Texas
Texas Republicans’ long-sought ‘trigger law’ on abortion now in effect
Posted on · The law makes it a second-degree felony “for a person who knowingly performs, induces, or attempts an abortion” according to the bill analysis.
Energy & Environment
ERCOT urges power plants to stay online with high demand for electricity expected this weekend
Posted on · Texas’ electric grid operator is requesting power plants postpone scheduled maintenance to ensure they’re online to meet surging demand during an exceptionally warm weekend.
Education News
Texas teacher salaries largely lag behind the national average
Posted on · The National Education Association continues to search for salaries for new teachers, while in Texas the pay for experienced educators is stagnant.
Health & Science
Experts warn residents with backyard chickens as a new bird flu hits Texas
Posted on · State and federal agencies have confirmed Texas’ first case of a “highly pathogenic” avian influenza, but commercial egg and poultry operations have so far avoided outbreaks and widespread losses seen in other regions.
Health & Science
Texas’ chief epidemiologist hopeful as COVID-19 hospitalizations fall to 2-year low
Posted on · Texas’ Chief State Epidemiologist says nearly 99% of the state population has developed at least some immune response to COVID-19. However, other public health experts caution the virus can be unpredictable.
Business
Dallas Fed says wage growth for manufacturing workers reached record high in March
Posted on · The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reports March marked another month of solid growth in Texas’ manufacturing and service sectors despite rising costs and supply chain disruptions.
Health & Science
State epidemiologist says omicron surge is beginning to peak in Texas but hospitals remain strained
Posted on · Texas public health officials say the state’s largest wave to date of COVID-19 infections appears to have peaked with the seven-day average for new confirmed cases trending downward since last week.
Politics
Texas voter registration for the March primaries ends Jan. 31
Posted on · The last day for Texans to register to vote in the March 1 primary election is fast approaching. Seven statewide seats are up for election, in addition to races for the Texas Legislature, Congress, the State Board of Education and judicial positions.
Politics
New Texas law restricts transgender students’ participation in school sports
Posted on · Transgender students are prohibited from playing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity under legislation taking effect Tuesday.
Health & Science
UT researchers warn COVID hospitalizations will surge beyond previous high
Posted on · Texas’ healthcare system will see the largest surge in coronavirus patients since the onset of the pandemic, according to the University of Texas at Austin COVID-19 Modeling Consortium.
Politics
Texas mayors urge U.S. Senate to pass federal voting rights legislation
Posted on · The U.S. Conference of Mayors is urging the Senate to approve voting rights legislation to override new restrictions imposed by Texas and other Republican-led states.
Politics
Texas landlords will have to disclose flood risk to renters. That’s one of 23 new laws going into effect Jan. 1
Posted on · Other new laws include transparency for long-term care facilities and trademark protections for restaurants.
Health & Science
UT researchers predict the pandemic surge driven by the omicron variant will peak in Texas by mid-January
Posted on · University of Texas at Austin researchers project a statewide surge in coronavirus cases over the next few weeks will outpace the nation as a whole.
Astroworld
Travis Scott lays blame on production staff in first interview since Astroworld disaster
Posted on · Travis Scott says he was unaware of the deaths and injuries during his Astroworld Festival concert and blames production professionals for not stopping the show.
Health & Science
Texas steps up omicron tracking as first case surfaces in Harris County
Posted on · State health officials say they've anticipated the variant's arrival since it was first identified last month.