Child care in san antonio tx: Childcare Assistance – City of San Antonio
The struggle for early child care is real
When Cara Sager and her husband Brian visited San Antonio in December 2021 ahead of a job-related move, she discovered the wait list for the local day care center she’d hoped to use was an untenable eight months.
This meant Sager, a 34-year-old physical therapist, wouldn’t have child care for her infant daughter when she was scheduled to start a new job here.
“I thought, ‘This is just insanity,’” she recalled. “What do you do?”
Abilene, where the couple had been living, suffered from the same paucity of quality child care spaces, she said.
Fortunately, their scheduled move was postponed for months, and her child was able to start at the Pineapple School — a Spanish immersion early learning center that Sager “loves” — when her job started last August.
The Pineapple School costs Sager $1,400 a month — not a huge burden, since her spouse is a surgeon and her own job pays well. But it’s a sum that would put such care beyond the financial reach of many families.
“For us, it wasn’t a question of not having the money to pay for child care, it was the question of, ‘Are there any openings?’” Sager said.
Her panic at the potential lack of appropriate child care is a fear shared by many parents in San Antonio, Texas and beyond. The nation’s early childhood care system was already limping along. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, cutting the legs out from under a fragile situation.
As the virus wreaked havoc, more than 111,000 employees left their jobs in child care — a whopping one-tenth of the workforce. The reverberations were felt in homes across the nation as some 6.5 million families were unable to obtain stable child care, according to census data from the spring of 2021.
Local child care centers that stayed open — in the beginning, serving only children of essential workers — saw operating costs rise and revenues sink, as many parents (read: women) kept their children home as they worked remotely or became unemployed.
Bexar County saw about 20 percent of its child care centers close due to pandemic stresses, and many that remain open are still struggling to recover.
Billions in federal funding poured in to mitigate the disaster, but child care experts say it wasn’t enough and didn’t address the long-term problems that continue to compromise the country’s early childhood care system.
It is our national shame. The U.S invests a pittance in its child care industry when compared to every other developed nation. And this from a country whose leaders are forever banging on about how children are our future.
Back in the 1970s, a bipartisan effort to create a universal child-care system was scuttled when President Richard Nixon vetoed it, claiming it would “weaken families.”
Since then, it’s been every man (or mother) for herself, a gantlet that entails negotiating a fragmented, crazy-quilt landscape of day care options that may or may not have an open spot, may or not be high quality and may come with a price tag that eats up a huge share of household income.
If the prospect of parents struggling to find safe, quality care for their kids doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, perhaps the pocketbook aspect will move you: One estimate found that a lack of reliable child care costs Texas an estimated $9 billion a year in lost income and tax revenue.
The exorbitant cost of child care — on average more than $10,000 a year, nearly twice what experts consider affordable — is a burden for too many families. But child care center owners are in a bind: To be able to retain employees, they’d have to pay them more — and raise prices for parents who are already tapped out.
Child care workers (most of whom are women, often women of color) are low-paid, an average of some $27,000 a year – worse pay than many jobs found in retail, fast-food and other low-wage industries. Paltry wages and high turnover bedevil the industry.
Aside from large, for-profit chains, community-based child care centers often run on razor-thin profit margins, giving many owners no financial wiggle room.
Some nonprofits and charities in San Antonio offer assistance in various forms to low-income parents, for whom the search for quality and affordable child care can be especially arduous. But it’s not enough to address the enormity of the problem.
In Texas, federal subsidies offer inadequate help to low-income parents when it comes to child care.
In worst case scenarios, a desperate working mom may leave her kids in unsafe situations, such as with an elderly or frail relative or with an unemployed boyfriend — the latter arrangement posing a possible “lethal recipe,” as one former Bexar County criminal prosecutor put it.
The huge social policy bill pushed last year by President Joe Biden included major reforms to the nation’s child care industry. They would have capped expenses for parents, provided large subsidies to centers to help them raise wages and retain workers, and added money for universal prekindergarten. But those reforms were stripped from the final package due to opposition by Republicans and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
The argument again was that such help would meddle in family affairs — proving that Richard Nixon is still very much alive and with us.
As the new year starts, Texas is blessed with a $33 billion budget surplus, and you’d think that at least some of the largesse could go toward improving the state’s abysmal early childhood care situation.
But in his inauguration speech, Gov. Greg Abbot enumerated his plans for the windfall — cutting property taxes, more work on the power grid and other infrastructure issues, help for businesses and of course more money to enforce the border.
As far as the fate of the state’s children go (aside from making schools safer, which doesn’t address reducing the flow of guns), Abbott remains obsessed with two issues: allowing the use of vouchers for private schools and a parental bill of rights, which is really more a stealth move against transgender kids’ rights and other so-called “woke” agendas.
The governor is always crowing about how Texas is such a great state for business. But when it comes to how it fares as a place to raise kids — especially when child care costs are factored in — Texas doesn’t even break into the top 10.
For Sager, who is originally from California, the issue is not just a lack of quality child care. It’s the fact that her adopted home state makes mothers (and fathers) return to work too soon after having a child, robbing them of early bonding time.
In California, parents are able to take eight weeks of paid maternity or family leave — it’s one of only 13 states to offer it. Texas offers no paid maternity leave, although eligible employees taking such leave will see their jobs protected for 12 weeks under nationwide federal family leave rules (for employers with more than 50 workers, that is.)
But how many households can go three months without a paycheck?
Again, it’s our shame: The U. S. is the only industrialized country in the world to not offer paid leave for new mothers.
Employees in Texas seeking paid time off after a baby are at the mercy of their employers, who may — or may not — offer such a perk. Some may be able to cobble together paid time off for vacation or sick pay, perhaps short-term disability. But the vast majority of working people in the nation lack paid family leave through their jobs, which equates to about 9,709,000 workers in Texas.
Some in Washington are taking note: Today, a bipartisan group in Congress meets for the first time to try and hash out a national paid family leave policy.
In Abilene, Sager requested and received five months of unpaid leave for her baby, and was able to receive six weeks of short-term disability pay. Pregnant again, she plans to ask off for the same arrangement for her second child at her present job.
“I’m not asking to be paid for five months, I’m asking for job protection,” she said. “Why should a woman be punished for having children and wanting to spend longer than six to 12 weeks at home?”
Again, it’s not just a heartstrings issue: If women in Texas participated in the labor force at the same rate as women in countries with paid leave, there would be more than 592,000 additional workers in the state and $23. 8 billion more in wages earned statewide, studies show.
“It’s such a different world from here,” Sager said. “It feels like Texas doesn’t really care. There’s just no support in Texas for a new mother.”
Here’s the deal.
Your children are my children. And my children are your children. We are not islands, but are instead all bound up together, interconnected at the roots. Research has repeatedly shown how crucial those first few years in a child’s life are — a time when young brains rapidly develop, personalities take shape and loving attachments (or the lack thereof) are forged.
How well our children fare as adults — as the future workers of America, if you will — is a process that begins in the crib, on the story-time carpet, on the day care center playground.
You may argue we shouldn’t spend taxpayer money on higher paychecks for day care workers, or for more high-quality child care centers, or for time for mothers and babies to bond. It’s not your concern, you may say.
But here’s the reality: It is.
RespiteCareSA – Caring for Children with Special Needs
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KRISTYE PEREZ
The staff is always so friendly – they genuinely love what they do, and it shows. It is so refreshing to finally experience an atmosphere where all children are celebrated equally and especially for a parent of a special needs child, that in itself, means the world.
Brian Biggs, Former Board Member
Seeing the faces of the kids, seeing them on the playground, hearing the sounds of joy and laughter, and knowing what they’ve been through…that makes it special. The chance to not only help those in need, but to see lives changed. The love, healing and growth that happens at Respite Care is something to behold.
Crystal
It’s amazing. They’ve given me that sense of comfort. A sense to know that it takes a village and … I’ve finally found my village
ELYSSA VOGT
What I love about Respite is they put all the kids needs above their own. They focus on helping not just the children but the families as well. I didn’t think I could love a daycare as much as I do this place. We absolutely love it there!
KRIZIA
When I come to Respite Care I know that when I leave my children there that they are in great hands. I know that they’re going to get the same love and attention that I would give them if I was at home with them.
Sandra, RCSA Staff
What I love about RCSA is greeting the parents and listening to them talk about how their child is grown and learning. How staff is loving and understanding with their child.
Dana Terracina, Former Board Member
Respite Care was so important to me because … I was the one who was blessed by being a part of such a compassionate mission … My memories of Respite remind me always of the fragility of life but also of the courage and strength of the angels put in the care of the amazing Respite team. May God continue to bless them all.
December 2022: News & Thank Yous
December 30, 2022
Thank You for Keeping our Children Warm! Thin Blue Line, Alamo City Chapter continued their tradition this year of donating coats to the children of …
December 2022: News & Thank Yous Read More »
November 2022: News & Thank Yous
November 30, 2022
Caring for Caregivers! Taking care of our caregivers is so rewarding! Thanks to donations from Christ Episcopal Church and our wonderful community, Respite Care staff …
November 2022: News & Thank Yous Read More »
RCSA Board of Directors Unanimously Approves New CEO
November 18, 2022
Dear Respite Care Team Family of Supporters, The Board of Directors is excited to announce that that we have unanimously approved Rebecca Helterbrand to serve …
RCSA Board of Directors Unanimously Approves New CEO Read More »
2022 RCSA 35th anniversary Gala
October 1, 2022
Our annual gala was held in late September with great fanfare! Sean and Claudia Elliott were honored for their immense service to our community’s children. …
2022 RCSA 35th anniversary Gala Read More »
June 2022: News & Thank Yous
June 30, 2022
Thank You Neilsen Media! June 10, 2022 We’d like to give a huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers from Nielsen Media! They took time …
June 2022: News & Thank Yous Read More »
May 2022: News & Thank YOUs
May 31, 2022
May 26, 2022 Please help us celebrate Ms. Christianna Wilson, who recently received her Bachelor’s Degree from New Mexico State University! Christianna completed her degree …
May 2022: News & Thank YOUs Read More »
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La Cantera Resort & Spa, San Antonio
- Option and Price Information
- Amenities
- Accommodation Conditions
- * Notes
- Guest Reviews (601)
You can get a Genius Discount at La Cantera Resort & Spa! To save on this property, just sign in.
This resort and spa is located in the Hill Country area of San Antonio. It features 4 outdoor pools, including an adults-only infinity pool and hot tub pool, as well as a golf course. The Shops at La Cantera and Six Flags – Texas Fiesta Amusement Park are located across the street from the hotel, to which a free shuttle service is provided.
At La Cantera Resort & Spa, all luxurious rooms are equipped with a minibar and a 42-inch flat-screen TV. Each room is decorated in soothing natural tones and comes with crisp white linens.
One of the floors of La Cantera Resort & Spa is open to adults only. It has a full-service spa. In addition, La Cantera Hill Country Resort & Spa has a Kids Club where children from 4 to 12 years old will be supervised by entertainment staff.
This resort is located 21 km from San Antonio Sea World Amusement Park and Marine Aquarium. The popular San Antonio Riverfront is less than 20 minutes’ drive.
Couples especially like the location – they rated accommodation in the area for a trip as a couple at 9. 3 .
La Cantera Resort & Spa has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Oct 28, 2018 2013.
More details
Most popular amenities
Outdoor pool
Parking (on site)
Free Wi-Fi
Airport shuttle
Non-smoking rooms 9 0015
Family rooms
Spa and wellness center
Fitness center
Restaurant
Benefits of this option
Great Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.4)
Onsite parking
Tennis court
A fitness center
Golf course (within 3 km)
끖
Guests return here more often than in other accommodation options.
Select dates to see availability and prices.
Room Type
Capacity
Deluxe King Room
1 Extra Large Double Bed
Show Prices
Deluxe Room with 2 King Beds queen-size»
2 large double Beds
Show Prices
Show Prices
Junior Suite Pool View
1 Extra Large Double Bed
and
1 Sofa Bed
Show Prices
King Room – Guest Friendly handicapped
1 extra large double bed
Show prices
Suite
Bedroom :
1 extra large double bed
9001 9
Living room:
1 sofa bed
Show prices
Triple
1 extra large double bed
Show prices
Suite
Bedroom :
1 extra large double bed
Living room:
1 sofa bed
Show prices
Suite
Bedroom:
900 20
1 extra large double bed
Living room:
1 sofa bed
Show prices
Suite
Bedroom 1:
1 extra large double bed
Bedroom 2: 9001 5
1 extra large double bed
4
Show prices
Luxury
1 extra large double bed
Bedroom :
1 extra large double bed
Living room:
1 sofa bed
Show prices Suitable for disabled guests
2 large double beds
Show prices
Standard villa
1 extra large double bed
and
1 sofa bed
Show prices
Studio with Sofa Bed
1 Extra Large Double Bed
and
1 Sofa Bed
Show Prices
One-Bedroom Suite
Bedroom :
1 extra large double bed
Living room:
1 sofa bed
Show prices
Villa
2 large double beds
Show prices
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FAQ about property
See what other guests are asking to learn more about this property.
