5th Circuit Court Removes Judge From Foster Care Suit

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The federal judge who has repeatedly found Texas in contempt for not fixing its foster care system has been removed by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a three-judge panel faulting U.S. District Judge Janis Jack’s “highly antagonistic demeanor,” The Texas Tribune reported. The three also reversed the $100,000 daily fine against the state’s defendants — the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Family and Protective Services, which runs the foster care system.

“We are pleased that the 5th Circuit recognized the significant efforts DFPS and HHSC have invested in serving the children and families of our state,” according to a shared statement from the health commission and social services agency.

About 9,000 children are permanent wards of the state after being removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. Jack has been hearing that case since 2011. More than $200 million has been spent in attempts to improve the state’s foster care system since the case was filed.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs said an appeal is planned.

“Frankly, this is a sad day for Texas children,” attorney Paul Yetter said in a statement Friday. “For over a decade, Judge Jack pushed the state to fix its broken system. She deserves a medal for what she’s done. We will keep fighting to ensure these children are safe.”

Cruz, Allred Face Off in Debate 

Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Colin Allred debated abortion, immigration and other contentious issues in their only scheduled debate last Tuesday, just days before early voting began on Monday.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Allred aggressively attacked Cruz for supporting the repeal of Roe vs. Wade, overturning that landmark abortion decision, while Cruz defended allowing the state’s right to determine abortion policy. Cruz repeatedly sidestepped a question of whether rape or incest should be exceptions to the state’s abortion ban, while Allred said he supports a federal law to essentially reinstate Roe. The two also fought over immigration, with Cruz claiming Allred has voted against funding a border wall three times. Allred in turn slammed Cruz for helping kill a bipartisan border security bill that GOP nominee Donald Trump urged Republicans to reject for political reasons.

The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol also was a point of contention. Allred, a former NFL linebacker who is now a three-term congressman, said he “took off my suit jacket” to prepare to defend the House from the mob.

“When the mob came, Senator Cruz was hiding in a supply closet,” he said.

Texas high school students can now see which of the state’s public universities would accept them based on their academic information, using a new tool called Direct Admissions, according to the Texas Standard. The tool is meant to streamline the college application process and let students quickly know which participating Texas public universities will accept them based on their class rank, grade point average, and test scores.

“Direct Admissions has the potential to reduce time, boost confidence, and increase transparency, encouraging Texans who might not otherwise consider college to take the next step,” Interim Commissioner of Higher Education Sarah Keyton said in a press release.

A total of 31 public universities in the state are using the new tool.

Meanwhile, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is extending the state financial aid application priority deadline a month to Feb. 15 for the 2025-2026 application cycle because of continued delays with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which slowed applications last school year.

The state’s priority deadline is intended to encourage students to complete their application promptly in order to raise the likelihood of receiving state funding.