TEXAS — Federal education officials are considering letting states use federal funds to buy firearms for schools. It’s a consideration that began when Texas officials asked if they could use a grant to arm teachers, according to news reports.
Late Wednesday, the New York Times first reported that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is looking into whether federal academic enrichment grant money could be used to fund guns.
Press Secretary Liz Hill said Thursday that the agency “is constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety.''
Texas Education Agency officials said in a statement Thursday that they asked federal education officials in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting to clarify whether they could use the grant funding to arm teachers.
The exact question sent to the Department in April was:
“Many have asked due to the increased focus on school safety, will allowable purchases under safe and healthy students also include such things as guns, gun training/marshal training for school personnel, metal protectors, bullet proof entries, or other services associated with crisis management?”
TEA said federal officials never provided a final answer on the matter.
Beto O’Rourke NFL comments go viral
The controversy over NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem has hit Texas' U.S. Senate race.
At a recent campaign event in Houston, the Democratic challenger to Ted Cruz was asked if he thinks the NFL players kneeling are disrespectful to veterans and the country.
"My short answer is no, I don't think it's disrespectful,” O’Rourke said.
This video has now gone viral, and earned praise from celebrities and professional athletes.
After voicing his support for the protests, the Democratic candidate goes on to reference the nonviolent civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and noting that players started the protests to call attention to police brutality of unarmed black men.
Republican incumbent Ted Cruz has used the comments to again point out that while O'Rourke may get national attention, he's out of step with the Texans who will actually decide the race.
As recent polling suggests on the NFL issue, the numbers show Texans are not with O'Rourke. We sit down with UT Politics Project Director Jim Henson on tonight’s show to get the Texas take on this issue.
Voter approval of toll roads plan unveiled
It's being touted at the Toll Payer Protection Act. Thursday, a group called Texans for Traffic Relief unveiled a proposal that would not allow new toll projects without voter approval.
The idea received roughly 90 percent support in the GOP primary earlier this year.
It comes as officials continue to look at ways to ease congestion -- including the addition of toll lanes. Hear more on the plan when we go one-on-one with a member of TTR.
Hear more about these stories and others on Capital Tonight at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News.