https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/stephen-simpson/The latest news by Stephen Simpson.enMon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/texas-fentanyl-drugs/Lawmakers are passing laws in an attempt to slow the rise in fentanyl overdoses, but drug advocates warn the opioid is mostly a booster for other illegal drugs.Stephen SimpsonMon, 19 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/19/texas-fentanyl-drugs/A group of counterfeit K56 pills, which contain fentanyl, is displayed as tests are conducted on seized drugs at the Houston Forensic Science Center in Houston on March 29, 2023.A group of counterfeit K56 pills, which contain fentanyl, is displayed as tests are conducted on seized drugs at the Houston Forensic Science Center in Houston on March 29, 2023.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/12/texas-school-violence-safety/Threat assessment teams were created to prevent the next school shooting. However, confusion surrounds how these teams operate and what they even do with a child exhibiting threatening behavior.Stephen SimpsonMon, 12 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/12/texas-school-violence-safety/Texas Governor Greg Abbott convenes the third of three roundtable discussions on school safety and gun violence on May 24, 2018 in the wake of the Santa Fe High School shooting that left ten students dead.Texas Governor Greg Abbott convenes the third of three roundtable discussions on school safety and gun violence on May 24, 2018 in the wake of the Santa Fe High School shooting that left ten students dead.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/08/texas-legislature-health-bills/Pregnant moms on Medicaid will get health care coverage for a year, patients will get more detailed billing and nurses will get help with school loans. But efforts failed to gain steam for legalizing fentanyl test strips, increasing the pool of mental health professionals who accept Medicaid and expanding Medicaid benefits to more Texans.Stephen Simpson, Eleanor Klibanoff and Karen Brooks HarperThu, 08 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/08/texas-legislature-health-bills/Christa Marek, owner of the Learning Tree child care center in Yoakum, holds her granddaughter at the center on Sept. 13, 2022.Learning Tree owner Christa Marek holds her granddaughter at the Learning Tree childcare center in Yoakum, on Sept. 13, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/18/texas-legislature-child-abuse-reports/House Bill 63 is an attempt to reduce the amount of vindictive or false child abuse reports made to the state, but child advocates say it will deter valid reports, too.Stephen SimpsonThu, 18 May 2023 19:07:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/18/texas-legislature-child-abuse-reports/A caseworker’s badge hangs off her neck as she prepares to assist on a case for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in June 2018.A caseworker's badge hangs off her neck as she prepares to assist on a case for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in June 2018.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-schools-mental-health/Federal pandemic aid helped build public school mental health services in Texas. School officials now brace for the expiration of those funds next year. They’re urging lawmakers to create a dedicated funding stream for mental health assistance in schools.Stephen SimpsonMon, 15 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-schools-mental-health/High school students between classes in the hallway at the high school in Buffalo, Texas, on March 28, 2019.High school students between classes in the hallway at the high school in Buffalo on March 28, 2019.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-mass-shootings-mental-health/Texas still lags nationally when it comes to mental health services and there have been seven mass shootings since Abbott took office in 2015.Stephen SimpsonWed, 10 May 2023 16:28:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-mass-shootings-mental-health/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference at Uvalde High School on May 27, 2022.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a presser at Uvalde High School on May 27, 2022.Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/28/texas-mental-health-medicaid/Texas wants to expand mental health services, but many mental health providers do not accept Medicaid because of its lower payment rate.Stephen SimpsonFri, 28 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/28/texas-mental-health-medicaid/Demonstrators participate in a mental health rally at the Texas Capitol, organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, in 2013.Demonstrators participate in a mental health rally at the Texas Capitol, organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, on Feb. 28, 2013.Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-immigrant-children-health/A report from the Migration Policy Institute and the American Academy of Pediatrics details the barriers undocumented children face in the United States.Stephen SimpsonWed, 26 Apr 2023 12:11:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-immigrant-children-health/Migrant children in the courtyard of the Our Lady-Guadalupe Catholic Church School in Mission on July 27, 2021.Migrant children in the courtyard of the Our Lady-Guadalupe Catholic Church School in Mission on July 27, 2021.Jason Garza for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-senate-mental-health-children/The proposal would offer hospitals and nonprofits grant funding to expand child and family mental health services.Stephen SimpsonThu, 13 Apr 2023 17:57:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/texas-senate-mental-health-children/State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, speaks to her colleagues in honor of Texas Independence Day on the Senate floor on March 2, 2021.State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, speaks to her colleagues in honor of Texas Independence Day on the Senate floor on March 2, 2021.