STATE

Thousands of people gathered early Saturday morning to remember the 12 lives lost in 1999 when a bonfire collapsed during construction at Texas A&M University.

A Kansas judge has put a new state law on medication abortions on hold and blocked the state from enforcing older abortion restrictions.

Last year, Houston had five teams make the UIL State Volleyball Tournament in Class 6A, 5A and 4A. Katy Tompkins came the closest to a title, reaching the Class 6A State Championship before falling short to Dripping Springs.

Myanmar’s military-controlled government has extended the state of emergency it imposed when the army seized power from an elected government 2 1/2 years ago, forcing a further delay in elections it promised when it took over.

A nonprofit that describes itself as a collection of doctors and others uniting to “protect healthcare from a radical, divisive, and discriminatory ideology” has become a significant presence in statehouses.

The Houston ISD board of trustees held its last scheduled meeting Thursday night before the state takes over the largest school district in Texas.

Greater Houston is loaded with State baseball powers. The competition is elite, and the coaching is some of the best in the country.

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Texas Tribune politics reporters James Barragán and Patrick Svitek about Abbott’s prime-time address.

The Bearkats have been a power in the pool over several decades, dating back to the 1980s. It was just four years ago that both the Boys and Girls earned 6th-place finishes at State.

THE KLEIN OAK GIRLS TRACK TEAM HAD A SPECIAL YEAR IN 2021, FINISHING FIFTH OVERALL AT THE UIL STATE MEET.

PACING RIGHT BEHIND THE KLEIN OAK PANTHERS AT THE GIRLS STATE MEET WERE THE KLEIN HIGH BEARKATS, WHO FINISHED SIXTH OVERALL AS A TEAM.

Kathryn Koonts exploded onto the Texas High School running scene as a sophomore, but it was all apart of her master plan.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Thursday that he has asked the Supreme Court of Texas to vacate a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of Texas’s pre-Roe criminal prohibitions on elective abortion.

AUSTIN - When Karen Slack’s team took the field in 2022, she wanted them to do two things - “play with confidence of a state champion and the fight of an underdog”.

The second State of Black Women Health Forum will be held Wednesday at HISD’s Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, located at 1906 Cleburne Street, in Houston.

After what Jace Posey considered a “disappointing” performance in 2021, finishing fourth in the Class 6A high jump competition at State, the Strake Jesuit junior was determined for a better showing in 2022.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed a bill prohibiting the use of nonbinary gender markers on state birth certificates.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law to make abortions cheaper for people on private insurance plans.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a bill to limit how race can be discussed in classrooms.

California’s unemployment rate dipped a half-percentage point in December as the most populous state added 50,700 nonfarm jobs.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made clear in his State of the State speech that he likes teachers, first responders and freedom and he doesn’t like Dr. Anthony Fauci, critical race theory, abortion, illegal immigration and Burmese pythons.

HOUSTON - It was a great year for Class 5A in the city of Houston.

The Senate has confirmed two prominent anti-Trump Republicans to serve in the Biden administration.

How to vote in Texas is a hot topic of conversation, especially since the 2020 election.

Rosehill Christian has a shot in 2021 to shake things up in TAPPS Division IV. The Eagles reached the State Semifinals a year ago and returns 13 starters from that team.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has announced that the first case of West Nile has been reported in the state.

President Joe Biden is nominating Cindy McCain to be the U.S. representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.

The youngest daughter of New York’s governor used a social media post Thursday to share her “queer” identity and call for allies to speak up against homophobia.

Saturday through Monday, two sales tax holidays — the Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday and the Water Efficient Products Sales Tax Holiday -- will run concurrently. Throughout the weekend, Texas shoppers can save money on certain energy- and water-efficient products.

The unemployment rate in Texas was 6.9% in March, which is more than double the record low of 3.4% in May 2019. The extra $300 federal benefit will end June 26 for jobless Texans.

State health officials have reported more than 1,700 new COVID-19 cases and 26 new deaths for the day.

State health officials reported above-average new COVID-19 case and death totals.

– Mississippi will increase the lowest monthly welfare payments in the nation under a bill signed into law Wednesday by the state's Republican governor. The payments in Mississippi have been $146 for a family of two, $170 for a family of three and $194 for a family of four. AdEven with the increase, the Mississippi welfare payments will still be only a fraction of the federal poverty level, according to the liberal-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Brandon Jones, a Democratic former Mississippi House member and current policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund in Mississippi, called the increase long overdue. “This $90 increase gets Mississippi off the bottom and is desperately needed by struggling families throughout the state."

Newsom and his Democratic allies launched a political committee Monday, March 15 to stop a proposed recall election that could oust him from office. Orrin Heatlie, a retired county sheriff's sergeant who filed the recall petition, said Newsom is engaging in a “smear campaign" about the recall organizers because he can't defend his record. Defeating the recall “will be one of the most important priorities for Democrats this year,” Booker said in a statement. Newsom for months sidestepped questions about the recall but has more recently started to ramp up his political operation and strategy. AdResponding to Newsom’s campaign, the California Republican Party pointed to a slew of issues beyond the coronavirus.

The Cypress Ranch Mustangs have won two state titles over the past nine years entering the 2021 season. Doing some quick math, since there was not a season a year ago, that's one-quarter of the titles in the past eight years. Cy Ranch has some solid pieces coming back in pitchers Griffin Abercrombie and Colby Wilson (Newman University). Cypress Ranch won't go down easy to district upstart Bridgeland. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL MAGAZINEAdCLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PHOTOSCLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Tate Reeves signs the first state bill in the U.S. this year to ban transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams, as supporting lawmakers gather behind him, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Tate Reeves signed a bill Thursday to ban transgender athletes from competing on girls or women’s sports teams. “This law is a solution in search of a problem, and legislators in Mississippi have not provided any examples of Mississippi transgender athletes gaming the system for a competitive advantage because none exist,” David said. In a statement Thursday, Alliance Defending Freedom attorney Christiana Holcomb praised the Mississippi law. AdRepublican legislators who pushed the bill gave no evidence of any transgender athletes competing in Mississippi schools or universities.

– Mississippi is on track to become the first state this year to enact a law banning transgender athletes from competing on girls or women's sports teams. Tate Reeves said Thursday that he will sign a bill that the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature has passed. AdRepublican legislators who pushed the bill gave no evidence of any transgender athletes competing in Mississippi schools or universities. A Mississippi mother with a transgender daughter spoke Thursday during the Human Rights Campaign news conference. AdSupporters of bills such as the one in Mississippi argue that transgender girls, because they were born male, are naturally stronger, faster and bigger than those born female.

New York's attorney general said she's moving forward with an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo after receiving a letter from his office Monday, March 1, 2021, authorizing her to take charge of the probe. AdAttorney General Letitia James received a letter Monday from Cuomo’s office authorizing her to take charge of the probe after a weekend of wrangling over who should investigate. The harassment allegations come on the heels of accusations he covered up the true death toll of coronavirus on nursing home residents. Cuomo senior adviser Beth Garvey said she would facilitate interviews with witness and requests for documents from Cuomo’s office.

Kelly championed Medicaid expansion in her first race in 2018 and promised to sign legislation legalizing medical marijuana, though she has not pushed that issue aggressively so far. But University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said he wonders why any Kansas politician still opposes medical marijuana. The Legislature has taken only relatively small steps toward legalizing medical marijuana even as most other states have done it. She said legalizing medical marijuana could raise up to $50 million a year and her proposal “eliminates the argument” that Kansas can't afford Medicaid expansion. AdBut Republican lawmakers remained skeptical that medical marijuana could raise much money or cover Medicaid expansion costs.

Denton Ryan is loaded, plain and simple. Denton Ryan is a force up front with Bear Alexander, Mason Davis and the two-way star Sanders, which rendered the offenses of Longview and Highland Park hapless. As a three touchdown underdog, it would seem the magical run of Summit will run its course. PICK: Denton Ryan is just too strong all around. The defense will suffocate the run game and make life miserable for Hopkins and his go-to receiver Hal Presley when Summit does pass.

There are three weeks left it the TAPPS football season as two of the divisions are in the regional round while the other two are in the semifinals. Let's look at the State Semifinals and Regional Round matchups involving DFW-area teams. DIVISION ISEMIFINALS1-1: Fort Worth Nolan Catholic vs. 1-7: Fort Worth All Saints, 3:15 p.m. Saturday @ Globe Life Park (Arlington)1-2 Dallas Parish Episcopal vs. 1-5: Midland Christian, 2 p.m. Saturday @ Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium (Abilene)STATE CHAMPIONSHIPNolan Catholic/All Saints winner vs. Parish/Midland winner, Saturday, December 12 (TBD)DIVISION IIREGIONAL1-1: Fort Worth Southwest Christian vs. 1-3 Fort Worth Christian, 2 p.m. Saturday @ Barnes Stadium (River Oaks)1-2: Grapevine Faith vs. 2-1: Dallas Christian, 3 p.m. Saturday @ Royse City ISD Stadium (Royse City)SEMIFINALSFW Southwest/FW Christian winner vs. Grapevine Faith/Dallas Christian winner, Saturday, December 12 (TBD)DIVISION IIIREGIONAL1-1: Colleyville Covenant vs. 2-2: Arlington Grace Prep, 3 p.m. Saturday @ Pennington Field (Bedford)1-2: Fort Worth Lake Country vs. 1-4: Lubbock Trinity Christian, 5:30 p.m. Saturday @ Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium (Abilene)SEMIFINALSColleyville/Grace Prep winner vs. Lake Country/Lubbock Trinity winnerDIVISION IVSEMIFINALS2-2: Dallas First Baptist vs. 2-1: Waco Reicher Catholic, 1 p.m. Saturday @ ISTATE CHAMPIONSHIPFirst Baptist/Reicher winner vs. St. Paul/Rosehill winner, Saturday, December 12

We're into the second round of the classes 4A and under playoffs march to State. For the second straight week, the big schools (6A and 5A) take a back seat to the quick looks until their respective playoffs start as we peak at the three matchups in 4A featuring DFW-area teams on Thursday. Bo is gone, but CJ Rogers is just as competent and Tito Byce and company return for a run at state. Gilmer is on a six-game win streak with an average win margin of 32 points. Godley has been equally-impressive in its four-game win streak with a win margin of 32.5 points.

HOUSTON – A troubling trend in the latest COVID-19 numbers across Texas. Valdez believes part of the reason for the rise in numbers is the cooler temperatures and people not going outside as much. “Instead, they’re going to stay inside and that’s just going propagate this little uptick that we’re seeing right now it’s probably going to propagate into bigger wave very soon,” Valdez said. A look at the latest graphs show the steady climb across Texas in both the number of new covid cases and hospitalizations. And they’re loyal to us and they’re careful with us and helping us not spread this disease and mitigating the spread," Valdez said.

The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd. A state appeals court has upheld a Travis County State district court order allowing Texas counties to have multiple drop-off locations for hand delivery of absentee ballots, undercutting Gov. But it remains unclear if the intermediate court's decision will lead to the reopening of ballot drop-off locations that were shut down in Harris and Travis counties following Abbott's order. Abbott and Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs are expected to quickly appeal the ruling to the Texas Supreme Court to again block the order from taking effect. Last week, Travis County State District Judge Tim Sulak agreed, ruling against Abbott’s order.

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo Cindy McCain, wife of former Arizona Sen. John McCain, waves to the crowd after being acknowledged by Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey during his State of the State address on the opening day of the legislative session at the Capitol in Phoenix. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden said Sept. 22 that Cindy McCain plans to endorse him for president. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo Cindy McCain, wife of former Arizona Sen. John McCain, waves to the crowd after being acknowledged by Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey during his State of the State address on the opening day of the legislative session at the Capitol in Phoenix. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden said Sept. 22 that Cindy McCain plans to endorse him for president. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

HOUSTON – The Third and Fifth wards of Houston have been designated cultural districts by the state. “I am so excited to see the State recognize the Fifth Ward community for its rich history and heritage while also acknowledging its continued commitment to arts and culture,” Harrison Guy, Director of Arts & Culture at the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, said in a written statement. “These neighborhoods have created, nurtured and celebrated arts and culture over generations,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a written statement. The other five are the Arts District Houston, the East End Cultural District, the Midtown Cultural Arts and Entertainment District, the Museum District and the Theater District. For more information about Houston’s cultural program, go to houstontx.gov/culturalaffairs.

The question: Are tattoo and piercing shop and massage parlors included in the businesses that are allowed to reopen as part of phase 2 of Gov. Phase 1 of Governor Greg Abbott’s plan to reopen Texas began Friday and included businesses like museums, retail shops, restaurants and movie theaters. However, he did give specifications for tattoo shops or massage parlors. Had they been included in phase 2, those businesses would also be listed under the guidelines issued by the state. Click here to see the specifications for businesses that are included in phase 2.

Voting is underway across Nevada as the most diverse state so far has its say in the Democrats’ nomination fight. Presidential candidates made their last urgent pleas as voters prepared to weigh in. Saturday’s caucuses are the third contest in a 2020 primary season that has so far been marred by chaos and uncertainty in overwhelmingly white, rural states. While state officials aren’t promising they’ll report results on Saturday, Nevada’s first-in-the-West caucuses will test the candidates’ strength with black and brown voters for the first time in 2020. Here is a live Twitter blog for the Nevada Caucus: