The top local stories this morning from KERA News:
Officials with the U.S. Department of Education will hold listening sessions in Richardson and Houston on special education in public schools as part of a week-long tour of Texas.
The tour follows a report from the Houston Chronicle that the Texas Education Agency capped special education enrollment at 8.5 percent – and did so without consulting the federal government, state lawmakers or any research. The national average is 13 percent.
The TEA has denied allegations that it capped special education services.
The Department of Education will be hold a listening session at 6 p.m. at the Region 10 Service Center in Richardson.
Other stories this morning:
- Credit ratings agency Moody's has downgraded Dallas’ bond rating for the second time in two months. The agency cited the city’s troubled Police and Fire Pension Fund, and police back-pay lawsuits that could cost the city $4 billion. The downgrades mean the city will pay more interest on any new debt incurred.
- There are new recommendations for who should use statin drugs. Doctors have based that on cholesterol level and various lifestyle factors, but the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests age should also figure into the decision.
- The Dallas Cowboys’ 11-game winning streak ended last night. The Cowboys fell to the New York Giants, 10-7. Dallas is now 11-2.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
