Latest news with #HISD
The Citizen
31-07-2025
- The Citizen
City's service delivery operation slammed by residents
The Strydom Park Ratepayers Association (SPRA) is not pleased with the city's High Impact Service Delivery (HISD) Operation that took place on July 30 on the corner of CR Swart Dr and Fabriek Street. Led by the Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (CRUM) region B and other stakeholders, including SAPS, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), City Parks, and PikitUp, it aimed to clear illegal dumping and remove homeless and waste pickers from around the spruit. Karolynn van Vuuren, chairperson of the association, said that while they appreciate the effort and the presence of multiple stakeholders during yesterday's clean-up, it lacked leadership and coordination. Nearly an hour was lost to inefficiency, and the initiative's momentum suffered as a result. 'If we are to take these operations seriously, JMPD needs to step up, either by being better resourced or rethinking its deployment priorities.' She further stated that the operation, unfortunately, made very little visible difference in the area. Also read: Randburg Customer Service Centre returns after two-year closure 'While we saw brief activity, much remains untouched and unresolved. It's disheartening, and it underscores a painful reality: the city's service efforts are not just lacking, they are insufficient. We're being offered crumbs to placate taxpayers, while fundamental issues persist and deepen.' She added that these blitz-style clean-ups, held once or twice a year, do little to maintain safety or sustainability. Illegal activities resumed almost immediately after the operation. 'Without consistent and strategic follow-through, these events become token gestures rather than genuine solutions. What we need is ongoing monitoring and dedicated enforcement, not these sporadic interventions that give infringers a six-month holiday from scrutiny.' The SPRA is calling on residents and property owners to go beyond simply supplementing city services. Also read: Region B CRUM continues with service delivery campaign around Randburg 'It's time we take full ownership of what the city fails to do. Whether through financial contribution or time investment, community-driven action is no longer a nice-to-have; it's an urgent necessity. The state of our greenbelts, roads, and drains demands more than photo opportunities and fleeting initiatives. We need persistent care, proactive enforcement, and unified local involvement.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
Axios
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
A new Houston audience goes all-in on mahjong
Mahjong is making a major comeback — and the tile game is now trending with a younger, diverse audience. Why it matters: The centuries-old Chinese strategy game often associated with older generations in the Asian diaspora has a new wave of players in Houston who are making it their own. Stunning stat: Between 2023 and 2024, mahjong events on Eventbrite surged 179% nationwide and a staggering 867% in Houston, per the online platform's data. Among the nine major cities analyzed by Eventbrite, Houston ranked third for most events last year, behind New York and San Francisco. State of play: While longtime players continue their regular games, a new crowd is reshaping the hobby — drawn in by post-pandemic social appeal, and, of course, all the new pretty tiles in the market. Houston - and Dallas -based tile companies now sell sets that run upward of $300. Houstonian Amanda Commons discovered mahjong on a bachelorette trip about three years ago and, along with her friend Nicole Cottone, joined a group of HISD moms in West University who had a Google Sheet of roughly 100 players. In November 2023, Commons and Cottone launched That's aMAHJzing, a company offering $60–75 lessons to help people start their own neighborhood groups. They also host $50 open plays, tournaments and kids camps. "I think it's people craving connection … and I think people like to get involved with beautiful trends," Commons tells Axios. Making an old game "bougie" and slapping "a big price point" also makes more people want to play, Commons adds. The big picture: As demand grows, many instructors now regularly teach the American version of mahjong in collaboration with tile companies. While many new players are white women, the resurgence is drawing people of all ages and backgrounds — including those reconnecting with the game through their cultural roots. Flashback: Originally Chinese, mahjong was embraced by Jewish women in 1930s New York, shaping the American version still played today — including at the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. Versions like Cantonese, Taiwanese and American each have distinct rules — all played by four people, often with gambling elements. Zoom in: The Chinese Community Center in Houston is seeing a rise in mahjong participants, too. After a successful AAPI Heritage Month game event in May, the center began hosting monthly beginner meetups using the Taiwanese version and is now adding bimonthly club sessions for more experienced players, CCC development manager Jo Truong tells Axios. The most recent meetup hit capacity with 40 players across 10 tables — only four of whom were CCC members. Entry is $35, and the event gained traction through a "very active" Facebook mahjong group sharing the invite. What they're saying: Lynn Chou, who started playing at age 6, now teaches alongside friends at the CCC and says attendees have ranged from young children to a 100-year-old.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Texas parents filed a lawsuit Monday against a Houston school district they say "repeatedly" violated their requests to address their daughter as a girl. The lawsuit, filed by Sarah and Terry Osborn, alleges that school officials in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) referred to their daughter by a masculine name and with male pronouns for at least two years after the parents instructed them not to. According to the filing, during their daughter's freshman year at Bellaire High School, the student's theater teacher asked the Osborns what pronouns to use for their daughter. After instructing the teacher to only use female pronouns, the parents thought that was the end of it. But over the next two years, the parents discovered that school staff continued to address their daughter as a boy during the school day, without their knowledge or consent. Virginia School District Accused Of Religious Discrimination In Transgender Locker Room Case "The Osborns only discovered HISD's actions because they found schoolwork that referred to their daughter by a masculine name," the complaint stated. Read On The Fox News App Despite several meetings with staff and the school principal, the lawsuit alleges that school officials continued to ignore the parents' requests. "For at least two school years, pursuant to the policy, over half a dozen HISD employees referred to the Osborns' daughter as a boy without their notice or consent—in fact, notwithstanding their express objection," the complaint said. The lawsuit alleges that the school principal, district superintendent and its counsel did not respond to the parents' request to provide documents explaining its gender policy and whether it included a parental notification requirement. States Support Parents In Legal Case Over School's Secret Gender Transition Of Child "HISD has a widespread practice and official policy of treating students, including the Osborns' daughter, as the opposite sex without parental notice or consent; against their express instructions; and while actively concealing that treatment from parents. That practice or policy violates the Osborns' fundamental parental rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, because it burdens their sincerely held religious beliefs and is not neutral or generally applicable, it also violates their First Amendment, free-exercise rights," the complaint stated. "The Osborns want to help their daughter in the way they think best. But the actions of HISD and its employees are preventing them from doing that," it added. The parents say the school's actions violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. They are asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction to demand the district honor their wishes to not refer to their daughter as male. Faith-based legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing the parents in the federal court case. The Bellaire High School counselor and principal are also named as defendants in the suit. ADF senior counsel Kate Anderson said in a statement, "Parents have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without fear of government interference. Schools should never hide vital information from parents, let alone go against their express instructions related to the well-being of their children. School officials should support parents, not replace them, and we are urging the court to make sure HISD updates its policy to respect these parents' constitutional rights." The HISD told Fox News Digital, "Given there is pending litigation, at this time, the District is unable to discuss any aspect of this incident."Original article source: Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Fox News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Texas parents sue Houston school district for secretly transitioning their child against their instructions
Texas parents filed a lawsuit Monday against a Houston school district they say "repeatedly" violated their requests to address their daughter as a girl. The lawsuit, filed by Sarah and Terry Osborn, alleges that school officials in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) referred to their daughter by a masculine name and with male pronouns for at least two years after the parents instructed them not to. According to the filing, during their daughter's freshman year, the student's theater teacher asked the Osborns what pronouns to use for their daughter. After instructing the teacher to only use female pronouns, the parents thought that was the end of it. But over the next two years, the parents discovered that school staff continued to address their daughter as a boy during the school day, without their knowledge or consent. "The Osborns only discovered HISD's actions because they found schoolwork that referred to their daughter by a masculine name," the complaint stated. Despite several meetings with staff and the school principal, the lawsuit alleges that school officials continued to ignore the parents' requests. "For at least two school years, pursuant to the policy, over half a dozen HISD employees referred to the Osborns' daughter as a boy without their notice or consent—in fact, notwithstanding their express objection," the complaint said. The lawsuit alleges that the school principal, district superintendent and its counsel did not respond to the parents' request to provide documents explaining its gender policy and whether it included a parental notification requirement. "HISD has a widespread practice and official policy of treating students, including the Osborns' daughter, as the opposite sex without parental notice or consent; against their express instructions; and while actively concealing that treatment from parents. That practice or policy violates the Osborns' fundamental parental rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, because it burdens their sincerely held religious beliefs and is not neutral or generally applicable, it also violates their First Amendment, free-exercise rights," the complaint stated. "The Osborns want to help their daughter in the way they think best. But the actions of HISD and its employees are preventing them from doing that," it added. The parents say the school's actions violated their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. They are asking for a preliminary and permanent injunction to demand the district honor their wishes to not refer to their daughter as male. Faith-based legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is representing the parents in the federal court case. The Bellaire High School counselor and principal are also named as defendants in the suit. ADF senior counsel Kate Anderson said in a statement, "Parents have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without fear of government interference. Schools should never hide vital information from parents, let alone go against their express instructions related to the well-being of their children. School officials should support parents, not replace them, and we are urging the court to make sure HISD updates its policy to respect these parents' constitutional rights." The HISD told Fox News Digital, "Given there is pending litigation, at this time, the District is unable to discuss any aspect of this incident."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bill to replace STAAR exam with new testing system
AUSTIN, Texas - A major shift in student testing could be coming to Texas classrooms. Lawmakers in the state House have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would eliminate the STAAR exam and replace it with a new assessment system aimed at reducing testing pressure and giving teachers faster feedback. House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), would end the use of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) — the standardized test used since 2012 for students in grades three through 11. In its place, students would take three shorter tests spread throughout the school year. The bill passed the House on a 143–1 vote. "What we found is when you have assessments and accountability without a focus on instruction, you simply have high-stakes testing," Buckley said during floor discussion. Supporters say the new tests would provide results within 24 hours, allowing teachers to immediately identify areas where students need help. The assessments would also be designed to allow comparisons between Texas students and their peers in other states and countries. Opposition to STAAR has grown among educators and parents, especially in large districts like Houston ISD, where critics argue that the current testing system creates unnecessary stress without improving outcomes. Rep. Jolanda Jones (D-Houston) questioned how the bill would affect districts like HISD, which is currently under control of the Texas Education Agency, and subject to increased testing oversight. "How will HB4 help or hurt HISD given that it's currently under TEA control and subject to constant testing and reporting demands?" Jones asked. Buckley responded that the bill would create a uniform standard across Texas, regardless of local governance models or interventions. What's next The bill now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are divided over the timeline. According to the Texas Tribune, while the House calls for the new system to begin this fall, the Senate has proposed delaying implementation until 2028. The Source Fox 26 gathered information from the 2025 Texas Legislative Session.
