Extended Unemployment Benefits Will End in September
The Texas Workforce Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Labor notified the commission that the state’s unemployment rate fell below the threshold needed to continue the benefits.
Texas Supreme Court Blocks Mask Mandate for San Antonio Schools
The state’s highest civil court put the mandate by officials in San Antonio and Bexar County on pause, overriding a ruling a week ago by the 4th Court of Appeals.
Texas Extends Pandemic Benefits for Families
Texas families with students relying on free or reduced-cost meals are eligible for a $375 payment in food aid. Families have until Sept. 13 to apply for aid from the 2020-21 school year.
US Court of Appeals to Uphold Ban on Live-Dismemberment Abortions
In a 9-5 decision, the court reversed the district court’s previous judgment.
Paxton Successfully Sues Vaccine-Mandating School District
The next day, the District’s superintendent issued a District-wide “clarification”, saying that he “will not compel any staff members to be vaccinated until the vaccines are fully approved by the FDA.”
Gov. Greg Abbott tests positive for COVID-19
Abbott, who is fully vaccinated, is not experiencing any symptoms and is isolating at the Governor's Mansion.
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Deaths Continue to Climb in Texas
Last year, 731 people died in pedestrian-related crashes, an increase of 9% from 2019.
Fort Bliss Could Receive Thousands of Afghan Refugees
The Taliban has taken control of Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city, which led to a crush of civilians at the Kabul airport desperate to leave the country on Monday.
Austin Struggling to Find Places for the Homeless
After weeks of educating people about the ban that voters approved in May, police are allowed to start arresting violators this week as the city tries to find more housing.
Texas Foster Care Crisis Worsens
Increased oversight and lack of funding mean hundreds of children spend their nights in hotels and churches and on office floors.
Lone Star State’s Jobs Surge
Texas employers added 55,800 jobs over the month, marking job growth in 13 of the last 14 months, as the unemployment rate dropped to 6.5 percent.
$26 Million for the State of Texas Recovered
An enforcement action against pharmaceutical manufacturer Apotex for reporting inflated drug prices to the Texas Medicaid program.
Public Health Immigration Laws: Texas Goes Head-to-Head with the Feds
President Biden abandoned significant portions of Title 42 (and other related federal immigration laws), resulting in an explosion of illegal immigration at the border.
Voting Bills advance in Texas House
Authors of the legislation are moving to ban drive-thru and 24-hour voting options, enhance access for partisan poll watchers and prohibit local election officials from proactively distributing applications to request mail-in ballots.
Abbott Tells Electricity Regulators to Encourage Building Power Plants
The governor did not include many specifics about how regulators should carry out his requests to improve the state's main power grid.
Texas First State to Penalize Buying Sex with a Felony Charge
HB 1540, the Human Trafficking Prevention Taskforce’s bill creates a separate offense for buying sex.
Standardized Test Scores Dropped Dramatically
The drop was more significant in districts that had most of their instruction online, compared to districts with more in-person classes.
Academy Sports Chain Can't be Sued for Selling Gun Used in Shooting
The gunman should not have been able to purchase an assault style rifle, but the store conducted the required federal background check, which didn't reveal his past assault conviction, the court said.
Texas Constitutional Carry Takes Effect September 1, 2021
Under the new law, Texans will longer need that licensing to carry a handgun. However, a background check is still required for the purchase of a firearm.