Sen. Ted Cruz positioned to play a key role in plane crash investigation ... and more news

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Thursday cautioned against jumping to conclusions about what caused a tragic midair collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger jet landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport. In other news, Texas officials have identified two measles cases in West Texas, both of them in unvaccinated school-age children. The children, who reside in Gaines County, were both hospitalized in Lubbock, the Department of State Health Services announced on Thursday; the explosion of uncertified teachers in Texas has led to a multimillion-dollar budget hole that may make it harder to investigate educators accused of misconduct. More than half of first-time Texas teachers hired last year were uncertified, which meant they didn’t have to pay state fees that are part of the certification process; And the Colony police said a criminal investigation is underway after over 80 animals were rescued from “concerning conditions” at a residential property. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices