INSIDER
Texas named one of the worst states for disaster preparedness | Letโs fix that
Read full article: Texas named one of the worst states for disaster preparedness | Letโs fix thatYouโd think a state like Texas, which has been hard-hit by natural disasters would be more than prepared to take on what comes its way, but a recent survey suggests otherwise. So let's fix that with helpful reminders from KPRC 2.
Video shows moment of deadly Central Texas school bus crash which left 2 dead, many injured
Read full article: Video shows moment of deadly Central Texas school bus crash which left 2 dead, many injuredVideo footage shows the moment of a deadly school bus crash in Central Texas which left a child and one other person dead.
West Virginia Gov. Justice vetoes bill that would have loosened school vaccine policies
Read full article: West Virginia Gov. Justice vetoes bill that would have loosened school vaccine policiesWest Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice broke with the GOP-majority Legislature to veto a bill that would have loosened one of the countryโs strictest school vaccination policies.
Washington state to develop guidelines for agencies using generative AI
Read full article: Washington state to develop guidelines for agencies using generative AIWashington state's governor has called for the state to develop best practices on how agencies use generative artificial intelligence as it continues to incorporate the technology into government operations.
Thousands gather to remember 12 killed in Texas A&M bonfire collapse 24 years ago
Read full article: Thousands gather to remember 12 killed in Texas A&M bonfire collapse 24 years agoThousands of people gathered early Saturday morning to remember the 12 lives lost in 1999 when a bonfire collapsed during construction at Texas A&M University.
Kansas canโt enforce new law on abortion pills or make patients wait 24 hours, judge rules
Read full article: Kansas canโt enforce new law on abortion pills or make patients wait 24 hours, judge rulesA Kansas judge has put a new state law on medication abortions on hold and blocked the state from enforcing older abortion restrictions.
EXCLUSIVE: VYPEโs 2023-24 Preseason Volleyball Rankings
Read full article: EXCLUSIVE: VYPEโs 2023-24 Preseason Volleyball RankingsLast year, Houston had five teams make the UIL State Volleyball Tournament in Class 6A, 5A and 4A. Katy Tompkins came the closest to a title, reaching the Class 6A State Championship before falling short to Dripping Springs.
Myanmar's military-led government extends state of emergency, forcing delay in promised election
Read full article: Myanmar's military-led government extends state of emergency, forcing delay in promised electionMyanmarโs military-controlled government has extended the state of emergency it imposed when the army seized power from an elected government 2 1/2 years ago, forcing a further delay in elections it promised when it took over.
Meet the influential new player on transgender health bills
Read full article: Meet the influential new player on transgender health billsA nonprofit that describes itself as a collection of doctors and others uniting to โprotect healthcare from a radical, divisive, and discriminatory ideologyโ has become a significant presence in statehouses.
Houston ISD board of trustees hold last meeting before state takeover of district
Read full article: Houston ISD board of trustees hold last meeting before state takeover of districtThe Houston ISD board of trustees held its last scheduled meeting Thursday night before the state takes over the largest school district in Texas.
TribCast: Takeaways from Gov. Greg Abbottโs State of the State speech
Read full article: TribCast: Takeaways from Gov. Greg Abbottโs State of the State speechIn this weekโs episode, Matthew speaks with Texas Tribune politics reporters James Barragรกn and Patrick Svitek about Abbottโs prime-time address.
THE BLUE AND GOLD: Klein Swim looking to have another great season
Read full article: THE BLUE AND GOLD: Klein Swim looking to have another great seasonThe Bearkats have been a power in the pool over several decades, dating back to the 1980s. It was just four years ago that both the Boys and Girls earned 6th-place finishes at State.
Texas AG Paxton threatens criminal, civil actions as he files emergency motion with Texas Supreme Court, seeking pre-Roe statutes barring abortions
Read full article: Texas AG Paxton threatens criminal, civil actions as he files emergency motion with Texas Supreme Court, seeking pre-Roe statutes barring abortionsTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Thursday that he has asked the Supreme Court of Texas to vacate a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Texasโs pre-Roe criminal prohibitions on elective abortion.
UIL STATE SOFTBALL: Liberty repeats as Class 4A State Champions
Read full article: UIL STATE SOFTBALL: Liberty repeats as Class 4A State ChampionsAUSTIN - When Karen Slackโs team took the field in 2022, she wanted them to do two things - โplay with confidence of a state champion and the fight of an underdogโ.
Black Women Health Forum on Wednesday will address health care needs unique to Black women
Read full article: Black Women Health Forum on Wednesday will address health care needs unique to Black womenThe second State of Black Women Health Forum will be held Wednesday at HISDโs Young Womenโs College Preparatory Academy, located at 1906 Cleburne Street, in Houston.
STATE TRACK: Strake Jesuitโs Posey Breaks Class 6A record in High Jump
Read full article: STATE TRACK: Strake Jesuitโs Posey Breaks Class 6A record in High JumpAfter what Jace Posey considered a โdisappointingโ performance in 2021, finishing fourth in the Class 6A high jump competition at State, the Strake Jesuit junior was determined for a better showing in 2022.
DeSantis: Freedom is good, COVID mandates, lockdowns are bad
Read full article: DeSantis: Freedom is good, COVID mandates, lockdowns are badFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis made clear in his State of the State speech that he likes teachers, first responders and freedom and he doesnโt like Dr. Anthony Fauci, critical race theory, abortion, illegal immigration and Burmese pythons.
2021 VYPE Houston Football Preview - The Sleepers: Rosehill Christian Eagles
Read full article: 2021 VYPE Houston Football Preview - The Sleepers: Rosehill Christian EaglesRosehill Christian has a shot in 2021 to shake things up in TAPPS Division IV. The Eagles reached the State Semifinals a year ago and returns 13 starters from that team.
First West Nile case reported in Texas: What you need to know to protect yourself
Read full article: First West Nile case reported in Texas: What you need to know to protect yourselfThe Texas Department of State Health Services has announced that the first case of West Nile has been reported in the state.
Texas sales tax holiday mash-up: Save on on water, energy-efficient products Memorial Day weekend
Read full article: Texas sales tax holiday mash-up: Save on on water, energy-efficient products Memorial Day weekendSaturday through Monday, two sales tax holidays โ the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday and the Water Efficient Products Sales Tax Holiday -- will run concurrently. Throughout the weekend, Texas shoppers can save money on certain energy- and water-efficient products.
Unemployed Texans will stop getting additional $300-per-week benefit next month after Gov. Greg Abbott opts out of federal program
Read full article: Unemployed Texans will stop getting additional $300-per-week benefit next month after Gov. Greg Abbott opts out of federal programThe unemployment rate in Texas was 6.9% in March, which is more than double the record low of 3.4% in May 2019. The extra $300 federal benefit will end June 26 for jobless Texans.
As hot-button issues dominate Texas legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott sends clear signals on some conservative priorities
Read full article: As hot-button issues dominate Texas legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott sends clear signals on some conservative prioritiesMississippi to increase lowest welfare payments in the US
Read full article: Mississippi to increase lowest welfare payments in the USโ Mississippi will increase the lowest monthly welfare payments in the nation under a bill signed into law Wednesday by the state's Republican governor. The payments in Mississippi have been $146 for a family of two, $170 for a family of three and $194 for a family of four. AdEven with the increase, the Mississippi welfare payments will still be only a fraction of the federal poverty level, according to the liberal-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Brandon Jones, a Democratic former Mississippi House member and current policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund in Mississippi, called the increase long overdue. โThis $90 increase gets Mississippi off the bottom and is desperately needed by struggling families throughout the state."
California governor launches campaign against likely recall
Read full article: California governor launches campaign against likely recallNewsom and his Democratic allies launched a political committee Monday, March 15 to stop a proposed recall election that could oust him from office. Orrin Heatlie, a retired county sheriff's sergeant who filed the recall petition, said Newsom is engaging in a โsmear campaign" about the recall organizers because he can't defend his record. Defeating the recall โwill be one of the most important priorities for Democrats this year,โ Booker said in a statement. Newsom for months sidestepped questions about the recall but has more recently started to ramp up his political operation and strategy. AdResponding to Newsomโs campaign, the California Republican Party pointed to a slew of issues beyond the coronavirus.
VYPE 2021 Baseball Preview:โ Public School #11 Cypress Ranch
Read full article: VYPE 2021 Baseball Preview:โ Public School #11 Cypress RanchThe Cypress Ranch Mustangs have won two state titles over the past nine years entering the 2021 season. Doing some quick math, since there was not a season a year ago, that's one-quarter of the titles in the past eight years. Cy Ranch has some solid pieces coming back in pitchers Griffin Abercrombie and Colby Wilson (Newman University). Cypress Ranch won't go down easy to district upstart Bridgeland. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL MAGAZINEAdCLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PHOTOSCLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Mississippi gov signs bill limiting transgender athletes
Read full article: Mississippi gov signs bill limiting transgender athletesTate Reeves signs the first state bill in the U.S. this year to ban transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams, as supporting lawmakers gather behind him, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Tate Reeves signed a bill Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or womenโs sports teams. โThis law is a solution in search of a problem, and legislators in Mississippi have not provided any examples of Mississippi transgender athletes gaming the system for a competitive advantage because none exist,โ David said. In a statement Thursday, Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christiana Holcomb praised the Mississippi law. AdRepublican legislators who pushed the bill gave no evidence of any transgender athletes competing in Mississippi schools or universities.
