Archives for February 2017

Texas Standard: February 8, 2017

A new criminal charge: failure to cooperate with federal immigration officials. Upping the stakes in a so called sanctuary city bill, we’ll have the latest. Also the immigration and travel order now being litigated in the 9th circuit: the proverbial tip of the iceberg? NPR’s John Burnett joins us to explore whether we’re witnessing something more tectonic when it comes to immigration policy. Plus: a trainload of lawsuits, off the rails as the forces behind a high speed bullet train decide to play nice. We’ll hear what they have in mind. And our commentator pens a love letter to a rural Texas town and the possible tall tale behind its name. That and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

The How, Where and Why of Valentine, Texas

In Texas, we have a lot of towns with cool names. There is actually a town named Cool. And Cut and Shoot. And Valentine. Yes, Valentine. How cool is that? Especially if it’s February.

The story goes that a railroad crew, in 1882, had finished laying the tracks to the point where a water and fuel depot would be needed. It was Valentine’s Day. So they named the depot Valentine. It also was the name of one of their superiors, so the name has dual origins. Valentine, to give you coordinates, is halfway between L.A. and New Orleans, almost exactly 1000 miles from each. Or, if you want something local, halfway between Marfa and Van Horn. Deep in the Heart of West Texas.

Valentine never got very big. It says 217 on the city limits sign, but the mayor there, Jesus Calderon (who goes by Chuy), says that it is likely about 180 these days. Chuy has been mayor there for 40 years, likely a record of some kind for mayoral longevity in Texas. In addition to being mayor, he taught in the Valentine Independent School District for over decades and even worked part-time for many years as the local Fed Ex delivery man. Nobody knows Valentine like Chuy. He says there is no gas station, no ATM, and no crime.

The school, K-12, has about 40 students. Some years they only graduate five or six from high school. One year, not too long ago, they graduated two. Think about that. If you’re the poorer student of the two, you are simultaneously in the bottom 50 percent of your class and the salutatorian. Lisa Morton, who grew up there and is managing editor of the Van Horn Advocate, says that her sister graduated alone. I said that must have been a lonely event and she said, “Oh, no, the whole town came out to celebrate her big day.” Gotta love small towns.

Well, the town isn’t so small that it doesn’t have a post office. And in February they are busier than Santa’s elves on Christmas Eve. This time of year they receive thousands of cards to be re-mailed bearing the Valentine postage stamp. The cards come from all over the U.S. and as many as 30 foreign countries. One year they sent one to the White House, to Chelsea Clinton. Each year there is a design contest at the school and the winner has their “love logo” chosen as that year’s stamp. Imagine that. You can send your Valentine a Valentine from Valentine. Can’t get much more romantic than that!

Unless you take your Valentine to Valentine on the 14th. Chuy says they have a big party each year, underwritten by Big Bend Brewing Company from nearby Alpine. Last year, Jerry Jeff Walker played. Two years ago, Joe Ely was there playing his famous song, Saint Valentine. This year, Little Joe y La Familia will headline the event. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday, there was pressure to move it to the weekend, but Mahala Guevara, vice president of Big Bend Brewing, explains in the official brochure: “West Texas was never known for convenience; to enjoy the best the region has to offer, you have to be willing to work for it. And your hard work will be rewarded with great Texas music… “

Gotta love it. A work ethic embedded in leisure. A very Texas concept.

Big Bend Brewing is even brewing a special ale for the event called Total Commitment. On the back of this limited edition brew it says, in part, “The owner of this…came all the way to Valentine, Texas, on a Tuesday night…what Total Commitment do you have to make.” At 14.2 percent proof, it is appropriately named. Makes my eyes a little misty thinking about it.

The most romantic Texas couple I know is Coach Taylor and his wife Tami, from Friday Night Lights. They are fictional, but they’re also authentically romantic. I could see them taking an impromptu road trip to Valentine for Valentine’s – just 200 miles from Dillon.

Coach Taylor always told his team: “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” It’s good advice for football. Probably good advice for love, too.

W.F. Strong is a Fulbright Scholar and professor of Culture and Communication at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. At Public Radio 88 FM in Harlingen, Texas, he’s the resident expert on Texas literature, Texas legends, Blue Bell ice cream, Whataburger (with cheese) and mesquite smoked brisket.

12th & Chicon: Mentoring, Connecting with Students

Nearly a quarter of students at Kealing Middle School are considered at-risk of dropping out, which is why the PTA runs a mentorship program. Meet mentor Gabriel Russell, a student at Huston-Tillotson, and Joshua Morgan, a Kealing student. They’re involved in the Kealing Men program. Several local and national programs have cropped up focusing on improving outcomes and academic achievement for young men of color.

