News from the South - Texas News Feed
Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten aid for Texas students
“Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten college access for nearly 500,000 Texas college students” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
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Nearly half a million Texas students stand to get less help paying for college because of aggressive cuts federal lawmakers are considering to a critical financial aid program.
The country’s lowest-income students depend on the Pell Grant to get through college. It is the largest source of grant aid in Texas.
But a U.S. House proposal in the massive budget package President Donald Trump is dubbing the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would take significant chunks out of Pell. The Senate is facing pressure from the White House to vote on the bill this weekend.
If it becomes law, the maximum Pell Grant award would drop by about $1,500 and be restricted to students who complete 30 credits per year, a stricter requirement than the current 24 credits. It would also eliminate eligibility for Pell for students who are enrolled less than half-time.
In Texas, the proposal would affect more than 480,000 students and could lead to an estimated financial aid loss of between $353 million and $493 million.
Texas gives out some aid to students to pay for college — but it would struggle to fill the gaps left by Pell cuts. The state already does not provide enough aid to all the students who need it. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board pleaded with state lawmakers this year to expand the agency’s grant programs. Legislators raised funding but not enough to meet the full need among eligible students.
It’s still unclear what Congress’ final Pell Grant proposal will look like. The Senate did not include the House’s changes to Pell eligibility in its version of the bill. The upper chamber’s version would take away Pell access from students who get full-ride scholarships from their schools, which would affect state programs that are set up to cover the full cost of tuition after Pell dollars kick in. Both chambers will have to negotiate any changes that make it into the bill’s final version.
The proposed changes to Pell could push students to make tough choices, with many feeling pressured to take on heavier course loads just to remain eligible for funding, said Jonathan Feinstein, director of The Education Trust in Texas.
“Students may take the extra course… but may be struggling in that class because they’re overextended,” Feinstein said. “And then students may actually say, ‘Well, you know, if I don’t get the award and I can’t manage to make my schedule work, I may just stop out.’”
The proposed cuts would hit community college students the hardest, many of whom go to school part-time to raise a kid or go to work. At Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, for example, about 80% of students attend part-time and could be at risk of losing their Pell award, said Priscilla Camacho, the chief legislative officer of the community college district.
“Time is the enemy to completion,” Camacho said. “Anything that causes a barrier for our students to be able to take the courses that they need … in the time that they are willing and able to take them, that is a big concern to us.”
Camacho said the proposed changes to Pell could also undermine state efforts to bolster supports for parenting students.
Federal efforts earlier this month made it more difficult for undocumented students to afford college in Texas. The Department of Justice sued to repeal a state law that offered in-state tuition rates to them; hours later, Texas agreed to the changes and a judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional.
The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
Disclosure: Education Trust has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer.
TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-pell-grant-cuts-financial-aid/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
The post Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten aid for Texas students appeared first on feeds.texastribune.org
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This article presents a factual report focused on the potential negative impacts of proposed federal cuts to the Pell Grant program on low-income Texas students. The tone is empathetic toward students and education advocates, highlighting concerns about reduced access to financial aid and the challenges students may face. While it critiques the proposed budget changes, it maintains an informative and measured approach without overt ideological language or partisan attacks. The inclusion of diverse expert voices and emphasis on social equity aligns with a center-left perspective that supports government aid for education but avoids strong partisan framing.
News from the South - Texas News Feed
Aspiring parents find hope in new IVF tech that improves safety
SUMMARY: In Austin, new technology called TMRW, an automated storage system using barcodes and RFID, enhances safety for mothers undergoing IVF by reducing human error and ensuring specimen security with 24-hour monitoring. CCRM Fertility of Austin, which opened last July, recently celebrated its first successful pregnancy of a lesbian couple, Emma and Elise, highlighting the clinic’s inclusive approach. IVF fertilizes eggs in a lab before implantation and is increasingly common, accounting for 2% of U.S. births. Despite the emotional and logistical challenges, fertility experts emphasize personalized care and support for non-traditional families seeking parenthood.
The post Aspiring parents find hope in new IVF tech that improves safety appeared first on www.kxan.com
News from the South - Texas News Feed
Iran supreme leader warns U.S. against future attacks
SUMMARY: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the U.S. against future attacks during his first public appearance since signing a ceasefire with Israel. He claimed Iran’s recent strike on a U.S. airbase in Qatar was a “slap to America’s face,” although no injuries or major damage occurred. Khamenei downplayed U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Meanwhile, both Israel and Iran claim victory after a 12-day war, but tensions remain high. Israel is now focusing on the Gaza Strip, where 50 hostages remain held by Hamas. Families call for their safe return and an end to the conflict.
Iran’s supreme leader warned the United States against future attacks in his first public appearance since signing a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
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News from the South - Texas News Feed
Christians sue to stop Ten Commandments law for Texas schools
“Christian parents sue to stop Ten Commandments requirement in Texas schools” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
A group of faith leaders and parents from North Texas this week sued to stop a new state law that will require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, arguing it violates their First Amendment and parental rights.
The plaintiffs filed the suit Tuesday in a Dallas federal court on behalf of their 10 children who attend schools in the Dallas, DeSoto and Lancaster Independent School Districts, whose boards are all named as defendants.
The suit challenges one of the latest measures that state lawmakers have passed that critics say inject religion into the state’s public schools, attended by roughly 5.5 million children.
Senate Bill 10, by Republican Sen. Phil King of Weatherford, would require the Ten Commandments be displayed on a poster sized at least 16 by 20 inches come September when most new state laws go into effect. Gov. Greg Abbott signed it last week.
Supporters argue that the Ten Commandments and teachings of Christianity broadly are vital to understanding U.S. history — which some scholars say is incorrect.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs who identify as Christian described a variety of specific reasons for their opposition to hanging the Ten Commandments in their kids’ schools but generally characterized not wanting to cede any rights as parents.
One of them, a Christian minister, said that the displays will conflict with the religious and social justice and civil rights beliefs he seeks to teach his kids by offering a message of religious intolerance, “implying that anyone who does not believe in the state’s official religious scripture is an outsider and not fully part of the community.”
Another, a mother of two, is worried she will be “forced” to have sensitive and perhaps premature conversations about topics like adultery with her young children — and also “does not desire that her minor children to be instructed by their school about the biblical conception of adultery,” the suit states.
Spokespersons for the Texas Education Agency, also a named defendant, did not respond Thursday to requests for comment.
A Lancaster ISD spokesperson said that the district was aware of the suit and monitoring it but did not have further comment. A Dallas ISD spokesperson said the district does not comment on pending litigation.
DeSoto ISD administrators said in a statement that the school system, which teaches roughly 6,000 kids, operates in alignment with state and federal laws and also remains committed to creating an inclusive learning environment “for all students and families, regardless of religious background or personal beliefs.”
“DeSoto ISD recognizes the diverse cultural and religious identities represented in its school community and will continue to prioritize the safety, dignity, and educational well-being of every student,” district officials said. “The district respects the role of parents and guardians in guiding their children’s personal and religious development and will strive to remain sensitive to the varying perspectives within its schools.”
Big news: 20 more speakers join the TribFest lineup! New additions include Margaret Spellings, former U.S. secretary of education and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center; Michael Curry, former presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church; Beto O’Rourke, former U.S. Representative, D-El Paso; Joe Lonsdale, entrepreneur, founder and managing partner at 8VC; and Katie Phang, journalist and trial lawyer.
TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-schools-commandments-requirement-lawsuit/.
The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.
The post Christians sue to stop Ten Commandments law for Texas schools appeared first on feeds.texastribune.org
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This content presents a fact-based report on a legal challenge to a Texas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public schools. It highlights concerns about religious freedom and parental rights, which are common themes in debates involving separation of church and state. The coverage includes perspectives critical of the law, such as those of faith leaders and parents suing the state, and mentions opposition grounded in views about religious intolerance and constitutional rights. While the article references the law’s supporters and lawmakers, the emphasis on potential constitutional conflicts and inclusion issues, along with the choice of language, suggests a slight leaning toward a Center-Left viewpoint that favors upholding secularism and religious pluralism in public institutions.
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