Houston ISD announced state-funded teacher raises based on performance evaluations for the 2025-2026 school year, diverging from regional norms of experience-based increments. This move, tied to HB 2 funding, received mixed reactions, including union pushback, underscoring a shift in compensation policies.
Nearly 6 million Texans are set to travel for the Fourth of July holiday, reaching record numbers. With the majority taking to the roads, authorities prepare for increased traffic across the state.
A Fort Worth apartment complex fire displaced 834 individuals. The six-alarm fire, possibly linked to an electrical anomaly, remains under investigation. Authorities and the community support affected residents with ongoing relief efforts.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 3070, dismantling the Texas Lottery Commission and imposing new restrictions, including criminalizing online lottery ticket sales through couriers. The Texas Lottery will be managed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation until 2029.
Texas lawmakers pass SB 22, significantly boosting the state’s film and TV production industry with increased funding and revised compensation guidelines to attract more productions. Governor Abbott’s approval is pending.
Texas’ new ICE law mandates sheriffs to enter agreements with ICE, enforcing federal immigration warrants in local jails. This legislation aims to expand the 287(g) program and enhance local enforcement capabilities.
Shaquille O’Neal considers moving to North Texas as “Inside the NBA” shifts to ESPN. O’Neal’s decision is influenced by business ventures and personal affinity for the area.
The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a bill to expand Big Bend National Park by 6,100 acres, enhancing conservation efforts near Terlingua Creek. This proposal, focused on ethical land acquisition, reflects bipartisan support for preserving Texas’s natural beauty.
Houston Independent School District is actively holding job fairs at Delmar Fieldhouse to fill more than 350 teacher vacancies before the new school year. With events scheduled on June 28, July 12, and July 26, the district is focused on recruiting qualified candidates to join its workforce. These efforts are part of HISD’s strategy to ensure a fully staffed faculty, maintaining quality education standards and minimizing disruptions when the school year begins.
Texans invited to vote on a new design for the horned lizard license plate, marking 25 years of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s conservation plate program. Funds from plate sales support state conservation projects.