Mississippi gov will sign bill limiting transgender athletes
Read full article: Mississippi gov will sign bill limiting transgender athletesโ Mississippi is on track to become the first state this year to enact a law banning transgender athletes from competing on girls or women's sports teams. Tate Reeves said Thursday that he will sign a bill that the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature has passed. AdRepublican legislators who pushed the bill gave no evidence of any transgender athletes competing in Mississippi schools or universities. A Mississippi mother with a transgender daughter spoke Thursday during the Human Rights Campaign news conference. AdSupporters of bills such as the one in Mississippi argue that transgender girls, because they were born male, are naturally stronger, faster and bigger than those born female.
Calls for Cuomo's resignation mount as 3rd accuser emerges
Read full article: Calls for Cuomo's resignation mount as 3rd accuser emergesNew York's attorney general said she's moving forward with an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo after receiving a letter from his office Monday, March 1, 2021, authorizing her to take charge of the probe. AdAttorney General Letitia James received a letter Monday from Cuomoโs office authorizing her to take charge of the probe after a weekend of wrangling over who should investigate. The harassment allegations come on the heels of accusations he covered up the true death toll of coronavirus on nursing home residents. Cuomo senior adviser Beth Garvey said she would facilitate interviews with witness and requests for documents from Cuomoโs office.
Kansas governor: Medical pot should fund Medicaid expansion
Read full article: Kansas governor: Medical pot should fund Medicaid expansionKelly championed Medicaid expansion in her first race in 2018 and promised to sign legislation legalizing medical marijuana, though she has not pushed that issue aggressively so far. But University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said he wonders why any Kansas politician still opposes medical marijuana. The Legislature has taken only relatively small steps toward legalizing medical marijuana even as most other states have done it. She said legalizing medical marijuana could raise up to $50 million a year and her proposal โeliminates the argumentโ that Kansas can't afford Medicaid expansion. AdBut Republican lawmakers remained skeptical that medical marijuana could raise much money or cover Medicaid expansion costs.
Friday Semifinal: Mansfield Summit vs. Denton Ryan
Read full article: Friday Semifinal: Mansfield Summit vs. Denton RyanDenton Ryan is loaded, plain and simple. Denton Ryan is a force up front with Bear Alexander, Mason Davis and the two-way star Sanders, which rendered the offenses of Longview and Highland Park hapless. As a three touchdown underdog, it would seem the magical run of Summit will run its course. PICK: Denton Ryan is just too strong all around. The defense will suffocate the run game and make life miserable for Hopkins and his go-to receiver Hal Presley when Summit does pass.
DFW Football: TAPPS Semifinals/Regional Matchups
Read full article: DFW Football: TAPPS Semifinals/Regional MatchupsThere are three weeks left it the TAPPS football season as two of the divisions are in the regional round while the other two are in the semifinals. Let's look at the State Semifinals and Regional Round matchups involving DFW-area teams. DIVISION ISEMIFINALS1-1: Fort Worth Nolan Catholic vs. 1-7: Fort Worth All Saints, 3:15 p.m. Saturday @ Globe Life Park (Arlington)1-2 Dallas Parish Episcopal vs. 1-5: Midland Christian, 2 p.m. Saturday @ Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium (Abilene)STATE CHAMPIONSHIPNolan Catholic/All Saints winner vs. Parish/Midland winner, Saturday, December 12 (TBD)DIVISION IIREGIONAL1-1: Fort Worth Southwest Christian vs. 1-3 Fort Worth Christian, 2 p.m. Saturday @ Barnes Stadium (River Oaks)1-2: Grapevine Faith vs. 2-1: Dallas Christian, 3 p.m. Saturday @ Royse City ISD Stadium (Royse City)SEMIFINALSFW Southwest/FW Christian winner vs. Grapevine Faith/Dallas Christian winner, Saturday, December 12 (TBD)DIVISION IIIREGIONAL1-1: Colleyville Covenant vs. 2-2: Arlington Grace Prep, 3 p.m. Saturday @ Pennington Field (Bedford)1-2: Fort Worth Lake Country vs. 1-4: Lubbock Trinity Christian, 5:30 p.m. Saturday @ Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium (Abilene)SEMIFINALSColleyville/Grace Prep winner vs. Lake Country/Lubbock Trinity winnerDIVISION IVSEMIFINALS2-2: Dallas First Baptist vs. 2-1: Waco Reicher Catholic, 1 p.m. Saturday @ ISTATE CHAMPIONSHIPFirst Baptist/Reicher winner vs. St. Paul/Rosehill winner, Saturday, December 12
DFW Football: 4A/3A Area Thursday Quick Looks
Read full article: DFW Football: 4A/3A Area Thursday Quick LooksWe're into the second round of the classes 4A and under playoffs march to State. For the second straight week, the big schools (6A and 5A) take a back seat to the quick looks until their respective playoffs start as we peak at the three matchups in 4A featuring DFW-area teams on Thursday. Bo is gone, but CJ Rogers is just as competent and Tito Byce and company return for a run at state. Gilmer is on a six-game win streak with an average win margin of 32 points. Godley has been equally-impressive in its four-game win streak with a win margin of 32.5 points.
