Archives for July 2017

Texas Standard: July 20, 2017

An historic selection to head the police force of one Texas’ biggest cities. The changing face of law enforcement- today on the Texas Standard

You’re getting a raise! Now that’s something you’d expect Texas teachers to get behind, right? So why are so many holding their noses over the governor’s plan?

South of the border they’ve been bracing for change under President Donald Trump, but not always in the way you might think. The Mexicans welcoming the shakeup of NAFTA.

The John Birch Society once defined the hard right in America…now they’re back, putting down roots in Texas.

And a teaching tool or just toys? Educators ask questions about augmented books.

Texas Standard: July 19, 2017

Heard in the Texas Capitol—what if…you know…maybe …some lawmakers wanted to leave town? Here we go…

One day in and what could go wrong? Early special session action sparks memories of a lawmaker exodus to Oklahoma…and other unusual outcomes. We’ll breakout the pink dome wayback machine.

You know that student loan? Can the bank prove you owe it? A closely watched case that could take millions of people in debt off the hook.

The new statewide ban on texting while driving. Does it really override local laws? .. We’re handsfree and wireless all hour long.

Chris Masterson and Eleanor Whitmore spend most of their lives on the road, both as members of Steve Earle’s band, The Dukes, and as the husband and wife duo, The Mastersons. Their discussion with Elizabeth touches on Daniel Lanios’ late night landscapes; the harmonies of Emmylou Harris, The Louvin Brothers and The Jayhawks and how one Johnny Gimble fiddle solo changed their lives and shaped the sound of their latest record “Transient Lullaby.”

Photo: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez/KUTX

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Check out the Mastersons’ Tour Dates

Check out the Masterson’s Studio 1A performance

Listen to Songs from Episode 92 of This Song

Texas Standard: July 18, 2017

Governor Abbott says city politicians are trying to California our Texas. Hurting the Texas brand. But CEOs say there’s something far worse. The story today on the Standard.

Happy first day of the special session. Coming up, what to expect and today’s listener question: Why can’t the lege work faster?

The Texas housing boom of 2017 —look closer: who’s really buying all those houses? And why does it matter?

Are police cruisers making Texas cops sick? A nationwide investigation with its epicenter, the Texas capitol city.

And Lyle Lovett remembers a master craftsman.

Margot Lee Shetterly (Ep. 32, 2017)

Producer and host John L. Hanson discusses the group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “Human Computers” with Margot Lee Sheerly, author of Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.

Texas Standard: July 17, 2017

Dennis Quaid or Eva Longoria for Senate? Tommy Lee Jones for governor? Texas democrats looking for star power. The real story today on the Standard.

As the governor announces his reelection plans, who’s on the bench to top the ticket for the other party?

Texas tops in cattle—but tops in something else you won’t hear about–number one in agricultural land getting lapped up by foreign buyers. We’ll hear who’s buying and why.

Solar panels used to be promoted by energy companies as a smart way to save money. Now some of those same power companies want to charge you extra for using those panels.

Plus, discovering Robocop’s Texas accent and a whole lot more.

Best of “Higher Ed:” Gratitude, Appreciation, and Learning

It’s good manners to say “thank you” and show gratitude. But there are also ways that slowing down to notice and appreciate what’s happening around us can give our brains some much needed rest. In this “Best of” episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss the impact of showing gratitude and appreciation on learning. Is it also possible to include the expression of gratitude and appreciation in a formal education setting? Listen on for Ed and Jen’s discussion on how expressing thanks can help learners relax and grow, and what teaching that might look like.

This episode was recorded on October 4, 2016.

KUT Weekend – July 14, 2017

We look ahead to the special Texas legislative session that starts next week. Plus, reaction from Central Texas lawmakers to the Donald Trump, Jr. email revelation. And a new fried chicken joint harnessing a nostalgic brand. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Texas Tollways

Many Texans likely find themselves traveling on Texas Tollways this summer vacation season. These roads are the subject of this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: July 14, 2017

A Texas GOP congressman isn’t pulling punches: the Russians he says, are actively interfering with… fracking? We’ll have the latest. Also Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has had a lot to say at rolling back property taxes, but not so much about what those taxes cover: education. But on the eve of the special session he’s changing his tune, offering bonuses to teachers, money for schools and help to retirees, we’ll hear why. And its been a long time since military base closures made headlines, but Texas, brace yourself. A coming fight that could be a matter of survival for some Texas towns. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:

Scientific Terminology

One of the reasons it’s so difficult to relate scientific findings to the general public is because the same words literally take on different meanings in those realms.

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke deconstruct two such terms–significance and theory– and talk about why knowing how they’re used in a scientific context can help us better to understand the scientific process as well.

