Bills call for Texas teachers to be trained to administer lifesaving overdose drugs to students

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• House panel set to advance biennial Texas budget with property tax cuts, teacher pay raises

  by Karen Brooks Harper 16 minutes ago

  The proposal recommends spending billions on programs including property tax cuts, teacher pay raises, mental health services and border security. It leaves out requests for pay raises for retired state employees and funding for rent relief and childcare programs. Full Story 

• Watch a conversation about school safety and the mass shooting in Uvalde

  by Texas Tribune Events Staff Updated: 4 hours ago

  In this conversation moderated by Texas Tribune editor in chief Sewell Chan, panelists discussed lessons that must be learned after 19 children and two adults were fatally shot at Robb Elementary School. Full Story 

• Texas business interests and family values collide as lawmakers debate legalizing gambling

  by Zach Despart March 22, 2023

  House Bill 1942, written by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, would permit regulated sports betting that is already legal in 29 states. House Bill 2843, by Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, would permit casino gambling in Texas. Full Story 

• Texas Senate passes $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes

  by Joshua Fechter and Brian Lopez March 22, 2023

  The proposals target the taxes homeowners pay and require school districts to lower their tax rates. Full Story 

• Caseworkers hampered by ’90s-era foster care software that the state hasn’t replaced

  by Sneha Dey March 22, 2023

  Caseworkers and foster care providers often get incomplete and inaccurate information about foster kids in their care because of the state child welfare agency’s archaic technology system. Full Story 

• Parents share their outrage during first public meeting over Houston ISD takeover

  by Brian Lopez March 21, 2023

  The Texas Education Agency announced on March 15 that it would replace the current superintendent and its democratically elected school board with a new board of managers as soon as June 1. Full Story 

• West Texas A&M University president cancels student drag show, saying it degrades women

  by Kate McGee Updated: March 21, 2023

  Students and First Amendment lawyers say President Walter Wendler’s portrayal of drag shows is off base and the cancellation violates free-speech rights. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott organizes “school choice” rally at the Capitol

  by Renzo Downey March 21, 2023

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has embraced Senate Bill 8, which will get its first committee hearing Wednesday. But House Speaker Dade Phelan hasn’t made school choice legislation a priority. Full Story 

• Biden designates Castner Range in El Paso a national monument

  by Julia Forrest March 21, 2023

  At a Tuesday summit, the president also declared Avi Kwa Ame, 500,000 acres of land in Nevada considered sacred to Native tribes, a national monument. Full Story 

• The EPA wants to limit how much soot you breathe. Here’s what it means for Texas and one of its historic Black towns.

  by Alejandra Martinez March 21, 2023

  Federal limits on particulate matter commonly known as soot could mean cleaner, safer air for Texans. But environmental experts worry Texas may snub rules. Full Story 

• Texas lawmaker again tries to block discriminatory hairstyle bans in schools and workplaces

  by Alejandro Serrano March 21, 2023

  Texas lawmakers could prohibit race-based hair discrimination at schools and workplaces. At least 20 states have already passed similar legislation, according to a group that champions the laws. Full Story 

• Texas Senate takes first step toward establishing billions for state’s water supply, infrastructure

  by Pooja Salhotra March 20, 2023

  Voters would have the final say on whether the state sets aside billions of dollars to acquire new water sources and invest in aging infrastructure. Full Story 

• Texas Senate panel advances bill that would hinder transgender kids’ access to puberty blockers and hormone therapies

  by Alex Nguyen March 20, 2023

  Senate Bill 14 would ban doctors from providing kids with transition-related treatments that medical groups recommend for children with gender dysphoria. Full Story 

• TribCast: Will the Texas Legislature pay Ken Paxton’s legal settlement?

  by Matthew Watkins and Justin Dehn March 20, 2023

  In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James about lawmakers’ reluctance to spend $3.3 million on a whistleblower settlement for Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story 

• How an old law found new life in lawsuit seeking to revoke approval of abortion pill

  by Eleanor Klibanoff March 20, 2023

  Anti-abortion advocates are trying to revive the long-dormant 1873 Comstock Act, which banned mailing of anything related to abortion or contraception, in a lawsuit about mifepristone, an abortion-inducing drug. Full Story 

• “He has a battle rifle”: Police feared Uvalde gunman’s AR-15

  by Zach Despart March 20, 2023

  In previously unreleased interviews, police who responded to the Robb Elementary shooting told investigators they were cowed by the shooter’s military-style rifle. This drove their decision to wait for a Border Patrol SWAT team to engage him, which took more than an hour. Full Story