The Standard’s news roundup gives you a quick hit of interesting, sometimes irreverent, and breaking news stories from all over the state.
Today is the last day you can register to vote in this November’s elections in Texas. And just yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence was in Dallas to stump for Republican incumbents in two of the state’s most hotly contested races.
Pence’s first stop was for longtime U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions. Sessions is facing a tough challenge for his seat in the 32nd Congressional District from Democrat Collin Allred, a civil rights attorney and former NFL linebacker.
“Well, they talk about a blue wave, let’s make sure a red wave starts here,” Pence said. That audio is courtesy of WFAA.
Pence also campaigned for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz who is facing off against U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, an El Paso Democrat.
The first day of early voting kicks off Monday, Oct. 22.
Reigning Major League Baseball champs, the Houston Astros, are returning to the American League Championship Series for the second year in a row. They clinched the spot Monday after sweeping the Cleveland Indians in three games.
Astros infielder Alex Bregman shared his thoughts after yesterday’s 11-3 win.
“We’re excited, we’re looking forward to the next game, getting ready to start off quick against whatever team we play next,” Bregman said.
That team could either be the Boston Red Sox or the New York Yankees.
The Sox lead the Yankees two games to one, and their next matchup is tonight. Whoever wins that division series will face off against the Houston Astros starting Saturday.
Federal education law will be requiring some Texas high school students to take additional standardized tests. As KUT’s Jerry Quijano reports, the Texas Education Agency is considering a change that would leave districts across the state picking up the check.
“If a Texas student has taken certain STAAR tests before starting high school, that’s created a problem: no state assessments left to test them with. DeEtta Culbertson with the Texas Education Agency says the Every Student Succeeds Act requires that students be tested in math and English at least once during high school. As a result, about 109,000 students will have to take either the SAT or the ACT this year.
‘So any student who is currently enrolled in high school and took the Algebra I and/or both English/language arts end-of-course exams prior to high school, will need to take one of these tests in order to meet the requirements for federal law [, Culbertson said.]’
“The additional tests are expected to cost around $5.4 million statewide, and the TEA is now reviewing public comments after proposing the price tag be covered by school districts. In a letter to the TEA, Austin ISD said these tests would cost the district at least $100,000 for current students, and called for a legislative appropriation request to cover the cost.”