Stinging fireworms washing up on Texas beaches 🌊

Plus: Heat related death, Christianity in proposed lessons and DART budget [MORNING ROUNDUP]( [The Dallas Morning News logo](   Good day, North Texas! We have made it to Friday. Anyone with plans to visit a Texas beach while the temperatures are still favorable may need to proceed with caution. The summer heat isn’t the only thing stinging right now. Centipede-like creatures [known for their nasty sting have shown up near Corpus Christi]( and Port Aransas. Staff writer Sarah Bahari tells us more about the spikey worm you wouldn’t want to step on. More news coming to your inbox this evening. — Carmina Tiscareño, Audience Journalist EDUCATION [A small white board reads ''Welcome to First grade! '' in a classroom with yellow and white floor.]( First grade teacher Shontee Brandon sat in her empty classroom as she prepared to teach online on the first day of school at Eddie Bernice Johnson Elementary School in Wilmer in 2020. Even today, higher rates of chronic absenteeism are one of the sticky repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lynda M. González/The Dallas Morning News) [1 in 5 Texas students considered chronically absent, new analysis reveals]( Every three weeks, Irving schools send parents a progress report. But it’s no longer just an alert about grades. Also included is how many days their children missed classes. If a student hits several absences, a personalized card encourages parents to ensure the trend doesn’t continue. The district’s pitch to families is simple: None of the learning experiences you want for your children can happen if they’re not in class. Higher [rates of chronic absenteeism are one of the sticky repercussions of the COVID-19]( pandemic. Officials in districts such as Irving ISD know they must take creative — sometimes intensive — steps to reign in the high-stakes problem. [READ MORE](   [First heat-related death of the season reported in Dallas County]( Dallas County Health and Human Services reported the first heat-related death in Dallas County for the 2024 [...] [Lawsuit alleges 13-year-old was sexually assaulted at Gateway Church youth group meetings]( Gateway Church is accused of negligence and failing to safeguard the girl. [DART eyes budget reductions amid talk of revenue cuts]( Some appointees hope shifts to reign in spending will signal DART is listening to member cities’ concerns. [What grade did your child’s Dallas school earn? Search projected A-F ratings here]( Dallas school leaders expect more campuses to receive failing grades under Texas’ tougher academic [...]   ADVERTISEMENT   [Dallas voters to decide whether to up City Council pay, add 900 cops in November election]( Increasing Dallas City Council pay, banning term-limited elected officials from running for council again are [...] [‘Heartbreaking’: Vigil for FWPD sergeant draws tearful stories from his officers, family]( Fort Worth police Sgt. Billy Randolph was honored in a vigil Wednesday after being killed by a wrong-way [...] [Sunday schools or Texas public schools? Report questions Christianity in proposed lessons]( The state’s proposed instructional materials for elementary schoolers includes stories that lack religious [...] [Texas Health Resources to build hospital in Kaufman County’s fast-growing Forney]( Texas Health Resource plans to build a new 60-bed hospital in the fast-growing city of Forney on the eastern [...] [7 water slides and a 1,000-gallon tipping water bucket: Hurricane Harbor’s latest upgrades]( Arlington's Hurricane Harbor is getting major upgrades next year. [McKinney is holding its first literary festival]( The first time festival will showcase local North Texas authors and hold workshops for people interested in [...]   [MORE NEWS](   ADVERTISEMENT   [The Dallas Morning News]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [X (formerly Twitter)]( [YouTube]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Account Login]( | [Help Center]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Service]( [Manage Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( ©2024 The Dallas Morning News • 1954 Commerce St. • Dallas, TX 75201