Texas Budget Poised to Pass with $1 Billion Funding Cap for School Vouchers
April 10, 2025 – The Texas Legislature is poised to pass a $337 billion two-year budget that includes a landmark $1 billion allocation for a school voucher program, marking a significant shift in the state’s education funding landscape. Under the provisions of Senate Bill 2 and its House counterpart, House Bill 3, the state will establish Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) that provide families with public funds to support...
Will Texas’s Anti Puppy Mill Bill Pass?
April 10, 2025 – In the 89th Texas Legislative Session, which began on January 14, 2025, the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) has prioritized the passage of the Ethical Pet Sales Bill. This proposed legislation aims to prohibit retail pet stores from selling commercially bred puppies and kittens, a measure intended to curb the influx of animals from large-scale, out-of-state breeding facilities commonly known as puppy...
Some International Student VISAs Terminated in Texas
April 9, 2025 – The Trump-aligned White House has begun revoking the visas of international students at Texas universities, escalating a crackdown that has already affected at least 15 students in the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems. Officials cite national security and campus safety as justifications, though critics argue the actions are politically motivated and overly punitive. One student reportedly lost their...
Paxton Announces Candidacy
April 8, 2025 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary. Paxton made the announcement during an appearance on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” positioning himself as a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and a critic of the Republican establishment. Paxton has enlisted...
SSHS Lady Cats Took on Pittsburg in Softball Action April 7th in Mt. Vernon
April 8, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs High School Lady Cats competed against the Pittsburg Pirates in a game of softball on April 7, 2025. The two teams met up in Mount Vernon for this exciting game. Below is KSST’s coverage of this thrilling game. KSST’s Sports Director, John Mark Dempsey, and Tony Flippin called Play by Play and Color Commentary. Check out the fun action...
CHRISTUS Health Provides Tips to Find Relief During Allergy Season
April 7, 2025 – (EAST TEXAS) – Spring has officially begun, bringing warmer weather — and allergy season. CHRISTUS Health is providing tips for relieving pesky allergy symptoms as flowers bloom and trees release pollen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25% of Americans, or about 80 million people, suffer from seasonal allergies, which range from mild discomfort...
Paris Junior College Receives Grant to Expand Student Success
April 7, 2025 – Paris Junior College has received a $125,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to expand a program boosting success for developmental students. The grant was co-authored by Carey Gable, Program Coordinator of English and Developmental Writing, and Dr. Jennifer Collar, Division Director of Communications and Fine Arts, and they are co-directors of the project. PJC is already well known at...
No More Free Lawyers for Illegal Aliens
April 7, 2025 – Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock of the Texas Supreme Court has announced that the state-run program providing defense attorneys for illegal aliens will end by May. The program was initiated through an emergency order in August 2021, five months into Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star—a border security effort aimed at curbing illegal immigration. The order ensured that individuals detained during the...
RFK Jr. Now Endorses Measles Vaccine
April 6, 2025 – Texas is currently facing a significant measles outbreak, with nearly 500 reported cases and two child fatalities. The most recent victim was 8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand from Lubbock, who succumbed to measles-related complications despite having no underlying health conditions; she was unvaccinated. In response to the escalating situation, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,...
Blue Cross/Shield Reaches Agreement With Hospitals
April 6, 2025 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has reached a new agreement with Southwestern Health Resources, marking the return of Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern hospitals to the insurer’s in-network provider list. This move restores access for BCBSTX members to receive care at these prominent health systems at in-network rates, which typically involve lower out-of-pocket costs for patients. The...