POLITICS
Dallas ISD will offer free pre-K to all students starting next school year
DALLAS | dallas isd | DFW | DFW Lead Story | DFW TEXED EXCLUSIVE | EDUCATION | North Texas | pre-K | pre-kindergarten | public education | school | students
Texas House votes to end STAAR testing
| September 12, 2025
The Texas House approved a bill that replaces the state’s STAAR exam with three shorter tests given over the course of the school year starting in 2027.
Greg Abbott brushes off NAACP lawsuit over new congressional map
| September 12, 2025
CIVIL RIGHTS | EXCO-Player | Gerrymandering | greg abbott | local politics | old texas | redistricting | TEXAS
Facing a second lawsuit over his new congressional map for Texas—labeled by critics as “racial gerrymandering”—Gov. Greg Abbott curtly dismissed the legal challenges.
Texas A&M fires professor for discussing gender identity
| September 11, 2025
Texas A&M University fired a children’s literature professor for discussing LGBTQ+ topics in class. A department head and dean were also removed from their administrative positions.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk dies after being shot at Utah college event
| September 10, 2025
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event in an act that drew renewed attention to the threat of political violence across the United States.
Texas A&M fires professor for discussing gender identity in class
| September 10, 2025
Texas A&M fired a professor and disciplined two administrators over backlash from right-wing lawmakers following a viral video showing a professor discussing LGBTQ+ topics in class.
Texas’ newest abortion law allows $100,000 rewards for snitching on pregnant women
| September 9, 2025
Gov. Abbott’s next abortion law includes a $100,000 reward for snitching on pregnant women in your family.
Texas Republicans pass anti-trans bathroom bill
| September 9, 2025
The Texas Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that bans transgender people from using restrooms that align with their gender identity in government buildings, and public schools and colleges, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.
If Abbott signs the bill into law, it will take effect on Dec. 3.
Rising Democratic star James Talarico announces run for US Senate in Texas
| September 9, 2025
State Rep. James Talarico, a 36-year-old Presbyterian seminarian and former middle school teacher, announced Tuesday that he’s running for US Senate.
‘More stressed, more unsure’: Texas educators start school year under new DEI ban
| September 9, 2025
DALLAS | dei | DFW | DFW Lead Story | DFW TEXED EXCLUSIVE | diversity | EDUCATION | educators | equity | inclusion | SATX | state legislature | TEXAS
Educators speak out on new laws they face in classrooms, including a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion and a “Parental Bill of Rights” that makes it easier for conservatives to interfere in public schools.
Why books shouldn’t be controversial: Welcome to your Texas banned reading list
| September 9, 2025
bannedbooks | book ban | bookbans | books | censorship | Community | CULTURE | EDUCATION | HARDGATE | TEXAS
Banned books have been hugely controversial when it comes to Texas education. Literature is fundamental to learning—and when the government is trying to dictate what students can and can’t read, important, diverse voices can be lost.
Texas colleges could see fewer international students amid Trump immigration crackdown
| September 5, 2025
dei | EDUCATION | EXCO-Player | HIGHER EDUCATION | IMMIGRATION | local politics | old texas | public education | TEXAS
Public universities throughout Texas could lose thousands of international students (and millions of dollars) this fall thanks to the Trump administration.
Ken Paxton wants your kids to recite the Lord’s Prayer in school
| September 5, 2025
A new Texas law allows public schools to create a designated prayer time for students, and Attorney General Ken Paxton wants to make sure it’s used to promote Christianity.