Texas Standard: February 7, 2017

The so called bathroom bill purports to head off potential predators, but a new report suggests a more clear and present danger. The story today. Plus a nasty battle over so called sanctuary policies shows more than one way to raise public money…we’ll hear how protesters are trying to take matters into their own hands. Also New York, Chicago, LA, san Antonio—whats the most dangerous city to walk, and why might that change? Plus bucking the bust: not all unemployed oil hands left Midland when things hit bottom. And now, for those who stuck it out, things are looking up. We’ll hear what’s happened. And do you have a bad connection? For a lot of rural Texans the fix is jumping on the bus. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 6, 2017

Her arrest and death made national headlines, but will the Sandra Bland act win the support of Texas lawmakers? We’ll explore. Also with talk of a wall and America first, what started out as boycotts in Mexico may be a new nationalism in the making. Our conversation with a longtime student of Mexican culture and politics. Plus a glut of oil rewriting the rules in the energy capitol: 20 years from now, what’s the future of the energy biz? 5 takeaways from a new prediction. And one and done: straight ticket voting in Texas and the push to pull the plug on an old system. Plus: credit where credit is due. A coaching feat for the ages. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

J. Paul Montgomery (Ep. 9, 2017)

In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with J. Paul Montgomery, author of Mama’s Black Child: A Veteran’s Memoir, a compelling story of growing up under Jim Crow and working to provide positive role models for African American youth.

Higher Ed: “Social” Media

This is might be a familiar scene to you: you’re walking down the street and see someone heading towards you, not looking up, face firmly transfixed on the small screen of a smart phone or tablet. What does all that time spent attending to devices do to our personal interactions, conversations, and learning? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger look at the personal and educational implications. Social media and digital technology are great in many ways. They connect us quickly and easily and allow us to access information in seconds. But what does time spent communicating and learning that way do to our personal interactions? Ed and Jennifer discuss the possible impacts as well as what education can do to help students and life long learners navigate and balance the availability of so much communication and information. Listen on for their conversation and to find out the answer to last episode’s puzzler about the row of radio hosts.

This episode was recorded on Jan. 19, 2017.

KUT Weekend – February 3, 2017

Political escalation over the Travis County Sheriff’s policy reducing cooperation with federal immigration authorities. How the Texas foster care system devolved to its dysfunctional state. Austin parents mobilize against possible school closures. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Texas Standard: February 3, 2017

The president takes aim at a decades-old law preventing tax exempt churches from engaging in politics. But there’s more to the story – we’ll explore. Plus: After hours of public testimony, a controversial bill banning sanctuary cities moves on to the full senate. We’ll have the latest. Also: The wall’s not up yet, but another barrier’s already rising, hitting Texas border cities: the surging dollar versus the peso. We’ll have the view from main street. And new life for an old idea: Teachers are telling students to learn what ever they want. All those stories and more, on today’s Texas Standard:

Ode to the Break Room Donut

Tupperware with leftovers, salads from around the corner, candy from the vending machine – office food can get boring. Some of us try to eat healthy, waking up an extra half hour early to prepare a midday meal, others go for the multi-snack approach. And every now and then, a magical thing happens in the breakroom: someone brings donuts.

Texas Standard: February 2, 2017

America First: the rallying cry for the new administration ,and a focus of protests. But are we ready for what might happen beyond our borders? Plus: make new friends and meet new people. What was once the promise of the global coffee house has devolved into name calling and much worse. Is there a way to fix our online conversations? Also a chat with the first openly transgender mayor of Texas. And are you ready for some football? What about on a shorter field? with no kickoffs? And other rule changes? With concussion concerns on the rise, now comes a hail Mary to keep kids in the game. All that and then some today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 1, 2017

In last night’s episode of the real world, we learned the last man standing. Which means what for Texas before the supreme court? We’ll explore. Also president Trumps high court reveal may have had something of the stagecraft of reality TV, but its the one who wasn’t picked who might be the most important here, we’ll explain. No time to watch the entire state of the state address? No problem, we’ve gotcha covered. To be or not to be: LBJ as Shakespearean tragedy. And the last typewriter repairman. We know what you’re thinking: what’s a typewriter? All that and much more today on the Standard:

This Song: Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird knew  “For The Sake Of The Song” by Townes Van Zandt already, but when he re- listened to it recently he realized how much he related to the lyrics on a personal level.  His conversation with Elizabeth touches on how much the song affected him, how it inspired him to write in a less encrypted manner and some of the downfalls of exposing his most intimate experiences in his work.

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Watch Andrew Bird perform “Left Handed Kisses” live backstage at ACLfest.

Check out Andrew Bird and Margaret Glaspy performing live from the Green Room

 

Listen to Songs from Episode 68 of This Song