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A McAlester resident has been spreading kindness, love and hope on social media platforms for the last few years. Barry “Bear” Mathews is known as @bearthevoice3 on TikTok, where he talks to his followers, or as he calls them his friends, for the last two and a half years, but has been present on the platform for three and a half years in total. Mathews journey into the world of social media started with a conversation and a misunderstanding as he was gathered around a swimming pool with his daughter. “She said, ‘Daddy, you need a TikTok.’ I said, ‘Baby, I got a watch.’ She was like, ‘What? No. It’s an app that goes on your phone.’ I said, ‘Sweetheart, I’ve got a clock app on my phone.’ I’m thinking ‘tic toc’ like a clock. I had never heard of the app,” Mathews said. After his daughter explained and showed Mathews the app, he questioned why he would even need TikTok. His voice was the answer. “She said ‘Daddy, you have the coolest voice on the planet, man. Your voice is just cool. People will watch your TikToks just to hear you talk,’” Mathews said. The now TikTok star was not initially game for making an account, but allowed his daughter to do so anyways, marking the birth of Bear the Voice. Mathews said his content was just like any other found on the app until he made a video talking about how proud he was of his son. “Somebody made a comment that said, ‘I wish I had a dad who would tell me he was proud of me,’” Mathews said. “So I did a video reply to that comment where I just looked at the camera and said ‘Well, I am proud of you. I’m very proud of you.’” The video went viral with many more content to follow suit, as he now has 1.32 million followers and 18.1 million likes. Mathews’ account is a combination of content ranging from life advice to cooking. Mathews said he didn’t have a clue his account would reach the success it has and still finds it mind blowing. “I think the reason my account has grown the way it has is because I’m not going to respond with hatred,” Mathews said. “I’m going to treat people the way that I want people to treat me, and I’m going to be tremendously honest and caring in doing so. I think that is something people look for. We live in a very superficial age, where it’s all about the trend and not about the compassion and honesty with one another.” The TikTok platform has been under fire for the last few years with the social media app having a potential of being banned in the U.S. in January 2025. Mathews has started to move his content to all social media platforms, like Instagram and YouTube, in case this takes place. Some upcoming projects Mathews has included hosting a Meet and Greet and Eat in June. Mathews said there is a community of cooking content creators, such as himself, who will be gathering June 14 at the Lightning C Arena. The event – a third of its kind – will feature foods made by potentially 100 content creators. As his popularity has grown, Mathews has continued to respond to comments from his friends with kindness and has even been given the moniker of “America’s Grandpa.” “I said in a video that I absolutely adore being a grandpa, and someone put a comment on it that said ‘You probably would not want to be a grandpa to a young Black woman.’ And I knew I had to make a video response to that...,” Mathews said. “I called her by name and told her I don’t care if you’re Black or white or red or green. I don’t care what color you are. Human need is human need, and it knows no race, so I would love for you to call me grandpa. Since then I’ve kind of turned into America’s grandpa.” A grandfatherly figure is something Mathews said he believes America needs right now, as a grandfather not only loves their grandkids regardless of anything but will also dole out advice and guide the person through life. Mathews said he doesn’t want to come across as a know-it-all, but that he does know what it’s like to deal with tragedies and how some just need to be told it will be OK. Mathews current job is social media due to his battle with Polycythemia vera – a chronic, rare blood cancer – which has progressed to cause Mathews to not have the ability to do everything he once could. Prior to the age of TikTok, Mathews drove trucks and worked in the oilfield, which is what brought him to McAlester in the first place. Since 2009 Mathews has made McAlester his home, where he tries to give back when he can. From making Angel Tree donations to helping pay for others at Walmart, Mathews has been living out his kind nature past the phone screen and into the real world of McAlester for years. One example is when Mathews recognized the look of panic on a father’s face after his card declined at a register. As the father tried to pull up his online bank account and find out why his deposit wasn’t showing up, Mathews heard the man’s son ask what was happening. Mathews then told the child the card must be broken and paid for the groceries. “I think that’s not an act of charity it’s an act of kindness that if you can afford to do that that is what you should do,” Mathews said. “We all got to eat, and if I have the money in my account, I’m not going to let you or your little boy go hungry.” Mathews said he helps out when he can because he knows what it is like to need someone. From falling on financial hard times to a flooded house to a house fire, Mathews said he knows what it feels like to not have anything with no one to turn to. “A lot of people who I have talked to personally [will say] ‘God has allowed so many tragedies.’ But I don’t believe a person can truly find humility without having been humiliated and I have been,” Mathews said. “So rather than allow that to make me bitter I’ve tried to let it make me grow into a better person. It’s so easy to be bitter, but it’s also easy to be better.” Becoming TikTok famous has been what Mathews referred to as cool with fans coming up to him in stores and telling Mathews how he has impacted them or even saved their life. Mathews said learning how he has made such an impact on people has been a humbling experience. Mathews said he has not always been this way, but after the death of a child, step sister, and both parents he knows what it is like to lose someone. “That’s a feeling that so many people feel, like they’ve lost everything and they feel like their world is hopeless, and if I can give them a little bit of hope, maybe one day God will smile at me face to face,” Mathews said. Something that Mathews ends each video with is a saying he takes to heart and means to every friend who hears it – “I love all of you. I truly do.” “I think love is something that is a rarity in all societies, not just ours, but all societies these days,” Mathews said. “We don’t have to see eye to eye politically or spiritually. I don’t care – like I said to that young lady – I don’t care what color you are. I don’t care if you’re heterosexual or homosexual. I don’t care if you were born Beverly and you want to be called Billy. I don’t care. Love and compassion is what this world needs the most of, so I love all of you. I truly do.” Skyler Hammons writes for the McAlester News-Capital.
OWINGS MILLS, MD, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maryland Public Television (MPT) has launched its new Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education (Center). The initiative and its mission were introduced during a livestreamed event on November 19 at the statewide public TV network’s Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Production Studio in Owings Mills, Maryland. The event recording is available for viewing at mpt.org/media-literacy . A major expansion of MPT’s long-standing Education Division, the Center will address the challenges and impacts of today’s media-saturated society and support the well-being of Maryland citizens. Its programs and resources on a variety of topics will empower individuals of all ages to navigate media in a complex digital world. The Center’s website is MarylandMediaLiteracy.org . Major funding support for the Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education is being provided by the Sherman Family Foundation. Media literacy at every age is vital, notes the Center’s leadership. Social media is cited as a top source of news and information for adults and teenagers, with nearly half of teens ages 13-17 saying they are online “almost constantly.” In addition, research revealed that 55% of students are not confident in their ability to recognize false information online, 94% of teens say they want their schools to teach media literacy, and 69% of parents fear their children are sharing private information on social media without realizing it. On top of these findings, older adults reported losing more than $1.9 billion in online scams and digital fraud in 2023. “Over more than five decades, MPT’s education team has been a trusted partner in learning and convener in Maryland, which is why we’re well-positioned to spearhead this effort. We recognize media’s power to influence our perceptions, beliefs, and actions, and it’s more important than ever that everyone – from our youngest learners to our seniors – is equipped with healthy media habits,” explained Betsy Peisach, vice president, Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education. “We’re committing the resources, expertise, and leadership over the long term to advance media literacy.” Serving as hosts for the Center’s November 19 launch event were Frank Sesno , former CNN anchor, correspondent, and Washington bureau chief, and current director of strategic initiatives and professor at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, and Kelsey Russell , a Gen Z national media literacy advocate and influencer with 100,000 TikTok followers. The program featured Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore , who spoke to the audience about the need for essential media literacy skills and the necessity for awareness of children’s digital media use. “For the past 55 years, MPT has helped build strong citizens from childhood to adulthood, and the Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education will build on that legacy. I’m proud this new Center will be a guiding light for our kids and adults,” said