As a new poll points to a tightening race for Texas Governor, a focus on an issue considered one of the biggest. We’ll talk about how immigration and border security have been front and center in the contest between Republican incumbent governor Greg Abbott and democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. Also with disinformation and misinformation rampant, the Standard’s Michael Marks on how to be a smart news consumer. And rising prices, rising wages. But not all paychecks rising at the same rate. Sean Saldana with more. And the southern second person plural that one writer now calls the most inclusive of all pronouns. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Bug
It’s Worm-Wearin’ Season
It’s the time of year when you might need dodge a hanging caterpillar while out for a walk or in the backyard. And you may need to check your clothes to make sure you don’t bring a stowaway with you back inside. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Fireflies
Call them lightning bugs or fireflies — whatever you prefer they are sign of warmer weather in Texas. This Typewriter Rodeo poem was inspired by a listener request.
Cicadas
They are a sound of summer for many Texans and they were the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Delicious Irritant
Something got you itching? Could be a bug, an allergy — or perhaps it’s just that person over there. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: July 30, 2018
Retired Texas teachers say they feel let down by a vote that could mean lower pension checks. We’ll explore the impact and the next steps. Also a multi-million dollar settlement involving a Houston-area refinery accused of doing too much polluting. We’ll look at the legal moves that made it happen. Plus, the story of a small town principal jailed for murder and the questionable evidence that put him there. And when wildfires pop up across Texas it’s often volunteer firefighters that are there first to put out the flames. We’ll look at why many volunteer departments are struggling. And keep an eye on your cacti. The insects that could destroy your xeriscape, yuck up your yucca and obliterate your agave. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Swarms of Daddy Long Legs
Did you ever reach up onto a shelf in a back yard storage shed, or get too close to the eaves of the house while standing on a ladder? Chances are you’ve met a few daddy long legs. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: July 3, 2017
Salacious emails from a former Baylor University regent about victims of sexual assaults spark outrage. We’ll explore how they tie in. Also special courts for cops: a new law on the books creates diversion programs for first responders. Why counties are hesitant to set them up. Also the cochineal, a small Spanish insect and the source of the red dye in many foods we eat, the makeup we use and the focus of a new Texas art exhibit. And faced with a 19% unemployment rate, some Spaniards are looking for ways to boost their resume. Those stories and so much today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 16, 2017
Spy satellite photos made public plus a disturbing allegation against Syria that raises the specter of war crimes, we’ll explore. Plus reporting on the border has always been a challenge, but now it’s deadlier than ever, and some fear a shadow of silence spreading over Mexico. We’ll explain. Also Texas set to become the first state to test a new policy permitting states to withhold funds from groups like Planned Parenthood. And police seizures of personal assets: cars, money, you name it, without proving any underlying crime. A new push in Texas to end what critics call highway robbery. And how do you lose 46 million dollars? A newspaper helps Texas’ biggest city find lost money. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Fireflies
Whether you call them fireflies or lightening bugs, these little insects were the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo segment.
Texas Standard: November 28, 2016
The president elect has called for extreme vetting of some would-be immigrants. For potential citizens, that future is now. Plus the economic miracle. Still wise to bank on it? What a new economic map of Texas tells us about sustained growth, and where the hot spots are. Plus, mothers milk- they say there’s nothing better for newborns. But where money’s tight, necessity becomes the mother of an alternative. We’ll hear from the Mexican doctor pushing it. And a Texas case before the nation’s highest court tomorrow with national implications for the death penalty. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Skeeters
Summertime means you’ll likely spend a lot of time on patios – as long as you aren’t bothered by the buzz (and bite) of mosquitos. Those critters inspired Typewriter Rodeo’s Jodi Egerton to write this week’s poem.