(The Center Square) – A new charter school in Fayetteville may not be able to open as planned later this month following a recommendation by a state school board panel on Monday.

The Charter School Review Board recommended that the state Board of Education not approve a charter for Agape Achievement Academy. It has been scheduled to open Aug. 21.

“Agape has not been able to present an acceptable budget within the required time frame despite a number opportunities,” school board member John Blackburn said Monday following the panel’s review of Agape’s application. “We support that finding,” Blackburn said.

The state school board is expected to issue a final vote on Agape at its meeting later this week.

“Agape Achievement Academy recognizes that a foundation in literacy is crucial to academic achievement in the upper grades and life-long scholarship,” the school says on its website. “We also recognize a foundation in literacy provides students with the strongest likelihood to meet their full potential as students.”

But questions over both enrollment and finances cast doubt on the school’s chances of opening its doors this month.

Agape was scheduled open for grades K-3 with an enrollment of 168, Ashley Baquero, director of the state’s Office of Charter Schools, told the school board panel Monday.

The application for a charter school was originally submitted in 2022.

Before opening, charter schools must first complete a year-long planning program called “Ready to Open,” Baquero said.

Schools must also present evidence of “readiness to operate,” which include proposed budgets that show the school at least breaking even financially, Baquero added.

Agape’s budget projections were either “incorrect or incomplete,” Baquero told the school board panel.

The proposed budget was returned to the school four times for revision, Baquero said.

“The fourth submission of the budget was deemed insufficient,” she said.

On Monday, school officials submitted another revised budget which projects the school having a surplus, William O’Kelly, chairman of the Agape board of directors, told the state board panel Monday. Changes in the new proposed budget include requiring employees to pay 20% of their health insurance costs, saving $19,200 per year.

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump threatened to “substantially” increase the 25% tariff rate against India in the next 24 hours.

Trump cited India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and military equipment as the reason for an increase in tariffs.

“They’re fueling the war machine, and if they’re going to do that, I’m not going to be happy,” Trump said to CNBC on Tuesday.

“We do very, very little business with India because their tariffs are so high,” Trump said. “India has not been a good trading partner.”

Trump’s threats against India point to a larger effort to isolate the Russian economy due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump threatened steeper sanctions against Russia if it did not reach a peace deal with Ukraine by Aug. 8.

In a social media post on Monday, Trump said India is selling the oil it purchases from Russia to other markets around the world.

“They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump said.

Trump did not specify by how much he would increase rates against India or Russia.

Trump praised the trade deals with the European Union, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea. He said many of these markets were previously closed to the United States.

“Now, all of the sudden, we’re allowed to sell cars into South Korea and trucks and SUVs,” Trump said. “We’re really opening it up.”

Trump also announced an additional “small tariff” on pharmaceuticals, which he said would go up to 150% in the next year.

“We want pharmaceuticals made in our country,” Trump said. 

In the last six months, drug companies like Eli Lilly and Johnson and Johnson have announced investments in the United States. 

Trump also teased an incoming tariff against semiconductors and chips. 

In March, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced a $100 billion investment in a facility in Phoenix.

“We’re going to be announcing on semiconductors and chips, which is a separate category, because we want them made in the United States,” Trump said. 

(The Center Square) – After no quorum was reached in the Texas House on Monday, House Speaker Dustin Burrows voted for and signed motions the House passed requiring the return of 56 missing Democrats. This included Burrows signing civil warrants for their arrest and directing the sergeant of arms to find those in Texas and bring them back to the capitol.

Those who absconded out of the state can only be arrested by Texas law enforcement within state lines, which is why dozens of Democrats left the state Sunday to halt a vote on a Congressional redistricting effort that could flip up to five seats from blue to red.

However, when asked if Burrows would accept assistance from the Trump administration to arrest Democrats who went to Illinois and New York, he replied, “we will do whatever we need to do to continue this important work. There is nothing off the table.”

Gov. Greg Abbott also directed Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to assist with their arrest and return to the capitol, The Center Square reported.

On Sunday, dozens of House Democrats announced “the special session was over” in opposition to Texas redistricting efforts and left the state. The legislature had convened on July 21 for 30 days to address 18 legislative items, including funding and policy changes related to the historic July 4 deadly flood event. On Saturday, a House committee passed a redistricting bill that was scheduled for a vote on Monday. By absconding, House Democrats delayed the vote.

Sunday night, Abbott ordered that they return to Austin or they would be arrested and potentially removed from office. He also said those who were fundraising were potentially committing bribery.

Democrats who fled “abandoned their posts, and turned their backs on the constituents they swore to represent,” Burrows said. “They’ve shirked their responsibilities under the direction of pressure of out-of-state politicians and activists who don’t know the first thing about what’s right for Texas.”

After signing the civil arrest warrants, Burrows held a news conference saying the House had important work that needed to be done.

“We encountered unprecedented flooding in the Hill Country. We have members of committees who have met not only in Austin to meet with the relevant state officials, but also the families,” he said. They’ve been working on legislation that has been filed, referred, and will be heard,” he said. The bills relate to funding for flood victims but also policy changes to implement to help with future floods.

Other issues include eliminating the STAAR test, property tax reform, human trafficking penalties and protections, among others the governor put on the call for the special session.

He also explained that lawmakers not working is not optional.

Pursuant to the Texas Constitution, “the governor gets to set the agenda, and the constitution says the members of the legislature shall show up to do their jobs,” Burrows said. “I am proud of the members who are here. It was bipartisan. I am hopeful there’ll be more members here tomorrow.

“But I am disappointed that while these members are here reporting for their duty under the Constitution, others are out of the state in New York and Chicago, in places they do not represent.”

He also said that while the work of the House may be delayed, “whether it’s tomorrow or next week, the House will complete its required duties.”

Authorities will be arresting members who are in the state, including one who announced a fundraiser in Austin on Tuesday, Burrows said. He sent the information “to DPS and said they should be invited to attend as well,” he said.

Abbott on Monday afternoon also directed the Texas Rangers to “immediately investigate fleeing Texas House Democrats for potential bribery and any other potential legal violations connected to their refusal to appear for a quorum, conduct business, and cast votes. That investigation should extend to anyone who aided or abetted such potential crimes.”

Based on statements Democrats made in news conferences and posts on social media, many solicited or claimed to receive funds to evade conducting legislative business and casting votes. “Under the Texas Penal Code, any of those Democrats who solicit, accept, or agree to accept such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws,” Abbott said. “Also, it could be a bribery violation for any other person who offers, provides, or agrees to provide such funds to fleeing Democrat House members.” 

The House is scheduled to convene on Tuesday at 1 pm.