A pickup of 2 seats in congress and the electoral college. A missed opportunity for Texas? A top demographer over the state’s population boom and why estimates for a bigger gain didn’t materialize. Also, a special election in Texas that may offer a window on the state of state politics at large. And Texas leading the nation in the rate of hospital closures…a look at who’s hardest hit and what’s being done to turn things around. Plus a new culinary piece de resistance: French Tacos? for real? All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:
COVID-19
Texas Standard: April 26, 2021
Despite resistance from Republicans at the capitol, pressure mounts on Texas to expand medicaid. Bob Garret of the Dallas Morning News with an update on a push that could provide Medicaid coverage to more than 1.4 million additional Texans. Also, whatever happened to the George Floyd Act introduced in the Texas Legislature earlier this year? More on police reform efforts at the capitol. And the west Texas county leading the state in a major metric in the pandemic fight. Plus are the priorities shifting for a top Texas sports and tourism destination? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 23, 2021
As rates of vaccination rise in Texas, the number of Texans seeking vaccines is tapering off – raising concerns. A closer look today on the Texas Standard.
Some parts of Texas are now closing vaccination hubs as demand falls. Though, a majority of Texans have yet to be vaccinated at all. We’ll find out why this is happening and what it could mean for efforts to reach herd immunity.
Also who’s minding the militias? A push to update and enforce Texas laws against private militias in the wake of the January 6th storming of the US capitol.
And a question many Texans are asking: why so many caterpillars? Those stories and more.
Texas Standard: April 22, 2021
Six weeks to go and the race is on. A big budget battle set at the Texas capitol today, as the clock ticks toward the end of the session. From changes to Texas abortion laws to voting laws, to what to do about power in the wake of February’s massive blackouts and more… Where do we stand on a huge range of issues lawmakers are considering under the pink dome?We’ll get up to speed. Plus Representative Joe moody on a bipartisan package for criminal justice reform. And our own Kristen Cabrera on federal efforts to help Texans who’ve already suffered from the loss of a loved one due to COVID-19 cover the costs of interment. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 21, 2021
Guilty on all counts. As Texans react to the verdict in the killing of George Floyd. The message: a just verdict, but not justice. Not without meaningful reforms to policing. We’ll hear from George Floyd’s former hometown of Houston, and from other voices across Texas, reacting to yesterday’s murder conviction of a white former police officer. Also you’ve heard of the UK strain, a Brazilian strain, now researchers at Texas A&M report a Texas mutation of COVID-19. What this means for vaccination efforts and the ongoing pandemic fight. And a Politifact check about herd immunity claims. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 20, 2021
A bill to allow permitless carry of handguns in Texas has passed the House. A done deal in the Texas Senate too? Not so fast. Although republicans have control of the senate, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick says he does not now have the votes to pass permitless carry. We’ll hear the latest. Also, it was a rare act of bipartisanship to save music and theatre venues hard hit by the pandemic. Now months later, none of the money has been allocated. What’s the holdup and will Texas stages survive? Plus the push to address homelessness in the capitol city amid political controversy over public camping. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 19, 2021
A warning of a hotter than average summer sends shudders as lawmakers try to avoid a repeat of winter power outages in Texas. Lawmakers shift gears as they try to come up with a fix for increased power demand and limited supply. Also, the full extent of how COVID-19 affected nursing home residents in Texas has been unknown, until now. A member of the Texas Tribune reporting team on the findings. And have you had to pay out of pocket to get a COVID-19 shot? Some Texans have, although it’s supposed to be free-of-charge. Also a proposal for the national parks: return them to native peoples. Plus making the case for no more borders. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 16, 2021
As another mass shooting makes headlines, victims families and survivors of a mass shooting in Texas make their case against the Air Force. The case underway in a San Antonio courtroom asks whether the Air Force should be held liable in the Sutherland Springs church shooting in which 26 people were killed, 20 others injured in 2017. We’ll have the latest. Also amid a debate over so called vaccine passports, a proposal in Texas that would change the way records for vaccinations are collected by the state. Plus how Ramadan is becoming more and more a part of the multicultural fabric of Texas. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
One Good Thing
As more people are vaccinated against COVID-19 and states lift restrictions, life is beginning to look a bit more like the old “normal.” But there were lessons from the pandemic that some hope we take with us into the future. That was the inspiration of this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: April 15, 2021
The governor claims we should be very close to herd immunity. What does the chair of the Texas vaccine allocation panel have to say? About 25 percent of Texans now reported to be vaccinated… far from what public health experts have estimated is needed for herd immunity. We’ll hear more. Also a turning point in what’s been called the eternal war and why some have lingering concerns about plans to get the U.S. out of Afghanistan by 9/11. And in a state that leads the nation in fatal crashes involving large trucks, a bill rolling thru the state house that would make it harder for people to sue trucking companies. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 14, 2021
It is not a recall, but a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Starting today the FDA and the CDC begin evaluating an extremely rare type of blood clot found in six women who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this after 500 thousand doses of that vaccine were administered in Texas. Also Texas’s attorney general taking the Biden administration to court for the third time. Now: over the end of the Trump Administrations remain in Mexico program. And SpaceX’s potential setback on terra firma south Texas. Those stories and more when today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 13, 2021
Growing concerns among Texas education experts over how to measure the impact of the pandemic on learning. Big questions over what standardized testing tells us about education during the pandemic and just how much may be missing from the data. Also, what will college campuses in Texas look like in the fall? We’ll hear about the picture coming into focus. And planning a move to someplace less crowded? If it’s in Texas, you may want to double check the laws for landowners first. And the undiscovered musician joining the ranks of Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 12, 2021
To everything there is a season, it’s said. But you might be surprised by what season is already upon us. Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune on what else seems to be sprouting along with the bluebonnets, as Texas politicians nurture budding would be candidacies for 2022. Also, a vote of another sort in Alabama with potential implications for efforts to unionization pushes in Texas. And is there a doctor on the line? How the pandemic may prove a long term shot in the arm for telemedicine in Texas. And something fishy getting served up in San Antonio, thanks to a British expat. Those stories and more on todays Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 9, 2021
Allegations of abuse at a migrant detention center for unaccompanied minors in San Antonio. What’s known and what’s not. Other stories we’re tracking, a booster shot for efforts to get more Texans vaccinated against COVID-19 by putting the clinic on wheels. We’ll hear the how and why. Plus a bill to bring broadband to rural Texas, as well as urban areas that can’t get connected. What the proposal does and doesn’t do, when it comes to an increasingly critical piece of the infrastructure puzzle. And how waste is suddenly affecting a way of life in south Texas. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
The Most Reliable Internet Service
For many, pandemic times have meant a lot of extra time relying on the Internet — connecting for work, for school, or for various appointments. Many of us have also experienced the frustration of a not-so reliable Internet connection. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: April 8, 2021
As federal officials add new detention centers for young migrants, the states of Texas and Louisiana sue over changes to immigration policy. We’ll have details. Also, the nation’s top homeland security official returns to Texas today as the numbers of migrants swell along the southern border. Richard Pineda of UT El Paso on how the politics of immigration may be blurring the picture of what’s really happening. And those boots are made for talking, the fashion editor of Vogue magazine on a Texas accent in haute couture. And what’s the real capitol of Texas? You sure? A Houston Chronicle writer makes the case it’s not Austin. Those stories and so much more coming up today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 7, 2021
The standardized STAAR test is set to go fully online soon statewide. But a glitch in testing this week has many wondering are we ready, or not? We’ll look at details. Other stories we’re tracking: the growing controversy over so-called vaccine passports quickly becoming a new culture war flashpoint. Are mandated certifications of vaccinations ethical? A closer look at some of the underlying considerations. And home prices skyrocketing in Texas cities, but if you’re thinking you can escape this trend by moving to rural Texas…think again. Also, the best chess team in the world? Look no further than the Rio Grande Valley. All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 6, 2021
Do the state’s numbers add up? A Houston Chronicle investigation finds twice as many deaths due to the February storm and blackouts. Other stories we’re tracking, the return of baseball and the absence of the Governor who turned down the opportunity to throw the first pitch. But he may have lobbed an early salvo in a much bigger matter over changes to voting laws in Texas, one with huge implications. Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News explains. Also the story of the Texas women who led a revolution in voting rights. Plus, trying to buy a home in Texas? You may not believe who you’re competing against. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 5, 2021
2 trillion for infrastructure. The big push from the Biden administration. But what might those big plans mean for the Lone Star State? We’ll have details. Plus, going to a concert? Baseball game? Getting on a plane? You may need a passport for that. The push for and the controversy over so-called vaccination passports. Also Dr.Fred Campbell of UT Health San Antonio takes on more of your COVID-19 questions. And new lockdowns in other parts of the world and the ripple effects on Texas and the energy business. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 2, 2021
Voting during the pandemic brought a specific set of challenges. Now, Texas lawmakers are considering measures that would restrict workarounds. Today on the Texas Standard.
Another much-watched issue in Austin right now is what lawmakers are going to do about problems with the Texas electric grid revealed during February’s deadly winter storm. We’ll have the latest.
Plus, along with the huge numbers of valid unemployment claims Texas has seen during the pandemic, there’s an uptick in fraudulent claims made by folks who are stealing identities. We’ll break down the challenge.
And, a big award nomination for a little library out west and the latest in our effort to track COVID-19 vaccination distribution.
Today on the Texas Standard.