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New research from the Episcopal Health Foundation showed the Texas economy could save billions of dollars, simply by breaking the cycle of preventable health disparities. (Colored Lights/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 18, 2024

New study shows health disparities cost TX billions of dollars

Health disparities in Texas are not only making some people sick, but affecting the state's economy. A new study shows Texas is losing $7 billion a …

It's estimated that Direct File would save the average user $160 in filing fees, and hours of their time, each year. (Parradee/Adobe Stock)

Free IRS tool can help Texans file taxes

CLARIFICATION: In last paragraph, it is estimated that 4 million Texans are eligible to use the Direct File program, not that 4 million will actually …

As of Oct. 2023, the average teacher salary was $68,000 a year, which is 8% less than the average for U.S. workers overall. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

University of Texas El Paso targets teacher shortage

It's estimated that nearly half of all schools in the country don't have enough teachers. To help change that, the University of Texas in El Paso …

The Texas teacher turnover rate in the 2022-2023 school year was 21.4%, an 81% increase from 12-years earlier, according to the Texas Education Agency. (Adobe Stock)

TX teachers say they are burned out, majority want to exit public education

Two-thirds of those who make the public schools function in Texas say they want to leave, according to a new survey and the teachers union said …

Despite a goal of 95% on-time delivery, the most recent report from the U.S. Postal Service showed it is about 83%. (MicroOne/AdobeStock)

Understaffed, unnerved TX postal workers speak out about delivery delays

Texas postal customers, especially in rural areas, are experiencing delays in mail delivery, and some letter carriers feel it could get worse…

Texas' Travis and Collin counties had the highest percentage of people with an associate degree or higher in 2022. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

The TX college conundrum: Long-term vs. short-term rewards

Texas is making progress in the percentage of individuals who complete higher levels of education, but still lags behind the national average…

Los condados de Travis y Collin, en Texas, ten�an el mayor porcentaje de personas con un t�tulo de asociado o superior en 2022. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

Dilema de universidad en TX: Recompensas a largo o corto plazo

Texas está progresando en el porcentaje de personas que completan niveles superiores de educación, pero sigue por detrás de la media …

School choice proponents in Texas argue their children's academic needs can't be met without options such as tuition vouchers. Straxer/AdobeStock)

Stagnant state funding leaves Texas public schools reeling

Texas public schools rank 41st in per-student funding, and that may not improve anytime soon. A large education funding package failed in the …

En Texas, defensores de las decisiones de las escuelas argumentan que las necesidades acad�micas de sus hijos no pueden satisfacerse sin opciones como los cheques escolares. Straxer/AdobeStock)

Estancamiento en financiación estatal deja a escuelas públicas en ‘la cuerda floja’

Las escuelas públicas de Texas ocupan el puesto 41 en financiación por estudiante, y es posible que eso no mejore en el corto plazo…

Un nuevo informe muestra que la mayor�a de los estados han aumentado sus expectativas de rendimiento para las escuelas p�blicas en los �ltimos 15 a�os, pero tambi�n han reducido la financiaci�n. (Victor/AdobeStock)

Recortes presupuestarios persistentes crean financiación inadecuada en escuelas de TX

Un nuevo informe muestra que los persistentes recortes presupuestarios en el 80% de los estados de EE.UU., incluido Texas, privan a las escuelas p…

Government data show 44 million Americans owe $1.77 trillion in federal student loan debt. (VitaliiVodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Americans are getting billions in student loan debt canceled

Public service is its own reward for many -- but as tuition costs soar, it is also an effective tool to reduce college loans. The Public Service …

An American labor union hopes that by helping high school students learn the construction trade, they will help fill the nation's workforce shortage. (NathanHutchcraft/AdobeStock)

TX students learn basics in construction trade to fill future jobs

America's construction industry needs more workers, and a labor union has a program to encourage high school students to make it their future career…

Federal data suggest at least seven in 10 people have lost their Medicaid coverage for procedural reasons, such as missed deadlines, paperwork lost in the mail, or slow processing by state agencies. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Medicaid’s 'unwinding' takes heavy toll on Texas children