- Garden or Jacuzzi Baths
Deluxe King Rooms have bathtub/shower facilities in the bathrooms.
This is a translation –
Reply January 30, 2021
- do we have a bathroom in our king room? Also is there room service?
All rooms have a private toilet. Apartments are cleaned upon request. In addition, room service is available.
This is a translation –
Reply Jan 30, 2021
Nearby landmarks *
Restaurants
1 restaurant on site
Resort facilities and services -La Cantera Resort & Spa
Well thought out amenities! Review Score: 9
Most Popular Amenities
Outdoor Pool
Onsite Parking
Free Wi-Fi
Airport Shuttle Service
Non-Smoking Rooms
Family Rooms
Spa & Wellness Center
Fitness Center
Restaurant
Outdoors
-
Outdoor Fireplace
-
Outdoor furniture
-
Sun deck
-
Terrace
Sports & Recreation
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Aerobics
Additional charge
-
Live Sports
-
Live music/performance
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Happy hours
-
Movie nights
-
Tennis equipment
-
Kids Club
Additional charge
-
Horse riding
Additional charge Off-site
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Games room
-
Golf course (within 3 km)
Additional charge
-
Tennis court
Food and drink
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Coffee house (on site)
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Fruit
Additional charge
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Wine/champagne
Additional charge
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Kid-friendly buffet
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Kids Menu
Additional charge
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Special Diet Menus (on request)
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Snack Bar
-
Breakfast in the room
-
Restaurant
Internet
Wi-Fi is free in public areas.
Parking
Public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and costs US$18 per day.
Reception
Entertainment and family services
Cleaning services
Business center services
Security
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Fire extinguishers
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Video surveillance outside the building
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Video surveillance in common areas
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Smoke detectors
- 900 14 Burglar alarm
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Electronic card entry
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Key entry
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24/7 security
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Transfer
-
Mini market (on site)
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Communal lounge / TV lounge
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Vending machine (food)
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Vending machine (drinks)
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Smoking areas
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Air conditioning
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Non-smoking throughout
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Hypoallergenic number
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Heating
-
Car rental
-
Family rooms
-
Facilities for disabled guests
-
Airport shuttle
Additional charge
-
Non-smoking rooms
-
Room service
Availability
Outdoor pool
Free !
Wellness services
-
Children’s pool
-
Changing room with lockers in the fitness center / spa
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Personal Trainer
-
Fitness
-
Yoga
-
Fitness
90 004
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Full body massage
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Hand massage
-
Head massage
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steam
-
Foot massage
-
Neck massage
-
Back massage
-
Spa/wellness packages
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Foot bath
-
Spa lounge/relaxation area
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Steam room
-
Spa treatments
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Phototherapy
-
Wrap
-
Body peeling
-
Body care
-
Hairstyling
-
Haircut
-
Pedicure
-
Manicure
9000 4
-
Hair care
-
Makeup
-
Waxing
-
Facials
-
Beauty services
-
Water slide
-
Turkish bath
Additional charge
-
Hot tub/jacuzzi
-
Massage
Additional charge
-
Spa and wellness center
Additional charge
-
Fitness Center
The staff speaks these languages 3
French
Accommodation conditions
La Cantera Resort & Spa takes special requests – add in the next step!
check in
From 16:00
Departure
Until 11:00
Cancel/
prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary depending on the type of option chosen.
Please enter your dates of stay and review the booking conditions for the requested room.
Beds for children
Child Policy
Children of all ages are welcome.
Children aged 16 and over are considered adults at this property.
To see exact prices and availability, please enter the number of children in your group and their age when searching.
Crib and Extra Bed Policy
0-2 Years
Extra Bed on Request
US$25 per child per night
Crib on Request
Free
From 3 years
Extra bed on request
US$25 per person per night
Baby cots and extra beds are not included in the total price of the reservation and must be paid separately at the time of stay.
The number of extra beds and baby cots allowed depends on the option chosen. Check conditions.
Baby cots and extra beds are subject to availability.
