With just seven weeks left in a school year that has been disrupted by the pandemic, Austin Independent School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde sent a strangely timed email to parents Tuesday with the subject “Welcoming Students Back to School.”“It’s hard to believe we’ve only a few weeks left in the school year, and they are as important as the first week,” the superintendent wrote. “We’ve missed having your children in our schools.”She highlighted teacher vaccinations and a lower COVID-19 positivity rate, while reminding parents that students have a better learning experience in...…With just seven weeks left in a school year that has been disrupted by the pandemic, Austin Independent School District Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde sent a strangely timed email to parents Tuesday with the subject “Welcoming Students Back to School.”“It’s hard to believe we’ve only a few weeks left in the school year, and they are as important as the first week,” the superintendent wrote. “We’ve missed having your children in our schools.”She highlighted teacher vaccinations and a lower COVID-19 positivity rate, while reminding parents that students have a better learning experience in...WW…

Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.All 13 Texas Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by of Austin, signed a on Monday to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona condemning for not releasing federal stimulus funding intended for public education.The letter comes as Abbott and other state leaders have held up the disbursement of $17.9 billion of additional federal funding intended for Texas school districts. The money was allocated through multiple aid packages passed by Congress over the...…Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.All 13 Texas Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, led by of Austin, signed a on Monday to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona condemning for not releasing federal stimulus funding intended for public education.The letter comes as Abbott and other state leaders have held up the disbursement of $17.9 billion of additional federal funding intended for Texas school districts. The money was allocated through multiple aid packages passed by Congress over the...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Democrats in the Texas Senate overwhelmingly crossed the aisle on Thursday to vote in favor of the “Star Spangled Banner Protection Act,” a conservative-backed bill that would require any professional sports teams with contracts with the state government to play the national anthem before the start of a game.Ten of the 13 Senate Democrats joined all 18 Republicans in supporting the bill. Just , of Austin, and , of Dallas, opposed it, while Democratic was absent from the chamber Thursday. Republican Lt....…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.Democrats in the Texas Senate overwhelmingly crossed the aisle on Thursday to vote in favor of the “Star Spangled Banner Protection Act,” a conservative-backed bill that would require any professional sports teams with contracts with the state government to play the national anthem before the start of a game.Ten of the 13 Senate Democrats joined all 18 Republicans in supporting the bill. Just , of Austin, and , of Dallas, opposed it, while Democratic was absent from the chamber Thursday. Republican Lt....WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.For more than a year, the federal government has been pumping billions of dollars into school districts across the country to help them meet the demands of the pandemic. Most states have used that pot of stimulus funds as Congress intended: buying personal protective equipment for students and teachers, laptops for kids learning from home, improved ventilation systems for school buildings to prevent virus transmission and covering other costs.But in Texas, local schools have yet to see an extra dime from...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.For more than a year, the federal government has been pumping billions of dollars into school districts across the country to help them meet the demands of the pandemic. Most states have used that pot of stimulus funds as Congress intended: buying personal protective equipment for students and teachers, laptops for kids learning from home, improved ventilation systems for school buildings to prevent virus transmission and covering other costs.But in Texas, local schools have yet to see an extra dime from...WW…

Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.Texas education officials advised school districts to suspend the first day of STAAR testing after thousands of students showed up in person and were prevented from taking the standardized test online because of widespread technical issues across the state.“If your students have been able to access the test, they should continue testing. If your students have not been able to access the test, they should be dismissed from testing until the issue has been resolved,”...…Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.Texas education officials advised school districts to suspend the first day of STAAR testing after thousands of students showed up in person and were prevented from taking the standardized test online because of widespread technical issues across the state.“If your students have been able to access the test, they should continue testing. If your students have not been able to access the test, they should be dismissed from testing until the issue has been resolved,”...WW…

Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.As small-business owners and managers across Texas went to work Wednesday morning, they faced yet another 2021 headache: deal with losing business from customers who don’t want to wear face masks during the pandemic or from patrons who will only frequent places that require them.The dilemma was abruptly thrust upon them after announced yesterday afternoon that the state will starting March 10.Some businesses barely had an opportunity to reopen after last month’s...…Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates.As small-business owners and managers across Texas went to work Wednesday morning, they faced yet another 2021 headache: deal with losing business from customers who don’t want to wear face masks during the pandemic or from patrons who will only frequent places that require them.The dilemma was abruptly thrust upon them after announced yesterday afternoon that the state will starting March 10.Some businesses barely had an opportunity to reopen after last month’s...WW…

 , our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.As millions of Texans fought to survive brutal winter weather without power and water, residents should call 311 or visit a state website to find warming centers — and added that a Google search had also worked for him.The only problem: Many people lacked internet access, cellphone service and the ability to watch the governor’s press conferences. When the power went out, the state suddenly lost the ability to provide essential information to people desperately in need of help.“Telling people to...… , our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.As millions of Texans fought to survive brutal winter weather without power and water, residents should call 311 or visit a state website to find warming centers — and added that a Google search had also worked for him.The only problem: Many people lacked internet access, cellphone service and the ability to watch the governor’s press conferences. When the power went out, the state suddenly lost the ability to provide essential information to people desperately in need of help.“Telling people to...WW…

 , our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.The state's week of weather hell started with a deadly outside of Fort Worth. A winter storm unlike any Texas has ever seen quickly followed, and seven days later, and reliable water.And now Texans are running out of food. From farm to table, freezing temperatures and power outages are disrupting the food supply chain that people rely on every day.Across the state, people are using up supplies they had stockpiled and losing more as items start to spoil in dark refrigerators. Some are storing their...… , our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.The state's week of weather hell started with a deadly outside of Fort Worth. A winter storm unlike any Texas has ever seen quickly followed, and seven days later, and reliable water.And now Texans are running out of food. From farm to table, freezing temperatures and power outages are disrupting the food supply chain that people rely on every day.Across the state, people are using up supplies they had stockpiled and losing more as items start to spoil in dark refrigerators. Some are storing their...WW…

, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.After major technology and social media companies this month banned former President Donald Trump from their platforms and and the app Parler over their respective roles in inciting the deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol, Texas Republicans portrayed the moves as discrimination against GOP voices.But many lawmakers did so without Republicans and social media played in stoking the baseless conspiracies that fueled the insurrectionists’ vicious anger at the outcome of a free and fair election.Much of the Texas...…, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.After major technology and social media companies this month banned former President Donald Trump from their platforms and and the app Parler over their respective roles in inciting the deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol, Texas Republicans portrayed the moves as discrimination against GOP voices.But many lawmakers did so without Republicans and social media played in stoking the baseless conspiracies that fueled the insurrectionists’ vicious anger at the outcome of a free and fair election.Much of the Texas...WW…

An 18-year veteran of the Houston Police Department is under federal investigation for his participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said at a Wednesday afternoon.On Sunday, a community member sent Acevedo a picture of the patrol officer carrying a Trump flag outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 rally, Acevedo said. The officer had also posted a photo of himself at the Capitol on Facebook. Acevedo then contacted the FBI to launch a joint investigation into the officer’s role in the riot.“There is no excuse for criminal activity, especially...…An 18-year veteran of the Houston Police Department is under federal investigation for his participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo said at a Wednesday afternoon.On Sunday, a community member sent Acevedo a picture of the patrol officer carrying a Trump flag outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 rally, Acevedo said. The officer had also posted a photo of himself at the Capitol on Facebook. Acevedo then contacted the FBI to launch a joint investigation into the officer’s role in the riot.“There is no excuse for criminal activity, especially...WW…