Texas Standard: July 13, 2017

With the senate’s latest bid to repeal and replace Obamacare, but what about Cost? Today 4 big ideas to fix health care. We’ll have the prescription. Plus, the best kind of policy, many believe, is policy driven by academic studies. But a new investigative report shows a secret program at Google:
paying big money to scholars for research that would help the company get favorable regulations, we’ll explore. Also 5 years after A&M left the Big 12, what’s the score for college football in Texas. Plus the smokier the barbecue the better, huh? Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor says don’t be so sure. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Show ‘Em Your Badge

As told by W. F. Strong

This story comes under the heading of a Texas classic. It is folklore. I don’t know for sure that its origin is in Texas, but from the oldest versions I know of, going back 30 plus years, they have Texas linguistic markers. So I believe there’s a good chance that the story originated here. In any case the story has migrated around the world. I’ve heard Australian versions and Irish versions and I suppose if I ever go to China I’ll hear a version translated from Mandarin. Story goes like this:

A West Texas rancher was stackin’ some hay in his barn when he heard a truck rumble across his cattle guard, half a mile away. He looked up to see what looked like a Government Suburban – dark windows – leaving a dust cloud of caliche boiling up behind it as it raced his way. He walked out to the clearing to meet it and it came to a quick halt right in front of him, sliding the last five feet.

A guy hopped out. Nice lookin’ young man. Slacks, pressed shirt. Glock on his hip. Badge on his belt.

“Can I help you?” Rancher asks.

“Sir, I’m with the Government,” he said, pointing to his badge. “Just making a courtesy stop. We have word of drug activity in this area. I’m going to be looking around your ranch for a couple of hours to either confirm or invalidate these reports.”

“Well,” said the rancher, lookin’ mystified. He pushed his salt stained hat back off his forehead. “Aint’ no drugs around here except the big ole horse pills my doctor gives me for my rheumatism.”

He laughed a little.

“This is not a laughing matter, sir. I assure you this is serious government business.”

The rancher said, “I’m sure it is. Go ahead. Help yourself, son. Just don’t go in that twenty acres behind the barn.”

The agent got visibly angry for a second.

“Sir,” he said, “You see this badge? This badge gives me unimpeded authority, granted by the U.S. Constitution, to go where I please, when I please – no questions asked. I will decide where I will and won’t go. Do you understand me, sir?”

The Rancher said, “Yes, I do. I’ll guess I’ll just back to stackin’ my hay.”

The agent said, “Good choice. That would be best.”

The rancher was stackin’ hay for about five minutes when he heard a blood-curdling scream from the pasture behind the barn.

He said to himself, “What the hell?” as he rushed out that way.

Even he was shocked at what he saw. That agent was running for his life – staying only five yards ahead of the rancher’s big ole long-horn bull that was seconds away from goring him good. He couldn’t tell who would arrive first, the agent at the fence or the bull at the agent.

Just then the agent yelled at the rancher: “Help me! Call him off!”

The rancher cupped his hands to his mouth and yelled, “Show him your badge! Show him your badge!”

Texas Standard: July 12, 2017

As the US focuses on the tale of the emails, another big story may be getting buried. Will this week go down in history as the end of ISIS? We’ll explore. Also one of the most powerful players in the business world is buying up Texas companies: a multibillion dollar offer for Oncor, his latest move. Why’s the oracle of Omaha playing Texas hold em? We’ll explore. And we’ve all heard the arguments over immigration: a new report tries to settle the score when it comes to the costs, and benefits. Those stories and a lot more today on the Texas Standard:

This Song: Brett Dennen

Singer-Songwriter Brett Dennen describes the first time he heard Joni Mitchell’s “All I Want,” explains how it revealed the kind of artist he would later strive to be, and describes the process he went through making his new record “Por Favor.” Then listener Joanna Castillo tells us why Kathy Mattea’s song “Where’ve You Been” always makes her want to cry.

Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.

Check out Brett Dennen’s Tour Dates

Listen to Songs from Episode 91 of This Song

Texas Standard: July 11, 2017

20 items: a lot for state lawmakers to do in one month of a special session. But with days before it starts, they’re adding to their workload. We’ll have the lowdown. Plus, for many small Texas communities, Walmart’s the biggest game in town. But what happens when the big box store shutters its doors? Today, a tale of two cities. And when the Texas governor sent the guard to the border, he didn’t mean the Rio Grande. The Red River rivalry that almost became a literal war between the states. And why if you’re a Texan, we bet you haven’t heard about it. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 10, 2017

A new map for the future of Texas? Perhaps several as a federal court begins hearing arguments over redistricting, we’ll explain. Also with many Texas cities complaining about a loss of local control, an idea is floated: secession from the state. We’ll explore. And the abrupt and unexpected resignation at the top of the agency that regulates alcohol in Texas. We’ll hear the story behind it, and what it means. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Best of “Higher Ed:” What’s Really Happening When We Learn

Most dictionary definitions of “learn” make reference to acquiring knowledge or skills, becoming informed, or finding out something. Sure, that makes sense, but what does it really mean to learn something? How do we know if we’ve actually learned it? In this “Best of” episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss what learning does and doesn’t mean. If we memorize something, does that mean we’ve learned it? How deeply do we have to understand something before we’ve really mastered it? Listen on to hear Ed and Jennifer debunk some myths about learning and talk about one of the best ways to make sure something is thoroughly learned.

This episode was recorded on October 4, 2016.

Angela Shelf Medearis (Ep. 31, 2017)

Producer and host John L. Hanson speaks with Angela Shelf Medearis, founder and President of Diva Productions and Book Boosters Inc, and an award-winning children’s books and cookbook author, about her literary and television career, as well as current and future projects.

KUT Weekend – July 7, 2017

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz visits Austin to debate health care. How air pollution messes with solar panels. And a look at Austin’s lowrider culture. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

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