Health

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission proposed cuts to more than 20 client services programs. Dozens of Texas advocates testified at a legislative budget board hearing Thursday to ask state lawmakers to protect those programs.

Yesterday, Lubbock City Council passed a 90-day moratorium on the acceptance or approval of large-scale data center developments in the city. Citizens had petitioned for an 18-month moratorium, which failed without a second. Petition organizer Stephen Sanders says he does not plan on moving to put the extended moratorium on the ballot before voters. The council also approved an agreement that will bring a new public health staffer to Lubbock, funded by the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week, Dr. Katherine Wells and her department were recognized by the Texas Immunization Partnership for the coordination and vaccine access they provided during the 2025 measles outbreak.

The report, which has traditionally been released every other year on or near Sept. 1 will now not be released until Dec. 1.

Rural emergency medical service providers from West Texas appeared before Texas’ House State Affairs Committee yesterday, requesting that the legislature expand funding for rural ambulance operators. A Texas nonprofit is giving high-school students a chance to practice voting before they're old enough to cast an official ballot. Texas Public Radio’s Kory Cook reports students can participate individually, even if their school doesn't host an event.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is requesting $230 million in additional funding from state lawmakers to support local health departments, maintain critical programs and handle new responsibilities. On Friday, the agency presented its budget request ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

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.

Finding prenatal care isn't always as simple as scheduling an appointment. Across West Texas, communities are grappling with a shortage of obstetric providers, meaning some expecting mothers are driving hours for care.

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.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are leading related efforts target businesses they say are encouraging noncitizens to come to Texas to give birth, in order to gain U.S. citizenship for their children.

An NPR investigation found that people in the U.S. are dying from heat much more often than official counts show. We explore the reasons why — and how lives can be saved.