Moore. “As first lady, the wellbeing of our children is one of my top priorities – and that’s why I will continue to work in partnership with MPT to uplift the future generations of Marylanders.” FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez and Sheppard Pratt President and CEO Dr. Harsh K. Trivedi took part in a conversation with Frank Sesno about the intersection of media literacy, technology, and mental health, and their impacts on individuals, families, and communities. “If you’re on social media more than three hours a day, that’s specifically correlated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. We’re seeing unprecedented mental health issues and problems from too much social media,” said Dr. Trivedi. “It’s really about making information accessible – like the wonderful things MPT does and this coalition can do – and coming out with tangible things that parents, kids, and educators can use to help to teach skills, change behavior, and impact mental health.” “What MPT is doing today to promote media literacy is important to make sure people can discern what is true and what is misinformation, disinformation, or mal-information,” said Gomez. “Remember, this is both a mental health issue and a public safety issue.” The one-hour program integrated videos about social media use and media literacy topics of importance to students at several grade levels. These videos were produced by students from Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Maryland, the DC International School in Washington, D.C., and Stevenson University in Owings Mills. The Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education’s staff, advisors, and partners are developing and curating tools and resources to promote media literacy knowledge and best practices. This team will also create effective learning opportunities that teach media literacy and support informed choices. Among the Center’s initial primary resources and continuing professional development assets are – Media STEPs frameworks and curated partner resources specific to early learners , tweens and teens , and adults and seniors . Early Learning Media Ambassadors , who model best practices for teaching and learning with educational media in the early years. MPT uses a "train the trainers" model to develop media literacy ambassadors, equipping them with the tools to help children develop healthy habits to last a lifetime. In partnership with public libraries, ambassadors host free events, sharing media literacy tips and resources with families and educators in their communities. Maryland State Department of Education-approved media literacy courses for early childhood educators. A network of nine dedicated education professionals is instrumental in guiding the Center’s media literacy initiatives and advancing the movement statewide and beyond. The list of advisors is available at marylandmedialiteracy.org/advisors . (Statistic sources: Pew Research Center, 2022; News Literacy Project, 2022; C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll, 2021; News Literacy Project, May 2024; FTC Annual Report to Congress, 2024) # # # About Maryland Public Television Maryland Public Television (MPT) is a statewide, public-supported TV network and Public Broadcasting Service member offering entertaining, educational, and inspiring content delivered by traditional broadcasting and streaming on TVs, computers, and mobile devices. A state agency, it operates under the auspices of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission. MPT creates and distributes local, regional, and national content and is a frequent winner of regional Emmy® awards. MPT’s commitment to educators, parents, caregivers, and learners of all ages is delivered through its Maryland Center for Media Literacy and Education and Thinkport.org . MPT’s year-round community engagement activities connect viewers with resources on a wide range of topics. For more information visit mpt.org. Attachments Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore at MPT Interview during MPT's Maryland Center for Media Literacy & Education launch event
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Ray'Sean Taylor had 18 points in SIU-Edwardsville's 100-52 win over Eureka on Sunday. Taylor finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range for the Cougars (7-4). Jordan Pickett shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line to add 17 points. Ring Malith had 16 points and shot 6 for 7, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc. Raymond Bandzoumouna Jr. led the way for the Red Devils with 10 points. Sam DeJesus added eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .The Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement of a dedicated green energy auction (GEA) for offshore wind projects next year has serious industry players excitedly charging ahead like surfers eyeing that perfect swell into the deep sea—but are we ready to catch the big wave on these uncharted waters, or will we dip our toes in the shallow end? The rising titans of the offshore wind industry know exactly what they’re after—they are laser-focused on taking that plunge for billion-dollar investments to anchor themselves at the heart of the Philippines’ bold energy transition goal. The big question is: how do we turn these fancy project blueprints into tangible gigawatt-producing wind farms without getting blown off course? Offshore wind: Policy & regulations The newly-released study from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) on "The Philippines Offshore Wind Supply Chain" isn’t just prescriptive and revealing — it’s an unflinching battle plan, outlining 15 critical policy and regulatory fixes that must be tackled head-on to turn targeted projects into actual gigawatt-installations. During the study’s presentation, GWEC Philippines Country Manager Ann Margret Francisco made it crystal clear: that to hit the government’s ambitious 2028 offshore wind generation target, “we need the right environment, the right policies, the right frameworks, a solid supply chain, and a robust offtake (power supply agreement) mechanism.” She acknowledged that there’s still a heated debate over what the industry can truly solidify by 2028—whether it’s construction, the first turbine on water, or actual kilowatt-hours of electricity generation—but the momentum is undeniable. The offshore wind sector is already gaining ground, rallying key players from government to financial institutions, industry groups, and embassies to push for policies that will make these projects a reality. Francisco cited that “the Philippines is off to a good start with the government showing a strong political will in developing its offshore wind market.” But she didn’t sugarcoat the challenges, emphasizing that “for the Philippines to fully capitalize on these offshore wind opportunities, the government needs to refine existing policies and scale up its local supply chain.” The GWEC’s supply chain-underpinned study cuts through the noise with 15 essential policy fixes that had been broken down into four sub-categories, starting with the heavy lifting of crafting a clear regulatory framework and streamlining permitting. This tackles five core issues: building a realistic, long-term offshore wind pipeline; securing transmission capacity linked to auction awards; ensuring policy continuity through changing administrations; establishing an Inter-Ministerial Task Force for Offshore Wind; and setting competitive GEAR (green energy auction reserve) prices— all while keeping consumer protection front and center. Next up on the roll is a deep dive into industry incentives and risk mitigation – and these are fleshed out into three key concerns: promoting retail electricity options for supply chain manufacturers, designating offshore wind projects as ‘infrastructure projects of national importance’; and unlocking export incentives for supply chain companies while ensuring they serve the domestic market. Third on the industry’s policy wish list is a purposeful engagement in workforce development and capacity building - segregated into five critical actions: leveraging the Department of Science and Technology’s Balik Scientist Program as an immediate solution to tap Filipino talent for the offshore wind sector; creating long-term strategies to lure skilled workers back to the country; upskilling local talent to meet the industry's specific needs; boosting the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) institutional capacity; and enhancing the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre’s (PITC) expertise to promote offshore wind and its growing supply chain. At the heart of reskilling and upskilling for green jobs in offshore wind, the study highlights the Norwegian Training Initiative in Manila as a transformative force —pioneering a program that will equip Filipino seafarers with the specialized skills needed to power the offshore wind industry forward. According to GWEC, a powerful partnership is being firmed up between the Norwegian Training Center (NTC) in Manila and the Norwegian Shipowners Association (NSA) in Oslo; “to ensure that the Philippines will be able to produce the right personnel needed for offshore wind deployment.” The fourth and final focus zeroes in on mapping the industry’s competitive advantage, tackling two paramount hurdles: first, crafting targeted pitches to draw more supply chain players—ranging from steel production and shipbuilding to the extraction of critical minerals like those needed for transmission cables; and second, urging the Department of Trade and Industry’s Investment Promotion Group (DTI-IPG) to identify other Philippine industries with transferrable skills that could fuel the offshore wind industry’s growth. Simply put, the Philippines’ ambitious offshore wind dream is no longer a distant vision—it’s almost certain that it will be making landfall. Now, the power to turn this goal into tangible megawatts and gigawatts rests squarely in the hands of key stakeholders, each holding a crucial piece to ensure that billion-dollar investments flow in and the industry takes solid root. Tidbit: With two ERC Commissioners retiring by July 2025, the industry is already buzzing with speculation about forthcoming big moves. Two early prospective candidates have emerged—one is a current DOE official, and the other is a lawyer-executive entrenched in spot trading of electricity. Place your bets on who’s on deck for the next regulatory spotlight.Thus far on the season the Minnesota Vikings have remained relatively healthy. They have been without a starter here or there , but nothing considerable for any serious duration of time. That changed in a big way on Tuesday what Ivan Pace Jr. hit injured reserve. Ivan Pace Jr. hits IR for the Minnesota Vikings Through the Minnesota Vikings first 11 games, Ivan Pace Jr. has been a steadying presence in the middle of the defense. The undrafted free agent didn’t take on the green dot this season, but he has been among the most integral parts of the defense. Now Brian Flores will need to operate without him. #Vikings LB Ivan Pace Jr has been placed on IR. His spot will be taken by rookie UDFA Gabe Murphy. pic.twitter.com/7XoatW6dAT Pace has already surpassed his sack total from last season with three , and he was tracking to contribute more than the 102 tackles he put up a year ago. Defensively he has played 63% of the snaps for Flores, and has backed off usage on special teams. Working alongside Blake Cashman , the Vikings linebacking unit has been among the strength of the defense. Ivan Pace Jr. does hilarious things on film. He’s like a bumper car fueled by Red Bull. pic.twitter.com/r7GxN3a46y It will be a next man up mentality for Minnesota. Cashman just recently returned from his turf toe injury, and now will be without his running mate. The insertion of Cashman back into the lineup has been huge. It remains to be seen how he will look without Pace Jr. beside him for a considerable stretch. The hope is that Pace Jr. can heal the hamstring injury and return after missing the minimum four games. That would put him back for the Vikings last two games of the season. Multiple moving pieces for Minnesota Vikings With Pace Jr. being moved off the active roster, the Vikings had plenty of shuffling to do. Rookie edge rusher Gabe Murphy took a 53-man spot as he returns from IR. The bigger news was Minnesota swiping linebacker Jamin Davis from the Green Bay Packers practice squad. The former first round pick will be asked to pick up some of the snaps that Pace Jr. is vacating. The #Vikings have signed LB Jamin Davis ( @Jamindavis25 ) to the 53-man roster. OLB Gabe Murphy has been activated off IR to the 53-man roster and LB Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on IR. pic.twitter.com/nWlBfpS4er Davis has played in five games this year, but they all came with the Washington Commanders. He was a regular starter each of the past two seasons and has seven career sacks across 50 games. Davis played at Kentucky before going 19th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. That’s not the only roster news for Minnesota either. They won’t be getting tight end Nick Muse back after waiving him on Monday. The practice squad is currently full, and long snapper Jack McQuaide has to be signed to the active roster this week as well. All of this takes place while Minnesota awaits word on a decision from recently waived quarterback Daniel Jones. It’s been a busy day at the TCO Performance Center. This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.
How much would you have if you had invested $1,000 in Bitcoin in 2021?Matt Adams is worried about the financial future of Azle ISD. The district hasn’t splurged on a new fleet of buses or taken on risky debt. It hasn’t seen an unprecedented surge of new students or hired a large group of new employees. Instead, Azle ISD, recognized by the state for its fiscal accountability , is facing a possible budgetary crisis that cropped up seemingly overnight. “It’s kind of out of our hands at this point,” Adams, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said. Azle is one of six districts at risk of state funding cuts in 2026, according to preliminary data presented by the Tarrant Appraisal District at its Nov. 8 board meeting. That data shows taxable property values in Azle, Carroll, Castleberry, Everman, Grapevine-Colleyville and Fort Worth ISDs are well below market value in three months of sales data. That’s a trend that, if it continues through next year, could spell trouble for schools, whose state funding is largely reliant on accurate appraisals. “Those are concerning numbers, whomever they relate to, and this is serious stuff,” outgoing tax assessor-collector and board member Wendy Burgess said at the meeting. Get essential daily news for the Fort Worth area. Sign up for insightful, in-depth stories — completely free. The math behind the property value study School districts, like other taxing entities, have no control over the assessed value of a property. That role falls to the Tarrant Appraisal District, whose newly expanded board approved extensive changes to the reappraisal plan that governs property assessments. Those changes, which include freezing residential values through 2025 and switching to a two-year residential appraisal schedule, are intended to slow property value