Texas News & Current Events | Public News Service

"Your Shot Texas" is a statewide pooled COVID-19 vaccination fund designed to reach people of color and under-resourced rural and urban communities. (news.calpers.ca.gov)

Monday, September 27, 2021

TX Health Workers Target ZIP Codes to Tackle Lagging Vaccination Rates

HOUSTON - Door-to-door and "ZIP-code-by-ZIP-code" is how some COVID-19 health workers in Texas are reaching the vaccine-hesitant. The "Your Shot …

As deaths from COVID-19 approach 700,000 in the U.S., some families have endured multiple losses, including parents, children and siblings. (photosforyou/Pixabay)

Friday, September 24, 2021

Scammers Cheating COVID Victims Out of FEMA Funeral Funds

AUSTIN, Texas -- Many people are not aware the Federal Emergency Management Agency has a program to reimburse funeral expenses up to $9,000 dollars …

A new survey finds the nation's community colleges educate more people than coding boot camps, apprenticeship programs and government job training combined. (trapezemike/Pixabay)

Survey: Community College Workforce Programs Prove Popular

AUSTIN, Texas - A new national survey of community and technical colleges highlights the importance of job-focused education and training. It finds …

In 2018, there were an estimated 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. (TheHilaryClark/Pixabay)

PFAS: A Plague for Humans, Especially Firefighters

DALLAS -- Lawmakers and regulators are increasingly mobilizing behind efforts to crack down on so-called "forever chemicals" known as Perfluorinated a…

In the first five months of 2021, five governors signed bills banning transgender individuals from sports in some capacity. (geralt/Pixabay)

TX Governor to Try Again to Ban Transgender Student Athletes

AUSTIN, Texas - As part of a special session called by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, legislators will try again next week to pass a bill requiring …

The Muslim community in Austin will participate in the Sept. 11 "National Day of Service and Remembrance" by feeding the hungry and offering free COVID-19 shots. (Ronile/Pixabay)

TX Muslims Engage Community With Vaccines, Hot Food to Mark 9/11

AUSTIN, Texas -- Tomorrow marks 20 years since the fateful events of 9/11, with followers of Islam reflecting on progress in the treatment of …

The latest report by the world's top climate scientists confirms less than a decade remains to dramatically cut greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic impacts, such as those inflicted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. (andrewtheshrew/Pixabay)

Report: Media Complacent in Not Linking Extreme Weather, Climate Change

AUSTIN, Texas -- New research suggests the nation's most trusted news sources are dropping the ball when it comes to helping voters in Texas and …

Texas has enacted 26 abortion restrictions in the past decade, including the recent six-week abortion ban and a ban on all abortions that would go into effect if Roe v. Wade was overturned. (MarkThomas/Pixabay)<br /><br /> — Texas has enacted 26 abortion restrictions in the past decade, including the recent six-week abortion ban and a ban on all abortions that would go into effect if Roe v. Wade was overturned. (MarkThomas/Pixabay)

Supreme Court Bows Out, White House Wades into TX Abortion Battle

AUSTIN, Texas -- President Joe Biden stepped into the abortion battle in Texas Thursday, tasking federal agencies to see what steps can be taken to…

Starting today, Texas is the most populous state among two dozen that allow residents to carry an unregulated handgun. (skotselby/Pixabay)

Texas Becomes Most Populous State with Permitless Gun-Carry Law

AUSTIN, Texas - Texans age 21 and older can carry handguns without a license or training starting today, despite opposition from instructors who …

Burnout among college students rose from 40% to 70% from August 2020 to April 2021, according to at study by The Ohio State University. (Engin-Akyurt/Pixabay)

Texas A&M Students Use Wearables to Track Stress, Mental Health

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The pandemic upended normal college life causing mental-health challenges that are now being studied at Texas A&M University …

Advocates for children say they need more support this school year after a study by McKinsey Global Institute shows the pandemic led more high school students to drop out of school. (Sofia_Shultz_Photography/Pixabay)

Kick-Starting TX School Performance Amid COVID-19 Redux

AUSTIN, Texas -- Starting the school year off on the right foot has probably never been more important as Texas kids return to classrooms. New …

Based on its 2020 census data growth, Texas will be one of six states to gain Congressional seats, and the only state to get more than one. (dixoncain/Pixabay)

2020 Census Data Puts Spotlight on Texas' Growing Suburbs

AUSTIN, Texas -- Many states have implemented independent commissions to oversee redistricting based on the 2020 Census count, but Texas is not one …

There are 818 bridges in poor condition in Texas, according to a Biden administration report on the country's infrastructure. (heiyeuiu/Pixabay)

How Much Will Infrastructure Bill Benefit Texans?

DALLAS, Texas - As the largest investment in the country's infrastructure inches forward, Texas stands to benefit considerably from new jobs and …

The U.S. Justice Department says Texas is attempting to unlawfully create its own "immigration regime" by restricting the transport of migrants. (127071/Pixabay)

Texas Order Restricting Migrant Travel Returns to Court

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso will be the site of a court hearing tomorrow over Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's order barring transportation of migrants…

Americans who miss the Aug. 15 special enrollment deadline to obtain health coverage through the Affordable Care Act will need to wait until Nov. 1 for another chance to apply. (aarp.org)

Deadline Approaches for Special ACA Health-Insurance Enrollment

AUSTIN, Texas - One week remains before the window closes for Texans to take advantage of a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act…

The pandemic year of 2020 saw at least a 27% drop in kids' doctor visits, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. (Ben_Kerckx/Pixabay)

COVID, Lockdowns Cited as Cause for Reduced Childhood Vaccinations

AUSTIN, Texas -- Many of us lost track of days and months during the pandemic, and that may be why some parents skipped their kids' well-child visits …

Texas is home to the Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, one of only seven centers in the United States and 168 worldwide based on a United Nations program to develop global sustainability goals. (anncapictures/Pixabay)

Connecting Texas' Sustainability Goals, Nationally and Beyond

ARLINGTON, Texas - Three Texas cities are taking part in a challenge this year to create Sustainable Development Goals that help eliminate poverty…

Juvenile justice has its origins in the adult criminal-justice system, and can create similar racial injustices. (yos.org)

Texas Juvenile-Justice Racial Gap Improves, But Slowly

AUSTIN, Texas -- When kids get in trouble with the law, it is far more likely they'll be incarcerated if they're Black or brown, and that has created …

A new pilot program in Texas is teaching college students about the agriculture industry and career options they might not otherwise have considered. (ionlfox/Pixabay)

TX Farm Bureau Recruits College Students for Pilot Program

AMARILLO, Texas - The American Farm Bureau Federation hosts more than 100 college level chapters across 35 states, but this is the first time its …

The 2017 4th National Climate Assessment project concluded that, for the 83% of Americans who live in cities, the experience of extreme heat can vary across neighborhoods by as much as 20 degrees. (avMachine713/Pixabay)

Houston Site of Study on Extreme Heat Risk in Coastal Communities

HOUSTON - Cities in the southern United States, especially large urban communities along the coasts, are facing extreme heat attributable to climate …

Homebound seniors who are not tech-savvy can be difficult to reach with information about the COVID-19 vaccine. (jcfrog/Pixabay)

"Your Shot Texas" Boosts Vaccinations with Nonprofit Grant Money

AUSTIN, Texas -- "Your Shot Texas" is set to give additional nonprofit, community-based organizations money for programs that increase access to …

Senior champion Jeff Salter, age 50, says riding an e-bike illustrates that people can do more with a little assistance than they can alone. (Veronica Yankowski)

Amarillo By Morning: Cyclist Raises Awareness, Money for Seniors

SAN ANTONIO -- The 65-and-older population has grown by over one-third in the past decade, which prompted a Texas man to take a cross-country bike …

Ahead of today's meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Joe Biden received a letter from 130 organizations calling on him to press the German leader about a patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccine production in developing nations. (12019/Pixabay)

Texas Trade Group Joins Demonstrations Over Global Vaccine Production

AUSTIN, Texas - As German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with President Joe Biden today, demonstrations by trade groups are scheduled in various …