No age limit
There are no age restrictions for check-in.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Cards accepted by the property
La Cantera Resort & Spa accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.
1767440.1760240.1763180 | 9640|1.1766530.1752060.1735890.1736710.1764730|1
IN TEXAS – Our Texas – Russian Newspaper in Houston, Dallas, San-Antonio, Austin, Texas
GOVERNOR ABBOTT SPEECHES TO THE STATE IN 2023
On February 16 in San Marcos, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott outlined his legislative priorities in a State Address.
Abbott highlighted seven urgent issues of interest to upcoming legislative sessions, including property tax exemptions, the removal of COVID-19 restrictions, and freedom of choice of schools, the state will reward community colleges that develop career development programs, in addition to In addition, he presented a $100 billion plan to improve the state’s infrastructure.
Among the major issues or initiatives that the Governor outlined for the upcoming session were:
Property tax relief. With the state’s record high $33 billion surplus, Texas lawmakers will propose using $15 billion of the budget solely for property tax relief, Abbott said.
“Property taxes are choking Texans, we need to fix that in this session,” Abbott said. Hard-working Texans ran the biggest budget surplus in Texas history; that money belongs to you, the taxpayers. We need to get them back to you with the biggest real estate tax cut in Texas history.”
Electrical network improvements. Abbott said the state is also looking to improve Texas’ electricity grid. Since Winter Storm Uri left thousands of Texas without power for days two years ago, the power grid hasn’t failed.
“We need to build a grid strong enough to power Texas for the next century,” Abbott said. “In the last month alone, several projects have been announced that will add reliable power to our network. ”
“Repeal COVID restrictions forever.” In an effort to defend liberty and waive federal instructions, Abbott echoed similar sentiments from other Republican governors known for their opposition to federal mandates.
“We must ban any government from imposing COVID mask mandates, COVID vaccine mandates, and closing any businesses or schools because of COVID,” Abbott said.
School choice and security. Another emergency item on Abbott’s list includes “freedom of choice of school” through the creation of “publicly funded educational accounts.”
“To be perfectly clear, under this school choice program, all public schools will be fully funded on a per-student basis,” Abbott said.
“We have provided more funds for public education and teacher pay increases than ever before in the history of the state of Texas, and we will be adding more this session,” he said. In addition to pledging to fund public schools, Abbott also said he was making school safety an emergency, in particular by adding mental health professionals in schools.
Weapons . Abbott said he wants to increase the sentence for people with previous convictions arrested for possession of weapons to a mandatory ten years in prison. Abbott did not mention gun reform measures or the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Some parents lobbied the governor to push through legislation raising the state legal age for buying an assault rifle to 21.
Bail Revolving Door Act . In his speech, Abbott specifically accused Harris County and Houston of the “revolving door bail practice” and noted that the bail law would be another emergency item on his list.
“In this session, we must lock this revolving door by passing laws that keep dangerous criminals behind bars and prosecute the judges who let them out,” Abbott said.
Border policy. The Governor also denounced the Biden administration for pursuing an “open borders policy” and said “the fight against fentanyl” is another emergency item on his list.
Abbott also said government officials have offered to spend another $4.6 billion on the border and proposed a mandatory 10-year prison sentence for US citizens caught “smuggling illegal immigrants.”
“Texas is the only state in American history to build its own border wall,” he said.
TOP-PAID EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
As You Sow, a research and advocacy non-profit organization, released a study earlier this month that identified the top 100 highest-paid CEOs in the country.
CenterPoint Energy CEO David J. Lesar’s $37,809,810 last year made him the 12th highest-paid CEO in the US, according to As You Sow analysis.
Lesar’s salary is about 366 times the average CenterPoint employee’s salary. Lezar even managed to overtake the leaders of corporate giants such as The Coca-Cola Company, Nike, Walt Disney and Walmart in the list of the most overpaid CEOs.
CenterPoint Energy is one of the primary energy companies for customers throughout much of south and southeast Texas. The company generated about $6.1 billion in gross profit last fiscal year, up about 3.5% from a year earlier, according to financial analysis website Macrotrends.
DECLINE IN SCHOOLS NUMBER
After 20 years of growth, enrollment in Texas schools is expected to decline over the next decade, likely due to the declining birth rate in the state.
Over the last couple of decades, especially the last decade, growth has been driven by about 50-80 high-growth school districts along the I-35 corridor – most of them in the suburbs. But the decline across the board that we will see over the next decade will be driven by the decline in fertility that is already happening.
