Texas Health and Human Services is asking the state Legislature for the funding to make more than 600 temporary eligibility worker positions into permanent jobs. The ask comes as Texas' backlog of Medicaid and Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, applications continues to grow.

The City of Childress, about two hours northeast of Lubbock, issued a local disaster declaration on Friday due to the impact of extreme heat and drought conditions on the municipal water system. Meanwhile, the Texas Department of State Health Services is asking lawmakers for millions of dollars to support local health departments and disaster relief. KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports Texas doesn’t have a dedicated fund to cover the costs of public health disaster response.