https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/atirikta-kumar/The latest news by Atirikta Kumar.enFri, 29 Aug 2025 11:33:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-aclu-k-12-public-schools-dei-ban/The suit alleges the new state law unconstitutionally silences the viewpoints of students and teachers. The law’s supporters say DEI programs use public funds to promote political agendas.By Nicholas Gutteridge and Atirikta KumarFri, 29 Aug 2025 11:33:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/29/texas-aclu-k-12-public-schools-dei-ban/The ACLU and a group of LGBTQ+ and student rights organizations are suing Texas to block the state's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in K-12 public schools.Temple, Texas - 4/17/25: JoMeka Gray teaches a class of kindergarteners at Kennedy-Powell Elementary in Temple, Texas. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas TribuneIlana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-public-education-new-laws/Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students.By Atirikta KumarMon, 18 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/18/texas-public-education-new-laws/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-districts-four-day-school-weeks/More than 500 schools are using four-day school weeks, a dramatic increase from two years ago driven by fierce competition for educators amid a statewide teacher shortage.By Atirikta Kumar, Graphics by Rob ReidFri, 15 Aug 2025 15:37:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-districts-four-day-school-weeks/Casey Adams, superintendent of the Woodson Independent School District, poses for a portrait at the Woodson ISD library on July 28, 2025. The district adopted a four-day school week model in 2019.WOODSON, TEXAS — JULY 29, 2025: Casey Adams, superintendent of Woodson Independent School District (ISD), poses for a portrait at the Woodson ISD library in Woodson, Texas, on Tuesday, July 28, 2025. The district adopted a four-day school week model during the 2019–20 school year. CREDIT: Desiree Rios for The Texas TribuneDesiree Rios for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/texas-hill-country-floods-victims-names/Most victims were Texans, but some were visiting from other states like California, Florida and Alabama. The youngest victims were 1 year old; the oldest was 91.By Atirikta KumarFri, 08 Aug 2025 17:59:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/texas-hill-country-floods-victims-names/People gather at a memorial for the victims of the July Fourth floods in the Texas Hill Country during a vigil on July 11, 2025, in Kerrville. Authorities released Friday the names of the 119 people who died during the Kerr County floods.People gather at a memorial for the victims of the Kerr County flood during a vigil on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Kerrville.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/dallas-fort-worth-dei-trump-administration/The North Texas city councils said hundreds of millions of dollars were in jeopardy if they didn’t shut certain programs to comply with the Trump administration.By Atirikta KumarFri, 08 Aug 2025 16:55:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/dallas-fort-worth-dei-trump-administration/Children play at the Nancy Best Fountain at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas on July 27. The City Council voted this week to end diversity initiatives to keep federal funding.Children play at the Nancy Best Fountain at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas on Sunday, July 27, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-legislature-special-session-deed-fraud/Senate Bill 15 seeks to prevent the use of fraudulent deeds to sell someone else’s property or take out loans. It now heads to the House, where its fate is uncertain.By Atirikta KumarFri, 01 Aug 2025 12:44:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-legislature-special-session-deed-fraud/A Texas Senate committee advanced Friday a bill to strengthen protections and criminal penalties against deed fraud. The legislation now heads to the Senate floor for a full vote.A San Antonio neighborhood on Saturday, May 25, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/texas-flood-disaster-senate-committee/The joint House and Senate committee will first meet in Austin next week, then in Kerrville on July 31 to hear from Hill Country residents about their concerns.By Atirikta KumarMon, 14 Jul 2025 16:45:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/texas-flood-disaster-senate-committee/An excavator picks up items in Hunt damaged by Hill Country flooding on July 11, 2025.An excavator picks up items damaged in the flood to be discarded in Hunt on Friday July 11, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/texas-hill-country-floods-kerrville-recovery-hub/As residents recover and rebuild, Grape Juice in downtown Kerrville is serving as a hub for people needing meals, supplies and other necessities.By Atirikta KumarMon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/14/texas-hill-country-floods-kerrville-recovery-hub/People look toward the Guadalupe River at the Dallas Daughtry Memorial Pavilion in Kerrville on Friday, July 11, 2025. As the Hill Country focuses on recovery and rebuilding after the deadly July Fourth floods, one downtown Kerrville restaurant is serving as a community hub to distribute meals, aid and other necessities.People look towards the Guadalupe River at the Dallas Daughtry Memorial Pavilion in Kerrville on Friday, July 11, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-hill-country-floods-families-missing-search-efforts/The four friends are among the hundreds of victims. The bodies of three of them have been found. Their families have searched for their loved ones since Friday.By Jessica Shuran Yu, Atirikta Kumar and Sneha DeyThu, 10 Jul 2025 15:43:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-hill-country-floods-families-missing-search-efforts/Thad Heartfield talks through search routes with volunteers at the parking lot of a Walmart on July 10, 2025, in Kerrville. Heartfield has led search efforts since July 4 looking for his son Aidan Heartfield who, along with his girlfriend and two friends, were swept away by the Hill Country floods.Thursday July 10, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-state-fair-gun-ban/Texas’ attorney general alleged the City of Dallas and the fair were violating state law and the second amendment with the ban, which was adopted after a 2023 shooting.By Atirikta KumarMon, 30 Jun 2025 20:32:23 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-state-fair-gun-ban/The State Fair of Texas adopted gun restrictions in 2024 after a gunman opened fire on the fairgrounds the previous year, leaving three people injured.Crowds attend the State Fair of Texas in Dallas on Oct. 14, 2024.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-senate-special-election-district-9-kelly-hancock/The contest coincides with the state’s November uniform election, when voters across Texas will already be at the polls to decide local offices and ballot measures.By Atirikta KumarFri, 27 Jun 2025 18:38:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-senate-special-election-district-9-kelly-hancock/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate on July 14, 2021.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate on July 14, 2021.Sophie Park/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-thc-hemp-ban-dangers-benefits/Although Patrick and hemp industry leaders have quarreled over the risks and benefits of THC, cannabis researchers say it can be addictive but doesn’t usually cause widespread psychosis or brain damage.By Hayden Betts and Atirikta KumarFri, 27 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-thc-hemp-ban-dangers-benefits/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a press conference at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a press conference at the Texas Captiol in Austin, Texas on Monday 23, June 2025.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-am-accreditation/The creation of the new accrediting agency comes as Republicans have criticized existing ones for reinforcing a liberal bias in the country's higher ed institutions.By Atirikta Kumar and Jessica PriestThu, 26 Jun 2025 14:52:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/26/texas-am-accreditation/The Texas A&M University System on Thursday said it is joining university systems in other Republican-led states to create a new accrediting agency. Accreditors, which review education quality standards for higher ed institutions, have recently faced criticism from Republican leaders at the state and federal level who say the agencies are partly responsible for what they deem as liberal bias in the country's colleges and universities.People take photos with the 3-ton bronze replica of the Haynes Aggie Ring at Texas A&M University on Monday, June 15, 2020 in College Station. The ring is located outside the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center near Kyle Field.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/harris-county-judge-lina-hidalgo-annise-parker-2026/If Hidalgo decides to seek another term, she and Parker would face off in the March 2026 Democratic primary.By Atirikta KumarWed, 11 Jun 2025 11:49:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/harris-county-judge-lina-hidalgo-annise-parker-2026/Annise Parker speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 28, 2019.Annise Parker speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 28, 2019.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/texas-staar-high-school-algebra-biology-stem/Education policy experts say the results align with Texas’ workforce goals but note that students still need help.By Atirikta Kumar, Graphics by Edison WuTue, 10 Jun 2025 17:39:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/10/texas-staar-high-school-algebra-biology-stem/A 9th grade student prepares for a pre-test in a program that provides support for students taking the STAAR test at Elsik High School in Houston on April 19, 2018.A 9th grade student prepares for a pre-test in a program that provides support for students taking the STAAR test, at Elsik High School in Houston on April 19, 2018.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/2025-legislative-session-san-antonio/State Rep. Ray Lopez and Sen. José Menéndez, Democrats from San Antonio, seemed reluctant to travel to Austin if called for a special session to redraw the state’s district lines.By Atirikta KumarMon, 02 Jun 2025 19:29:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/2025-legislative-session-san-antonio/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/2025-legislative-session-north-texas/State Reps. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, and Salman Bhojani, D-Euless, discussed the House’s move toward the right.By Atirikta KumarFri, 30 May 2025 10:02:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/2025-legislative-session-north-texas/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/texas-ken-paxton-san-antonio-abortion-travel/Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the city in April after it approved $100,000 to help residents travel out of the state for abortions.By Atirikta Kumar and Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 04 Apr 2025 16:21:59 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/04/texas-ken-paxton-san-antonio-abortion-travel/San Antonio City Council's approval Thursday of $100,000 for abortion travel prompted a lawsuit Friday from Attorney General Ken Paxton that seeks a temporary injunction blocking the allocation.Pedestrians walk by La Antorcha de la Amistad sculpture in downtown San Antonio on Nov. 2, 2021.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/ut-austin-student-sues/Ammer Qaddumi alleges UT-Austin violated his First Amendment rights. He is also challenging his suspension from the university.By Atirikta Kumar and Kate McGeeThu, 29 Aug 2024 16:23:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/29/ut-austin-student-sues/University of Texas at Austin police arrest student Ammer Qaddumi during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on April 24. He is suing the university, claiming it violated his First Amendment rights.Palestine Solidarity Committee student organizer Ammer Qaddumi is detained by University of Texas Police, during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas at Austin campus, on April 24, 2024.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune