Former Houston City Council member Letitia Plummer defeated longtime local politician Annise Parker to win the Democratic nomination for Harris County judge in what political experts say might be a sign of the changing of the guard.
mental health
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Criminal Justice
Texas agency that inspects jails doesn’t go far to find its new director
Ricky Armstrong had been interim director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, which monitors county lockups that mainly hold people awaiting trial, since February.
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Health care
After conversion therapy ruling, therapists torn on future of Texas’ gender care ban
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled conversion therapy is free speech. Some LGBTQ+ advocates say the ruling applies to gender-affirming therapy, too, while others say the courts won’t protect them.
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Health care
Surviving a deadly shooting: An Austin mother and daughter learn how trauma lingers
Seven months after escaping the Target shooting, an Austin mother and daughter navigate trauma, fear and unexpected growth.
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Health care
Texas law bans state-licensed mental health providers from giving gender-transitioning care to minors, AG Ken Paxton says
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion that says that a 2023 law that bans gender-transitioning medical care to minors also applies to mental health care.
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Health care
Removal of LGBTQ+ option from 988 hotline is straining overburdened Texas crisis centers
The groups that operate Texas’ 988 system face a convergence of challenges this year, from expiring federal money to heavier workloads since the Trump administration eliminated the special option for LGBTQ youth.
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Health care
How El Paso’s Mental Health Court integrates recovery in criminal justice system
State law requires counties with a population of 200,000 or more to establish a mental health court program.
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Health care
Amarillo breaks ground on psychiatric hospital, part of the state’s $1.5B investment in mental health
The facility will bring mental health resources closer to the largely rural region that’s home to nearly 436,000 people.
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Texas Legislature 2025
Classroom violence went up in Texas after the pandemic. Is more discipline the answer?
Texas lawmakers are poised to make it easier to suspend disruptive students. But some teachers and school psychologists say discipline alone won’t meet the mental health needs at the root of their behavior.
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Texas students say K-12 DEI ban and other anti-LGBTQ+ bills threaten their safety, voice and mental health
Students are concerned the legislation could silence supportive teachers, dismantle safe spaces, lead to overenforcement and prevent honest conversations about identity.
