The Texas Education Agency has launched the 2022 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness
Results for grades 3-8, which confirmed across-the-board enhancements in all grades and topics, with particularly important positive factors in studying.
“The investments that the state is making in reading academies and accelerated instruction are clearly paying dividends for our students, and the results are a testament to the hard work of teachers across our state,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath mentioned. “While we still have much work to do to recover from COVID-related learning loss in mathematics, the improvements our students have made in reading are clear.”
The spring results embody exams in arithmetic and studying for grades 3–8, fifth and eighth grade science, and eighth grade social research.
Military bases have massive affect on state’s economic system
A research analyzing the affect on the state’s economic system from U.S. army installations concludes they contributed at the least $114.1 billion to the Texas economic system final 12 months and supported greater than 600,000 jobs throughout the state. Texas is dwelling to fifteen army installations and the U.S. Army Futures Command, which is positioned in Austin and runs modernization initiatives for the U.S. Army.
The research was accomplished by the comptroller’s workplace on the behest of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission.
“It is amazing to see the tremendous economic impact these military installations have in Texas,” mentioned Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. “The importance of these bases reaches far beyond direct jobs and personal income. The facilities, and the men and women who work and are stationed at them, form the backbone of communities and support countless businesses and induced jobs throughout the state.”
Former NFL participant indicted for bogus medical claims
Former NFL participant Narond “Roc” Alexander was indicted just lately for submitting fraudulent well being reimbursement claims totaling greater than $25,000 to a well being program for former NFL gamers. The case was introduced by Texas Department of Insurance investigators together with the Bexar County District Attorney’s workplace.
Alexander allegedly filed the bogus claims between 2014 and 2018 beneath the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Plan, which helps pay sure medical care bills for former NFL gamers. He may withstand 10 years in jail and a $10,000 nice if convicted.
“Insurance fraud hurts the people who actually need these funds to cover their health care costs, like the NFL players who benefit from this particular fund,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales mentioned. “This indictment allows us to seek justice on behalf of the NFL players with legitimate claims who rely on these funds.”
After taking part in for the University of Washington, Alexander signed with the Denver Broncos in 2004 and later performed for the Houston Texans.
Grant program to learn the journey business
The journey business, laborious hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, is about to obtain $180 million of funds beneath a grant program funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.The program is designed to offer grants for the restoration of Texas companies within the tourism, journey, and hospitality business affected by the pandemic.
“Travel and tourism are critical components to both the state and local economies,” mentioned Gov. Greg Abbott. “Visitor spending at Texas destinations brings new money into communities and spurs local job creation across industries in every region of the state.”
A collection of webinars are slated to offer info for particular companies. To get extra particulars and register, go to: https://ttir.gov.texas.gov.
Demographic heart analyzes state census results
The U.S. Census Bureau has launched its 2021 inhabitants estimates, and the Texas Demographic Center has crunched the numbers to find out:
- Texas is rising each older and extra numerous. Median age elevated to 35.4 years in 2021, up from 33.6 in 2010.
- Texas has extra Black residents than every other state.
- All city core counties in Texas, besides for Travis County, misplaced non-Hispanic white inhabitants.
- The state has the third-largest Asian inhabitants within the nation.
- Harris County has extra Black residents than all different counties within the nation besides Cook County, which incorporates Chicago.
Sharing the highway with massive vehicles
Anyone who has pushed the state’s main highways just lately probably has seen the variety of 18-wheelers on the highway has risen as companies and industries work to fill demand in lots of sectors. The Texas Department of Transportation is reminding motorists to take additional care when driving round massive vehicles.
Drivers are particularly in danger within the state’s vitality sectors, in keeping with TxDOT. Last 12 months, greater than 79,000 crashes occurred within the state’s 5 main vitality manufacturing areas, leading to 1,119 deaths — a 20 % improve over the earlier 12 months.
Among the protection suggestions supplied by TxDOT are staying away from a truck’s blind spot; not tailgating; when passing a truck, ensuring you’ll be able to see each of the truck’s headlights earlier than shifting again into your lane; and by no means crossing behind a truck that’s backing up, because the driver can’t see you.
COVID-19 circumstances improve once more
The variety of new COVID-19 circumstances reported in Texas throughout the previous week by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University rose once more to 84,417, with 115 deaths recorded. Both numbers are up modestly in comparison with what was reported the earlier week. However, lab-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations within the state proceed to rise steadily, with 3,007 reported by the Department of State Health Services. That’s up 22 % from the earlier week and greater than double what was reported a month in the past.
— Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He printed a lot of neighborhood newspapers in Texas throughout a 30-year span, together with in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.