Public News Service

A healthy, safe and secure working environment is one of five top issues teachers in Texas say they're concerned about. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

TX teachers not discouraged by current political climate

Teachers nationwide say safety issues and politics can sometimes make it harder for them to do their jobs. A safe and secure workplace is one of 10 …

Un ambiente de trabajo saludable, seguro y protegido es uno de los cinco principales temas que preocupan a los maestros en Texas. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

Maestros de TX no se desaniman por el clima político actual

Los docentes de todo el país dicen que las cuestiones de seguridad y la política a veces pueden dificultarles el desempeño de su trabaj…

Income, location and trust issues can contribute to health disparities in the Latinx community. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX nonprofits address health disparities in Latino community

Nonprofits across Texas are coming together to address disparities in health care for the Latinx community. A report by the Commonwealth Fund shows …

Community health workers provide a trust-based relational framework for addressing nonmedical health drivers of health and connecting families to medical resources and social services. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Central Texas nonprofit addresses health inequities for new moms

A program in Georgetown, in Williamson County, is working to improve health outcomes for low-income residents by helping them gain access to …

Texas educators said they want democratic representation and a voice in decision-making as-well-as professional training and development. (shootsroom/Adobe Stock)

TX educators prepare for upcoming legislative session

Texas educators spent the summer in meetings and workshops devising a playbook for the upcoming Texas legislative session. The Educator's Bill of …

Loss of chemotherapy services can signal other gaps in cancer care, such as a shortage of local specialty physicians and nurses. (N Hiraman/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Rural TX cancer patients face chemotherapy deserts

By Charlotte Huff for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Col…

The story of the Blackwell School is one of

National Park Service to preserve painful history in Texas

A schoolhouse in far West Texas has been designated as a unit of the U.S. National Park System. The Blackwell School is a former de facto segregated …

Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking before the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers in Houston, revved up the crowd by chanting

Harris addresses educators at national convention in Houston

Thousands of teachers, support staff, school nurses and bus drivers heard from Vice President Kamala Harris> on Thursday at their convention in …

More than 3,500 delegates from across the country are attending the American Federation of Teachers national convention. (kasto/Adobe Stock)

Teachers rally at national convention in Houston

School teachers and staff members, nurses and health care workers from around the nation are meeting in Houston this week for the American Federation …

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten will deliver her 'State of the Union' keynote address on Monday, July 22. (dragonstock/Adobe Stock}

Thousands of teachers expected in TX for their annual convention

Thousands of educators from across the nation will be in Houston starting this weekend for the American Federation of Teachers annual convention…

Organizers say the Swingman Classic is the closest a modern-day fan can get to the historic Negro Leagues. (Danny Hooks/Adobe Stock)

HBCU students highlighted during MLB All-Star Week in TX

Major League Baseball's All-Star week kicks off tonight at Globe Life Field in Arlington with the Swingman Classic featuring 50 student athletes from …

Among 3- and 4-year-olds in Texas, 58% are not in school. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Texas remains near bottom in kids well-being

Texas is near the bottom in this year's annual Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book, which studies trends in child well-being. The report …

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up almost 6% of the Texas population. Texas ranks third among all states with the largest AAPI population, after California and New York. (Trueffelpix/Adobe Stock)

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in TX face health disparities

Almost half of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who live in Texas are skipping routine healthcare because of cost, according to a survey by …

The five states included in the Gulf Coast Resilience Network are Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Child care centers along the TX coast prep for hurricane season

The advocacy group Save the Children is working with child care providers along the Texas coast ahead of the upcoming hurricane season. The …

Families say they agreed to the settlement with Uvalde because they did not want to bankrupt the city. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Remembering the Uvalde mass shooting; two years ago today

Two years ago today, a teenager killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. The families of those shot and killed have …

Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study is the only one providing local-level estimates of food insecurity and costs for every county and congressional district. (disha1980/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas tops nation in food insecurity

Texas leads the nation in food insecurity. According to the latest "Map the Meal Gap" study, from Feeding America, nearly 5 million people in the …

National Teacher Appreciation Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984, when it was moved to May. (Perry Correll/Adobe Stock)

It's Teacher Appreciation Week 2024

The first week of May is designated as Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States. The push to honor teachers started in 1953 when First Lady …

Texas, Florida, Georgia and California have seen the largest declines in numbers of children enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP. Together, the four states account for half of the total national decrease in children insured in these programs. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

More than 1 million TX children disenrolled from Medicaid, CHIP

More than one million children in Texas no longer have health insurance through Medicaid, despite being eligible for coverage, according to a new …

Texas, Florida, Georgia y California registraron los mayores descensos en el n�mero de ni�os inscritos en Medicaid/CHIP. Los cuatro estados representan la mitad de la disminuci�n total nacional de ni�os asegurados en estos programas. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

Más de 1 millón de niños de TX dados de baja de Medicaid/CHIP

Más de un millón de niños en Texas ya no tienen seguro médico a través de Medicaid, a pesar de ser elegibles para la …

Among his recommendations for the coming legislative session, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking lawmakers to make recommendations about school safety and

TX educators react to Lt. Gov. priorities for next legislative session

Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick has released 57 "interim charges," the topics he wants Senate committees to study in preparation for the 89th …

Migrants are put on buses from Texas to other states, often without knowing where they are going. (afishman64/Adobe Stock)

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing …

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)

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 …

By 2031, good jobs accessible to people with only a high school education will represent just 6% of all jobs. (bodnarphoto/Adobe Stock)

TX leaders work to improve job opportunities for rural students

Work is being done in rural areas across Texas to make sure students are prepared for the workforce even if they intend to stay put after graduation…

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 National Center for Education Statistics reports that 43% of public school students attend schools where a majority of them are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (Adobe Stock)

Texas food bank, schools team up to help needy families

To reach more hungry families, one Texas nonprofit is setting up mini food markets in schools. The Tarrant Area Food Bank in North Texas provides 60…

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will carve a narrow path of totality across 13 U.S. states, including Texas. (Rob Goebel/AdobeStock)

'Umbraphiles' plan Texas trip to view total solar eclipse

In less than a month from today, thousands of eclipse-chasers will travel to Texas for a dimming of the sun. And one city is making the most of the …

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 …

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…

Dentists say daily flossing is key for avoiding the development and progression of periodontal disease. (NewAfrica/Adobestock)

Dentists: Good oral hygiene, heathy diet prevent most tooth decay

Like the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," good dental habits developed by children early in life can keep cavities at bay and prevent …

The National PTA says setting boundaries and monitoring children's screen time is a responsibility, not an intrusion. (DimaBerlin/AdobeStock)

PTA urges parents, caregivers to participate in 'Safer Internet Day'

Most adults know it is dangerous to provide personal information online but children may not, and today's "Safer Internet Day" is meant to raise …

A new report shows most states have increased their performance expectations for public schools in the past 15 years, but also reduced funding. (Victor/Adobe Stock)

Persistent state budget cuts create inadequate funding for TX schools

A new report shows persistent state budget cuts in 80% of U.S. states -- including Texas -- deprive public schools of the funding they experienced …

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…

As of August 2021, there were more than 28,000 children in foster care in Texas and almost 6,000 children waiting for adoptive families. (Alexis Scholtz/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

How adopting children changed the lives of two Texas women

When a Texas woman began her six-year journey to adopt, she hoped to affect one child's life. Felicia Lewis, an adoptive parent, is now making a …

Lawmakers in several states, including Texas, continue attempts to subsidize private school tuition with taxpayer dollars through voucher programs. (Austockphoto/Adobe Stock)

Battle over school vouchers lingers in Lone Star State

A top legislative priority for Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott did not get across the finish line last Friday, despite a fourth special session called this …

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 …

Studies show math and reading scores are higher in schools staffed with full-time certified librarians. (CulturaAllies/Adobe Stock)

Librarians often 'unsung heroes' at Texas schools

Starting in the early years and continuing through 12th grade, it's often the school librarian students know best - seeking them out for help with …

Among all tobacco products, youths perceived e-cigarettes to be the least harmful, according to the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey. yta/AdobeStock)

CDC: mixed success on tobacco reduction among school kids

Cigarettes may not appeal to America's youth like they did in the 1960s, but a significant number still experiment with e-cigarettes. The Centers …

Texas is among 17 states with the lowest public school spending per student, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Texas Senate makes school vouchers its priority in education funding

Public schoolteachers in Texas say the state desperately needs to boost its overall investment in students and education programs. Instead, lawmakers …

In 2023, 566 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states including 65 in Texas, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. (inkdrop/AdobeStock)

TX High Court Not Persuaded to Protect Transgender Health Care

Texas has adopted some of the strictest gender-affirming transgender restrictions in the nation. And the leader of a trans advocacy group says it has …

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…

El n�mero total de estadounidenses sin seguro m�dico cay� a un m�nimo hist�rico en los primeros tres meses de 2023, un n�mero que se espera que aumente a medida que las listas de Medicaid son purgadas despu�s de la pandemia. (NewAfrica/AdobeStock)

Tejanos navegan purga de Medicaid post-pandémica

Se está llevando a cabo una purga a nivel nacional de las listas de Medicaid después de una pausa de tres años durante la pandemia…

Almost 500,000 reports of suspected child maltreatment were called into the Texas state abuse hotline in 2022, with 166,000 cases investigated, resulting in 9,600 children being removed from their homes. (IdeaBug, Inc./AdobeStock)

New Texas Law Favors Parents in Child Abuse Investigations

Texas parents under investigation for child abuse by the state will be informed of their rights before their children are removed from the family's ho…

Families of at least 3.7 million Texas children would have been eligible for summer federal food assistance that the state declined to pursue. (highwaystarz/Adobe Stock)

Texas Families Lose Out on Summer Food Assistance

Many Texas families are still struggling financially post-COVID. Nonetheless, the state turned down millions of dollars in federal aid for summer …

Nearly 30,000 Texas minors would be affected by legislation banning transgender youth health care, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Filed Over TX Law Banning Health Care for Transgender Youth

Families and medical providers announced a lawsuit against the State of Texas on Thursday over new legislation that bans gender-affirming medical care…

The average cost of center-based child care for a toddler in 2021 was nearly $9,000 in Texas, which is 9% of the median income of a couple and 28% of a single parent's income, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Lament 'Missed Opportunities' by TX Lawmakers

A child advocacy group in Texas is already looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session, after several policy changes it supported this year failed …

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 …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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TX: Children's