Texas schools will ditch end-of-year standardized testing and instead administer three shorter assessments throughout the academic year.

Why it matters: Getting rid of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) was one of Gov. Greg Abbott's priorities for the last two special sessions.

• A new law's supporters say the measure will alleviate test anxiety among students and will give educators and parents better insight into students' learning throughout the year.

The latest: Abbott signed House Bill 8 into law last week. The measure calls for student assessments in the beginning, middle and end of the school year.

• Test results will be available within two business days and will factor into schools' and districts' annual ratings.

The big picture: Standardized tests in Texas have changed significantly since the days of scantrons, No. 2 pencils and intimidating testing environments.

• In the last 25 years, Texas has switched from TAAS to TAKS to the highly unpopular electronically administered STAAR.

The other side: The Texas American Federation of Teachers agreed with lawmakers that the state's testing system has "longstanding problems," but opposed HB 8, saying it will not do enough to address the issues.

• The organization of 66,000 members wanted lawmakers to broaden the scope of student success indicators to include participation in pre-K, extracurricular activities and career and technical education.
• "Lawmakers haven't gotten rid of high-stakes testing. They've just rebranded it," Texas AFT president Zeph Capo said in a statement.

What's next: The transition to the new format should be completed by the 2027-28 school year, the new law says.

• Meanwhile, the Texas Education Agency and school districts will need to conduct field testing of possible questions for the three assessments.

The Cotton Bowl will feel almost new during the Red River Showdown and State Fair Classic after months of renovations to widen concourses, update concessions and add escalators to the historic stadium.

Why it matters: Fair Park could become a year-round attraction for tourists and locals with an infusion of bond money meant to modernize the historic venues, including the nearly 100-year-old stadium.

• The park is the only intact pre-1950s world's fair site remaining in the U.S. Its art deco buildings were built in 1936 for a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Texas' independence from Mexico.

The latest: The Cotton Bowl's $140 million renovations are finished in time for the opening of the State Fair of Texas. The stadium will host two college football games and the new State Fair Clásico, a women's soccer match.

The intrigue: Stadium construction had to be completed around the state fair's schedule, with a bulk of the work starting last November.

• The stadium's ramps have been replaced with a widened concourse, stairs, escalators and new outdoor terraces.

State of play: The stadium is modernized with new restrooms and concessions ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

• The updates, including suites and premium seating, give the stadium a chance to attract bigger events.

By the numbers: Construction costs totaled $120 million, with another $20 million for design costs and permits. Stadium additions include:

• 14 escalators
• 10 private suites on the fifth level
• Club-level seating on the sixth floor for 164 people, plus two corner boxes that seat 14.

Today is the first day of fall, but the reality is that we are still feeling the heat.

The latest: Summer temperatures are hanging around longer nationwide compared to the early 1970s, as climate change affects the four seasons, a new analysis finds.

Driving the news: The change is happening in just over 90% of the 246 U.S. cities analyzed in a new report from Climate Central, a climate research group.

• Among cities with lingering heat, summer temperatures are lasting an extra 10 days on average.

Zoom in: Summer temperatures are lasting 31 more days in Texas, compared to 1970.

• The Dallas area is averaging 13 extra days.

The bottom line: Soak in these warm days. They will be missed during the winter.

⚾️ The Texas Rangers have lost seven straight games, getting swept by both the Miami Marlins and Houston Astros. (DMN)

🛬 Flight delays and cancellations at DFW and Love Field airports on Friday were due to cut fiber optic cables. (WFAA)

🪧 About 3,000 people marched in downtown Fort Worth over the weekend in honor of Charlie Kirk. (Fort Worth Report)

💬 Quote du jour:

"It is unbelievably dangerous for government to put itself in the position of saying we're going to decide what speech we like and what we don't, and we're going to threaten to take you off air if we don't like what you're saying."

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In the bowels of a large place,

Is this thought-provoking space,

Where psychedelic meets pop art,

Bold colors punctuate black and white,

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