It’s that time of year again when fresh-faced little ones with new backpacks and clean shoes head back to school. On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Bob Duke, and Rebecca McInroy wanted to provide some tips to help teachers set the stage for a successful and happy year.
education
A Texas remembrance of Dolly Parton
Tens of thousands of acres are burning in West Texas. We’ll check in on containment efforts and the ongoing wildfire risk.
Republicans from all over the country will be gathering in Texas soon to drum up support for the November election. We’ll have a look at how the Texas GOP has evolved.
Chinese biotech firms have become a major force in the global pharmaceutical market. We’ll look at what Americans should know about where new medicine may be coming from.
Houston Police have been collaborating with ICE. We’ll share how the collaboration has impacted one man’s life.
And Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. We went looking for a Texan who could help us remember this icon of country music and beyond — and found a longtime collaborator and friend in Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson.
West Texas power line fight grows as data center demand surges
The data center backlash has lawmakers rolling back plans to expand high-power transmission lines. We’ll have a look at what it means for rural residents.
Also, how seniors are coping with the high cost of food.
Plus, if you have pet, you know veterinary care can be costly. That has some families skipping a trip to the vet. A Texas organization steps in to help.
Also, mapping extreme heat: Why certain parts of Houston result in more people ending up in the hospital.
And as students begin a new school year and cheer on their teams, which high school has the strangest mascot?
What’s behind the recent surge in food recalls?
Texas youth prisons go on lockdown after assaults on correctional staff, with one official saying young detainees are “becoming more violent and more aggressive.” We’ll hear about the effects of the lockdown and what happens next.
Why are we seeing a surge in food safety concerns and outbreaks of illness in Texas and other states? We’ll dive in and share some steps on staying safe.
With heat warnings in effect across much of the state, the University Interscholastic League makes heat safety guidelines mandatory.
New Generations of Hip-Hop
On this episode we have a conversation with KUTX interns Joel and Monica about their first introduction to hip-hop. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about Frank Ocean, Jay-Z, Outkast and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is that Do It Yourself artists do more harm than good to their careers.
Virtual public schools expand across Texas
How rising childcare costs and shrinking funds to help families is costing the state dearly, and why some fear a change at the federal level could make things worse.
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s flooding the airwaves with ads. Meanwhile, striking silence from his Republican challenger. Is Ken Paxton just keeping his powder dry in the weeks before elections, or is this a harbinger of a political sea change in Texas?
Those stories, a surprise in virtual learning and more on today’s show.
Judge appoints monitor for migrant children detained in Texas
A federal judge orders answers to the question of why families are being held so long at a detention center in South Texas. We’ll have the story.
After a state takeover of schools in Houston, officials tout rising scores for schools, but are those grades being artificially inflated at the expense of students themselves? We’ll hear about an exclusive investigation by the Houston Chronicle.
Also, a city best known for the Alamo, a riverwalk and the Spurs is now gaining accolades for fungus.
Plus, BBQ beyond the brisket: Texas Monthly’s Daniel Vaughn on the lesser-known champions of smoked chicken.
California/Texas surrogacy case tests abortion and parental rights
At what some have described as Texas’ flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, a proposed change in core requirements for graduation. We’ll delve into why now and what it means.
In a North Texas city, some backyards are said to be disappearing with every new rainfall. We’ll hear about what’s happening in Arlington and what can be done.
Also, a surrogate mother comes to Texas, refusing to get an abortion as requested by the biological parents. Now, the courts are involved. We’ll have the backstory and what comes next.
And Minnesota officials sue Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the extradition of an ICE agent.
And Robert Earl Keen with an update on that road that goes on forever.
Tacos de la Casa: Cooking with Joy. Hiding from ICE
In the season opener of Tacos of Texas, we step into two home kitchens and the women who run them. Denise Segura is a not so traditional Abuela from San Antonio. We’ll also make tacos with an immigrant mom who asked us not to use her name for safety reasons. We talk about home cooking and what it means to keep feeding their families, one taco a time.
Tacos of Texas is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Reaction to AISD school ratings, Giant Adirondack chair, Books set in Austin
Classes start tomorrow in the Austin Independent School District, fresh off news last week that two of its middle schools registered a fifth failing state accountability rating. That has opened the door to possible state intervention, but some folks are asking that the positive gains Austin schools have made also be considered in the whatever future decision is made for the district.
Students and families and staff are feeling all of the emotions of tomorrow’s first day of school. We’ll bring you their voices.
What’s the story behind the huge Adirondack chair outside an Austin church? ATXplained finds out.
Plus: A few novels set in Austin to add to your TBR list.