Republican-controlled states including Florida, Georgia and Iowa passed restrictive new voting laws based on disproven charges by former President Donald Trump there was fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost by more than 7 million votes. (kbhall17/Pixabay)

TX Democrats Aim to Stop Voter Restrictions by Leaving Town

AUSTIN, Texas -- A majority of Democrats in the Texas House exited the state Monday in an attempt to block Republicans from passing new laws to …

As part of Latino Conservation Week, July 17-25, sites that embody the architectural, cultural and deep historical roots of the Latino community have been identified for preservation, including the Castner Range in Texas. (digie.org)

Report Identifies 2 Latino Heritage Sites in Texas Needing Protection

EL PASO, Texas -- A group that advocates for environmental issues affecting Latinos is recommending a more inclusive approach in the designation of …

Research has shown that youths in the adult criminal justice system are 34% more likely to be arrested again than those convicted of similar offenses in juvenile court. (nicolagiordano/Pixabay)

Push Continues in Texas to "Raise the Age" for Juvenile Offenders

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas is one of only three states to automatically treat 17-year-olds as adults when they are arrested, and the Texas Criminal …

A special session of the Texas Legislature begins Thurs., July 8, where work is expected to resume on a voting restriction bill that died in the final hours of the regular legislative session after House Democrats walked out of the chamber. (conolan/Pixabay)<br /> — A special session of the Texas Legislature begins Thurs., July 8, where work is expected to resume on a voting restriction bill that died in the final hours of the regular legislative session after House Democrats walked out of the chamber. (conolan/Pixabay)

Is Profit Motive Behind 2020 Presidential Election Disinformation?

AUSTIN, Texas -- Critics of the post-election presidential audits ongoing in Arizona and threatened in Pennsylvania advised to discern the truth…

Military veterans are fighting back against what they call anti-democratic, far-right extremism by forming groups such as Veterans for Responsible Leadership and We the Veterans. (Fire FX/Pixbay)

Veterans Fear Far-Right Group Membership Threatens Democracy

AUSTIN, Texas -- Veterans across the aisle are concerned about what they call recent attacks on democracy by far-right organizations. Yesterday…

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 …

Vice President Kamala Harris addresses immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso today, one week ahead of a promised visit by former President Donald Trump. (famouspeople.wiki)

VP Harris Visits El Paso Today in First U.S.-Mexico Border Trip

EL PASO, Texas -- Vice President Kamala Harris visits the southern border for the first time today as the Biden administration aims to stem the flow …

Amid a recent spike in temperature, Texas residents were asked to set their thermostats higher, turn off lights and avoid using larger appliances to protect the power grid. (926663/Pixabay)

Texans Face Hot Summer, Fragile Power Grid

AUSTIN, Texas - Some areas of Texas already have approached triple-digit temperatures this month, and there's concern older adults could face grave …

States such as Texas that chose not to expand Medicaid in recent years saw uninsured rates for young children grow almost three times as fast as states that did expand Medicaid, according to Every Texan. (badski007Pixabay)

Texas Ranks Last Among 50 States for Kids With Health Insurance

AUSTIN, Texas -- One million, or 13%, of Texas children went without health insurance in 2019, a significantly higher number than the national …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

Dallas -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both the US …

Only 48% of Texans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of last week, compared with 71% in Vermont, according to the New York Times tracker. (susannp4/Pixabay)

Cruise Ships and COVID: Know Before You Go

HOUSTON -- To vaccinate or not to vaccinate is a pending dilemma for passengers expecting to be welcomed aboard a cruise ship as the industry prepares…

To fulfill President Donald Trump's promised U.S.-Mexico border wall, the administration waived requirements for environmental reviews and mediation. (wikipedia)

Biden Promises Environmental Damage Review of Trump's Border Wall

EL PASO, Texas -- The Biden administration has promised to conduct a damage assessment after announcing that billions diverted for construction of …

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new drug to treat the disease. (Alterfines/Pixabay)

Texas Researcher Puzzled Over New Alzheimer’s Drug Approval

HOUSTON -- News this week about a breakthrough treatment for Alzheimer's disease is getting mixed reactions from some researchers, including in Texas…

