texas

These Librarians Won’t Let America’s Fever Hit Fahrenheit 451
| March 20, 2025
bannedbooks | bookbans | books | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | CIVIL RIGHTS | Community | CULTURE | EQUALITY | History | libraries | library | LITERATURE | national politics | politcal | political | politics | public education | schools | STATE | texas | TEXAS POLITICS
A new documentary shows us our local guardians of intellectual freedom in battle.

Public school funding in Texas doesn’t match community support, advocate says
| March 6, 2025
DFW | EDUCATION | funding | public education | public school | state legislature | texas | TEXAS HOUSE
Amid declining enrollments and budget shortfalls, public school supporters are concerned that a $1 billion school voucher program will funnel more money away from neighborhood schools.

Texas may change how schools select library books. Critics say it could lead to more bans.
| March 6, 2025
bookbans | books | censorship | CIVIL RIGHTS | libraries | library | politcal | political | politics | schools | STATE | state legislature | texas | TEXAS POLITICS
Senate Bill 13 would create school library advisory councils largely made up of parents. It would give school boards, rather than librarians, the final say over new books.

Texas Legislature proposes $400 million cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI
| February 27, 2025
censorship | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | CIVIL RIGHTS | college | COLLEGE STUDENTS | EDUCATION | EQUALITY | EXTREMISM | HIGHER EDUCATION | lawmakers | politcal | political | politics | schools | STATE | state legislature | texas | TEXAS LEGISLATURE | TEXAS POLITICS
At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities.

As Texas’ energy demand soars, a pilot program looks to bolster grid with “virtual power plants” fueled by people’s homes
| February 18, 2025
Some Texans who install residential batteries, solar panels and smart thermostats can now send power back to the grid and get a credit on their bill.