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/12/texas-drugs-crime-evidence/Texas lawmakers want tougher criminal penalties for possession of delta-8 and fentanyl. But that would mean much more work for the crime labs handling most of the drug testing for the state’s 254 counties.Stephen SimpsonWed, 12 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/12/texas-drugs-crime-evidence/Angelica Noyola, a forensic analyst, prepares a tray of pills, which likely contain oxycodone, for a chemical spot test in the seized drugs lab in Houston on March 29, 2023.Angelica Noyola, a forensic analyst in the seized drugs lab, prepares a tray of pills, which likely contain oxycodone, for a chemical spot test as the state grapples with the effects of the nation's growing opioid epidemic at the Houston Forensic Science Center in Houston on March 29, 2023.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/06/texas-fentanyl-greg-abbott/The “One Pill Kills” campaign is funded with the help of a federal grant, and the statewide Narcan distribution is being paid for with funds from Texas’ settlement agreement with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.Stephen SimpsonThu, 06 Apr 2023 19:51:09 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/06/texas-fentanyl-greg-abbott/At the “One Pill Kills” summit on Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott, center, is flanked by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Health and Human Services Commissioner Cecile Young, Texas Against Fentanyl founder Stefanie Turner and state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress.Gov. Greg Abbott, center, is flanked by Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Health and Human Services Commissioner Cecile Young, Texas Against Fentanyl founder Stefanie Turner, and state Rep. Dr. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/23/texas-schools-narcan-opioids/Texas is attempting to address the fentanyl crisis gripping schools by having staff learn how to administer lifesaving medication.Stephen SimpsonThu, 23 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/23/texas-schools-narcan-opioids/Narcan nasal spray at an opioid educational training class with Callie Crow, the founder of Drew’s 27 Chains, on March 31, 2022, in Caddo Mills.Narcan nasal spray at an opioid educational training class with Callie Crow, the founder of Drew's 27 Chains, on March 31, 2022, in Caddo Mills.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/10/texas-state-hospitals-mental-health-workforce-shortage/The state has added more beds for jail inmates who need psychiatric treatment to be considered competent to face trial. But at least a third remain empty because the state can’t hire enough people to staff them.Stephen SimpsonFri, 10 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/10/texas-state-hospitals-mental-health-workforce-shortage/The Austin State Hospital is shown on April 29, 2016. Despite an infusion of funding from lawmakers for the state’s mental health care system, Texas struggles to provide psychiatric care for all patients who need it.Shelby Tauberhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/uvalde-school-safety-gun-policy/Gun policy reform is the best way to address school safety, according to experts on a panel in Austin. They also cautioned against doubling down on surveillance technology.Stephen SimpsonThu, 09 Mar 2023 18:18:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/uvalde-school-safety-gun-policy/Children arrive to Flores Middle School for the first day of classes in Uvalde on Sept. 6.Children arrive to Flores Middle School for the first day of classes in Uvalde on Sept. 6, 2022.Evan L’Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/07/texas-death-row-andre-thomas/At issue is whether Thomas, who gouged out his eyes after confessing to a 2004 triple murder in Sherman, is competent to be executed.Stephen SimpsonTue, 07 Mar 2023 17:48:02 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/07/texas-death-row-andre-thomas/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/21/texas-mental-health-workforce-shortage/The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already short supply of therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.Stephen SimpsonTue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/21/texas-mental-health-workforce-shortage/From left: Communities in Schools staff members Christy Mitchell, Dorothy Garza and Amara Nitibhon at Langford Elementary School in Austin on Feb. 14.AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 14, 2023: Communities in Schools staff members Christy Mitchell, Dorothy Garza and Amara Nitibhon (left to right) pose for a portrait at Langford Elementary School in Austin, Texas on February 14, 2023. (Photo by Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune)Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/15/texas-death-row-andre-thomas/At issue is whether Thomas, who gouged out his eyes after confessing to the 2004 murders of his estranged wife, their son and her daughter, is competent to be executed in April.Stephen SimpsonWed, 15 Feb 2023 18:33:06 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/15/texas-death-row-andre-thomas/The view of Texas' execution chamber from a witness viewing room.The view of Texas' execution chamber from a witness viewing room.Texas Department of Criminal Justicehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/02/texas-winter-weather-mental-health/Severe weather this week is confronting Texans with old problems and stirring up memories of previous crises. Experts say this can be a detriment to mental health.Stephen Simpson, Samantha Aguilar, Brian Lopez and Kate McGeeThu, 02 Feb 2023 20:17:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/02/texas-winter-weather-mental-health/A man in North Austin attempts to scrape the ice from his truck windshield after a winter storm on Feb. 1, 2023.A man attempts to scrape the ice from his truck windshield after a winter storm in north Austin on Feb. 1, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune