Latest news with #NorthTexas
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Texas School Choice 2026: Parents prepare for charter, private, and homeschool options
The upcoming school year is only a month away, and major changes are coming to the Texas education system with school choice taking effect in 2026. If you're a parent with questions about charter schools and education savings accounts, informational meetings are already happening around North Texas. Tahj Sandlin is already focused on the next year when her daughter will enter kindergarten, and the public school she would be attending has a low rating. "Overall, just wasn't satisfied," said Sandlin. "I was somebody who grew up with small classes and a very structured school district." Sandlin said she's looking forward to school choice and plans to take advantage of it by enrolling her daughter in a charter school with the help of up to $10,000 in state assistance. But this young mother has a lot of questions about how to make it happen. So she attended a community meeting on the subject at New Mount Rose Church in Fort Worth. "I just didn't know what to do at all," Sandlin said. "I didn't know where to go next." Sandlin and other parents listened to charter school operators like Janice Blackmon, who founded Universal Academy, which has two campuses in North Texas. "first of all, they need to fully analyze the student," said Blackmon. "What's your child's learning focus? Determine what would be the best setting for the child." Trae Adkins already homeschools his four kids because of concerns about the state of public education. "In college, I began to see our students could come there, and they couldn't form sentences in college," said Adkins. Parents who need financial help for private or home schooling can start applying in only a few months and there's a limited amount of state money available With $1 billion allocated and each child receiving up to $10,000, that only covers about 100,000 students. Adkins, who said he pays for all of his teaching supplies, could qualify for up to $2,000 for each of his kids who are homeschooled. "I'm very grateful for that because of the materials that we've had to buy in the past, it would help us out a whole lot," Adkins said. School choice may be a year away, but those in education say waiting to make decisions and applying for public funds this time next year may be too late.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Rallies over alleged human and civil rights violations to be held across North Texas on "Good Trouble Day of Action"
Several rallies will take place across North Texas Thursday night over alleged civil and human rights violations. Titled "Good Trouble Lives On," organizers said the rallies will take place all over the country on National John Lewis Day of Action. According to organizers, the rallies are also in honor of the legacy of the late Congressman, who often called on his supporters to make "good trouble, necessary trouble." According to the news release, rallies will be held in Garland, Dallas, Fort Worth, Southlake and Rockwall. "Participants will gather to demand an end to racist gerrymandering and the authoritarian attacks on our freedom to vote, protest, and organize — and to stand united against efforts to criminalize our communities, roll back our rights, and slash vital public programs," the news release states. Organizers said the events will be peaceful and include a candlelight vigil to honor Lewis. Lewis died July 17, 2020, at the age of 80. He was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in December. His death sent shock waves across the country and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called Lewis the "boy from Troy" when the two first met in 1958, according to the Associated Press, and their meeting kicked off Lewis' lifetime of activism. In 1961, Lewis was just 21 years old when he joined the Freedom Riders who rode public transportation to Alabama in an effort to integrate bus travel. Lewis was beaten and arrested multiple times due to his activism. He was elected as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. He was also a leader of the march in Selma, Alabama, across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, that became known as "Bloody Sunday" as police beat the marchers. Lewis' skull was fractured. The events of "Bloody Sunday" helped lead Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, and President Johnson signed it into law on August 6, 1965. He served Georgia's Fifth Congressional District in Congress from 1987 until his death.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
North Texas' first 100-degree day this year may be around the corner. Is it late?
The Brief North Texas has yet to hit 100 degrees in 2025. The first triple-digit temperature of the year is forecast for Tuesday, July 22. The average date for the first 100-degree day in DFW is July 1. DALLAS - For the first half of 2025, temperatures remained below 100 degrees in North Texas. The 7-day forecast now predicts the first to break the barrier is coming in less than a week. The question is whether the triple-digit heat is late in arriving. First 100-degree day of 2025 Summer - and even earlier - of 2025 have not been cold by any means, but we've yet to break the 100-degree barrier. As of now, Tuesday, July 22, could be the first day to do so. There have been close brushes with the number already this year; as early as mid-May, forecasts predicted possible 100-degree days. Had that occurred, it would have been an early arrival, but far from the earliest on record. Here's a look at trends for triple-digit days in North Texas. By the numbers From 1991 to 2020, the average first triple-digit day was on July 1. Here is a look at the first 100-degree day over the last 6 years. 2019: July 30 2020: July 12 2021: July 25 2022: June 11 2023: June 25 2024: June 23 It may have been a few years since we saw a 100-degree day for the first time this late in the summer, but it's certainly not uncommon in the big picture. There have even been years in which North Texas never quite reached triple digits, though they're few and far between. In 1906 and 1973, the highest temperature recorded by the National Weather Service was 99, both times in late August. The Source Information in this article came from the FOX 4 Weather Team and the National Weather Service. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Seasonally warm Wednesday ahead across North Texas
After a cloudy Wednesday morning, a seasonal afternoon is ahead in North Texas with highs in the mid-90s and "feels-like" temperatures in the triple digits. High pressure building in from the east will keep today's 10% rain chance in the western counties. North Texas is entering a hot and muggy stretch with highs warming into the upper 90s and "feels-like" temperatures to near 105 degrees. A few clouds are possible Friday into Saturday as a tropical disturbance heads towards Louisiana. There could be a few showers in the southeast counties Friday evening because of the disturbance. The broad area of low pressure has crossed the Florida peninsula after bringing heavy rainfall to the area. The disturbance has a medium chance of developing over the few days. If it moves into the warm Gulf waters, it has a better chance of strengthening. However, if it continues to skirt the coastline, the interaction with land will likely hinder its development. If it becomes a named storm, the next name on the list is Dexter. Those along the north central Gulf coast should continue to monitor its progress as heavy rain and flooding are likely.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
From Bollywood glitz to ICE detention: Plano couple accused of multimillion-dollar fraud
Sidhartha "Sammy" Mukherjee and his wife Sunita lit up stages across North Texas with their voices — and lit up social circles with their charm. The Plano couple, known for their Bollywood-style performances, became local celebrities, hosting parties and headlining music and cultural events. But federal investigators allege that behind the curtain of applause was a different kind of performance — one that, according to the FBI's review of the Mukherjees' bank records, may have left more than 100 people defrauded. "They will make you believe that they are very successful businesspeople," said Terry Parvaga, an alleged fraud victim. "But they will take every single penny you have." In June, the Mukherjees were arrested and charged in Tarrant County with first-degree felony theft. The CBS News Texas I-Team began investigating the Mukherjees nearly two years ago. Parvaga is one of nearly a dozen alleged victims the I-Team interviewed in March of 2024. The alleged victims said they were lured into investing in what they believed were legitimate real estate deals. The Mukherjees allegedly promised high returns, but suspicion set in when dividend checks started to bounce. "Looking back, we should have been much wiser in terms of asking questions," said Seshu Madabhushi, another alleged victim. "But we never thought someone would go to that extent." Several police departments initially dismissed the complaints as civil disputes. But Euless Police Detective Brian Brennan, a veteran white-collar crime investigator, agreed to take on the case when he was approached by a couple claiming they had lost $325,000 in an alleged investment scheme. "As I got into the case and dug into it, we realized that this was a lot larger than what initially was reported," Brennan said. Multiple investors accuse the Mukherjees of providing what appeared to be remodeling contracts and invoices from the Dallas Housing Authority. They said the documents convinced them to invest in what they believed were lucrative remodeling projects. When Brennan contacted the DHA, he said he discovered the housing authority had no such projects. According to the affidavit for arrest, "all of the paperwork, receipt and email correspondence were forged." The affidavit also states that investigators believe the Mukherjees used forged documents in other investment deals as well. "All fake," Brennan said. "The level of counterfeit documents … it had to be a full-time job for him to do that." As the case expanded, Brennan brought in the FBI. According to federal investigators, forensic accountants determined that victim losses totaled more than $4 million, with 20 confirmed victims and over 100 potential victims. The alleged deception extended beyond real estate. According to the affidavit for arrest, the Mukherjees used a fake company with fictitious employees to apply for a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan. In June, Brennan and an FBI agent met with Sammy Mukherjee at a McDonald's restaurant in Plano to discuss his investment companies. During that meeting, according to the affidavit, the FBI agent asked Mukherjee if he recognized the names "Richard Jackson," "Nikki Reynolds" and "Mike Summerville." Mukherjee responded that he did not. According to the affidavit, those names were listed on a payroll form Mukherjee submitted as part of the PPP loan application. The affidavit also states that investigators questioned Mukherjee about checks that had allegedly been deposited into the couple's bank accounts. According to the affidavit, the funds came "from defrauding elderly folks" who were "scammed out of monies responding to threatening emails about arrest." Investigators said the victims believed they were sending money to law enforcement to avoid jail time. Mukherjee allegedly told investigators the checks were given to him by a business partner and that the money was supposed to be from investors for a hotel project, according to the affidavit. When asked about contacting the business partner, Mukherjee reportedly told investigators the partner had died the previous year. "In [my] 23 years, [Sammy Mukherjee] is probably the most prolific fraudster I've seen," Brennan told the CBS News Texas I-Team. "Tentacles going in all different directions." Even as the investigation progressed, the Mukherjees continued to seek the spotlight. In May, they headlined a charity gala in Richardson hosted by a newly formed nonprofit, the Indian Traditions & Cultural Society of North America. The guest of honor was a Bollywood legend from India. Other guests included the mayor of Plano. Tax records show the nonprofit is registered to the couple's Plano home — the same residence where they were arrested weeks later. Sammy and Sunita Mukherjee have been charged with first-degree felony theft, a charge that carries a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison if convicted. After both posted a $500,000 bond, Sammy Mukherjee was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at his Plano home. He is currently being held at an ICE detention facility south of Fort Worth. Investigators said the couple came to the United States from India seeking asylum. Federal online records do not indicate their current immigration status. According to the arrest affidavit, the alleged victims also submitted documentation indicating that Sammy Mukherjee has outstanding fraud warrants in Mumbai, India. The CBS News Texas I-Team reached out to the couple's criminal attorney for comment and has not heard back. When contacted last year by the I-Team, Sammy Mukherjee denied all allegations, claiming he was the victim of a coordinated effort by dozens of people to defame him because they're jealous of his status and success. After the I-Team's initial report aired in July 2024, Mukherjee and his attorney sent a legal notice demanding multiple retractions and corrections. In that notice, they alleged the reporting was false and that Mukherjee never defrauded anyone. That same I-Team report is now referenced in the affidavit for the couple's arrest. The likelihood of victims recovering their money appears slim, according to investigators. The Mukherjees filed for bankruptcy last year. Investigators are still working to determine whether any funds were moved offshore or into a cryptocurrency account. "I think it's gone," Brennan told the I-Team. "I think they've spent it on cars, their house, and in just living expenses."