Texas school districts may feel the impact of fewer students by receiving less state education funds as the state legislature funds them based on average daily school attendance.
The phenomenon of declining fertility, leading to fewer children, is not unique to Texas, it is happening all over the country.
Demographers have divided the nation into four large baskets of racial ethnic groups, and white people tend to have lower birth rates. So the more diverse states were less affected by it just as quickly, but it became a more noticeable trend over time. So now it’s starting to catch up with Texas.
Some major school districts have already begun to reduce enrollment.
METEOR CRASHES IN SOUTH TEXAS
A nearly 1,000-pound, two-foot-wide meteor hit South Texas on Wednesday, February 15, according to reports.
NASA confirmed that the meteor broke apart as it passed through the atmosphere and landed at approximately 6 pm near McAllen, Texas.
“Although meteorites typically hit the Earth’s atmosphere at high speeds, they slow down as they travel through the atmosphere, breaking into small fragments before falling to the ground. Meteorites cool rapidly and generally pose no danger to the public,” NASA said in a statement.
The space agency released a report of the incident, along with a map showing the area where parts of the meteorite likely fell.
According to the National Weather Service in Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley, several people have reported a possible meteor in the sky west of McAllen. The meteorological agency also said the meteor outbreak was recorded by the geostationary lightning cartographer just before 5:30 p.m.
TEXAS MEDICAID Eligibility for Pregnant Women
As of November 2022, more than 468,000 pregnant women in Texas rely on Medicaid as of the latest available data. Medicaid accounts for about half of all births in the state.
More than 5.7 million people in Texas are covered by Medicaid overall, including care for the disabled, children’s Medicaid, cancer treatment, and care for the elderly. Nationally, this number exceeds 90 million.
According to Texas Health and Human Services, over 49% of Medicaid recipients in Texas are Hispanic, 15% of recipients are black, and about 17% are white. Pregnancy enrollment data is similar: 53% of Hispanics, 19% black and 23% white.
To be eligible for Medicaid maternity coverage in Texas, people must earn approximately 200% below the federal poverty line. For a family of three, this means that their income cannot exceed $3,800 a month, or about $45,600 a year. The MIT Dallas County Living Wage Calculator estimates that a family of three would need more than $67,000 in annual income to pay for food, child care, medical expenses, and housing.
Medicaid in Texas offers health coverage during pregnancy and two months postpartum, from antenatal visits to postnatal checkups (private insurance typically covers 12 months and enrollment often renews automatically).
In the 2021 legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill extending Medicaid for pregnant women from two months to six months after delivery. This extension was rejected by the federal government in the fall of 2022.
HELP MIGRATING BIRDS
From the first of this month, a male bluebird has been attacking his image in the large window pane of the living room overlooking the backyard.
In the meantime, he plucks out the planted mealworms and takes them to the female in the nest. This is mating time, which in our bluebirds starts early.
The male will fiercely defend his breeding territory from an invading male, whom he sees as a mirror image of himself in the window.
The bird is not stupid and not devoid of sharp eyesight. The brain of a songbird is comparable in its intellectual capabilities to the brain of a chimpanzee.
Songbirds also have excellent eyesight, which allows them to see the ultraviolet spectrum invisible to our eyes. Birds also perceive shades of the same color with sharper contrast than we can see.
But despite a fairly large brain and excellent eyesight, the male bluebird cannot tell the difference between his own reflection and a real bird. Chimpanzees in a zoo will first see their mirror image as another chimpanzee, but after playing with the mirror for a few days, they will recognize their own reflection.
By comparison, it takes about 18 months after birth for people to recognize their face in a mirror. Magpies are the only birds known to us that recognize themselves in a mirror. But their brains are larger and more developed than those of songbirds.
Songbirds cannot distinguish their mirror image from another bird. They also cannot see the reflections of the trees and the sky in the glass as anything other than a natural environment. They will crash into windows thinking they are flying towards trees or into the air.
Millions of spring migratory songbirds crash to their deaths on tall buildings with large luminous glass panels reflecting their clear flight path in the sky. The Houston Audubon Society advocates for “lights out” in buildings during migration.
In the meantime, what to do with a male blue bird attacking his image in the window? The silhouettes of hawks and falcons pasted on the windows will not work, because the forms do not deceive the birds.