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Katy ISD dropped plans for a renowned author's visit to two elementary schools last week after discovering her use of "foul language" on social media. The New York Times bestselling novelist of six books Emma Straub was supposed to read her first children's picture book Very Many Hats to Kindergarten and first grade students at Robertson and Cimarron Elementary schools on Jan. 13. However, the district rescinded its invitation the day before the event due to complaints it received from parents about Straub's use of explicit language online, specifically the "F word." "The visit was intended to be an opportunity to visit with a children's book author who wrote Very Many Hats and learn about the writing process," read an email sent on Jan. 12 from administrators to parents and staff from both schools. "However, it has been brought to our attention that this author has regularly used inappropriate and foul language on her social media platforms — specifically repeated use of the … [Read more...] about Katy ISD cancels visit from author Emma Straub after she uses ‘F word’ online

" Gov. Greg Abbott says in inauguration speech Legislature will prioritize budget surplus, schools and power grid " was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief , The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Gov. Greg Abbott , in his third inaugural address Tuesday, emphasized that the legislative session would be centered on the historic budget surplus, “parental rights” in schools and public safety. Notably, he pitched a focus on infrastructure that included the power grid, after the 2021 winter storm and blackout left millions of Texans in the dark and hundreds dead. Abbott trumpeted grid improvements that he successfully pushed in the months after but acknowledged there is more work to do. In doing so, he aligned himself with Lt. Gov. … [Read more...] about Gov. Greg Abbott says in inauguration speech Legislature will prioritize budget surplus, schools and power grid

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 17 MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (AP) — In the wake of the worst massacre in Los Angeles County history, the California governor was meeting gunshot victims in the hospital when he was pulled away and briefed on a mass shooting at the other end of the state. Word that a gunman had killed seven people at mushroom farms in a scenic coastal stretch of Northern California came just hours after Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke of his fatigue and frustration with mass shootings. “I can’t keep doing them,” he told reporters earlier Monday in Monterey Park, where 11 people were killed at a dance studio. “Saying the same thing over and over and over again, it’s insane.” Yet Newsom was in Half Moon Bay on Tuesday to address the third mass shooting in just over a week in a state with some of the nation's toughest gun laws and … [Read more...] about ‘It’s insane’: California copes with 3rd massacre in 8 days

News organizations tried to decide Friday night whether to broadcast video that was unquestionably newsworthy but horrifically violent - hardly for the first time. In this instance, it was graphic footage of five Memphis police officers fatally beating 29-year-old motorist Tyre Nichols. Hours earlier, it was police body-camera video of a man attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer. On other days, it's been recordings of mass shootings, war, any other number of atrocities that comprise part of the modern news cycle. Most networks decided to air the Nichols videos shortly after they were released - some before they had reviewed it themselves - and always with copious on-air and verbal warnings for viewers. CNN aired the entire four-part video, after anchor Erin Burnett said the network determined that it is "of great public importance." "The family and the police chief all want the world to see this video," she added. Ahead of a video clip showing paramedics slow to respond, … [Read more...] about News organizations grapple with showing horrific Nichols, Pelosi videos