A Texas Representative is leaving the state house’s ultra-conservative group. We’ll take a look at what the move could say about the upcoming Texas legislative session. Plus, the Texas Attorney General is accusing San Antonio’s police chief of violating the so-called sanctuary cities law. What happens now? And a Texas-based non-profit has been making big money housing immigrant children. A new investigation explores. Plus we’ll introduce you to U.S. Representative-elect Veronica Escobar. Why she says El Paso is the new Ellis Island. And we’ll take a look at a list of 31 of the most powerful people in Texas. You might be surprised. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Archives for December 2018
Isabelle Brown: “Places”
It’s pretty impressive to write a song, build up the confidence to record it, then have it produced and turned into a music video…even more so when you’re only fifteen! That’s the case with Brighton’s Isabelle Brown who’s been crawling into listeners’ hearts one tune at a time.
Brown cites Nina Simone as a primary influence and there’s no doubt her astonishing vocals reflect that retro soul against a comfortable backdrop of modern production. Isabelle Brown shared a music video for her latest single yesterday, so before this UK artist blows up everywhere, grab a free download of “Places”!
José Olivarez
Poet José Olivarez reads his poem, “Getting Ready to Say I Love You to My Dad, It Rains,” from his new book Citizen Illegal, and talks with poet and novelist Carrie Fountain about family, immigration, and the stories he wants to share through his poetry.
Texas Standard: December 3, 2018
He wasn’t born in Texas but it became a big part of his identity. We’ll remember 41st President George Herbert Walker Bush today on the Texas Standard. Also, airport security officials have recently found a record number of firearms in carry-on luggage. We’ll take a look at the trend. And oil prices are up a little after a huge drop. What a high-five between two world leaders tells us about what could be next for the industry. Plus an investigation reveals what the State of Texas was trying to keep secret: where it gets execution drugs. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Doe Paoro: “Cage of Habits”
New York-born, LA-based singer Sonia Kreitzer has a serious knack for pop songwriting under the name Doe Paoro. Doe Paoro’s style comes across like a missing link between Carole King and Fiona Apple, so any opportunity to catch Kreitzer live shouldn’t be overlooked.
In October Doe Paoro released her third album, Soft Power, and she’ll be treating locals to some of the dozen new tunes when she plays tonight at the North Door. The weekend never ends when there’s live music on a Monday, so get the blood pumping early with “Cage of Habits”!
Higher Ed: Agree To Disagree (Respectfully) In The Classroom
There has been a lot of talk in recent months about creating and maintaining healthy and respectful environments – especially in the workplace. But what about in the classroom? In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton discuss the keys to keeping the classroom an open and respectful place.
Ed believes everyone in the classroom should have a role in keeping the discussion civil and the tone respectful even if there are passionate disagreements about what is being taught or discussed. But he believes the conduct of the teacher goes a long way in laying the foundation for a respectful culture. For example, Ed says he used to be more vocal and open with his instant comments and assessments about students’ answers. But he started to understand that could unintentionally stifle students’ input if they fear differing opinions might be met with lower grades.
“Allowing everyone to share their reflection or their thinking or their feelings or their interpretation, their analysis, and then let the other members of the class pick it up, to me is a more powerful way that opens the conversation. I’m trying to get people to put themselves out there in my class.”
What about when things get disrespectful, heated, or downright ugly in the classroom?
Ed says getting students to agree at the beginning of the semester to some “rules of the road” for handling classroom discussions can help ensure a healthy, respectful environment.
“At the very beginning of the course, to basically have the entire class, with ownership of the students themselves, create in some sense rules of engagement and ways that we’re going to proceed…. And some instructors actually write these things down. They become ‘here are our guiding principles'” about how people in the classroom will treat each other – and specifically when they disagree.
What is the one practice Ed believes everyone should embrace to help keep the classroom civil? Listen to the episode to hear more (that is a big hint right there!) and to get a new round of riddles. The more serious puzzler is still taking a break for the holidays but will be back in January.
This episode was recorded on Oct. 30, 2018.
Lance Scott Walker (Ep. 52, 2018)
In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents an interview with Lance Scott Walker, author of Houston Rap Tapes: An Oral History of Bayou Hip-Hop, which chronicles the emergence of Houston Hip-Hop and Rap, and the rise of artists like The Geto Boys and DJ Screw.