There is a rare winner in the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas Lottery sales are outpacing recent years.
Overall sales may set a record at the end of this fiscal year.
Some of the proceeds from lottery sales go to the Foundation School Fund, which helps to fund school districts in Texas.
The amount of lottery proceeds going into that fund was up $18,914,545 at the end of July compared to the same time in 2019.
When the fiscal year ends Aug. 31, the education fund will likely receive the most money from the lotto since the games started in the early 1990s.
Back to school
Dallas residents and students who attend classes in the Dallas Independent School District can register by Monday to pick up school supplies at the Dallas Mayor's Back to School Fair.
Kids who were on free or reduced lunch programs — or qualify for those programs — may be eligible for hundreds of dollars per child in food benefits.
The deadline to apply has been extended to Aug. 21. Click here to learn more. And click here to apply.
Study on youth smoking
Most students are starting online, which may remove a temptation for some students.
A new study looks at how many schools are located near tobacco retailers.
Overall, Dallas and Fort Worth scored better than most cities, with relatively fewer shops peddling tobacco near campuses.
But, the also study found that the stores selling tobacco products near schools were much more likely to be concentrated in the lower-income areas of Dallas and Fort Worth.
Both cities were among the worst in the country for that trend.
