School is over for most Texas kids. It’s time to take stock of the year past. One way to do that is with a good cleaning and disinfection of that ubiquitous part of the school uniform – the faithful backpack.
Texas Standard: June 2, 2017
Climate agreement fallout. How Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could affect Texas. Plus a deadly shootout in broad daylight at a North Texas car dealership, innocent people just feet away from two bounty hunters and their target. We’ll break down the role of the “fugitive recovery agent.” And it’s been more than 60 years since Brown versus Board of Education. Why the south is now seeing wide re-segregation of schools. Plus we’ve got the inside scoop on some books that will likely be topping must-read lists. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard :
Texas Standard: June 1, 2017
Stuck and frustrated. Several immigrant families are being held in Texas Detention Centers far longer than law allows, we’ll explore. Also, Texas Lawmakers left Austin without making real changes to the state’s barely constitutional school finance system. Coming up: what they did do this session when it comes to education. And a Supreme Court ruling over printer cartridges affects every American consumer. We’ll explain. Plus, did political infighting just leave several Texas agencies in limbo? We’ll hear from an insider. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 31, 2017
Lawmakers have left the building. But what did they accomplish in the 85th Legislative session when it comes to criminal justice? We’ll take a look. Also, a soldier commits a crime on a battlefield, maybe even murder, but should we re-think how we hold someone in a combat situation accountable? At least one Texas lawmaker thinks so. And business is booming. Texas seeing the strongest manufacturing numbers in years. We’ll look at why. Plus some Spanish words our commentator says ought to be included in the vocabulary of every Texan. And a visit to a Texas spring with spiritual significance, and why it’s receded. Those stories and more on today’s Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 30, 2017
Out with a scuffle: the final hours of the regular Texas legislative session marked with protests and threats. We’ll break it down. Also in legislative news we’ll take a look back at the session and evaluate how lawmakers did when it came to measures affecting children. Plus, is Texas still running the type of open, transparent government leaders used to pride themselves on? And after a two-year slump in crude prices, oil fields are picking back up. What a recent decision by OPEC will do to the oil industry. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 29, 2017
Just hours left until the end of the Texas Legislative session. We’ll explore what passed, what failed and what’s still up in the air. Also, they say “follow the money”, so we’ll take a close look at the budget that will guide the state for the next two years. Plus former Texas nurse convicted of killing at least one baby is set to go free… the somewhat unusual effort to prevent that. And remembering the final battle in the American Civil War, you might not know it took place right here in Texas. Plus we’re getting Texans to tell us about their boots. Those stories and more today on the the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 26, 2017
Tasers are supposed to be a less-lethal tool for police. But sometimes they still result in deaths, we’ll explore. Also the double-s word is getting thrown around again: special session. We’ll check in on the Texas Legislature as lawmakers set to wrap up. And Texas sheep and goat ranchers are losing animals to predators. How an old-world solution could help. Plus a job interview in Houston like you’ve never heard of before. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Severe Weather Alerts
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast for parts of the state over the weekend. Texans also know to keep there eyes and ears out for anything that could be more severe. That was the inspiration for this week’s poem.
Texas Standard: May 19, 2017
A police pension crisis creating big problems in Dallas. Now has a solution that appears to make all sides happy, we’ll explore. Also legislation being pushed by Texas Republicans could benefit Democrats, so why do Dems oppose it? We’ll check it out. And a new music festival in San Antonio that may be the first like it anywhere… how “Good Vibrations” is reaching an otherwise under-served audience. Plus it’s Friday so that means we’ll hear from the Typewriter Rodeo and wrap up the week in Texas Politics. All that and more today on the Standard:
Back To The Nest
College commencements are taking place across Texas over the next few weeks. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: May 18, 2017
Special prosecutor. While the country is abuzz over an investigation in Washington a case involving a lawmaker in Texas is also moving forward, we’ll explore. Plus there are still almost two weeks left in the Texas Legislative Session but talks of the double-S word: “Special Session”, are looking serious. We’ll tell you why. And one big issue before lawmakers has been changes to the Texas Foster Care System. Where those proposals stand now, it’s part of our ongoing exploration of the system’s challenges. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 15, 2017
A Texas Senator on the shortlist for FBI Director. But getting confirmation may not be easy, we’ll explore. Plus a strange connection between a Texas Health official and Trump’s revised travel ban has led to a resignation. We’ll tell you why. And the same sand that makes part of south-central Texas so great for growing strawberries also makes it perfect for mining… but residents aren’t pleased. Plus the shocking way some Texas schools have been dealing with students who can’t pay for lunches and an effort to change that. All of that and more on today’s Texas Standard:
Marfa Lights
Visitors to far West Texas usually make a point to visit Big Bend, the McDonald Observatory and to try to catch a glimpse of the mysterious Marfa Lights. Those unexplained lights were the inspiration for this week’s poem from the Typewriter Rodeo.
Feral Hogs
Feral hogs have been causing trouble across Texas for years. That was the inspiration for this week’s poem.
Texas Spring
Wildflowers are dotting the highways, fireflies are flitting about during dusk and it’s still cool enough to sit outside most days. The telling signs of the spring season — and the anticipation of summer — inspired this week’s poem.
Fireflies
Whether you call them fireflies or lightening bugs, these little insects were the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo segment.
Texas Standard: April 17, 2017
AND go! The six week sprint to the end of the Texas Legislative Session has begun. We’ll check-in on some big issues. Federal judges ruled the boundaries of three Texas congressional maps discriminate against Latino and African-American voters. But what happens now? Plus sand is becoming big business in Texas, but we’re not talking just any ol’ dirt. We’ll explain. Also, who gets to decide what’s an historic landmark and what’s just an eyesore? And the stars at night may not be quite as bright deep in the heart of West Texas, we’ll tell you why. Those stories plus the crisis to our south that’s been largely overlooked, today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 14, 2017
An enormous bomb dropped in Afghanistan, tensions high with North Korea, and what about Syria? We’ll check-in on global relations. Also over the years of debate about the federal budget deficit. Texas has built up a huge nest egg. But are we making the most of that money? And it could soon be a little too quiet on the set when it comes to the Texas film and TV industry. Efforts to keep business in the Lone Star State. Plus: what do you think about speed bumps? Is it time to think again? And we’ll introduce you to a figure of Texas history that’s not likely to have an elementary school named in his honor. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Gerrymandering
A federal court ruled recently that Texas lawmakers were intentionally discriminatory when it came to drawing congressional maps. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
H-E-B
The Texas-based grocery store chain and its unique offerings was the inspiration for today’s Typewriter Rodeo.