increases. While most board members have celebrated the changes as a net-positive for taxpayers, school districts across the county fear there will be negative consequences for their finances. Worst cases would see districts failing what’s known as the property value study, which governs the complicated school funding formula in Texas. Amanda Brownson, deputy executive director of the Texas Association of School Business Officials, said equal and uniform appraisals are a function of the state constitution. “The property value study is a mechanism to enforce that constitutional notion of fair uniform taxation,” she continued. The study is conducted by the state comptroller’s office every two years to determine education funding distribution. If the appraisal district’s property value estimations for a school district are outside a 10% difference threshold from the state’s, a school district immediately loses funding. Schools between a 5%-10% threshold have a two-year grace period to bring their values into line with the state’s estimates. Because of the way its deadlines work, the appraisal district wouldn’t know for sure until January 2026 — more than five months after 2025 tax rolls are certified — if a school district failed the state property value study. “They’re midway through their fiscal year before they know they fail,” Brownson said. “And it’s hard, from a budget perspective, to make the kinds of corrections you need to make at that point in the fiscal year, to adjust your revenue down.” Chief appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt has presented board members with sales data for the months since the reappraisal plan was approved in August, in an effort to keep them informed on which school districts could be in trouble. His first report, in August, flagged only Carroll ISD as a potential cause for concern. His November report, by contrast, added five more school districts to that list. “Appraisal districts, contrary to most people’s belief, we don’t like to raise values,” Bobbitt said. “It creates protests, it creates a lot of strife. ... The state has no problem doing it. So they’re going to come in after the fact and tell us that we’re wrong.” The greatest cause for concern, Bobbitt said, is Everman ISD. The southeast Tarrant County school district was already close to failing the state’s property value study in 2023 — a mere .08% from falling outside of the 95% confidence interval established by state officials. “We had basically $2 million to spare. We were that close to falling out of the confidence interval,” Bobbitt said. If Everman had failed that year, it still would’ve qualified for a grace period. But the sales data provided by Bobbitt shows the taxable value in the school district has continued to lag behind market value. When reached by email, a spokesperson for Everman ISD said they did not have any information at this time, and wouldn’t know anything until January. The president of the Everman ISD board of trustees, Gary Balch, was among the Tarrant area school officials who signed onto an August open letter describing the reappraisal plan as political theater that intentionally hurts children. Districts brace themselves for impact Azle ISD is in a relatively unique position compared to its peers across Tarrant County. The school district spans three counties — Parker, Tarrant and Wise. The majority of its property lands in northeastern Parker and northwestern Tarrant. The Parker Appraisal District has done biennial appraisals for as long as Adams can remember, so the idea of reducing appraisal frequency wasn’t unheard of for the school district. But because Parker was already appraising once every two years, the revenue generated from Tarrant’s annual reappraisals became even more important for Azle ISD. Adams estimated the district could lose anywhere from $1.4 million to $4 million in state funding, depending on how far off they are from state property values. “That makes us as an admin team, and as the board of trustees, go, ‘Look, OK, we know revenue is going to be this much less,’” he said. “‘What do we do? Do we freeze salaries? Do we cut personnel? Do we cut programs?’” Brownson said to some degree, the impact of a biennial appraisal plan will vary from district to district. “In a place where the tax base is more dynamic and more changing, then you’re going to have more errors in the off years than you would in a place where the tax base is more stable,” she said. Azle ISD Superintendent Todd Smith himself lives in Parker County, and he’s intimately familiar with how a biennial appraisal cycle affects both school district revenues and residents’ property taxes. “When it goes up, when they’re catching up every other year, you’ve got a bigger jump (in your tax bill),” Smith said. That hike could be significant for Tarrant taxpayers as well. Because residential values are frozen for 2025, and the next reappraisal isn’t scheduled until 2027, it will be three years before homeowners without a homestead exemption see a value increase. Some of the schools at risk of funding cuts are currently sending money to the state under what’s known as the Robin Hood law. The law mandates that property-rich districts pay excess local tax revenue to the state, which redistributes those funds to poorer districts. Fort Worth ISD is one of the districts on Bobbitt’s list that is undergoing recapture. Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, the district’s chief financial officer, told the Report in July that the reappraisal plan could actually result in the district sending less money to the state. But that was before the most recent sales data — and the district now has significant concerns. “We will engage with the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) to understand the steps they plan to take to help the district return to compliance,” Fort Worth ISD wrote in a statement. “Additionally, any financial implications this may have on the district’s assessed valuation and corresponding state revenues will need to be thoroughly analyzed to determine the best course of action for the upcoming year and beyond.” The other school districts flagged by Bobbitt did not respond to requests for comment. Eyes on Tarrant amid board member election At the Nov. 8 meeting, Tarrant Appraisal District board member Gary Losada said fears that school districts will lose millions of dollars are not accurate. He pointed to a clause in the reappraisal plan, called the management review process, that gives the board the authority to amend the plan if any ISDs look likely to fail the property value study. “If I read this correctly, that means we have a safeguard in the reappraisal plan, that in the event a school district, ISD, wherever we’re in danger of failing and possibly losing funding, that this clause would kick in,” Losada said. While the appraisal district board has the authority to amend the reappraisal plan, it isn’t required to do so. An initial version of the reappraisal plan explicitly stated that school districts that failed the state property value study would have their properties reappraised the next year. That language was struck from the final reappraisal plan approved in August, prompting fears that when Bobbitt presents final data in March, the board won’t help school districts. Five seats on the board are currently up for election by taxing entities , making it even more difficult to tell how things will shake out in the spring. Whoever wins those seats will join the three board members elected by taxpayers in May . That election, enabled by a constitutional amendment, expanded the board to nine members and gave taxpayers a direct say on its membership for the first time in Texas history. Smith said he was frustrated that Losada, one of the board members Azle ISD previously voted for, wouldn’t listen to the district’s concerns about the reappraisal plan. “It was really frustrating to think that they made such a huge decision without any input from the entities that they were put there to represent,” he said. School districts who do fail the property value study can file appeals with the comptroller’s office, aided by the appraisal district. They must explain why the state’s values are incorrect, and there’s no guarantee an appeal will be successful. “Sometimes they’ll agree on a value that’s in-between what the appraisal district originally said and what the comptroller said,” Brownson said. “Sometimes the appraisal district will win outright, sometimes they won’t, but there are successes every year.” Bobbitt said over the years, the number of school districts reporting invalid values under the property value study has risen dramatically. In 2023, 106 school districts across Texas automatically failed the study, losing a collective $120 million as a result. That trend reflects the hot property market in Texas, which many appraisal districts have been unable to keep up with. “Most of these appraisal districts ... fell out because the market moves faster than they were expecting,” Bobbitt said. When the Tarrant Appraisal District’s board of directors passed the reappraisal plan in August, it did so with the understanding that the housing market would remain relatively flat over the next year. Whether that assumption will hold true remains to be seen. Eyes from across the state will be on Tarrant, which is one of the first appraisal districts to pass sweeping reappraisal changes following the passage of a 2023 law allowing voters to elect board members. “As much as we’ve been in the news, the comptroller is fully aware of our board and our reappraisal plan,” Bobbitt said. “And so I would suspect they look at us very closely.” Your support makes TWICE the impact today. As November draws to a close , time is running out to double your impact. Thanks to the generosity of the Nicholas Martin Jr. Family Foundation, every dollar you give will be matched—up to $15,000. Will you give today to help trusted, local reporting thrive in Fort Worth and Tarrant County? 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McKesson Corp. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitorsRenuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Health | US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.