Good evening, Texas. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

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A high pressure ridge builds over Texas keeping our skies clear with dry conditions. As it exits to the east Wednesday afternoon it will become increasingly warm with highs 15 to almost 20 degrees above normal by Friday. Overnight lows will also warm to a more mild zone. 

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Today's Big Stories

1. Court grants Texas stay, temporarily preventing cutting of razor wire

Texas has been granted a stay in a battle it’s waging against the Biden administration over border security.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday secured an administrative stay that will temporarily prevent Border Patrol agents from cutting razor wire that the state installed along the banks of the Rio Grande.

In late November, a judge issued a ruling permitting the cutting of the concertina wire fencing.

Texas has installed razor wire around El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley, where migrants have also crossed in high numbers. But the barrier has drawn the sharpest criticism in Eagle Pass, where some state troopers have raised concerns over the multiple injuries caused by razor wire. 

2. Texas lawmakers adjourn, leaving priority private school vouchers unfinished

The Texas House and Senate adjourned Tuesday, ending the fourth special legislative session. House members left first without taking action on key bills the Senate passed including private school vouchers, school safety funding and teacher pay raises.

The top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott was passing a school voucher bill, which would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to send their kids to private school. While it did reach the full House for a floor debate this time around, a group of rural Republicans joined Democrats in successfully stripping the language from an omnibus education bill that also included teacher pay raises. Since the governor said he wouldn’t sign a bill that did not include vouchers, the House did not move forward with passing the bill.

This June 1, 2021, file photo shows the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

3. Math and reading scores in several countries fall to lowest level in two decades, study says

Math, reading and science proficiency among teenagers has decreased in dozens of countries, according to a new report the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development released Tuesday. One in four 15-year-olds is a low performer in all subjects and were not able to perform basic calculations or interpret uncomplicated text, the study found.

The OECD has been conducting reading, math and science tests in 15-year-olds every three years since 2000. The scores for 2022 marked the lowest results recorded since OECD testing began.

Reading scores fell by 10 points, and math fell 15 points. The OECD said the learning losses were equivalent to losing three-quarters of a year of schooling. The researchers noted that countries that showed the poorest scores were associated with high rates of mobile phone use and in schools that reported a shortage of teachers.

4. Senate confirms more than 400 military promotions after Tuberville ends blockade

The Senate on Tuesday evening confirmed more than 400 military promotions just hours after Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville ended his monthslong blockade in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy.

The freshman Alabama Republican said earlier Tuesday he would release his hold on promotions for three-star nominees and below, which represents the bulk of the more than 400 military promotions being held up by Tuberville's protest. His actions drew the ire of both Democrats and his fellow Republicans alike, as well as military officials and advocates who said it was negatively impacting military readiness. 

Notes for Tomorrow

In Case You Missed It  

Austin Trail of Lights 2022. (Spectrum News 1/File)

Austin Trail of Lights ranked as one of the best displays in the U.S.

Holiday lights and displays have become a seasonal celebration people across the nation are eager to take part in each year. Families and businesses create large, jubilant light shows, drawing big crowds. 

This year, U.S. News & World Report found the top light shows across the country and ranked them. Austin's beloved Trail of Lights landed in the top 20 must-see experiences, at No. 15.