Ken Paxton adds Dallas to list of cities he's sued over marijuana decriminalization
Dallas is the sixth Texas city the attorney general has sued this year over marijuana decriminalization measures that he says conflicts with state law. Full Story
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Stephen Simpson is the mental health reporter, based in Austin, where he covers behavioral health in schools, treatment in the judicial system, substance abuse and the state mental health system, among other topics. He previously worked in his home state of Arkansas as a politics reporter, where he covered the state's Supreme Court, House of Representatives and correctional system for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Stephen's earliest career experiences include reporting and copy editing at The Jonesboro Sun and The Pine Bluff Commercial. He earned a degree in online and print journalism with a minor in filmmaking from the University of Central Arkansas.
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![FILE: Recently harvested marijuana flowers are hung up to dry in South Austin on April 30, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump boosted mental health efforts in Texas in his first term. Will he do it again?
The president-elect previously supported community mental health programs in Texas, the 988 hotline and addressed the opioid crisis, but his plan to address homelessness threatens that legacy. Full Story
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![Former US president and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) meeting on February 24, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland.]()
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A push to change a 2019 Texas law that bars certain felons from becoming social workers
Texas prohibits people with assault convictions, among other felonies, from becoming social workers. A new lawsuit says the ban is unconstitutional. Full Story
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![Tammy Thompson, left, and Katherin Youniacutt, right, pose for a portrait the night before filing a lawsuit against the state of Texas to try and reverse the 2019 law that prevents convicted felons from becoming licensed social workers.]()
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Board cancels costly psychologist licensing exam after pushback led by Texas
The national licensing board announced it will consider folding the proposed skills test into an existing exam amid worries the additional hurdle would discourage applicants. Full Story
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![The Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards takes part in a discussion with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists regarding the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Austin. Mariann Burnett-Atwell, PSY.D., Michelle Paul, PH.D., Jennifer Laforce, PH.D., Hao Song, PH.D., and Alex Siegel, J.D., PH.D. sat on the panel during the discussion.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
Delta-8 hemp and Texas medical marijuana industries to face off in the upcoming legislative session
Medical marijuana providers say they must operate under strict rules while hemp products like delta-8 can proliferate. Full Story
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![The Texas Original cannabis farm on Sept. 26, 2024. The red light is an experimental form of growth where the light bleaches the flower of the plant.]()
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Mental health support for toddlers has lagged in Texas. That’s now changing.
Lawmakers and child care centers are pushing for a statewide mental health system for toddlers. Full Story
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![Children work on letter puzzles at Kid's Castle Family Daycare and Preschool in Pflugerville on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.]()
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Texas leads push for faster certification of mental health professionals
Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements. Full Story
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![Chair John Bielamowicz speaks during a a Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists meeting Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Austin. During the meeting, the state board met with the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards to discuss the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.]()
Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune -
What Texas can learn from crisis mental health care in Arizona
Texas officials look to Arizona cities when creating crisis mental health centers. Full Story
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![A view of downtown Tucson skyline against the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona on Dec. 13, 2023.]()
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How a lack of supervisors keeps new mental health workers from entering the field
Future Texas therapists must complete internships to start their careers, but there’s not enough providers to mentor all of the students. Full Story
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![Psychotherapist Monrovia Van Hoose's office on Friday, Mar. 11, 2022.]()
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State appeals court strikes down Austin’s marijuana decriminalization ordinance
A state appeals court ruled that Austin’s voter-approved ordinance obstructed the enforcement of state drug laws. The court rejected a similar ordinance in San Marcos last week. Full Story
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![A sign asking for the decriminalization of marijuana is posted outside of an event hosted by Ground Game in Harker Heights on Dec. 3, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune