Child care centers closing across state

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CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Gary Borders

An unprecedented number of child care centers are expected to close across the state as pandemic relief funding ends, the Texas Standard reported.
A survey conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children of about 1,600 child care programs indicated 44% were likely to close their doors without additional funding. Federal pandemic relief funds ended for most centers in June.
The Texas Legislature declined to pass a $2.3 billion House proposal for child care providers, with the intent that the money be used to raise the average wage of staff from $12 per hour to at least $15 per hour.
Since 2020, Texas child care providers have received more than $4 billion in COVID-19 funding, according to the Texas Tribune. The money helped cover child care costs for more than 800,000 Texas children.
“This is going to be something that affects every community here in the state of Texas and will have a lasting effect on our economy as the supply of workers in all industries is shortened because of the lack of child care,” Cody Summerville, executive director of TAEYC, said.
Wildfire danger continues to rise as state bakes
Texas A&M Forest Service is warning of increased wildfire danger as high temperatures and dry conditions continue to cover the state.
“Since mid-July, wildfire activity has increased substantially across Texas due to expanding drought conditions,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “Over the past two weeks, state and local firefighters have responded to 280 wildfires that burned almost 10,000 acres.”
While the risk of wildfire has increased, the five active wildfires across the state have largely been contained. The number of counties with burn bans in place increased to 168 as of last weekend.
A&M reaches $1 million settlement with journalism professor
Texas A&M University reached a $1 million settlement with a journalism professor whose botched hiring led to the resignation of the university’s president, The Dallas Morning News reported.
University officials released the results of an internal investigation last week that admitted “mistakes were made during the hiring process.”
Kathleen McElroy, a former editor for the New York Times and a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, accepted a tenure-track position to restart A&M’s journalism program. A public signing ceremony was followed with backlash, including from six A&M regents, because of her work to diversify newsrooms. The original offer eventually was reduced to a one-year contract with no protection from being summarily fired. McElroy decided to stay at UT-Austin while making public how the offer had changed.
“I hope the resolution of my matter will reinforce A&M’s allegiance to excellence in higher education and its commitment to academic freedom and journalism,” McElroy said. She is a Texas A&M graduate.