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BY: @MattMackowiak [ [link removed] ]
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TUESDAY || 10/29/24
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“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
AUSTIN NEWSLETTER LAUNCHED
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TOP NEWS
“3 Houston ISD staffers accused of running teacher certification cheating ring,” Houston Landing's Asher Lehrer-Small, Angelica Perez and Jacob Carpenter — “Three Houston ISD employees are among the five people charged in connection with a scheme to help hundreds of people cheat on state teacher certification tests, Harris County prosecutors said Monday.
Prosecutors said longtime Booker T. Washington High School boys basketball coach Vincent Grayson led a cheating ring in which people typically paid about $2,500 for help fraudulently obtaining a teacher license. As many as 400 people might have illegally obtained a teacher certification in Texas since 2020 through the cheating ring, which netted the organizers about $1 million, prosecutors said.
The scheme involved conspirators taking and administering tests on behalf of aspiring certified teachers, prosecutors said. Investigators believe the hundreds of participants are spread throughout the state, with some likely still in classrooms. The licenses likely helped school employees get promotions, earn higher salaries and keep their teaching jobs, prosecutors said.
“To me, the damage is not just to the education system, which is under great duress right now, but it’s actually to to the families of the children who go to those schools, who trust the government to educate their kids and keep them safe for eight hours a day,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said during a press conference Monday.
Grayson did not immediately respond to a text or phone call from the Houston Landing. His lawyer, Cheryl Irvin, declined to comment, telling the Landing that “I don’t know hardly anything” about the details of the indictment yet.
The arrests come amid a rise in uncertified teachers [ [link removed] ] getting hired in Texas public schools, as fewer people enter the teaching profession through traditional college education programs. Certified teachers must complete a bachelor’s degree, a Texas university education preparation program and a state certification exam.
In a statement Monday, Texas Education Agency spokesperson Jake Kobersky wrote that the department “will review any and all information shared by law enforcement and pursue appropriate action against any educator involved in this scheme.” The State Board of Educator Certification will decide on any punishment, Kobersky said." Houston Landing [ [link removed] ]
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AP: “Explosion near Dallas levels house and kills 2 people” AP [ [link removed] ]
HOU CHRON: “Kamala Harris presidential campaign sets new Texas fundraising record” Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)
SAEN: “Business leaders outraise firefighters' union in Prop C” SSAEN [ [link removed] ] ($)
SA REPORT: “Bexar County man charged in polling center assault had been to remove Trump hat” SA Report [ [link removed] ]
HOU CHRON: “Texas high court judge being outspent by Democrat ahead of election” Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)
TX TRIB: “Texas is slashing $607 million in Medicaid funding from program for students with disabilities” Texas Tribune [ [link removed] ]
AP: “Advocates seek restoration of federal judge removed from long-running foster care case” AP [ [link removed] ]
DMN: “Ken Paxton calls on Jeff Leach to resign over Roberson texts” DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
FOX 7 AUSTIN: “I-35 expansion project: TxDOT expects to break ground this week” Fox 7 Austin [ [link removed] ]
HOU CHRON: “Houston Housing Authority president put on administrative leave” Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)
SAEN: “Texas ports getting millions as feds seek to cut emissions” SAEN [ [link removed] ] ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "How local rules fuel high housing costs in Texas" TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: "This Trump supporter was labeled a noncitizen and kicked off Texas’ voter rolls" TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX MONTHLY: "East of Austin, Elon Musk’s X Undergoes a Texas-Style Makeover" TX MONTHLY [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "Criminal probe opened after inspector report on Dallas County juvenile detention center" DMN [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "Will Dallas Hero’s propositions save or ruin the city? Depends on who you ask" DMN [ [link removed] ]
> TPR: "FRONTLINE: How Americans are feeling about the presidential election" TPR [ [link removed] ]
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Fraudulent electronic transfer results in $450K stolen from city of Manvel" COMMUNITY IMPACT [ [link removed] ]
> SAEN: "Jury to decide if San Antonio police officers must pay for beating the wrong man" SAEN [ [link removed] ]
> MRT: "Pfluger bill to curb federal employee resistance to presidential directives" MRT [ [link removed] ]
> TPR: "Bexar County sees record voter turnout; Roberson defense slams AG report; SAFD gets a new chief" TPR [ [link removed] ]
> SA REPORT: "3 takeaways from downtown San Antonio leaders: ‘We’re at a really important moment’" SA REPORT [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: "As Texas refuses online voter registration, paper applications get lost" TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: "Texas’ high housing costs sparked a movement to bring them down. The fight could shape the state for years to come." TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "President wanted: Texas colleges face leadership turnover amid heightened scrutiny" DMN [ [link removed] ]
> DMN: "Colin Allred embraces his inner Democrat, and a fired-up base responds" DMN [ [link removed] ]
> TX TRIB: "In Dallas, ballot propositions could drastically change police and city government" TX TRIB [ [link removed] ]
> FWST: "Family of 4 and woman killed, man hospitalized in wrong-way Loop 820 crash in Fort Worth" FWST [ [link removed] ]
> EP TIMES: "Here's how Texas might be in play in the 2024 post-election" EP TIMES [ [link removed] ]
> THE TEXAN: "Two Texas House Coalitions Provide Different Responses to OAG Robert Roberson Documents Release" THE TEXAN [ [link removed] ]
> SA REPORT: "Facing tough reelection, Republican John Lujan softens approach on school vouchers, abortion" SA REPORT [ [link removed] ]
EXTRA POINTS
Last night's Texas sports scores:
> 7pm: NBA: Houston 106, San Antonio 101
> 7:30pm: NBA: Dallas 110, Utah 102
Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 6:30pm: NBA: Dallas at Minnesota (TNT)
> 6:30pm: NCAAF: Louisiana at Texas State (ESPN2)
> 7pm: NCAAF: Louisiana Tech at Sam Houston State (ESPNU)
DALLAS COWBOYS: Cowlishaw: "Cowboys' struggles can be traced back to one moment of 2023 season" DMN [ [link removed] ] ($)
HOUSTON TEXANS: "Houston Texans lose WR Stefon Diggs for season to ACL injury" Houston Chronicle [ [link removed] ] ($)
UTSA FOOTBALL: "Quinn Ewers throws for 3 TDs as No. 5 Texas beats No. 25 Vanderbilt 27-24 in 'culture' win" SAEN [ [link removed] ] ($)
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