Uptick in latest COVID-19 numbers across Texas
Read full article: Uptick in latest COVID-19 numbers across TexasHOUSTON โ A troubling trend in the latest COVID-19 numbers across Texas. Valdez believes part of the reason for the rise in numbers is the cooler temperatures and people not going outside as much. โInstead, theyโre going to stay inside and thatโs just going propagate this little uptick that weโre seeing right now itโs probably going to propagate into bigger wave very soon,โ Valdez said. A look at the latest graphs show the steady climb across Texas in both the number of new covid cases and hospitalizations. And theyโre loyal to us and theyโre careful with us and helping us not spread this disease and mitigating the spread," Valdez said.
Texas court upholds order allowing multiple absentee ballot drop-off locations, but appeal will keep that from happening yet
Read full article: Texas court upholds order allowing multiple absentee ballot drop-off locations, but appeal will keep that from happening yetThe Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd. A state appeals court has upheld a Travis County State district court order allowing Texas counties to have multiple drop-off locations for hand delivery of absentee ballots, undercutting Gov. But it remains unclear if the intermediate court's decision will lead to the reopening of ballot drop-off locations that were shut down in Harris and Travis counties following Abbott's order. Abbott and Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs are expected to quickly appeal the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court to again block the order from taking effect. Last week, Travis County State District Judge Tim Sulak agreed, ruling against Abbottโs order.
Cindy McCain rebukes fellow Republican Trump to back Biden
Read full article: Cindy McCain rebukes fellow Republican Trump to back BidenFILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo Cindy McCain, wife of former Arizona Sen. John McCain, waves to the crowd after being acknowledged by Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey during his State of the State address on the opening day of the legislative session at the Capitol in Phoenix. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden said Sept. 22 that Cindy McCain plans to endorse him for president. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Cindy McCain endorses Biden for president in rebuke of Trump
Read full article: Cindy McCain endorses Biden for president in rebuke of TrumpFILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo Cindy McCain, wife of former Arizona Sen. John McCain, waves to the crowd after being acknowledged by Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey during his State of the State address on the opening day of the legislative session at the Capitol in Phoenix. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden said Sept. 22 that Cindy McCain plans to endorse him for president. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Houstonโs Third and Fifth wards designated as cultural districts
Read full article: Houstonโs Third and Fifth wards designated as cultural districtsHOUSTON โ The Third and Fifth wards of Houston have been designated cultural districts by the state. โI am so excited to see the State recognize the Fifth Ward community for its rich history and heritage while also acknowledging its continued commitment to arts and culture,โ Harrison Guy, Director of Arts & Culture at the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, said in a written statement. โThese neighborhoods have created, nurtured and celebrated arts and culture over generations,โ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a written statement. The other five are the Arts District Houston, the East End Cultural District, the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District, the Museum District and the Theater District. For more information about Houstonโs cultural program, go to houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs.
Ask 2: Are tattoo shops and massage parlors included in phase 2 of Gov. Abbottโs plan?
Read full article: Ask 2: Are tattoo shops and massage parlors included in phase 2 of Gov. Abbottโs plan?The question: Are tattoo and piercing shop and massage parlors included in the businesses that are allowed to reopen as part of phase 2 of Gov. Phase 1 of Governor Greg Abbottโs plan to reopen Texas began Friday and included businesses like museums, retail shops, restaurants and movie theaters. However, he did give specifications for tattoo shops or massage parlors. Had they been included in phase 2, those businesses would also be listed under the guidelines issued by the state. Click here to see the specifications for businesses that are included in phase 2.
LIVE BLOG: Voting underway as Nevada Democrats weigh in on Decision 2020
Read full article: LIVE BLOG: Voting underway as Nevada Democrats weigh in on Decision 2020Voting is underway across Nevada as the most diverse state so far has its say in the Democratsโ nomination fight. Presidential candidates made their last urgent pleas as voters prepared to weigh in. Saturdayโs caucuses are the third contest in a 2020 primary season that has so far been marred by chaos and uncertainty in overwhelmingly white, rural states. While state officials arenโt promising theyโll report results on Saturday, Nevadaโs first-in-the-West caucuses will test the candidatesโ strength with black and brown voters for the first time in 2020. Here is a live Twitter blog for the Nevada Caucus: