Fort Worth ISD Warned of State Intervention

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath warned Fort Worth ISD Monday that he was bound by law to address student performance at one of the district’s middle schools that had received a failing accountability rating for five consecutive years.

The Leadership Academy at Forest Oak’s 6th-grade campus failed to meet state standards in the recently released 2023 public school ratings. It last earned a passing grade in 2015. Schools were not rated for several years during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the campus was closed in 2023, Morath said that “has no bearing on, and does not abrogate, the compulsory action the statute requires the commissioner to take,” which includes appointing a board of managers to govern the district.

Three incumbent Fort Worth ISD board members were reelected to four-year terms over the weekend. Newly appointed Superintendent Karen Molinar said the district would appeal the 2023 rating.

Paxton Drops Lawsuit, Launches Investigation

Attorney General Ken Paxton dropped a lawsuit Tuesday against Coppell ISD over allegations it was teaching critical race theory, saying district officials “voluntarily took measures to ensure that unlawful critical race theory (CRT) will not be taught in its classrooms.”

Paxton sued the district in March after an undercover video released by the watchdog group Accuracy in Media showed an administrator explaining how the district had “gotten around” the state’s ban on CRT. District officials insisted the footage was “grossly misleading.”

This development follows Paxton’s newly launched investigation into Austin ISD over similar allegations. Citing footage obtained by the same organization in a court filing, Paxton requested information about an “unwritten policy of developing and teaching curricula… in violation of state law prohibiting instruction on critical race theory.”

In 2021, state lawmakers prohibited public schools from instruction that promotes the idea that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another” or that a person’s race or sex determines whether he or she is an oppressor or a victim.

Popovich Introduces Next Spurs Coach

Legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich introduced Mitch Johnson as the team’s next head coach at a press conference on Monday. Popovich continues to recover from a stroke suffered in November, which kept him off the court for much of the season.

“Things are getting better by the day, but it’s not good enough for what we plan ahead,” Popovich said, adding that Johnson is “going to do a great job.” Several current and former Spurs players were in attendance.

Although the 76-year-old Popovich is stepping down as head coach, he has been named the team’s president of basketball operations. “I’m no longer coach. I’m El Jefe,” he joked, revealing a T-shirt with the Spanish phrase for “the boss.”

Popovich coached the Spurs for 29 seasons, winning five NBA championships. He holds the record for the most wins as a head coach, with 1,589.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Van Zandt County: A capital murder suspect, 32-year-old Trevor McEuen, cut off his ankle monitor Monday and is believed to have fled the area. He was scheduled to stand trial later that day for allegedly shooting his neighbor in 2023. (More)

➤ Brenham: The search for a 10-year-old girl who was swept away by rising floodwaters as she walked home from school on Monday ended in tragedy yesterday when a dive team recovered her body. (See Details)

➤ Austin: A Travis County judge has temporarily blocked a new Texas Lottery Commission rule that prohibits couriers from operating in the state. Bills that would formalize the rule and ban the lottery entirely are currently under consideration in the state legislature. (More)

➤ Odessa: A 30-year-old man was arrested for allegedly crawling into a 14-year-old girl’s bedroom through a window. He reportedly told detectives he was drunk and thought he was entering his own home. (More)

➤ Arlington: High school senior Isaac Leal is on life support after suffering a head injury when he fell from the back of a moving Jeep. He was playing the “Senior Assassin” game, where students nearing graduation target their classmates with water guns. (See Details)

➤ Austin: Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed last month’s ruling by a Travis County judge that ordered him to pay nearly $6.7 million to four former employees who claimed they were unfairly terminated after accusing Paxton of corruption and abuse of office in 2020. (More)

➤ Deer Park: Dozens of community members showed up at a family-owned restaurant to pay for or claim 225 tacos prepared for a customer who failed to pay for the $757 order. (Watch Video)

Enjoy reading The Texas Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ The Houston Texans are mulling options to build a separate practice facility and entertainment district, potentially outside of Harris County. (More)

➤ The Texas Rangers hired former MLB All-Star Bret Boone as a hitting coach Monday, a day after the team fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker. (More)

➤ The Dallas Stars face off against the Winnipeg Jets tonight in the first game of their second-round playoff series. Both teams are coming off dramatic Game 7 wins in the first round. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Discover NuKnee Brace — the innovative, non-invasive knee support that helps relieve pain and restore mobility. Designed for comfort and daily wear, NuKnee promotes joint health and stability without surgery or medication. Regain the freedom to move, walk, and live life fully with this breakthrough knee support solution! 

➤ Dallas-based developer NexPoint plans to transform the 42-story Cityplace Tower into a mixed-use building with office space, a hotel, and apartments. The $445 million project also includes six new 8-story residential buildings on five acres surrounding the skyscraper. (More)

➤ Exports from Houston totaled $180.9 billion last year—more than the combined value of exports from New York and Los Angeles. Houston has led the nation in exports in 12 of the last 13 years. (More)

➤ Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have received a donation exceeding $100 million from a Galveston-based philanthropic group for their new $5 billion pediatric campus, scheduled for completion in 2031. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ A Brighter Smile Starts Here. The Sonic Glow Toothbrush uses advanced sonic technology and smart timing to deliver a deep clean that removes plaque and stains effortlessly. Enjoy professional-level oral care at home and achieve a brighter, more confident smile. Say goodbye to dull teeth — order your Sonic Glow Brush today!

Flying together with our sponsor

Even neurologists were stunned…

They couldn’t believe the true impact a vertigo attack has on the brain… 

Or that dizzy spells might actually signal a deeper, hidden condition.

Discover the full story here:

Why You Should Never Ignore a Vertigo Attack

➤ A 16-year-old fugitive driving a black Dodge Challenger was apprehended by police in Seguin on Saturday, but not before a witness caught part of the high-speed chase on video. (Watch Here)

➤ Eight El Paso elementary students received $50 checks from a local publishing company for their children’s book, La Historia de la Selva Magica (The Story of the Magic Jungle). (See Photos)

➤ Plano disc jockey Justin Myers has accumulated over 4,000 vinyl records from the ’60s and ’70s. “I think it’s as a part of me as anything is,” he said in a recent interview. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Surprise Mom this Mother’s Day with Grounded Footwear — the perfect blend of style, comfort, and wellness. These beautifully designed shoes help reconnect her to the earth’s energy, offering support and balance with every step. Show your love with a thoughtful gift she’ll wear and cherish every day!

Do you own any vinyl records?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Does your town have an official flag?

1. Yes: 21%
2. No: 34%
3. Don’t know: 45%

What city is home to the oldest active cathedral in Texas?

Show me the answer