Much of U.S. Southwest left parched after monsoon season
Cactus flanks the banks of the Rio Grande as boaters in the distance navigate the shallow river as it flows through Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. New Mexico and other southwestern states have been dealing with dry conditions and warmer temperatures this summer. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)
Much of U.S. Southwest left parched after monsoon season
(AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. โ Cities across the U.S. Southwest recorded their driest monsoon season on record this year, some with only a trace or no rain. Flagstaff notched its driest season ever, down more than 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) of rain from its normal of 8.31 inches (21.1 cm ). Danielle Kosten looks forward to the monsoon season when she can open up the doors at her house northwest of Phoenix, let any breeze flow through and cool down. The scarcity of rain during the monsoon season was disappointing, she said, but not unexpected. The monsoon season doesn't guarantee widespread rain.
Gov. Abbott says local health officials can shut schools only in limited circumstances
Greg Abbott said local health authorities can shut down schools if theres evidence of an outbreak after students have already returned to campus but cannot shut them down weeks before schools open. In the meantime, local health authorities, watching their cases rise, issued a series of orders banning schools from offering in-person instruction through August, or in some cases September. The TEA at first said it would continue to fund school districts that stayed closed under these mandates. But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton muddied the waters this week when he released a legal opinion saying local health authorities could not legally issue blanket orders closing schools in their jurisdictions. State leaders' statement today appears to clarify that local health authorities may close schools if COVID-19 is spreading through their buildings, but not in advance.
Texas Attorney General says local health authorities cannot indiscriminately shut down schools
Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneLocal health officials do not have the authority to shut down all schools in their vicinity while COVID-19 cases rise, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in guidance Tuesday that contradicts what the Texas Education Agency has told school officials. The officials cited a state law giving health officials authority to control communicable diseases. Local health officials have some authority to order schools closed if people in it are infected by COVID-19, but not as a preventative measure. But it was confusing to education officials and school communities exactly which entities were allowed to do so, and when state guidance trumped local law. Paxton had already said religious private schools were exempt from following the order, in guidance released earlier this month.
Texas will allow schools to keep classrooms closed longer than previously ordered
Local school boards in areas with a lot of community spread can also delay the start of the school year. That's on top of a previous promise to reimburse all school districts for up to 75% of their pandemic-related expenses, using money from a federal grant awarded to Abbott's office. It was unclear last week whether Texas would let those local mandates stand or overrule them. And many Texas school superintendents in areas with rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have already made the decision to keep classrooms closed, without a local health order, and continue with online learning this fall. This past spring, Texas school districts struggled to get set up for remote learning, with many lacking enough computers and WiFi hotspots to send out to students.
Texas will extend time that schools will be allowed to stay online-only, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneTexas will give school districts more flexibility to keep their school buildings closed to in-person instruction this fall as coronavirus cases continue to rise, Gov. Public health guidance released last week indicated that school districts had to stay virtual for up to three weeks after their start dates, so they could get their safety protocols ironed out before bringing more students to campus. Public health experts have warned that reopening school buildings in areas where cases are rising precipitously will result in entire communities becoming infected. The political conflict on when to reopen schools has left teachers and parents terrified and uncertain about the best decisions for themselves and their families. But Abbott stopped short of saying in a separate television interview state officials would cancel next springs administration of the state standardized test.
Texas students will return to school campuses this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott tells lawmakers
Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneTexas students will be returning to public schools in person this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott told state lawmakers Thursday morning. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has determined it will be safe for students to return to their campuses this fall. The TEA will release additional guidance for school districts next Tuesday. According to state lawmakers on the 11 a.m. call with Abbott, school districts will be able to also offer instructional alternatives for students.