A likely appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court as the 5th Circuit reaffirms a decision to let Texas’ near total abortion ban remain in effect. Other stories we are tracking: in the final days of a third special session, the Texas House green lights a bill that would force transgender Texas youth to play on public school sports teams that align with their sex assigned at birth. Also, why supply chains have become a big worry for everyday Texans. And a horror film with a message steeped in the Mexican American experience. We’ll meet the star who hails from the Rio Grande Valley. Plus the week in politics and more today on the Texas Standard:
COVID-19
Texas Standard: October 14, 2021
It is a legislative season that at times has seemed like it might never end. Today Bob Garrett of the Dallas Morning News and Taylor Goldenstein of the Houston Chronicle get us up to speed on what the lege has left to finish, and what’s been done up to this point. Also the launch of a lawsuit over public beach closures near the SpaceX facility. And a military plane crash brings home the dangers of housing developments near bases, quite literally. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 13, 2021
Was election day in South Texas 2020 an omen for Democrats in 2022 and beyond? A prediction and a prescription getting a lot of attention. Coming up, a warning for democrats hoping to pick up swing states, and what it could mean for Texas. Also the Biden Administration’s plans for a border reopening. Angela Kocherga has more from El Paso. And the image of the firefighter: iconic, and often male. An effort to give teenage girls hands on experience that could lead to careers fighting wildfires. Plus Texas bracing for the effects of hurricane Pamela. We’ll have the latest on that front and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 12, 2021
No Texan may be compelled to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so says the Governor in a sweeping new order. We’ll have more on the Texas governor’s executive order on vaccinations, a direct challenge to President Biden’s push for employer mandates. Also, how random are Texas jury pools? Investigators are looking into the process in Brazoria country where its alleged that potential jurors were vetted by geography and race. Plus population growth brings new homes to the Hill Country, and something considerably less bucolic, too: new quarries and environmental concerns. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 11, 2021
The 5th circuit court of appeals lifts a lower court stay on Texas new abortion law. What comes next? Doctors who performed abortions in the state during a court-ordered stay on the new Texas abortion law could be subject to lawsuits. We’ll have the latest. Also could the Woodlands become Texas’ newest city? Why the developer opposes an upcoming vote to incorporate. And what this coming winter spells for energy demand in Texas. We’ll hear a forecast. Plus, pregnancy during a pandemic: new insights from a Texas study. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 8, 2021
A bill to prohibit transgender public school athletes from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity moves closer to passage in the house, we’ll have details. Other stories were tracking on this Friday, the deadliest month yet for COVID-19 among workers at Texas prisons. Lauren McGaughey of the Dallas Morning News tells us why. And the connection between Dallas based AT&T and a controversial cable news channel that promotes false election claims and covid conspiracy theories. Plus veteran journalist Carlos Sanchez asks is Texas ready for a Latina governor? Plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 7, 2021
A federal judge blocks Texas’ near total abortion ban, for now. The state has appealed, leaving abortion providers and patients in limbo. We’ll have the latest. Other stories we’re tracking: Governor Greg Abbott is joined at the border by 9 other republican governors, backed by an array of military vehicles and accusing the President of causing what Abbott called a humanitarian crisis at the border. We’ll talk with USA Today’s John Moritz, who was there. Also remembering a Latino civil rights champion who fought segregation in Texas schools. And how Texas music is transforming a remote ghost town. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 5, 2021
Two Black members of congress give testimony at the state capitol. At stake: political maps that would break up communities of color. We’ll have the latest on the fight over representation and redistricting in Texas. Also, it started as a petition to force the hiring of more police officers. Now, why a local proposition could have echoes and reverberations statewide. And an estimated 40% of Texas nursing home workers are unvaccinated. How a change in the law may create a shortage of nursing home workers, and the help that facilities are asking for from the state. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 4, 2021
Demands for the ousting of a non-partisan county elections official for failing to be sufficiently Republican? Donald Trump took Hood County by 81%, but local Republicans want the election official there fired. We’ll hear why some think this could be a microcosm of Texas politics at the moment. Also with so much growth among Latinos in Texas according to the last census, where are they in the new redistricting maps? And recent viral images of border agents rounding up black migrants on horseback and the reverberations of racial violence in Texas. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 1, 2021
Redistricting in a new era: there was a time when Texas lawmakers had to clear new political maps with the federal government. We’ll look at the redistricting process in Texas without the full force of the voting rights act. Plus, concocting a crisis. We’ll learn more about how media and law enforcement shape perception and policy along the border. And Explosions in the Sky play the Big Bend so to speak. A soundtrack for far west Texas. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 30, 2021
In 2018, he came within fewer than 5 points of picking off Dan Patrick in the race for Lt. Governor. Today, he talks about giving it another go. Our conversation with Democrat Mike Collier, and how he hopes to distinguish himself as a candidate following yesterday’s big announcement from another democratic contender for Texas’ number two post. Also, the politics of geography: what Texas’ tilt to the cities means for redistricting in vast parts of rural west Texas. And how abortion providers in neighboring states are dealing with a rush of patients from Texas. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 29, 2021
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick faces a new challenger from a former George W. Bush aide, running as a democrat. Matthew Dowd may be best known in recent years as a TV news analyst, but now he’s entering the race for Texas Lt. Governor. Though there’s still no democrat at the top of the ticket. We’ll have more. Also, Governor Greg Abbots policy of catching and jailing migrants at the border with Mexico dealt a blow by a state judge. We’ll hear why. And our own Jill Ament with the latest in a legislative move to restrict which sports teams transgender student athletes play on. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 28, 2021
People of color accounted for 95% of Texas population boom in the last decade. What does this mean for political maps? Abby Livingston of the Texas Tribune helps us read between the boundary lines. Also hurricane season doesn’t end til November 30th, but is it already over for Texas? A team of Texas meteorologists with a bold prediction. And trouble for Houston’s former top cop Miami chief Art Acevedo…we’ll hear why. And the passing of a transformative force in higher education, remembering UTEP’s Diana Natalicio. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 27, 2021
A full forensic audit of the November vote in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties… but why? And why these four counties? The election audit was announced hours after a letter to the Governor from former President Trump. We’ll have the latest. Also, allegations of graft against Houston’s mayor results in the sacking of the person overseeing affordable housing. And call them signs of leadership: the former aide to Ann Richards finds a novel way to remind Texans of the former Governor’s legacy. The backstory on the Ann Banners. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 24, 2021
Deportations from Del Rio Texas are the focal point in one of the highest profile diplomatic resignations in modern memory. We’ll have more on a scathing departing salvo from the president’s special envoy to Haiti, lambasting the Biden administration’s handling of a migration crisis at the border. Also, November 2020 election results from four Texas counties to be audited. That news coming just hours after former President Donald Trump demands a statewide election audit. And the San Antonio resident at the center of what human rights watchers call a sham trial and an unjust prison sentence. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 23, 2021
It’s been a long haul for Texans struggling with the pandemic, but for some it may be an even longer haul. We’ll look at what Texas doctors are doing to help. Other stories were following, climate change: now called the number one cause of weather related death in the country. But not all communities are feeling the heat the same. We’ll hear about what are called urban heat islands. And how China has helped make Texas prime real estate for Bitcoin miners. Also the story behind the country’s first bilingual kids TV show, launched some 5 decades ago in Texas. Plus a conversation with the man called the Charles Kuralt of the Lone Star State and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 22, 2021
In what could be a test of SB8, Texas’ new abortion law, at least two private persons have filed suit over an abortion, invoking one of the most controversial provisions of SB8. We’ll hear more. Also, one of the biggest players in the energy industry sells off all its holdings in the Permian Basin. What this move might mean for West Texas, and what it may say about growing climate concerns. And on that subject a warning about a disease that could get worse as Texas gets hotter. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: September 21, 2021
Hundreds more federal agents are sent to south Texas as the Biden administration steps up deportations of most Haitian migrants. After promises for sweeping changes in immigration policy, the Biden administration facing heat from immigration advocates and even some democrats over its handling of a humanitarian crisis at the border. We’ll hear more. Also the numbers are in, but how will the new political maps being drawn up by Texas lawmakers reflect the growing numbers of members of minority groups and people of color that have moved to Texas since the last census? And the unusual approach to saving the ocelot in south Texas. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Dr. Nicki vs The Vaccine
This week on the Breaks:
- Confucius and Fresh discuss Nicki Minaj’s recent comments about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Both hosts discuss whether Drake’s music has become redundant after the release of his latest record “Certified Lover Boy.”
- In this week’s installment of Hip-Hop Facts you’ll learn about the origin of the term hip-hop, how KUTX DJ Jody Denberg grew up in the Bronx around the time that hip-hop was being created, how RBX never wanted to be a rapper and what happened when the Lords of the Underground threw UGK’s demo tape out a window.
- In his Unpopular Opinion Fresh answers the question “Is Drake the GOAT?”
- In his Confucius Says segment, Confucius encourages listeners to surround themselves with people who respect them and don’t cause trouble.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
Texas Standard: September 20, 2021
A rough and tumble year in Texas politics is set to get even tougher as Texas lawmakers gather today to redraw the states political maps. As redistricting takes center stage again in Texas, a major change in how those maps will be redrawn has many worried communities of color and interest stand to lose their strength without federal oversight. We’ll hear more. Also why so many companies, eager to position their brands, are avoiding weighing in on Texas’ new abortion law. And a new documentary on a woman who changed the face of the Supreme Court, but is seldom thought of as a native Texan. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard: