UnderWalker — Central TX News

Headline	Significance	Date ▾
Thousands attended the 12th annual Afrotech Conference at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, including Disney’s “Disney on the Yard” for students and professionals. ■ Education · Houston, TX ·	●●○○○	Nov 6, 9:30 PM
Temple ISD to host open house at Baylor Scott & White for students interested in healthcare careers Temple ISD will hold a healthcare careers open house at Baylor Scott & White for students interested in health-related jobs. ■ Education · Temple, TX · tdtnews.com	●●○○○	Nov 6, 8:30 PM
Midway High School students run their own print shop Midway High School students operate a school print shop, serving district customers and handling design, production, and finances. ■ Education · Midway, TX · kxxv.com	●●○○○	Nov 6, 8:15 PM
Houston ISD takeover exit may speed up under new Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa, education experts say Experts expect Houston ISD’s state takeover timeline to speed up under Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa’s planned shift toward returning control to districts. ■ Education · Houston, TX · abc13.com	●●●●○	Nov 6, 8:00 PM
Central Texas College awarded $300,000 grant to Expand prison education workforce training Central Texas College received a $300,000 Perkins Leadership Grant to expand IT workforce training and reentry supports for incarcerated women. ■ Education · Texas · kdhnews.com	●●●○○	Nov 6, 7:00 PM
★ Democrats winning statewide offices could overhaul Texas K-12 policy, including proposed removal of STAAR and state education oversight changes. ■ Education · Houston, Texas ·	●●●●○	Nov 6, 7:00 PM
Harris County voters rejected nearly $2 billion in school bond measures across six independent school districts, limiting planned facility upgrades. ■ Education · Harris County, TX ·	●●●○○	Nov 6, 5:45 PM
564 Votes Could Flip Texas Education Board, Reopen Christianity And Islam Fight Uncertified returns show a close race that could flip the Texas State Board of Education and potentially alter religiously influenced curriculum and standards. ■ Education · Texas · wbap.com	●●●○○	Nov 6, 5:30 PM
ULM computer science students place in top five at competition ULM computer science students Jeevan Parajuli and Pankaj Bhatta placed in the top five at Rice’s HackRice hackathon. ■ Education · Houston, TX · kedm.org	●●○○○	Nov 6, 5:00 PM
Texarkana ISD's Christiane Irvin Earns Region 8 Award Texarkana ISD testing coordinator Christiane Irvin received the Region 8 Recognition Award from TSNAP for her accountability and assessment work. ■ Education · Texas · kygl.com	●○○○○	Nov 6, 4:15 PM
TSTC associate degree track targets Texas construction demand Texas State Technical College added a second associate degree track for commercial construction management at Harlingen and Waco campuses. ■ Education · Texas · wacotrib.com	●●○○○	Nov 6, 4:15 PM
Bay City ISD voters approve measures to ease budget shortfall Bay City ISD voters approved two propositions to address budget shortfalls through disaster-penny replacement and bond refinancing. ■ Education · Texas · victoriaadvocate.com	●●●○○	Nov 6, 3:15 PM
PVAMU PhD student wins Apple recognition for chip design – PVAMU Home PVAMU electrical engineering PhD student Bharath Kumar Chintada won an Apple chip design competition for a VLSI circuit project. ■ Education · Prairie View, TX · pvamu.edu	●●○○○	Nov 6, 3:15 PM
Temple ISD received a seventh consecutive certificate of excellence in financial reporting for its fiscal year 2025 annual comprehensive financial report. ■ Education · Temple, TX ·	●●○○○	Nov 6, 3:00 PM
UNT librarian provides information into Sycamore Library's dissolution by 2030 \| Denton A UNT librarian says she was not involved in decisions to relocate Sycamore Library by 2030 despite later confirmations. ■ Education · Texas · dentonrc.com	●●○○○	Nov 6, 1:15 PM
Texas governor-elect Gina Hinojosa pledged to end state takeovers of districts and fire TEA education commissioner Mike Morath, facing legal and logistical hurdles. ■ Education · Rice University, Texas ·	●●●●○	Nov 6, 12:45 PM
Voters across the Houston area rejected all proposed school district tax increases and bond measures on Election Day. ■ Education · Houston, TX ·	●●●○○	Nov 6, 12:45 PM
South Hi Mount Elementary relocating after engineering concerns found South Hi Mount Elementary students and staff are temporarily relocating to Western Hills Primary after an engineering review raised concerns. ■ Education · Texas · fox4news.com	●●●○○	Nov 6, 10:15 AM
ICE deportations are worsening declining enrollment pressures in public schools already affected by low birth rates. ■ Education · Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 6, 7:15 AM
Baylor University said Phi Kappa Chi admitted hazing and will be sanctioned, but allowed the fraternity to participate in Pigskin Revue and the homecoming parade. ■ Education · Central Texas ·	●●●●○	Nov 6, 4:30 AM
States seek greater control over what universities can teach Texas and other states are pushing to expand control over what universities can teach and how campuses operate. ■ Education · Texas · krwg.org	●●○○○	Nov 6, 4:15 AM
Socorro ISD employee health insurance cost rise +$100 a month after tax proposal rejected Socorro ISD employees face higher monthly health insurance costs after voters rejected a tax proposal funding $49 million. ■ Education · Texas · cbs4local.com	●●●○○	Nov 6, 12:30 AM
Redwater places fourth at state as Texarkana-area bands head to UIL, ASBOA marching finals Redwater High School placed fourth at the UIL 3A State Marching Band Championship in San Antonio, with other Texarkana-area bands advancing to upcoming finals. ■ Education · Pleasant Grove, Texas · txktoday.com	●●●○○	Nov 5, 10:15 PM
Caldwell Arts Academy students honor veterans with annual musical tribute in Tyler Students at Caldwell Arts Academy in Tyler held their annual musical tribute honoring veterans with singing, instruments, and dance. ■ Education · Texas · kltv.com	●○○○○	Nov 5, 9:15 PM
College of the Mainland received a $2.1 million grant to strengthen its business associate program and create smoother transfers to bachelor’s degrees. ■ Education · Houston, Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 5, 9:15 PM
Diboll ISD Prepares to Launch Lumberjack Homeschool Academy Diboll ISD plans to launch the Lumberjack Homeschool Academy, a virtual program for grades 6-12, targeting fall 2027. ■ Education · Diboll, TX · kfox95.com	●●●○○	Nov 5, 8:15 PM
Killeen ISD will dedicate a renovated $35.3 million Administration Building on Friday after consolidating 22 departments from multiple sites. ■ Education · Killeen, TX ·	●●●○○	Nov 5, 8:15 PM
Killeen ISD said it is aware of a social media online threat, is investigating with law enforcement, and may increase police presence. ■ Education · Killeen, TX ·	●●●●○	Nov 5, 8:15 PM
Texas has a $40 million plan to retain teachers Texas allocated $40 million to the PREP teacher-retention initiative, funding grants for 411 schools. ■ Education · Houston, Texas · kten.com	●●●○○	Nov 5, 8:00 PM
State Board of Education weighs teacher raises, money for instructional materials Texas State Board of Education is considering nearly $800 million in budget requests, including possible veteran teacher raises and instructional materials. ■ Education · Texas · wfae.org	●●○○○	Nov 5, 5:15 PM
Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Carrabine nominated for 2027 National Superintendent of the Year Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Carrabine was named Texas’s nominee for the 2027 National Superintendent of the Year. ■ Education · Bryan, TX · kbtx.com	●●○○○	Nov 5, 4:00 PM
Comal ISD said it will review next steps after voters rejected a $567 million bond package in two propositions. ■ Education · Guadalupe County, Texas ·	●●●●○	Nov 5, 3:00 PM
Maggie Ellis makes Texas history with Supreme Court win Maggie Ellis won a U.S. Supreme Court case, making Texas history with the decision. ■ Education · Texas · advocate.com	●●●○○	Nov 5, 1:30 PM
Deep Inside a Texas Cave, Archaeologists Found a Prehistoric Treasure So Well Preserved It Looks Almost New Archaeologists working at San Esteban in Big Bend National Park reported well-preserved prehistoric hunting tools dating to about 4,500 BC. ■ Education · Texas · dailygalaxy.com	●●○○○	Nov 5, 11:00 AM
Texas State Library accepting submissions for the 2026 - 2027 Letters about Literature competition Texas State Library is accepting 2026-2027 Letters About Literature student submissions with a Jan. 27, 2027 deadline. ■ Education · Texas · newschannel6now.com	●●●○○	Nov 5, 10:45 AM
The Woodlands Arts Council Opens 2027 Student Art Scholarship Applications The Woodlands Arts Council opened 2027 Student Art Scholarship applications for graduating seniors in The Woodlands and Montgomery County. ■ Education · The Woodlands, TX · woodlandsonline.com	●●○○○	Nov 5, 10:00 AM
Student Voices \| FHMS AVID Students host Sheriff Eric Peter, offering thanks for 31 years of service FHMS AVID students hosted San Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter for a student-led interview ahead of his planned retirement. ■ Education · Houston, TX · sanjuanjournal.com	●○○○○	Nov 5, 5:30 AM
Step by step: Homecoming Stroll-Off forges cultural legacies for Black students Baylor’s Royal and Pure Homecoming Stroll-Off will host strolling competitions Friday evening, with cash prizes for top acts. ■ Education · Houston, TX · baylorlariat.com	●●○○○	Nov 5, 4:00 AM
