Ethics

West Texas town dealing with insect invasion

Why an arrangement to care for an aging millionaire is raising questions about a Texas Supreme Court Justice and state ethics rules.
More and more college-age students are steering clear of campus life and turning to “microcredentials” as a path to employment.
We’re talking with Nico Lang, author of “American Teenager,” a new book on growing up LGBTQ+ in modern America.
Also: Why red flour beetles have taken over the town of Socorro, just southeast of El Paso, and what’s being done to deal with an unprecedented infestation.

A report from Eagle Pass after a weekend of immigration protest

A bipartisan bill to address border security: one that mandates that President Biden shut down the border. David Martin Davies with more on the Senate bill on immigration and border security and an update on border protests over the weekend.

What appears to be the first human brain chip implant by Elon Musk’s Neuralink is raising concerns about safety, consent, and transparency. We’ll hear from a medical ethicist who’s been studying the implications.

In El Paso, a new exhibit that highlights a surprising relationship between humans and ducks.

And the thousandth PolitiFact check of Donald Trump – what the numbers say.

Tracing the foodways of Black Seminoles

The Supreme Court finally has its own ethics code for justices following a series of scandals – including a Texas billionaire showering gifts on Justice Clarence Thomas. Will this new code of conduct make a difference?

Bison once ruled the Great Plains of North America before being hunted almost to extinction. We’ll hear about how Indigenous people in Texas are supporting their slow rebound.

For descendants of Black Seminoles – a group whose members included former slaves and the Seminole native people – finding foodways through Texas and Mexico takes care and intention.

And: Colleges can no longer use race as a determining factor in admissions, thanks to a Supreme Court decision earlier this year. What’s the upshot? It may surprise you.

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Texas Standard: August 8, 2022

Congress is on the cusp of passing climate legislation that has major implications for the Lone Star State. The multi-billion dollar package does quite a lot of things, but focuses on measures that will slow global warming. We’ll have the details today. Plus Houston’s food scene bows to no one. Why one new writer in the Bayou City says it’s among the most exciting food places on the planet. And putting artificial intelligence to good use: a new Texas partnership is trying to figure out how. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 21, 2020

A sweeping stay at home order in Hidalgo county to stop the spread of COVID-19. But Governor Abbott says there’s no enforcement mechanism. In the Rio Grande Valley, doctors say resources are so limited they’re at the point of making difficult treatment choices. We’ll talk to the health authority in Starr county. Also, a state prison inmate surrounded by fellow inmates testing positive for COVID-19 is approved for parole but dies before his release. As his daughter grieves, she’s also demanding changes to the system. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: August 2, 2017

The Affirmative Action pendulum could swing yet again. What a new document suggests about plans inside the DOJ. It wasn’t long ago the Supreme Court sided with the University of Texas’ use of affirmative action. A new administration could bring back the debate. Plus, President Trump’s proposed Border Wall may be coming sooner than expected to Texas. And, Just when you thought fried food couldn’t get any crazier, Texas brings you: the tamale donut, and a crawfish lollipop. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 13, 2016

A bonafide job engine, lifting the rest of the nation from recession, boosters have dubbed it the Texas miracle. But now miracle whiplash? A long running case that’s come to symbolize the strength of Texas ethics laws, or the lack thereof, could well reach a climax today. We’ll have the backstory. Also why a Texas superintendent says his students have been denied 5 years of education and why he’s blaming state education officials. Plus- taking note of the warnings? Samsung may have given up on their combustible phone, but its hardest core fans appear willing to down with the chip. We’ll hear why. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:

Plagiarism

“Thou shalt not steal” might be an old concept, but when it comes to ideas we’re still in the infant stages of understanding how theft works. So we might ask, “why does it matter if someone plagiarizes someone else? It’s not like I took an object from someone else.”

It turns out, it’s a big deal. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about why.

Texas Standard: November 9, 2015

Number 1 in growth, number two in size, and number 38 in integrity. A just released report card on government ethics and what it adds up to, we’ll explore. And file under high stakes- why Texas ranchers are worried about that massive Pacific trade deal… Hunting season’s just started, but a disease is proving far more deadly to deer populations…we’ll hear details… Also redefining the Texas family: as laws shift, some same sex couples considering adoption find themselves on shaky ground… And a decision on pot by the Mexican supreme court…could the hemispheric drug war go up in smoke? All of those stories and lots more on todays Texas Standard: