From pandemic to political upheaval, a budget shortfall and beyond, what promises to be a Texas legislative session like few in recent memory. We’ll have more on tomorrow’s start of the Lone Star legislative session. Also, after the storming of the U.S. Capitol, the role of Texas’ junior senator under growing scrutiny amid calls for his resignation. And a new strain of the COVID virus found in Texas, what it means for doctors and for Texans at large. And did air pollution make Hurricane Harvey worse than it would have been otherwise? New findings from Texas based researchers. All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Harris County
Texas Standard: October 15, 2020
Theres the vote, and there’s that other count that will determine representation in the Lone Star State. And the deadline is tonight. Have you been counted? Although the Census Bureau says 99.9% of households are accounted for, only 62 percent of Texans have completed the census. We’ll hear about the potential impact and how to get counted before the deadline. Also, An inter party tiff turns into a potential tipping point in the U.S. Senate race in Texas. And when you wish upon a star, you turn into a streaming service? Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why Disney’s making a major shift amid a pandemic. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: August 31, 2020
Election day now almost 2 months away, and new battles forming over who in Texas gets to vote where and how. The Texas Secretary of State’s office threatens legal action over Harris county’s plan to send absentee ballot applications to every registered voter in the county, we’ll have the latest. Also a mass shooting in Odessa one year on, and the effort to hold the seller of the firearm legally accountable. And Daron Roberts on athlete activism and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: July 17, 2020
For many school districts: competing mandates from state leaders and local health officials leaving teachers parents and kids in limbo. Our conversation with superintendent of EL Paso ISD on the practical challenges of reopening public schools. Also, more on a newly unveiled proposal to cut 130 million dollars from state health services as the Coronavirus fight continues. And 5 years after the death of Sandra Bland, the mark she left at her alma mater, and on a movement. Plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 29, 2020
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds an important decision in a case concerning access to abortions, closely watched in the Lone Star State. We’ll have the latest. Also, amid a pandemic, the start of early voting statewide in primary runoff elections. What’s been called a dry run for November. And a second look at a string of police shootings in Houston that predate the killing of George Floyd, and what they could mean for the future of police transparency. Plus Texas researchers develop a sensor to distinguish between symptoms of the flu and COVID-19. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 13, 2020
This is not a test. As Texas responds to a pandemic, health officials struggle to find ways to deal with a lag in Coronavirus testing, we’ll have the latest. Plus in major cities across the Lone Star State, city streets, schools and universities and office buildings getting empty. Events from rodeos to concerts and games all cancelled or in the process of. So what comes next? Our conversation with the top official of the most populous county in Texas, judge Lina Hidalgo…Plus the politics of quarantine and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 6, 2020
A plan to restore the faith of Harris county Voters on their election system can’t come fast enough, we’ll have details. Plus we’ll tell you everything we know about the Coronavirus and how to prepare. And if you’re struggling to find housing in Texas, you’re not alone. Apparently we are short by about half a million homes. And, now that the waters of election day have mostly settled, we provide some analysis. Those stories and a lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 20, 2020
Did Mike’s appearance move the needle in Texas? If so, which direction? We’ll asses the debate as we barrel toward Super Tuesday. Other stories we’re tracking: how reactions to the coronavirus have created what doctors are calling an infodemic thanks to social media. Omar Gallaga on viral takes about a medical crisis. Plus, Amarillo by morning? Not if by that you mean a break in a big time labor deadlock there. Plus- why some flights out of Brownsville have asylum attorneys alarmed. Those stories and a lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 29, 2020
A race watched nationwide as a test of how well democrats are positioned to take the Texas house of representatives. We’ll take a closer look at the contest to replace and incumbent Texas house republican in district 28: why all the attention, and what the outcome does or does not tells us about changing politics in the Texas suburbs. Also, with only days till the caucuses, where do Texans stand in the presidential race? Brand new numbers from the respected Texas lyceum survey. Plus a Politifact check and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 28, 2019
The Texas Legislature has recently taken up charges focused on mental health. Can those priorities maintain momentum into the next session? We’ll explore. Plus, mental health has been used in the same sentence a lot lately as mass violence. We’ll break down that connection. And as loved ones gather this holiday, one discussion point might be family history. Digging deep into what that means for one Texas family. Also, don’t ask don’t tell: it seems that’s still largely the policy when it comes to mental health at work. We’ll look at how to change that. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 14, 2019
A fact finding process in an era of fake news: do the facts still matter? We’ll look at some Texas takeaways from the impeachment hearing so far. Also, new guidelines for how the state tabulates ballots. Are we getting early warning signals about problems for 2020? We’ll take a look. Plus, what can dogs tell humans about aging? And our tech expert Omar gallaga on winners and losers in the early volleys of the new streaming wars. All of that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 23, 2019
It’s a closely watched case involving bail reform in Harris County. Now, the state’s attorney general wants to weigh in – against the change. Plus, he’s the longest serving governor in Texas history, he’s run for president, he’s been serving as energy secretary and now he’s leaving the Trump administration. What’s next for Rick Perry? Fellow Texan and ABC political analyst Matthew Dowd has an idea or two for the outgoing secretary. Also, decoding the accent of a major film star from Katy. And an overdue honor for a hero from the Texas tower shooting. Those stories and more on today’s Texas Standard.
Texas Standard: October 3, 2019
One sentence handed down. Many different reactions to it. We’ll look at the fallout from the trial of a former Dallas police officer convicted of murder. Also, court proceedings for the El Paso shooter will soon begin. So how should media outlets provide news without feeding into a narrative that could spark copycats? We’ll have two perspectives. Plus, evidence in University of Texas at Austin archives that the school was purposefully slow to move towards racial integration. And the mayor of the Texas Capital City joins us to react to a letter he just got from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 18, 2019
A federal appeals court hands the state of Texas a major victory in its fight to defund planned parenthood, we’ll have details. Also, after spending millions fighting civil rights lawsuits over cash bail, Harris county does a dramatic about face, pledging to end a system critics say discriminates against the poor. And what’s in the water beneath our feet? If you live near a coal power plant in Texas, quite possibly very scary stuff. We’ll hear about hidden dangers in the h2o. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 29, 2018
An historic new era set to begin in Mexico on Saturday. What does Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador mean for Texas? We’ll explore. Also, it’s been more than a year after Hurricane Harvey. Whatever happened to those long promised fixes to the floodplain maps? We’ll take a look. And in the first Texas city to shift to 100 percent renewable energy, plans to redesign the neighborhoods of the future. Also, the big news this holiday season may not be buying the latest smartphone, but what we’re buying with those smartphones. Our go-to digital guru Omar Gallaga has got your number. All that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 8, 2017
Comey over everything. Texans glued to their radios and TVs as the former FBI director appears before senate investigators. We’ll take a look at reaction and more. Also, in the style of William Travis, a Texas mayor makes not-so-tongue in cheek plea, a call for people of good will to come to the defense of his city. Is he serious? You bet. And it’s all because of a new state law. We’ll hear about it. Also Harris county opening the jailhouse doors for scores of inmates–by court order. The county files an emergency appeal to the supreme court. We’ll have the latest. Also, the shopping habits of millennials drive a revolution in retail. It’s not just where and what they’re buying…but what they aren’t. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: August 31, 2015
After the execution-style shooting of a deputy, Harris County’s sheriff blames a rhetoric that he says is out of control. Is he right? Also, when it comes to Texas versus the EPA what are Texans getting for their money? Plus- Robots! They’re here to take your job… Or are they?… We’ll compare science fiction versus fact. And The search for the fountain of youth… Aging and the audacity of hops. No matter where you are it’s Texas standard time