More American children had health insurance during the pandemic than ever before. But now, as states are required to re-enroll those eligible for …

Los datos federales sugieren que al menos siete de cada 10 personas han perdido su cobertura de Medicaid por motivos de procedimiento, como el incumplimiento de plazos, la p�rdida de documentaci�n en el correo o la lentitud en la tramitaci�n por parte de las agencias estatales. (zimmytws/Adobestock)

'Unwinding' de Medicaid cobra alto precio a niños de Texas

Durante la pandemia, aún más niños estadounidenses tuvieron seguro médico, pero ahora que los estados están obligados a …

Due to service disruptions caused by the three-year pandemic, the Social Security Administration plans to implement a new telephone platform for its toll-free number by the end of 2023. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Many Texans May Be Unaware They're Eligible for SSI Benefits

Most people eligible for Social Security know what's required to access the program, but another federal program aimed at underserved communities …

More than 100,000 clean-energy job openings have sprung up across the U.S. since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Climate Power, a coalition of environmental groups. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Study: Demand for Green Jobs in TX Twice the National Rate

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Col…

The overall number of Americans without health insurance dropped to a record low in the first three months of 2023, a number expected to rise as Medicaid rolls are purged post-pandemic. (NewAfrica/AdobeStock)

Texans Navigate the Post-Pandemic Medicaid Purge

A nationwide purge of Medicaid rolls is underway after a three-year pause during the pandemic. And in Texas, most of those dropped are children…

Workers at YouTube Music voted to unionize in October 2022. (Adobe Stock)

NLRB: Google and Cognizant are Joint Employers

Workers at Austin-based YouTube Music recently won a second victory at the National Labor Relations Board. Union organizers at YouTube music…

'Gen Z' Workforce Wants Employers to Step Up Mental-Health Benefits

Seeking help for mental health does not carry the same stigma for "Generation Z" Texans as it did for previous workers, and can be a deal-breaker if …

Almost 60% of caregivers in the United States are women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (GeckoStudio/AdobeStock)

AARP: Texas Needs More Caregivers for Aging Population

One in five people across the United States is a full- or part-time caregiver, with those in Texas providing $41 billion in unpaid care each year…

From Florida to Texas and California, excessive heat warnings have plagued the United States for weeks. (ALAN/AdobeStock)

TX Bill Banning Heat-Related Worker Breaks Could Be Overridden

Scorching temperatures are not letting up across much of the Southwest, including Texas, just as the issue of how to protect outdoor workers heats up …

The lack of nearby and affordable child care in the U.S. affects job opportunities and costs the economy $122 billion annually, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas Ranks 44th in Nation for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in Texas is on the ropes, with a new study showing significant declines in third grade reading, eighth grade math proficiency and …

An estimated 44% of the world's mail volume is processed and delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. (Vivoo/Adobe Stock)

USPS Workers Protest in TX, Elsewhere Over 'Hostile' Working Conditions

Postal workers in San Antonio and other cities want Congress to know their work environment is toxic due to understaffing and managers they claim "har…

In a survey, 50% of small business owners say hospital consolidations lead to a lack of competition, making hospital services more expensive for employees and eating into their pay, according to Small Business for America's Future. (ASHFAQ/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Hospital Consolidation Makes Employee Healthcare Tougher in TX

Small businesses owners in Texas are looking for help from lawmakers as the cost they pay to provide employees with health care coverage continues to …

Texas, with about 367 miles of coastline, is expected to benefit from the output of offshore wind projects proposed by the Biden administration. (zentilia/Adobe Stock)

Texas Unions Want Offshore Wind to Provide Well-Paid, Safe Jobs

Offshore wind development is coming to Texas under the Biden administration's plan to grow America's clean-energy economy, and union members want the …

Texas is the largest state in the lower 48, but the National Education Association says teacher compensation has stagnated, ranking Texas 28th in the nation for teacher pay, $7,652 less than the national average. (JokePhatrapong/AdobeStock)

