lack plans to curb damage from natural disasters
The plans, which are required by the federal government to access certain grants after a natural disaster, are laborious to assemble — especially for rural counties. Full Story
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![Flooding in downtown Livingston on May 2, 2024. Thousands fled their Southeast Texas homes as heavy rains saturated land in multiple counties.]()
Credit: Drone Bros LLC -
Fastest growing group in Texas: Asian Americans
A new Census Bureau report shows the Asian American population went up 5.5% in one year, outpacing overall state growth. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in downtown Austin on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price/The Texas Tribune