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Tomball ISD Students Achieve Significant National Merit and Recognition Honors

Tomball ISD Students Achieve Significant National Merit and Recognition Honors

Students across Tomball Independent School District (ISD) in Texas have earned 664 National Merit and Recognition Program honors for the 2025-2026 school year. This includes 11 National Merit Semifinalists, 34 National Merit Commended students, 71 National First Generation Recognition honorees, and 548 National School Recognition honorees. These recognitions span Tomball High School, Tomball Memorial High School, and Tomball Star Academy. The National Merit Scholarship Program applications for Finalist recognition are due in October. The district, established in 1908, serves over 23,300 students across 26 campuses within 83 square miles of northwest Harris County and southwest Montgomery County, approximately 30 miles from downtown Houston. The recognition highlights the academic achievements of students in various categories, acknowledging their performance in the classroom and beyond.
USA TodayUSA Today
Today is Dolly Parton Day! See how states, cities are celebrating

Today is Dolly Parton Day! See how states, cities are celebrating

Friday, Sept. 25, is Dolly Parton Day, honoring the late country icon's hit single, '9 to 5.' See which states and cities are hosting celebrations.
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Representative Monica De La Cruz Addresses Concerns Over Historic Lows in U.S. Cattle Herd

Representative Monica De La Cruz Addresses Concerns Over Historic Lows in U.S. Cattle Herd

The U.S. cattle herd has reached historic lows, prompting concerns from South Texas lawmakers and agricultural leaders regarding cattle supplies and the affordability of beef. Representative Monica De La Cruz highlighted efforts by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to invest in domestic cattle production. De La Cruz emphasized that any initiatives to reduce food costs should not negatively impact U.S. cattle producers. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of food affordability while cautioning against market volatility and urging the administration to consult with cattle ranchers and the broader industry. Representative Vicente Gonzalez also commented on the challenges faced by South Texas producers, citing issues such as the resurgence of the New World Screwworm, droughts, tariffs, and increased operational costs due to a conflict in Iran. The latest Cattle on Feed report indicates a 9% decrease in placements compared to the previous year, markin...
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California Establishes Annual Dolly Parton Day, Joining National Celebrations

California Establishes Annual Dolly Parton Day, Joining National Celebrations

California has officially established September 25 as an annual Dolly Parton Day, following Governor Gavin Newsom's signing of SB 931. This bill, introduced by Senators Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), makes California the first state to formally recognize this day. The date, September 25, is chosen to coincide with Parton's hit song, '9 to 5.' While Parton's home state of Tennessee already recognizes January 19 (her birthday) as Dolly Parton Day and is considering a September 25 '9 to 5 Day,' numerous cities and local governments across the U.S. have also declared September 25 as Dolly Parton Day. These include Nashville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Pittman Center in Tennessee, as well as Portland, Oregon, Hays County, Texas, Montgomery County, Texas, and Manhattan Borough, New York, which declared it Dolly Parton Appreciation Day.
Nashville TennesseanNashville Tennessean
Dolly Day goes national. See which cities are celebrating Dolly Parton

Dolly Day goes national. See which cities are celebrating Dolly Parton

Nashville won't be alone in celebrating Dolly Parton. Cities and states across the U.S. have officially declared Sept. 25 as Dolly Day and will mark the occasion with local celebrations.
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Denton's Hispanic Organizations Foster Community and Cultural Awareness Since 1970s

Denton's Hispanic Organizations Foster Community and Cultural Awareness Since 1970s

Denton, Texas, has a rich history of Hispanic groups and organizations dedicated to supporting the community and promoting cultural awareness, with roots tracing back to the 1970s. Key organizations include Familia Unidas, which later became the Denton chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Mexican-American Student Association (MASA). MASA, founded in 1974 at North Texas State University (now UNT), aimed to increase Mexican-American culture on campus and evolved through various names, including Mexican American Student Organization (MASO) and Hispanic Students in Higher Education (HSHE), before becoming Latin American Students (ALAS) in 1999. These groups addressed critical needs such as education attainment, political information, and health resources. Familia Unidas, established by Denton citizens in the 1970s, focused on creating an accepting environment and providing scholarships to Hispanic high school students, eventually chartering as LULAC Denton Council #4366 in A...
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Data Center Opposition Emerges as Key Issue in U.S. Senate Races, Influencing Control of Congress

Data Center Opposition Emerges as Key Issue in U.S. Senate Races, Influencing Control of Congress

A nationwide backlash against the rapid expansion of data centers is becoming a significant factor in several U.S. Senate races, potentially influencing which party controls Congress during the second half of President Trump’s term. Public opposition to data center construction is widespread, with a Reuters/Ipsos survey in June indicating that 64% of respondents disagreed with building these facilities at scale and pace. An NBC News poll found that the same percentage of registered voters would be less likely to support a candidate who backs data center development in their community. This sentiment has led formerly pro-development politicians to become vocal skeptics, with campaigns increasingly competing to appear more anti-AI infrastructure. Republican strategists note that candidates are 'fleeing' from their initial stances due to local opposition. The issue is particularly potent in states with numerous planned data centers, such as Texas and Ohio, where it is being used as a key attack line in closel...
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Norton Rose Fulbright Appoints New Leadership for Dallas Office

Norton Rose Fulbright Appoints New Leadership for Dallas Office

Norton Rose Fulbright Appoints New Leadership for Dallas Office
ReutersReuters
Republicans may have gerrymandered their way into a Texas-sized Latino problem

Republicans may have gerrymandered their way into a Texas-sized Latino problem

By David Hood-Nuño and Evan Garcia DONNA, Texas, Sept 23 (Reuters) - South Texas unfurls in long stretches of highways across flat landscapes dotted with pump jacks, mesquite trees, and gas stations sporting prices that voters swear should not be this high.
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Lamar CISD Trustees Approve $10.1 Billion Tax Incentive for Proposed Tesla Solar Plant

Lamar CISD Trustees Approve $10.1 Billion Tax Incentive for Proposed Tesla Solar Plant

Lamar CISD Trustees Approve $10.1 Billion Tax Incentive for Proposed Tesla Solar Plant
AP NewsAP News
U.S. citizen injured in Illinois after ICE agents mistook him for fugitive, tried to arrest him

U.S. citizen injured in Illinois after ICE agents mistook him for fugitive, tried to arrest him

A man was left bloodied and injured in an encounter with immigration enforcement agents in a Chicago suburb
AP NewsAP News
The Latest: Judge hears arguments without ruling on Trump’s ban on news outlets from White House

The Latest: Judge hears arguments without ruling on Trump’s ban on news outlets from White House

A judge has heard arguments but did not rule from the bench in a case on President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds