Texas News

During the last Texas legislative session, public education groups spoke with one voice on private school vouchers. Now, there’s been a shift.

More than five dozen groups — including United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the Tarrant Area Food Bank — wrote in support of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's request for $300 million to improve processing times for Medicaid and SNAP applications.

Some voucher opponents are ready to compromise; others are hoping supporters will fumble over the program's size, eligibility and accountability.

Drivers will still need an emissions test in some counties to get their registration sticker.

Yesterday, Lubbock Compact announced an update to its Lubbock Environmental Action Plan project, with a new interactive air quality map on its website. Meanwhile, KERA’s Pablo Arauz Peña reports North Texas businesses that contribute to poor air quality could be subject to fines. And Texas' Health and Human Services Commission has asked the state for funding to improve systems and expand staff.

As the Texas Legislature prepares to return in January, the battle between two Republicans for the powerful role of House speaker is underscoring divisions within the party.

The oil company Occidental Petroleum is planning to open its Stratos carbon capture facility west of Odessa next year, but some worry about the potential environmental consequences of injecting carbon dioxide underground in a region filled with old, forgotten oil wells.

KUT's Olivia Aldridge has more on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit against a doctor in New York for allegedly prescribing abortion medication across state lines. Property tax and insurance are mostly to blame for increasing housing costs in North Texas. KERA's Marina Trahan Martinez reports that renters are also paying for those higher rates.

Paxton’s office has accused 3M and DuPont of misrepresenting or concealing the health risks of PFAS, which have been sold for decades for use in consumer products.

In Texas, more than 45% of teachers are people of color, according to a new dashboard released Tuesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality, compared to nearly 74% of students. And the gap could worsen if fewer people of color pursue careers in education.