PTA Designates Week to Re-Engage With Your Child's School, Teachers

Parent participation at school is often tied to a child's success. And this week, Texas parents are encouraged to engage as the National Parent …

A survey of Texans found only public education ranked higher than a need for increased spending on health care, according to the Episcopal Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />

Survey: More Texans Support Increased Mental Health-Care Funding

For the past five years, Texans' priorities for improving health care have not changed, but in the latest survey, the need for more mental health …

For every $1 invested in ARRIBA - El Paso's workforce development program - the local economy receives $28 back, according to a 2021 study by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

TX Model Transforms Low-Income Students Into Skilled Professionals

For more than two decades, a workforce development program in El Paso has invested in the economically disadvantaged to help them attain the …

Por cada $1 invertido en ARRIBA, programa de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral de El Paso, la econom�a local recibe $28 de vuelta, seg�n un estudio de 2021 del Instituto Hunt para la Competitividad Global. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

TX Modelo transforma a estudiantes de bajos ingresos en profesionales

Durante más de dos décadas, un programa de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral en El Paso ha invertido en los económicamente …

Black renters receive a disproportionate share of eviction filings and experience the highest rates of eviction filings and eviction judgments, according to the publication Sociological Science. (WayhomeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Study: TX Cities Spend More on Police, Less on Community Supports

The five largest cities in Texas are spending far more money on criminal justice than on community services, according to a new study. The Social …

Approval of labor unions is at its highest point since 1965, according to a Gallup poll conducted in August 2022. (Nelos/AdobeStock)

Microsoft Video Game Studios in Texas, Maryland Vote to Unionize

For decades, many in the video game industry have objected to low pay, poor working conditions and discrimination. Now, some people at Microsoft - …

A nivel nacional, la tasa de ni�os sin seguro en EE. UU. era del 5.4% en 2021, pero en Texas era el doble, con un 11.8%. (NicholasB/Adobe Stock)

Número de niños sin seguro disminuye en TX durante COVID, pero sigue en el puesto 50 a nivel nacional

No fue enorme, pero Texas experimentó un descenso en el número de niños sin seguro: disminuyó del 12.7% en 2019 al 11.8% el añ…

Wages for healthcare workers in the U.S., primarily women of color, are among the lowest in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. (DraganaGordic/Adobe Stock)

DOL Recovers Over $1 Million in Back Wages for TX, LA Healthcare Workers

Women of color working in health care are the most likely to lose out on wages they have earned because employers fail to pay what they owe, …

A shortage of good jobs makes the ladder to a middle-class lifestyle a steep climb for Latino workers, according to a study by the Center for American Progress. (GerdAltmann/Pixabay)

Economic Success Ladder a Harder Climb for U.S. Latinos

Hispanic and Latino workers have high employment rates in the U.S. but continue to experience a shortage of jobs paying enough to lift them into the …

Almost a million students stopped attending college or universities over the past two years, citing overwhelming stress, cost, and family obligations. (Adobe Stock)

Emotional Stress Top Reason For Higher Ed. Drop Outs

Nationally, COVID-19 has been devastating for many people pursuing higher education. Almost a million stopped attending college or universities in …

NEA Research conducted a survey of more than 1,300 public school teachers in late 2020, asking about the jobs they held in 2019, and found 41% of pre-K-12 teachers worked more than one job. (Adobee Stock)

Texas Faces Massive Teacher Shortage

Currently, there are more than 10,000 job openings to teach in Texas. The state has faced a teacher shortage for years, but it became worse during …

Average time spent working declined by 17 minutes per day from 2019 to 2020, reflecting a decrease in the share of the population that was employed. (Adobe Stock)

Texas Unemployment Numbers Continue to Dip

As the economy continues to soar in Texas, more people are moving to the state to find better job opportunities. If the job numbers are any …

One of the only bright spots in the USDA's food-price predictions for 2022 is that fresh vegetables are expected to rise in price just 1 to 2%. (Travel Photographer/Negative Space)

Along with Prices, Hunger Rises in Texas

Prices for food, gas and housing are all higher in Texas this year than last. And for local food banks, that means the need for their services is …

Three Texas counties and others in California, Florida, Indiana and New Mexico will benefit from funds designed to improve higher education and workforce systems. (StockSnap/Pixabay)

TX Groups Lean In to Expand Rural Higher Ed, Workforce Opportunities

New grant money will connect nonprofits, colleges and companies to help more rural Texans go back to college and earn a certificate or degree…

In San Antonio, only about half of high school seniors go on to college, and just 34 percent earn a degree even though 65 percent of jobs nationwide require post-high school credentials. (alamoedu)

A Community College "Promise" for Texas High Schoolers

High school students who attend college expand their future career options, and a free tuition program at five San Antonio community colleges is …

En San Antonio, solo alrededor de la mitad de los estudiantes del �ltimo a�o de la escuela secundaria van a la universidad y solo el 34 por ciento obtiene un t�tulo, aunque el 65 por ciento de los trabajos en todo el pa�s requieren credenciales posteriores a la escuela secundaria. (alamoedu)

Una "promesa" de colegio comunitario para estudiantes secundarios en Texas

Los estudiantes de secundaria que asisten a la universidad expanden sus opciones futuras profesionales. Un programa de matrícula gratuita en …

A Starbucks store in upstate New York became the coffee giant's first unionized workplace in the United States earlier this month after workers supported the move in a 19-8 vote. (LubosHouska/Pixabay)

TX Labor Groups Say Build Back Better Could Reposition Workers

The Build Back Better Act is on ice in Congress, but Texas labor leaders say reforms in the bill are needed to help shift America's focus to those …

About one in 10 births in the U.S. happens in Texas, but the state's maternal mortality rate is 6% higher than the U.S. rate overall. (regina_zulauf/Pixabay)

Build Back Better Would Close Gap in TX Kids' Health Coverage

HOUSTON -- Children's advocates say the difficulty in providing health coverage for poor families in Texas could be largely solved if the Build Back B…

Entrepreneur and business magnate Elon Musk, who moved to Texas in 2020, is the world's richest person with an estimated worth of $287 billion. (Tumisu/Pixabay)

Survey: Taxing Billionaires Popular Across Political Parties

AUSTIN, Texas -- Nearly seven in ten Americans say billionaires are not paying their fair share in taxes, according to a new survey. Among likely …

Under the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, employers would be required to notify all new employees of their rights under the National Labor Rights Act, and post those rights where employees congregate. (ufcw.org)

Unions Push for PRO Act Provisions in Reconciliation Bill

HOUSTON -- Even before last year's election, President Joe Biden expressed his support for unions. Now it is up to Congress to decide if laws …

A student loan waiver announced this week will bring more than 550,000 borrowers closer to loan forgiveness, according to the U.S. Department of Education. (OTheFool/Pixabay)

Are You Eligible for Revamped Student-Loan Forgiveness Program?

AUSTIN, Texas -- Hundreds of thousands of teachers, nurses, social workers, military officers and others in public service can breathe a sigh of …

The odds of underemployment for Black immigrants are 54% higher than their white counterparts, and 40% higher for Hispanic and Latino workers, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Pexels/Pixabay)

$40 Billion in Wages Lost Every Year: Doctors, Lawyers, Trained-Immigrants “Brain Waste” in US

HOUSTON, Texas -- More than 20% of college-educated immigrants in the U.S., or two million people, are either unemployed or underemployed, according …

In addition to voter-suppression laws and anti-LGBTQ measures, laws to restrict women's reproductive health have being introduced in unprecedented numbers in 2021. (womenshealth.gov)

Study: Reproductive Restrictions Damage Working Women, State Economies

AUSTIN, Texas - Access to birth control has been responsible for one third of women's wage gains since the 1960s, and restrictions on reproductive …

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TX: Livable Wages/Working Families