Laredo College Position 9 race heads to December runoff Laredo College Board of Trustees Position 9 heads to a December 12 runoff between incumbent Tita Vela and challenger Dr. Eduardo Lopez. ■ Education · Texas · kgns.tv	●●○○○	Nov 4, 10:45 PM
Theater screens political documentary Star Cinema Grill and Texas A&M affiliates screened a documentary about New College of Florida, alleging censorship and drawing campus freedom concerns. ■ Education · Prairie View, TX · thebatt.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 10:15 PM
Healthcare workers invited to major Houston summit The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association invites healthcare leaders to its Houston conference Nov. 16–18 at the Texas Medical Center. ■ Education · Houston, TX · fox26houston.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 8:00 PM
Women conductors to lead musicians 'fearlessly' – White Rock Lake Weekly Dallas Opera selected four international women conductors for its 2026/2027 Hart Institute and scheduled virtual and in-person training leading to a Jan. 30 showcase. ■ Education · Texas · whiterocklakeweekly.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 7:30 PM
Round Rock ISD music ensembles earn national honors Round Rock ISD bands and orchestras earned national recognition in 2026 Mark of Excellence and Citation of Excellence competitions. ■ Education · Round Rock, TX · hillcountrynews.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 6:30 PM
El Paso mayor honors eighth-grader with 'Excellence Award' El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson presented the Excellence Award to Don Haskins Pre-K through 8th Grade eighth-grader Lauren Torres for her artwork. ■ Education · Texas · kfoxtv.com	●○○○○	Nov 4, 6:15 PM
Ellison High School Fine Arts is raising about $275,000 for a March 14, 2027 Pearl Harbor performance by students from Fort Hood. ■ Education · Ellison High School, Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 4, 6:00 PM
The article highlights school district concerns about Google’s AI requirements and potential impacts on education systems. ■ Education · Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 4, 4:45 PM
2026 Austin Community College Board election results Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia, Gigi Edwards Bryant, and Nan McRaven won Austin Community College board trustee seats in Tuesday’s election. ■ Education · Austin, TX · kut.org	●●●○○	Nov 4, 4:15 PM
Battle Hall Reborn - UT News UT News article titled “Battle Hall Reborn” was provided without details, limiting factual summary. ■ Education · Austin, TX · news.utexas.edu	●○○○○	Nov 4, 3:00 PM
Texas A&M University-Central Texas president Richard M. Rhodes announced he will retire effective June 1, 2027. ■ Education · Texans ·	●●●○○	Nov 4, 3:00 PM
Robinson ISD voters rejected an $81.2 million bond to replace Robinson Junior High and fund districtwide safety and facility upgrades. ■ Education · Robinson, TX ·	●●●○○	Nov 4, 3:00 PM
PVAMU students take first place in two criminal justice competitions – PVAMU Home Prairie View A&M University students won first place in two criminal justice competitions at the 2026 SWACJ Regional Conference in Prairie View, Texas. ■ Education · Texas · pvamu.edu	●●○○○	Nov 4, 11:00 AM
Santa Fe ISD board president trails challenger in early returns Santa Fe ISD election early returns show Megan Grove leading Rusty Norman for a contested school board position, with results still unofficial. ■ Education · Santa Fe, TX · galvnews.com	●●●○○	Nov 4, 2:45 AM
Joseph Cao won a Louisiana BESE school board seat, defeating Angela Hershey, to serve the remainder of a term ending in 2028. ■ Education · Baylor University, Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 4, 2:45 AM
Texas Tribune Events will host a Dec. 10 symposium in Austin and online previewing 2027 legislative session priorities, with panels on key policy areas. ■ Education · Austin, TX ·	●●○○○	Nov 4, 2:45 AM
Salinas takes lead in District 41 race, according to unofficial election results Unofficial results show Democrat Julio Salinas leading in Texas House District 41 against Republican Gary Groves. ■ Education · Texas · krgv.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 2:30 AM
Austin ISD board races: Hunter takes lead in District 1, Neufeld leads in District 4 Unofficial results show Candace Hunter leading Austin ISD District 1 and Jessica Neufeld leading District 4 ahead of possible runoffs. ■ Education · Austin, TX · kut.org	●●●○○	Nov 4, 2:00 AM
Voters reject tax increase for Bryan ISD Bryan ISD voters rejected a proposed 2-cent maintenance and operations tax rate increase in a voter-approval tax rate election. ■ Education · Bryan, TX · kbtx.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 1:45 AM