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
GOAT Talk
We are still celebrating the birthday of Hip-Hop! On this episode, we discuss our favorite rap albums and also what we consider the biggest disappointment in Hip-hop history. Hip-Hop Facts this week is a little different as we both tell two truths and a lie and have to guess which one is the lie. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is another controversial topic that will definitely get people talking online.
How risks can be managed psychologically
Carl Stuart takes caller and text questions on emphasizing the importance of avoiding large losses, understanding market cycles, managing risk psychologically, and not letting taxes drive investment decisions.
Mike D’Antoni talks NBA coaching career ahead of Hall of Fame induction
Tens of thousands of Texas families who received state money to send students to private schools are giving it back. We’ll explore why.
Texas cities are watching the back and forth between the Trump administration and the courts over a federal program critics say could put thousands of Texans at risk for re-entering homelessness.
John Cornyn and James Talarico have come out against imminent construction of Big Bend border barriers. We’ll have a look at where Ken Paxton stands.
Plus, our conversation with soon-to-be Hall of Fame former NBA Coach Mike D’Antoni.
And no animals were injured when monkey’s brains washed up on Texas beaches.
Migrant children held for months at Texas detention center
Children are being held in Texas detention centers far longer than legal limits allow. We’ll have a check-in on the immigration crackdown.
People and politicians have rallied around their dislike of data centers. What does this PR problem mean for tech companies?
We’ll check in on why an El Paso project might not be affected by Gov. Greg Abbott’s new data center regulations.
It’s been nearly a month since this year’s record-breaking flooding in South Central Texas. We’ll have a look at how it’s impacted small towns with few resources.
The story of how an Austin nonprofit is trying to support musicians in an expensive city.
And young Texas track athlete Cooper Lutkenhaus is breaking records abroad.
Could Austin land an NHL franchise?
The city of Austin is nearing decision time on its upcoming fiscal budget. The first draft called for cuts to public health programs, parks and other services. The City Council has spent weeks shaping the version that’ll soon be approved.
Proponents of data centers say they can be a boon to the areas they’re built in. But in Abilene, their presence has spurred a housing crisis. More from our series The Data Center Next Door.
There’s rumors of a second National Hockey League franchise coming to Texas. Austin’s been mentioned as a landing spot, but how real is that talk?
Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org
Corpus Christi voters to decide Fair Water Amendment
In Corpus Christi, residents succeed in getting the Fair Water Amendment on the November ballot. We’ll delve into the details of what’s in the amendment and what comes next.
A look at how Flock Safety cameras are tracking vehicles and why there’s a backlash statewide.
Plus, Texans love their pickup trucks — and there’s more to love as the vehicles get bigger. But larger sizes potentially mean more risks. We’ll look at why pickups are involved in fatal accidents more often.
San Antonio built a land bridge to help wildlife safely cross through the city. Is it working?
And writer Sarah Bird on the unwritten rules that govern life in Texas.
Border wall could cut access to Porvenir Massacre site
The Trump administration wants to revamp Head Start. How the changes could cost the state and impact teachers.
President Trump has ordered changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, but the executive order does not automatically change requirements for Texas schools.
Law enforcement says Flock cameras that read license plates help solve crimes. But in Houston there are growing questions about misuse and mass surveillance.
What the governor’s temporary pause on data centers means.
How a new border wall going up in West Texas will impact a historic landmark at the site of the 1918 Porvenir Massacre.
The Texas goth scene builds a culture beyond the music
President Trump says the governor’s pause on data centers is a mistake. What it means as the industry pushes to expand.
Supporters of the state takeover of Houston public schools tout it as success for overall student achievement. But critics say it’s come at the expense some high-achieving students.
Does a strategy for managing rapid economic growth in North Texas offer lessons for other regions when it comes to development?
A bar celebrating goth music and culture turns 25 in Austin. How goth culture has taken root across the state.
Happy Birthday Hip-Hop! w/ Tee Double
On this episode we celebrate the 54th anniversary of the creation of Hip-Hop with Austin legend (and future Hall of Famer) Tee Double. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about hip-hop unique to both Confucius and Fresh’s childhood. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion is that counter culture in Austin is non-existent.
How Texas farmers are looking to revive cotton demand
New details are emerging about the first year of Texas’ school voucher program. We’ll explain who received the vouchers and why critics still have questions.
Texas cotton-growers are facing rising costs and falling demand. Our own Michael Marks looks at a new effort to revive one of the state’s signature crops.
Austin Sketch Fest returns for its 17th year, featuring headlining acts like Saturday Night Live’s Andrew Dismukes. We’ll hear why organizers say sketch comedy is having a moment in Texas.
Even after July’s heavy rains, Jacob’s Well still isn’t flowing like it used to. Texas Standard’s Laura Rice explains why the beloved Texas swimming hole remains closed.
And it’s Friday, so we’ll wrap up the week with our Texas politics roundup.