Health & Science

As Texas moves to treat gender-affirming care for trans kids as ‘child abuse,’ families and advocates worry about the future

Posted on · Families of transgender kids and LGBTQ advocates have raised concerns about the well-being of children after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to treat gender-affirming care as child abuse.

Politics

Texas Foster Care Children Exposed To Sexual Abuse, Given Wrong Medication And Neglected In Unlicensed Placements, New Report Says

Posted on · The federal judge overseeing the decadelong lawsuit against Texas for conditions in its foster care system cut this week’s hearing short. She proposed all parties involved, including the governor, “cut to the chase” to identify solutions.

Houston Matters

What’s Next for the State’s Foster Care System?

Posted on · In March, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied an attempt by the State of Texas to pause a revamp of its foster care system. The court appointed two Special Masters to oversee the system revamp. Francis McGovern and Kevin Ryan began their appointed positions in April. Then, earlier this month, the Special Masters […]

Full Show

Revamping Foster Care and Building Better Suburbs: Wednesday’s Show (November 30, 2016)

Posted on · In March, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied an attempt by the State of Texas to pause a revamp of its foster care system. The court appointed two Special Masters to oversee the system revamp. Francis McGovern and Kevin Ryan began their appointed positions in April. Then, earlier this month, the Special Masters […]

Houston Matters

Foster Care Numbers are Dropping in Harris County — Is That Good or Bad News?

Posted on · While the number of children in foster care has increased nationwide in the last five years — and the population of Harris County has increased since 2010 — the number of kids in foster care in the county over that time has dropped annually, based on the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count data and […]

Houston Matters

State Agencies Release Joint Report on Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities

Posted on · Two state agencies have collaborated together to create a report examining child abuse and neglect fatalities in Texas. Researchers with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services used public health information from the Department of State Health Services to examine nearly 700 cases in which a child died from abuse or neglect from 2010 […]

Houston Matters

Ted Cruz and the No Bid Contracts

Posted on · Houston Senator Ted Cruz officially announced he will be running for president in 2016 via his twitter account after midnight on Monday, March 23rd. That makes him the first of the potential candidates to do so. He reaffirmed his intent at a press conference at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia on Monday morning. We’ll discuss […]