Keri Heath

I'm also officially stepping onto the state education policy beat, trying to fill @ByEdMcKinley's big shoes. If you are in #txed world, please say hello!

Hearing of layoffs and severance offers across the journalism world today. We can't function as a democracy if we don't have a free press to cover it. If you're impacted, a reminder of these resources: journalismcommunityaid.wordpress.com/laid-off/

TEA plans to release 2024 A-F scores for districts, schools on Aug. 15, the same day it will also release A-F for 2025. The 2024 ratings had been blocked because of a lawsuit. #txed

I went to Marble Falls on Friday to meet the family, friends and colleagues of Fire Chief Michael Phillips, who was washed away by powerful floodwaters during a rescue on July 5. The town honored him in the most Texas way possible: at the rodeo. statesman.com/story/news/loc…

NEW: Catastrophic flooding wreaked havoc on the Travis County area July 5, taking at least 17 lives, leveling homes and destroying neighborhoods. I reviewed alerts, interviews and devastated areas to learn how the floods unfolded that night. Here is a timeline of what happened

.@statesman's Sunday edition remembered the people lost to flooding in the Austin area over the July 4 weekend.

If your property got damaged by the recent flash floods in Central Texas, I wrote a list of resources that might help with disaster relief/recovery for @statesman: statesman.com/story/news/loc…

made A1 for @statesman today (yay!) looking at how counties have limited power to keep people safer from flooding as rebuilding begins in Central Texas. statesman.com/story/news/loc…

🚨Important message from organizers: DO: (1) Sign up to help with a volunteer organization (listed in story) (2) Wear long pants, gloves, reflective vest, closed toed shoes (3) Keep volunteering, donating in weeks to come DON’T: (1) Self Deploy (2) Bring kids (3) Block roadway.

Journalists with @HoustonChron @ExpressNews and @statesman have written over 50 stories this week that offer a look into the lives of victims of the Central Texas flood. Our work will continue into the coming weeks: houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/…

STORY: In Kerrville visit, President Trump pledged to “fully fund” federal recovery assistance, gave his condolences to the victims’ families and bashed Democratic lawmakers and reporters who have asked whether the deaths could have been prevented. #txlege statesman.com/story/news/pol…

NEW: In Austin-area trailer parks hit by floods, the uninsured aren’t yet guaranteed federal aid. FEMA requires counties meet damage thresholds before they can be included— but that doesn’t make the wait any less agonizing. W/ @Maryamahm92 @HeathKeri statesman.com/news/local/art…

Rescued kitten brings welcomed good news amidst Central Texas floods statesman.com/story/news/202…

BREAKING: Hearst, which bought @statesman in recent months, announced it is purchasing @dallasnews.

Now: Volunteers at an RV park off of E State Highway 29 in Georgetown drag crushed RVs people once called home out of the creek. One man is using his PTO to help. “A lot of people don’t know it hit San Gabriel too,” a volunteer says. Another: “It kind of got forgotten.”

Aftermath of the flood on Big Sandy Creek near Leander. @statesman #texasfloods

Along with flood warning systems, Gov. Abbott put eliminating the STAAR test on the special session agenda. #txed

How to help victims of Central Texas floods. Austin benefits, ways to donate statesman.com/story/news/202…

Dozens of volunteers are here with @HEB in Georgetown to help clean up from Saturday’s devastating flooding by the San Gabriel River. Trees are toppled and muddy track marks stain the grass. There’s piles of debris gathered already and crushed trailers deserted. @statesman.

An appeals court has ruled that the @teainfo can release 2024 A-F accountability scores, which have been blocked for about a year. #txed statesman.com/story/news/edu…