16-year-old was blackmailing Dickinson ISD teacher over improper relationship, investigators say
Investigators say the victim threatened to expose the relationship if the Dickinson ISD teacher didn't buy him a gun and give him $2,000.
The Piney Point
Schools
Easy Back-to-School Lunches Kids Will Actually Eat, Recipes & Packing Tips
Cookbook author and food blogger Leigh Ann Chatagnier wants packing school lunches to feel easy — not stressful. From a hot demo you can replicate at home to creative cold-box ideas, Leigh Ann shares combos and packing tips that kids actually eat. Pepperoni spinach pizza roll ups...
Human remains found in field behind Houston middle school
Landscapers discovered the remains while working behind Attucks Middle School on Thursday.
Hello Houston (August 20, 2026)
Today: Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin breaks down the county’s current legal battles, we find out how a Houston high school is tackling a food desert in Sunnyside, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Ricks discusses his recent op-ed on ICE....
Galveston County law enforcement busts alleged drug operation near Texas City middle school
Among other drugs and alcohol, officials said they seized fentanyl pills, over four pounds of marijuana and 45 bottles of liquor at the Texas City home....
Back-to-school checklist: 10 things parents overlook that should be on your list
Don't forget these 10 back-to-school essentials for parents!
College students can now pay tuition with PayPal or Venmo at some universities
Some universities are now allowing students and their families to pay tuition through PayPal and Venmo. Here's what to know.
As workplace surveillance grows, experts say it's good to know the ways your employer is watching
College administrators read an adjunct professor’s comments to students on personal essays. Managers told a pharmacist to spend less time with patients after tracking the number and length of her appointments. Scanners on a warehouse conveyor belt monitored the pace of workers to...
AP reporter Christopher Bodeen, a tenacious chronicler of China's rise, dies at 55
Christopher Bodeen, a tenacious, old-school wire service reporter who brought a keen analytical eye and a wry sense of humor to decades of work in China, Taiwan and in war zones and natural disasters across the globe for The Associated Press, has died. He was 55. Bodeen died Mond...
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes penalties for schools that keep “vulgar” books on library shelves
“We’re coming for the books,” the lieutenant governor said in announcing plans to lower the performance rating of Texas schools that violate a recent law targeting obscene titles in school libraries....
Is packing your child’s school lunch really cheaper? Houston parents weigh in
For many parents, packing a lunch for their children is part of the daily back-to-school routine. But a new survey suggests it may not always be the cheaper option. According to Deloitte’s 2026 Back-to-School Survey, the average cost of a packed school lunch is now about $6.33. T...
Judge will consider new trial for Karmelo Anthony in Texas track meet killing
A judge on Thursday will consider whether to grant Texas teenager Karmelo Anthony a new trial following his murder conviction earlier this summer in the stabbing death of a 17-year-old athlete at a high school track meet. In a legal victory for Anthony, the judge who presided ove...
Teacher found dead with throat slit; detectives scrutinize husband’s shifting story
A Colorado elementary school teacher was found dead inside her home, and investigators said evidence at the home raised questions about her husband's account of what happened....
Spring ISD skirts potential takeover after making academic gains
Annual state accountability ratings show Spring ISD improved from a D-rated district to a C and dropped its number of F-rated campuses from 11 to 2 in the 2025-26 school year....
Back-to-school cyberbullying warning: What parents need to know about AI, fake accounts and altered images
As students head back to school, child safety experts are warning parents that bullying doesn’t always end when kids walk through the front door. Cyberbullying can follow children home through group chats, online games and social media — and parents may never see it happening. Kl...
Patrick to Texas school districts: 'We're coming for your books'
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued a stark warning for school districts that do not remove books that he believes are offensive.
Abbott orders review of how school districts are spending money
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the comptroller to conduct a review of how school districts are spending their money.
Harvard to pay $53M over body parts sold on black market
Harvard has agreed to a $53 million settlement over a scandal involving donated human remains stolen from its medical school morgue and sold to buyers....
Deputy tried to serve civil papers to Deion Sanders at Colorado practice, but coach was unavailable
A deputy with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office showed up at the University of Colorado campus last week to serve civil papers to Deion Sanders while the coach was at an open practice and inaccessible. The officer was informed that the Buffaloes coach was “unavailable at the ti...
Gov. Abbott proposes ban on H-1B visa use for Texas public schools during campaign stop
Some districts use the temporary work permits to fill critical teacher shortages in roles such as bilingual education.
Judge removed from Texas track meet stabbing case as defendant Karmelo Anthony seeks a new trial
The trial judge who presided over the case of Texas teenager convicted of fatally stabbing a 17-year-old athlete at a high school track meet was ordered removed from the case as the defendant seeks a new trial and appeals his conviction. Karmelo Anthony, now 19, was convicted of ...
Fort Bend County asks families to weigh in on proposed middle and high school boundary changes
Fort Bend Independent School District families are getting a closer look at proposed attendance boundary changes that could move more than 1,500 high school students depending on which plan the district ultimately selects. The district presented one draft middle school boundary s...
‘It’s already embarrassing I’m getting hit’: Port Arthur ISD student speaks on getting paddled by coach
A Port Arthur ISD student at Memorial High School alleges his coach hit him with a paddle as a disciplinary tool during football practice, raising concerns about corporal punishment in Texas schools. Noah Lopez had only been at Memorial High School in Port Arthur for about two we...
Abbott suggests banning public schools from using H-1B visas
Gov. Greg Abbott says he will push to ban Texas public school districts from employing H-1B visa holders.
70% of Texas voucher awardees previously attended private school or were homeschooled, state data shows
Seven out of every 10 students awarded money through Texas’ new school voucher program previously attended private school or were homeschooled, according to newly released state data. The Texas Comptroller’s Office reported 118,441 students had received awards through the Texas E...
Ignoring student loans could cost Texas borrowers more than they expect
For millions of Texans carrying student loan debt, ignoring the problem may seem easier than trying to navigate a rapidly changing repayment system. But student loan expert Sonia Lewis says doing nothing could leave borrowers facing damaged credit, default, collections and potent...
How the UH Mariachi Pumas continue to bring Mariachi to a new generation
The University of Houston’s Mariachi Pumas are helping keep the rich tradition of mariachi music alive on campus and throughout Houston. Led by director Jose Longoria, the group shares the history and cultural legacy of mariachi while giving students an opportunity to learn, perf...
Teen's non-profit partners with Texans quarterback for Back-to-School event
Her mission to spread joy to hurricane victims has grown to a warehouse with 20,000 toys for kids.
Colorado school district rejects controversial reading curriculum because of errors, Texas focus
The Montezuma-Cortez district in southwestern Colorado scrapped plans to use Bluebonnet materials just days into the school year. It's still using the New Education System model it adopted from Houston ISD....
Supreme Court asked to review Texas Ten Commandments in schools law
Civil rights groups are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review Texas’ law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms.
Shakira makes surprise visit in earthquake-damaged Colombia and commits to rebuilding schools
Shakira pledged to help rebuild at least 10 schools in a remote region of Colombia after a devastating earthquake.
Water main break causes outage in City of Bellaire; schools impacted
The City of Bellaire is experiencing a temporary water outage following a water main break Tuesday morning. The city says crews are working to fix the busted pipe on South Rice Avenue and Pines Street. The water line break has impacted Bellaire High School and an elementary schoo...
Penn State frat pledges were made to cut and bag cocaine for college drug ring, authorities say
Penn State fraternity pledges were made to cut and package cocaine for a drug ring that was run out of two off-campus frat houses, authorities said. The illicit initiation was revealed Monday as Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday charged 14 people — including 13 current or...
Texas Rep. Jared Patterson proposes the "Save Our Summer Act" to push school start date back to September
Rep. James Patterson of Texas is preparing a bill to push the start date of the school year past Labor Day.
Vaccination rates for US students entering kindergarten fall as exemptions climb to a new high
Vaccination rates for U.S. children entering kindergarten during the 2025-2026 school year decreased according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with vaccination exemptions hitting a record high....
Volunteers pack book bags full of school supplies for families dealing with cancer
Volunteers pack book bags full of school supplies for families dealing with cancer at the Breathing Room Foundation
Supreme Court asked to review Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments in public schools
Over two dozen Texas families represented by the ACLU and other groups petitioned the nation’s highest court to hear their challenge after the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April upheld the Texas law in a 9-8 ruling....
Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools
A Trump administration task force created to combat antisemitism pushed for settlements with Ivy League universities despite government investigations that were rushed and incomplete or that failed to establish legal violations by the schools, a former Justice Department lawyer a...
OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Teens, promising a more age-appropriate chatbot
OpenAI is launching a version of ChatGPT designed for teenagers — the first generation to grow up with artificial intelligence — who are already using it for schoolwork, questions about daily life and even companionship. The San Francisco-based company says ChatGPT for Teens, whi...
2 Newsletter: Houston braces for extreme heat. How to stay cool
Hello, Houston.☀️ It’s a new week, and I hope your students are getting settled back into school and their routine. Before we get into the breaking news of the day, let’s talk about the weather... It’s going to be HOT this week. So, if you have kiddos who have outside activities ...
Protecting Texas research focus of hearing as Abbott eyes limiting foreign influence in education
Texas lawmakers will examine Tuesday whether colleges are doing enough to protect research from foreign adversaries, while Gov. Greg Abbott plans to unveil measures aimed at limiting foreign influence in education during a campaign event later that day. The House Higher Education...
A grenade blast near a school complex in the Afghan capital wounds at least 42 children, the UN says
An explosion near a school complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul wounded at least 42 children, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The U.N. political mission in Afghanistan confirmed the injuries near the education center and said the children are between 9 and 14 years old, acc...
Some Houston ISD students at Anderson Elementary deal with A/C issues
It was only the second week of school, but some students at Anderson Elementary in Houston Independent School District were already feeling the heat — literally. Parents received notifications Monday morning about air conditioning issues at the school, prompting some to pick up t...
As high school football season approaches, the goal all over the Houston area is the same
The regular season for high school football kicks off in less than two weeks. Now, high school football teams are preparing for the Friday night lights....
Penn State drug bust: 14 charged in off-campus fraternity-based cocaine ring
Authorities charged 14 people with drug offenses tied to fraternity houses near Penn State, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday.
US school vaccination rates inch down yet again and exemptions reach record high
U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data posted Monday. The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements rose to 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before. That’s ...
Texas lawmakers push for later school start dates amid summer heat
As students across Texas return to classrooms this month, a state lawmaker is pushing for a major change to when the school year can begin. State Rep. Jared Patterson is preparing legislation that would move the start of the school year to after Labor Day, arguing that students a...
HISD school ratings (Aug. 17, 2026)
On Monday's show: We discuss the latest state school ratings and questions about reading proficiency at some HISD schools. And we mull over the reasons people, industry, and venues are moving from the core of the city outward....
2 Newsletter: It’s going to be a hot week, plan ahead
Hello, Houston.☀️ It’s a new week, and I hope your students are getting settled back into school and their routine. Before we get into the breaking news of the day, let’s talk about the weather... It’s going to be HOT this week. So, if you have kiddos who have outside activities ...
Can Austin break the costly cycle of homelessness, jail and crisis? A new program aims to do that.
Austin Current is a nonprofit local news organization supported by The Texas Tribune, reporting on Austin government, education and community. Sign up for the Current’s free newsletter here . On a hot August afternoon, Marcus Martin walked out of the Travis County Correctional Co...
‘Failure is an opportunity to grow’: Humble ISD elementary school jumps from F to B in one year
A Humble ISD elementary school is celebrating a dramatic turnaround after improving its state accountability rating from an F to a B in just one school year. Jack M. Fields Elementary posted a 24-point increase over its 2025 score—the largest year-to-year gain among Humble ISD ca...
Westwood Elementary confirms new start day after cleaning mold that delayed school year: Officials
School officials said the day they expect to welcome students back may change depending on whether professionals determine that the campus is safe for students and staff....
Gov. Greg Abbott proposes further limiting screen time in K-12 classrooms
The proposal, which would have to be passed by the Legislature, follows a ban on cellphone use in K-12 schools approved by lawmakers last year.
Rice University welcomes largest incoming undergraduate class in school history
Rice University is welcoming its largest-ever incoming undergraduate class Sunday, as more than 1,350 freshmen arrive on campus for the start of O-Week, according to the university. More than 50 transfer students are also expected to join the university this fall. Rice said it’s ...
'Everybody Eatz': Free Houston pop-up grocery event aims to help families prepare for the school year
Houston families can find free groceries, prepared food and family activities Sunday as part of an effort to address food insecurity before the start of the school year. The Hugs in a Blanket Foundation will host Everybody Eatz: Ivan’s Pop-Up Grocery Store & Food Park from 2:30 t...
5 injured, 1 critically, in shooting at Virginia State University: officials
A shooting at Virginia State University left five people injured, one critically, and prompted a campus lockdown early Saturday morning, school officials said....
5 shot near Virginia State University residence halls; 1 critical, lockdown lifted
Five people were shot outside Virginia State University residence halls early Saturday. One is in critical condition, and the campus lockdown has been lifted....
Houston ISD's state takeover timeline could face step back with addition of four F-rated campuses
The Texas Education Agency has said state-controlled HISD must eliminate multi-year failing accountability grades at all campuses before the state returns control to the district....
'All hands on deck:' Waller ISD experiences application backlog as county grows
Waller County is not only one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas but also in the nation, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, and now it's impacting the Waller Independent School District....
A Wheatley High School teacher claimed his students couldn’t read or write. Then the school got an ‘A’ rating
A viral video posted on social media by a Houston ISD teacher with a controversial past has raised questions about the effectiveness of a state takeover, broader literacy trends and educator decorum....