David Brown

Texas Standard: February 21, 2019

Two top Republicans in the House put their names behind a bill that could change how Texas handles capital crimes. That story coming up on the Texas Standard.

9 to nothing: rare unanimity in the US Supreme Court on a issue that some call policing for profit. We’ll hear what it might – or might not mean for Texas.

Lawmakers pledging property tax relief – but let’s face it: how many folks really know how property tax is calculated in the first place? A primer from the Texas Tribune.

And, the Texas researcher who plans to launch a new space project: a clean up project.

Texas Standard: February 20, 2019

Lawsuits mounting over the Texas Secretary of State’s efforts to purge voter rolls of suspected non-citizens, we’ll have the latest. Also, lawmakers promised a focus on education and now, a big push for an across the board pay raise of 5 thousand dollars. So why the muted applause from public school educators? We’ll find out. And Southwest Airlines declares an operational emergency planes, with nearly 200 flights cancelled and little love lost between company chiefs and its mechanics union, we’ll look at details. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 19, 2019

Two dead and five police officers wounded after a botched drug bust. Now the police chief in the state’s biggest city wants to end no knock raids, we’ll have the latest. Also, drug money and corruption rampant in Mexico, but also bad on this side of the border. We’ll talk to a reporter from the New York Times about how drug money’s greasing the wheels in the Rio Grande Valley. And a struggling elementary school in Odessa and a calculated risk to keep it from getting closed down. Plus The University of Texas tries to recend a PhD and a Texas judge says not so fast. We’ll get schooled on the matter. All those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 18, 2019

A construction on what at the border? As the wall gets the lion’s share of attention, a new facility for asylum seekers is going up. We’ll have details. Also, we often bemoan the growing political divide. But is it possible we were just born this way? A new book by a San Antonio based researcher makes claims about a biological basis for our political inclinations. And a Dallas sports legend who’s done more from globalizing basketball. Plus a presidential pop quiz for Texans. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 15, 2019

Second shutdown apparently averted, but the focus remains on the border as the fight over a wall looks set to shift to a new venue, we’ll have the latest. Also, a property tax cut that could carry a high price tag for Texans. And honk your horn if you’re behind on your car payments…what a record number of auto loan delinquencies tells us about the health of our economy. Plus 10 oscar nods for the movie Roma: why the spotlight comes at a crucial moment for Mexico. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 14, 2019

A year and a half after the worst natural disaster in Texas history, 55 counties are still waiting for relief funds. What’s the hold up? Some counties in Harvey hit Texas say they stand to lose billions in federal funds if they can’t match what’s on the table, and the clock is ticking. We’ll have the latest. Also, property tax relief now on the fast track, we’ll have details. And plans for a new energy facility in Brownsville getting complicated because of a cat. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 13, 2019

A year after Parkland, what if anything is changing to make Texas schools safer? Five things you need to know about what happens next. Also: The end of El Chapo’s career, but not his cartel. After years of work to win convictions against the drug kingpin, what changes? We’ll take a look. And as many New Yorkers rethink the three billion dollar price tag to land Amazons second headquarters, a researcher says New York could learn a thing or two from the Texas experience. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 12, 2019

In the west Texas town of El Paso, a political duel over immigration between a president and a popular Texan who might want to be one. We’ll have analysis of the rallies in El Paso as president Trump launches his re-election campaign, and Beto O’Rourke gauges whether to launch a White House run of his own. Also, a judge taps the brakes on the Texas bullet train. We’ll hear how and what it means for plans to link Houston and Dallas by high speed rail. And what a Dollar Store invasion of rural and poorer communities in Texas might really cost. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 11, 2019

Four days and counting: with a new deadline looming in a shutdown showdown over the border wall, the president arrives in El Paso. We’ll take a look at what this means. Also, a week after Texas Catholic Diocese release lists of what the church calls credibly accused clergy, a new investigation by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express News reports on an abuse of faith in the southern Baptist denomination. We’ll talk with the reporters. Also, an attempt to protect a spot in Texas with one of the most pristine skies on the planet. All those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 8, 2019

The confirmation of a republican Governor Secretary of State nominee: a slam dunk in the republican led Texas senate? Not this time. David Whitley facing an uphill battle to be confirmed as Secretary of State after questioning the citizenship of almost 100 thousand Texas voters, we’ll hear the latest. Also, Senator John Cornyn set for easy re-election in 2020, wanna Bet-o? Cornyn himself not taking any chances after seeing what happened in 2018. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 6, 2019

The State of the State and the State of the Union: after speeches by Governor Abbott and President Trump, what happens next? Governor Abbott issues what he calls emergency items for Texas lawmakers and President Trump calls for unity but presses for a hard line on the border, we’ll take a closer look. Also a maquiladora walkout ends with a surprise victory for labor, and a democrat seeking the White House says paychecks aren’t keeping up with inflation: a Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 5, 2019

If a gun is sold to a mass shooter, can the gun store be held accountable? A lawsuit against a Texas based sports shop is in the spotlight, we’ll explore. Also innocent until proven guilty, but those with money often get to walk before trial: now a move to change the rules on cash-bail statewide. We’ll talk to the Texas senator behind the effort. And what’s behind increased political polarization? According to a Texas researcher, it’s the demise of the local newspaper. If she’s right, now what? All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 4, 2019

A delayed State of the Union finally happens tomorrow, but what of the State of the State? We’ll take a look at what rumblings in the legislature may tell us. Also, no money from Congress for the wall? No problem, say 350 thousand online donors who’ve raised 20 million dollars for private construction. And they’ve been scoping out south Texas for their privately funded wall as well. And naturalized citizens sue over the Texas voter citizenship review. Also, the undocumented? They’re not always who you think they are. Some were born in the U.S.A. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 1, 2019

The harmonic convergence at the State Capitol: Texas’ top three power brokers get on the same page over property taxes. But something’s missing.
Coming up: Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune on the missing link between efforts to limit property taxes while promising to boost education. Which is largely paid for by…property taxes.
Also, a look at the week that was in politics and a cautionary tale for those demanding more made in America goods: the case of the Texas-made-Mac- that didn’t take off. All those stories plus a whole lot more.

Texas Standard: January 31, 2019

First the ranches, then the big cities. Come 2020, is the next great political battleground in the Lone Star State the suburbs? We’ll take a closer look. Also, senator John Cornyn now warning fellow Republicans that President Trump could lose Texas in 2020. Is the Lone Star State no longer reliably red? The answer might be found in the suburbs. And although the Permian basin’s booming, we might be on the road to a new foreign energy dependence, we’ll hear why. All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 30, 2019

People have been flocking to the Lone Star State for its economy, but is a good job the key to the good life in Texas? We’ll take a look at the unreported face of household hardship. One problem with the poverty line: what it fails to factor in. A new report shows more working Texans struggling with economic hardship than you might think. Also, a politifact check on the cost of illegal immigration. And it’s not just what you say but how you say it: an expert linguist decodes the Governor’s Texas twang. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 29, 2019

The Texas voter fraud claim: 95 thousand registered voters may be non-citizens. But does the citizenship check violate federal law? We’ll take a look. Also, in Texas few things are more sacred than property rights, until they’re pitted against oil and gas interests. How a planned pipeline through the hill country could prove a test of Texas values. And more venture capital money flowing into the Lone Star State, reaching levels not seen since the dot com heyday. Happy days are here again? Why you might want to hold off on the party hats. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 28, 2019

Another Presidential Tweetstorm, this time with a Texas twist: one suggesting widespread voter fraud. We’ll take a closer look at the claim and the source. Also, a Texas city won national attention for becoming the first to go with 100% renewable electricity. Now some are asking did the city pay too high a price? We’ll take a look. And chaos in Venezuela leading to uncertainty in Texas: we’ll hear why. Also, the Corpus Christi caller times warns: what you don’t know about a particular routine government procedure can hurt you. The paper’s opinion editor explains plus a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 25, 2019

Slate magazine claims the supreme court is preparing to make every states gun laws look like Texas, but is that claim on target? We’ll take a closer look. Also, when was the last time a nuclear arms treaty was making headlines? Why some are warning of a renewed arms race with Russia. And we’ll take a look at the week that was in Texas politics, plus an original Cosmic Cowboy comes home again: singer songwriter Michael Martin Murphy teams up with who’s who of Texas talent in search of old Austin. All those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: January 24, 2019

After school shootings nationwide, a Texas county recruits its very youngest students in an effort to be prepared for the worst. We’ll have the latest. Also, a crisis beyond our borders that could become a crisis on our border in rapid order. Political turmoil in Venezuela reaches a boiling point. We’ll explore. And Texas lawmakers keep promising to focus on education; code for a renewed push for vouchers charter schools and other alternatives? We’ll take a closer look. Plus 19 places to visit in 2019: five of em are in Texas. You may want to take notes. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard: