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