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Oct. 26, 2026
From the bleachers to the ballot box, a community weighs a changing Texas

(Houston Public Media) At a Deer Park High School football game outside Houston, voters grapple with rising costs, immigration and shifting political loyalties as Democrats mount competitive challenges in two of Texas’ highest-profile races.

9 years after deadly mass shooting, Santa Fe High-School will get its long-awaited victims’ memorial

(Houston Chronicle) The names of each of the eight students and two teachers who died in the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting will soon anchor a long-awaited victims’ memorial that could stand on campus as soon as May.

Dozens of Texas agencies say they can’t afford to make state-mandated budget cuts

(Community Impact) Texas leaders have told most state agencies and universities to cut their budget requests by 3% for 2028–29 to make room for more property tax relief. Dozens of agencies, including the comptroller, prisons, and university systems, warn the cuts would harm essential services. Public school funding and some required programs are exempt, and lawmakers will make final decisions during the 2027 session.

Killeen ISD sees enrollment drop over 3 years

(KCEN) Killeen ISD reported that enrollment numbers have dropped over 5,000 students over the past three years.

Teen struck by Dayton ISD bus driver in hit-and-run has died, father says

(KTRK) A 14-year-old who was struck by a Dayton ISD school bus driver who allegedly left him injured at the scene died on Thursday, according to his father. ABC13 reported on Oct. 17 that Brantley Conner’s father said he was “fighting for his life” after the hit-and-run crash. In a tragic update on Saturday, Andrew Conner confirmed his son had died. The Dayton ISD bus driver, now identified as Ricky Eugene Cherry, was arrested hours after the crash, according to the Dayton Police Department. Police said that Brantley was not a student passenger, but a pedestrian in the area when he was struck.

Wylie ISD band bus driver arrested in connection to fatal crash

(KTAB/KRBC) A Wylie ISD band bus driver, John Alexander De La Garza, was arrested and charged with collision involving death after allegedly hitting a pedestrian who was out of his vehicle on I-20 near Tye on Oct. 17, seconds after another vehicle had struck the man. Court documents say bus video shows him watching his phone at the time of the crash before briefly checking the bus and driving away. A statement from Wylie ISD states De La Garza hit what he believed to be debris in the road at the time of the crash, stopped to inspect his bus, then kept going. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Clear Lake ISD High School student seriously injured after school bus hits bicycle

(Fox 26 Houston ) A Clear Creek ISD school bus pulling out of Clear Lake High School on Oct. 16 hit 16-year-old Jakxon Kessler as he biked home, dragging him about 30 feet. He suffered serious injuries, including spinal fractures that required surgery. His mother says his helmet saved his life and urges other parents to make sure their kids wear one. Houston police are investigating.

Boyd ISD trying to remove school resource officer connected to locker room hazing investigation, documents show

(Fox 4 KDFW) After four students were arrested for an alleged hazing incident at Boyd High School in Wise County in September, Fox 4 has uncovered documents revealing Boyd ISD officials are trying to remove a school resource officer connected to the investigation.

Wife of former Hardin-Jefferson ISD coach faces evidence-tampering charge

(KBMT) Sharon Peveto faces a tampering charge as investigators claim she deleted Facebook accounts amid a probe into her husband, Derek Peveto’s, alleged crimes.

Records: Starr County teacher admits to having sex with student more than 10 times

(ValleyCentral) Criminal complaints obtained by ValleyCentral allege that a teacher arrested on felony charges in Starr County admitted to engaging in sex acts with a student multiple times on and off campus. Francisco Contreras Jr. was arrested earlier this month on a charge of improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony, and two counts of sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony. A spokesperson for the Starr County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to ValleyCentral that the alleged incident occurred within the Rio Grande City Grulla Independent School District.

North Texas teacher allegedly sent students poop, porn and genital memes

(Houston Chronicle) A former Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD teacher, Landon Beck, 32, was indicted Oct. 7 on a federal charge of lying to the FBI, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. Prosecutors say Beck, who had worked for the district since March 2023, used the district’s internal messaging system to send students inappropriate images. These allegedly included crude and sexual photos and memes. They also say he talked about a pornography website with a special needs student and used a demeaning nickname for another. When investigators asked him about the messages, prosecutors say, he falsely claimed the students had sent them.

Ex-Liberty Hill ISD staff member under investigation after inappropriate communications with student

(KXAN) A staff member at Legacy Ranch High School is no longer employed with Liberty Hill ISD after the district learned of allegations Oct. 16. According to LHISD, the employee was accused of inappropriately communicating with a student outside of school hours. The district said it promptly reported the incident to Texas Child Protective Services, local law enforcement and the Texas Education Agency.

Parents and students question Northside ISD Briscoe Middle School’s response after reported threat

(News4SA) A student’s threat against Briscoe Middle School in Northside ISD frightened families and led to long pickup lines. Police detained the student while they checked whether the threat was credible. Parents say the district’s one email didn’t tell them enough about safety, and at least one is keeping her child home Monday until she gets answers.

Gun found at Houston ISD’s Hogg Middle School; student in custody

(Fox 26 Houston) A student was taken into police custody after a firearm was found at Hogg Middle School on Friday morning, according to Houston ISD. No students or staff were harmed, according to the district.

Former Texas Tech professor sentenced to 40 years for making, selling fentanyl including ‘pink flamingo’

(KFDA) A former Texas Tech University professor who manufactured and distributed fentanyl — including a pink-dyed mixture branded as “pink flamingo” — was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison. Daniel Taylor, 51, pleaded guilty July 1 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix imposed the 480-month sentence Friday. According to court documents, Taylor was an assistant professor of supply chain management at Texas Tech’s Rawls College of Business when he began distributing fentanyl powder in the Lubbock area.

“Silence is getting a bit loud”: Emails show UT leaders took heat for slow response to Bo French post

(Texas Tribune) Despite pressure from students and graduates to condemn the remarks as racist, University of Texas officials took a more careful approach. Related:

University of Houston reports a 61% increase in reports of violence against women

(Houston Chronicle) Reports of violence against women at University of Houston increased 61.11% from 2024 to 2025, according to the university’s annual Security and Fire Safety Report, which was released on Sept. 30. Violence against women includes dating violence, domestic violence and stalking.

UNT gets $500K to bring North Texas college dropouts back to school

(Houston Chronicle) Started college, got busy with life and never finished? UNT just got $500K from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to help North Texans go back and prepare for in-demand careers.

Texas Mother Sentenced to 25 Years for Trying to Treat Daughter’s Fatal Neck Injury With Smoothies

(Globe) A Texas mother, Denise Balbaneda, was sentenced under a plea deal to 25 years in prison for failing to get medical care for her 12-year-old daughter, who died of a neck injury in 2024, according to the Pleasanton Express. Instead of taking her to a doctor, Balbaneda and her husband kept the girl on a pallet at home for four days and gave her smoothies and oxygen. The girl’s stepfather faces the same charge, and his case is still pending. It remains unclear how the girl suffered the initial neck injury.

UT Rio Grande Valley can’t stop selling out football games. Is its stadium big enough?

(Houston Chronicle) They’ve sold out every home game in program history, with more than 12,000 fans on the season-ticket wait list.

Rice is breaking ground on a massive new tower-but saving the trees first

(Houston Chronicle) Rice University is moving two historic live oaks-including a 750,000-lb tree-to build a new park and $170M residential tower near Rice Village.

Austin man sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for $1 million University of Austin investment fraud

(Fox 7 Austin) John Stuart Robison, 63, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1 million in restitution for wire fraud and money laundering. Robison convinced an investor to wire $1 million under the pretense of supporting the University of Austin, but spent virtually all of it within months. Prosecutors revealed Robison transferred $250,000 to his personal account just one day after receiving the wire transfer and used falsified property contracts.

EXCLUSIVE: State Sen. Taylor Rehmet’s Campaign Sent Fundraising Appeals To Carroll ISD As Superintendent Raised Electioneering Concerns

(Dallas Express) Carroll ISD’s superintendent raised electioneering concerns after the office of state Sen. Taylor Rehmet (D-District 9) requested a football game “shoutout,” emails obtained by The Dallas Express show.

Fort Bend County approves $10B Tesla deal with 10-year tax break tied to 8,700 jobs

(Houston Public Media) If Tesla chooses Fort Bend County as the location for the new solar manufacturing facility, the company will be required to employ a minimum of 8,700-plus workers by the time the site is fully operational, in exchange for the tax break from the county.

Texas youth prison director resigns following controversial multiday lockdown

(Texas Standard) Shandra Carter’s sudden departure comes weeks after KERA and The Texas Newsroom revealed the disturbing effects of an unprecedented lockdown across the agency’s facilities.

North Texas football team banned from playoffs due to use of ineligible players

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Blue Ridge football has been banned from the University Interscholastic League playoffs for the use of multiple ineligible players, a 7-3A Division II district executive committee (DEC) member confirmed to the Star-Telegram. Blue Ridge ISD placed head coach and athletic director Jason Russell on leave on Oct. 5 when it initially discovered eligibility issues. The DEC ruled Russell will receive an official reprimand and will also refer the matter to the UIL state executive committee with a recommendation for additional penalties.

Millsap ISD community honors beloved football coach that died after years-long battle with cancer

(WFAA) Jacob Johnson, 45, the head football coach and athletic director at Millsap High School died Friday morning after a three-year battle with leukemia. Johnson has been a pillar in this small community for more than a decade. He had been fighting leukemia for the past three years. But he continued to coach and to motivate his student athletes as long as he could. Johnson died early Friday morning at a Dallas hospital.

Texas custodian Marilyn Hampton breaks down in tears as new elementary school is named in her honor

(New York Post) A Texas school custodian burst into tears after she learned a new elementary school would be named in her honor — 39 years after she first started working for the district. Marilyn Hampton, who retired this year, was surprised when the Aubrey Independent School District board of trustees announced Wednesday that “Elementary School Number Five” will be known as “Marilyn Hampton Elementary School” when it opens next year. “She may not have the official title of an educator, but she was in every meaningful sense a teacher and an educator at heart,” Superintendent Shannon Saylor said of Hampton, according to footage that the school shared on social media.

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TRS Adds San Felipe-Del Rio CISD to ActiveCare

The TRS board during a special meeting last week approved San Felipe-Del Rio CISD (SFDRCISD) to join the TRS-ActiveCare employee health plan starting Jan. 1, 2027. The board specifically adopted the district’s special…
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