Early childhood initiative Pre-K 4 SA reauthorized for 20 more years Pre-K 4 SA was reauthorized for 20 additional years to continue early childhood programming in the San Antonio area. ■ Education · Texas · tpr.org	●●○○○	Nov 4, 1:30 AM
Cove voters decide on school board, city council candidates go to runoff Copperas Cove voters elected three school board candidates while several city council races will go to runoff. ■ Education · Cove, TX · kdhnews.com	●●○○○	Nov 4, 12:00 AM
Alvin College celebrates West Campus Alvin College celebrated its West Campus. ■ Education · Alvin, TX · thefacts.com	●○○○○	Nov 3, 6:15 PM
Texas A&M launches INSPIRE Alliance to advance national security research Texas A&M launched the INSPIRE Alliance to expand national security research and accelerate deployment of technologies via a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ■ Education · Texas · thebatt.com	●●●○○	Nov 3, 5:15 PM
A UTSA student released a video apology after a poem mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination sparked controversy at a campus event. ■ Education · University Of Texas, Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 3, 5:00 PM
Burnet band marches toward state competition Burnet High School’s Esprit De Corps advances to the UIL 4A State Marching Contest at the Alamodome on Nov. 11. ■ Education · Burnet, TX · dailytrib.com	●●○○○	Nov 3, 3:45 PM
Texas A&M Launches Major Genetic Study of New World Screwworm Texas A&M researchers launched a $4 million, two-year USDA-funded genetic study of New World screwworm to improve tracking and control from outbreak samples in Honduras. ■ Education · Texas · rfdtv.com	●●●○○	Nov 3, 3:00 PM
Hard topics, closed books: Banned authors challenge Texas school restrictions Authors Candace Fleming and others challenge Texas school library restrictions after books are removed under “heavy” content standards in districts like Allen ISD. ■ Education · Jonestown, TX · uniondemocrat.com	●●●○○	Nov 3, 1:00 PM
Ask the Master Gardeners: November 2026 Texas Master Gardeners provide November guidance on overwintering plumaria and maintaining local fall plants around Seguin. ■ Education · Wilson County, TX · wilsoncountynews.com	●○○○○	Nov 3, 12:45 PM
Texas Tech professors say new university restrictions are changing what they can teach about race, sex, and gender, raising censorship concerns. ■ Education · Texas ·	●●●●○	Nov 3, 12:30 PM
U of H Under Fire For Posts Promoting Gina Hinojosa University of Houston officials faced criticism after student government promoted Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa on an official university-branded social media page. ■ Education · Houston, TX · ktrh.iheart.com	●●●○○	Nov 3, 8:15 AM
Silent supporters attend Bryan ISD board meeting for assistant coach who was terminated Parents and students attended a Bryan ISD board meeting supporting assistant basketball coach Lashala Nicks after her termination. ■ Education · Bryan, TX · kbtx.com	●●●○○	Nov 3, 2:30 AM
The Shepherd School of Music announces new opera commission Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music commissioned Paola Prestini and Mark Campbell for a new opera premiering in the 2029–30 academic year. ■ Education · Houston, TX · pizzicato.lu	●●○○○	Nov 3, 2:00 AM
Sherman City Council unanimously agreed to plan a new elementary school on West Travis Street, targeting a fall 2028 opening. ■ Education · Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 3, 1:15 AM
Big Money: Cove ISD authorizes 2nd round of $154.5M bond package funding approved by voters Copperas Cove ISD approved issuance of the second round of its remaining $75 million bond package for school improvements. ■ Education · Cove, TX · kdhnews.com	●●●●○	Nov 3, 12:45 AM
Nonprofit hopes to strengthen Galveston youth connections with grant CTRL+CREATE Inc. seeks a $20,000 grant to mentor 30 Galveston youth, with a community grant vote at Rosenberg Library. ■ Education · Galveston, TX · galvnews.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 10:30 PM
AgriLife Extension to host canning series starting Nov. 4 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension will hold a five-class canning series starting Nov. 4 and a separate Alzheimer’s warning signs lunch and learn on Nov. 6 in Bryan. ■ Education · Texas · kbtx.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 9:30 PM
NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston marks 65 years since its founding and role in human spaceflight. ■ Education · Houston, TX ·	●●○○○	Nov 2, 7:30 PM
Texas Tech chancellor Brandon Creighton is expanding campus teaching restrictions and using Texas Tech policies as a model nationally. ■ Education · University Of Texas, Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 2, 6:15 PM
Montgomery ISD board to discuss whether to launch pilot program for new virtual learning system Montgomery ISD will consider launching a virtual learning pilot to retain students and funding, potentially starting with about 30 high schoolers. ■ Education · Montgomery, TX · abc13.com	●●●○○	Nov 2, 5:00 PM
Texas Parks and Wildlife opened applications for its 70th law enforcement cadet class, with deadlines set for late 2026 and eligibility requirements for applicants. ■ Education · Texas ·	●●●○○	Nov 2, 4:45 PM
Landry, Jones Sign The Line Bridge City high school baseball players Slade Landry and Jackson Jones signed scholarships to continue their careers at Tyler JC and Angelina JC. ■ Education · Texas · kogt.com	●○○○○	Nov 2, 4:15 PM
New Contemporary Dining and Culinary Arts Program at Texas High School A new contemporary dining and culinary arts program is being introduced at Texas High School. ■ Education · Texas · fesmag.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 2:15 PM
Rice to Break Ground on $75M 'The Arc' Lab and Office Building in Houston's Ion District Rice University will break ground Nov. 5 on its $75 million “The Arc” research lab and office building in Houston’s Ion District. ■ Education · Houston, TX · newsroomamerica.com	●●●○○	Nov 2, 2:15 PM
What is Disney Dreamers Academy? 50 middle school students honored as part of new program with Boys & Girls Clubs in Fresno, Texas Fifty middle school students were honored at the Fresno Boys & Girls Club in Texas for the Disney Dreamers Academy kickoff and activities. ■ Education · Fresno, TX · abc13.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 12:00 PM
High school class rank policies are different in every San Antonio district. A new state law could change that. Texas Senate Bill 1191 will require the Texas Education Agency to standardize GPA calculations, changing how class rank is computed statewide. ■ Education · Texas · tpr.org	●●●○○	Nov 2, 11:30 AM
Applications are Open for the Core Residency Program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is accepting applications for its 2027–29 Core Residency Program, due January 8, 2027. ■ Education · Houston, TX · hyperallergic.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 9:45 AM
State Bound: Seguin High School to perform at 11 a.m. Monday in the Alamodome Seguin High School’s Mighty Matador Marching Band performs at 11 a.m. Monday in the UIL State Marching Band Championships at the Alamodome. ■ Education · Seguin, TX · seguintoday.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 6:30 AM
Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Foundation partners with a fashion scholarship fund to award students $10,000 each and offer hands-on design training to build practical skills Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation partnered with the Fashion Scholarship Fund to award $10,000 scholarships and design training to selected students. ■ Education · Houston, TX · timesofindia.indiatimes.com	●●○○○	Nov 2, 12:00 AM
Belton ISD's Chisholm Trail Elementary improved from an F to a C rating after a three-year turnaround involving grants and coaching. ■ Education · Belton, TX ·	●●○○○	Nov 1, 9:45 PM
A professor at Rice University started an open-learning project in 1999; its free textbooks are now used by millions of students A Rice University-originated open-learning project became OpenStax, publishing free college textbooks used by millions worldwide. ■ Education · Houston, TX · timesofindia.indiatimes.com	●●●○○	Nov 1, 2:00 PM
Killeen ISD faces budget cuts from declining enrollment and discusses possible school closures, consolidation, and boundary changes. ■ Education · Killeen, TX ·	●●●●○	Nov 1, 10:45 AM
TCCT students tour Bell County solar farm with Harvard power agreement; president says it was more than a field trip TCCT solar maintenance students toured the Big Elm Solar project near Troy under a workforce partnership with Apex Clean Energy. ■ Education · Bell County, TX · kdhnews.com	●●●○○	Nov 1, 10:45 AM
New initiative aims to help Lewisville ISD classrooms by covering teacher certification costs - Cross Timbers Gazette \| Southern Denton County \| Flower Mound Lewisville Education Foundation launches a teacher certification reimbursement fund to cover educator exam and application costs for Lewisville ISD. ■ Education · Texas · crosstimbersgazette.com	●●●○○	Oct 31, 3:00 PM
GUEST COLUMN: Danbury ISD explains state compliance issue Danbury ISD reported Texas Education Agency flagged two special-education record issues in students’ IEPs for correction. ■ Education · Danbury, TX · thefacts.com	●●○○○	Oct 31, 5:30 AM
Mighty Mats march historically into band competition Seguin High School’s Mighty Matador Marching Band earned a bid for the state title and will compete Monday at the Alamodome. ■ Education · Seguin, TX · seguingazette.com	●●○○○	Oct 31, 3:00 AM