Texas Republicans say Charlie Kirk’s death is galvanizing young conservatives
Thousands gathered at a North Houston suburb for the summit, where speaker after speaker memorialized Kirk and encouraged young attendees to rise in his place. Full Story
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Nicholas Gutteridge is a reporting fellow.
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![Houston, Texas: People say the pledge during the Texas Youth Summit on September 19, 2025 in The Woodlands, Texas.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
How a secret recording of a gender identity lecture upended Texas A&M
Officials have struggled to detail the exact reasons for the A&M professor’s termination, citing a technical issue with her course description. Faculty say the move was politically motivated. Full Story
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![Room 466 inside the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Texas A&M University, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in College Station. (Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Antranik Tavitian for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to step down after a week of turmoil over viral classroom video
Calls for Welsh’s ousting intensified over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class. Full Story
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![President Mark A. Welsh III and his wife Betty are greeted by A&M faculty and students as he leaves campus after resigning on Sept. 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Cassie Stricker for The Texas Tribune -
Students and professors defend Texas A&M President Mark Welsh amid calls for his ousting
Some lawmakers have called for Welsh to be fired over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity content being taught in a children’s literature class. Full Story
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![Texas A&M interim president Ret. Gen. Mark A. Welsh III speaks with student leaders before addressing the senior class during Elephant Walk on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at Aggie Park in College Station.]()
Credit: Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M professor fired after viral video disputes termination
An attorney for Melissa McCoul, seen in a video clashing with a student over gender-identity content in her class, said the professor is weighing her legal options. Full Story
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![The Academic Building at Texas A&M University in College Station on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.]()
Credit: Adriano Espinosa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas educators praise new school cellphone ban
The new state ban took effect on Sept. 1, and Texas’ more than 1,200 public school districts have adopted policies ranging from secure phone pouches to increased monitoring. Full Story
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![Students eat lunch without devices at Lago Vista High School on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 in Lago Vista, TX. HB 1481 passed during the special legislative session which requires schools to implement a policy prohibiting personal communication devices. Lago Vista has implemented a policy where students stow devices, primarily cell phones, in magnetically locked pouches that also block cell phone service, the devices can be unlocked in the event of an emergency as well as when the students exit the building using a wall mounted key near the building entrance. (Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune)]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Video of clash over gender-identity content in Texas A&M children’s lit class leads to firing, removals
After the video fueled outrage, a professor was fired and two college leaders removed from their administrative roles for approving content inconsistent with the course’s description. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M bell tower on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in College Station.]()
Credit: Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribune -
Professors want to leave Texas because of tense political climate, survey says
Professors’ concerns included the state’s DEI ban and new limits to faculty influence at colleges and universities. Full Story
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![The main building of the University of Texas at Austin, in 2012.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas student groups sue to block state law that limits campus protests
The law, largely in response to pro-Palestinian protests last year, bans "expressive activity" on campuses from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. The lawsuit says it is overly broad and will affect protected speech. Full Story
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![Law enforcement leads a pro-Palestinian protester away in custody as they begin to remove demonstrators from an encampment set up in support of Gaza on the UT-Austin campus on April 29, 2024.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribune -
ACLU, other groups sue to block Texas' DEI ban on K-12 public schools
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. Full Story
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![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 Tribune]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune