News

The top local stories this morning from KERA News:

Business and tourism groups are continuing to speak out against the state’s so-called “bathroom bill,” being deliberated during the special legislative session that's underway.

What happens when your school heads to the state championship for smart kids three years running? At Seagoville High School in the Dallas school district, students take notice – and the Academic Decathlon team doubles in size. Mark Harrington, the coach and teacher, is the force behind this team.

The top local stories this evening from KERA News: Tom Perez is optimistic that Democrats can mount a comeback in Texas -- and across the country.

After last year’s presidential election, Democrats are in rebuilding mode in Texas and across the country. Democrats lost the White House and they’re the minority in Congress and in most statehouses. In Texas, the last time a Democrat won statewide office was in 1994. Despite all of this, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez is optimistic.

The top local stories this morning from KERA News:

Homeland security has taken over the investigation into what police in San Antonio believe was a case of human smuggling. Nine people are now dead after they were found in a sweltering semi-trailer outside a Walmart Sunday.

Spuds, chips or fries, we consume a lot of potatoes in a lot of ways. Some are healthy and some not. It all depends on how you prepare them. But, there are plenty of health benefits in the vegetable itself.

The top local stories this evening from KERA News:

Hundreds of people lined up today in Austin to oppose a so-called "bathroom bill."

The special session is underway, and of the 20 items Gov. Greg Abbott says he wants lawmakers to tackle, one is getting a lot of attention from teachers: pay increases for educators.

The top local stories this morning from KERA News:

A Texas Senate committee this morning will hear testimony on the controversial bathroom bill.

Dallas made a landmark hire this week – Renee Hall will be the first woman to run the city’s police department. Now serving as deputy chief in Detroit, Hall is determined to make her mark in Dallas not just as a woman, but as a standout leader.

The top local stories this evening from KERA News: 

This summer, high school and junior high students are gathering at Southern Methodist University for week-long engineering camps.

Throughout the summer, high school and junior high students have been gathering at Southern Methodist University for week-long engineering camps. High schoolers tackled a tough challenge. Devise - then build – one of several electronic items like an alarm clock or home burglary system.  Only make it smaller, cheaper and faster than what’s out there. And finish it in just days.

The top local stories this morning from KERA News:

When Senate Republicans abandoned plans to overhaul the Affordable Care Act this week, President Donald Trump blamed Democrats and some Republican senators for the bill’s failure. 

Across Texas, city officials are critical of the special session agenda set by Gov. Greg Abbott -- they say many of the items are basically an attempt by state lawmakers to influence what city leaders do at the local level.

Renee Hall will be the first female chief of the Dallas Police Department.

Hall is the permanent replacement for Chief David Brown. He retired in October after leading the department and the city through the aftermath of the July 7 ambush that left five officers dead.

The top local stories this evening from KERA News:

Dallas has a new top cop, and for the first time in the history of the city, a woman will lead the Police Department. Renee Hall will assume chief duties in Dallas in September after finishing up as deputy chief in Detroit. 

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel ushered in a new era for cancer treatment last week. The panel unanimously recommended the approval of the first treatment to fight acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a common blood cancer in children – with a patient’s own cells.