The suit alleges the new state law unconstitutionally silences the viewpoints of students and teachers. The law’s supporters say DEI programs use public funds to promote political agendas.
Atirikta Kumar
Atirikta Kumar was a summer 2025 Austin-based reporting fellow. She graduated from the University of Houston in May with majors in journalism and political science and minors in English and history. Atirikta previously interned for Community Impact and at NPR’s Houston affiliate station. She also worked as the community assistant editor for her campus newspaper, The Cougar. Atirikta is fluent in Hindi and hails from Nacogdoches. She loves to read in her free time, find new coffee shops and cheer on her favorite sports teams: the NHL’s Boston Bruins and Formula One’s Ferrari.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters, new state laws bring big changes to Texas schools
Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students.
Posted inPublic Education
Four-day school weeks are on the rise as Texas districts look for teacher perks on a tight budget
More than 500 schools are using four-day school weeks, a dramatic increase from two years ago driven by fierce competition for educators amid a statewide teacher shortage.
Posted in
Demographics
Dallas and Fort Worth end their diversity efforts to keep federal funding
The North Texas city councils said hundreds of millions of dollars were in jeopardy if they didn’t shut certain programs to comply with the Trump administration.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
Texas identifies the 119 people killed in Kerr County floods
Most victims were Texans, but some were visiting from other states like California, Florida and Alabama. The youngest victims were 1 year old; the oldest was 91.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2025
Texas Senate approves bill to protect Texans from real estate fraudsters
Senate Bill 15 seeks to prevent the use of fraudulent deeds to sell someone else’s property or take out loans. It now heads to the House, where its fate is uncertain.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
Newly formed Texas disaster preparedness and flooding committee will visit Kerr County
The joint House and Senate committee will first meet in Austin next week, then in Kerrville on July 31 to hear from Hill Country residents about their concerns.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
Recovering from the floods will be a massive task. One Hill Country restaurant is focusing on the smaller picture.
As residents recover and rebuild, Grape Juice in downtown Kerrville is serving as a hub for people needing meals, supplies and other necessities.
Posted in
Hill Country floods
The floods swept away a young couple and their friends. Searching for them brought their families together.
The four friends are among the hundreds of victims. The bodies of three of them have been found. Their families have searched for their loved ones since Friday.
Posted in
State Government
Judge dismisses Ken Paxton lawsuit challenging State Fair of Texas gun ban
Texas’ attorney general alleged the City of Dallas and the fair were violating state law and the second amendment with the ban, which was adopted after a 2023 shooting.