Castner Range, outside of El Paso, contains petroglyphs, remnants of failed tin-mining operations and small stone structures and pottery, according to the El Paso Community Foundation and Franklin Mountain Wilderness Coalition. (riograndesierraclub.org)

Conservationists Promote TX Castner Range for National Monument Status

AUSTIN, Texas -- West Texans who support the Biden administration's commitment to conserve 30% of the nation's lands, waters and ocean by 2030 want …

San Antonio College, part of the Alamo College District, was chosen from among the nation's 1,000 community colleges to receive the 2021 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. (alamo.edu)

Texas Community Colleges Rewarded for Excellence

AUSTIN, Texas -- San Antonio College (SAC) is the 2021 recipient of what's been called the "Oscars" for outstanding achievement by a community …

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 …

Legislation to improve Texas' power grid and avoid blackouts, such as the one in February due to an unexpected winter storm, must reach Gov. Greg Abbott's desk by Sunday. (Mirko Delcaldo/FreeImages.com)

Texas Power-Grid Reform Takes Backseat to Other Priorities

AUSTIN, Texas - With days remaining for Texas lawmakers to pass legislation to avoid future statewide blackouts like the one that occurred in …

The smoking rate for Texans older than age 65 climbed from 6.7% to 10.9% between 2017 and 2019, according to a new report. (thomaasheise/Pixabay)<br /> — The smoking rate for Texans older than age 65 climbed from 6.7% to 10.9% between 2017 and 2019, according to a new report. (thomaasheise/Pixabay)

Older Texans Say They're Exercising, But Also Smoking More

AUSTIN, Texas - Many folks have acknowledged dealing with more anxiety since the pandemic hit. But even before that, seniors were experiencing …

Women earn more than 57% of undergraduate degrees and 59% of all master's degrees, according to the Center for American Progress. (nawbo.org)

Study: Women Officeholders Stuck at 30%, Locally and Nationally

AUSTIN, Texas -- At 51%, women constitute a majority of the U.S. population, but when it comes to holding political office, they account for only 30% …

Opponents of a bill before Texas lawmakers say it potentially could prohibit school teachers from discussing the Black Lives Matter movement. (education.msu.edu)

TX Educators: State's Future is Diversity, Not Conformity

AUSTIN, Texas -- When Michael Hinojosa was a government teacher, he encouraged students to read and study various sources from multiple perspectives…

Many states, including Texas, have passed laws banning surprise medical billing but have omitted ambulance companies from the rules. (artisticoperations/Pixabay)

State Could Do More to Protect Texans from Surprise Medical Bills

AUSTIN, Texas - Surprise medical expenses cost Americans millions of dollars every year, and two bills under consideration by the Texas Legislature …

Scientists and naturalists expect to use information from the recent City Nature Challenge to better understand and protect the natural world. (briankushner/traveisaudubon.org)

Houston, Dallas Prove to Be Global Biodiversity Hotspots

HOUSTON - Nature lovers know thousands of native animal and plant species occur only in Texas, and participants in the City Nature Challenge set out …

Citrus crop losses in Texas were estimated at $230 million following February's freak winter storm, according to AgriLife Extension at Texas A&M. (sanantonio.org)

Rescue Plan May Reduce Hunger, But Threats Linger

AUSTIN, Texas -- Scientists expect climate change to increase extreme weather events such as the rare deep freeze that hit Texas in February…

The United States is expected to spend about $6 trillion on health care by 2027, driven in part by sick patients who go to hospital emergency rooms instead of primary-care doctors, according to UnitedHealth Group. (paulbr75/Pixabay)

Texans Report Health Care as Toughest Living Expense

HOUSTON - Texans say health care is harder to afford than such necessities as food, utilities, mortgage or rent and transportation, according to a …

An estimated 8% of Texas children, or about 541,000, suffer from asthma, according to the Texas Department of Health Services. (vitalrecordtamhsc.edu)

Congress on Track to Revive Oil, Gas Methane Emission Limits

AUSTIN, Texas -- Regulating methane emissions is seen as an important part of President Joe Biden's ambitious plans to address climate change…

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