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:
Civil
Texas Standard: March 14, 2017
An assault. Evidence gathered and then nothing. Now a grassroots effort to get a backlog of thousands rape kits analyzed, we’ll explore. Also whose info is it anyway? What’s behind a spike in the number of denials for open record requests in Texas. And machines that do the work of humans, and sometimes look like us too. As high tech talk in Texas turns to robots, a danger the conversation’s on autopilot. Plus help wanted: thousands of border and immigration officials. But if the idea’s to boost security, why are there plans to cut vetting of new recruits? Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 9, 2017
It’s as old as the republic itself. Now two Texas lawmakers a republican and a democrat want to end what some call policing for profit. Also deadly fertilizer plant explosion put the tiny Texas town of west on the national map, and chemical safety back in the spotlight. Now some fear a rollback in efforts to prevent another incident like the one in west. And the Big 12 wants answers from Baylor…and millions of dollars now at stake. We’ll tell you why. Plus to many they are the invisibles… but who are the homeless in Texas? One city finds answers by looking to its past. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 16, 2017
Does the voting rights act still protect minorities? A working-class Texas town could be at the heart of a new test for the landmark law, we’ll explore. Also for decades, Texas has permitted vaccination exemptions for reasons of conscience. We’ll hear about a plan to change that. And if they build it, will they come? Selling state planners on a “prairie to port superhighway” thru Texas. And cattle rustlers beware: the big money’s on a new outlaw …time to lock up your beehives? And in south Texas scores of pelicans falling from the sky directly onto traffic below…the mystery…and much more today on the Texas Standard: