Familiar words you may have forgotten: DACA, tweets and border wall. We’ll hash them out today. The president says DACA is dead, but what do lawmakers have to say? We’ll explore. And the mysterious death of Rogelio Martinez and the sheriff who claimed there was no crime. And if the country is soon to be divided by EPA standards, which camp will Texas be in? Also, it’s small, non-descriptive and endangered. The captivating story of the Texas Hornshell Mussel. Plus the state’s favorite dog and so much more, today on the Texas Standard:
Hurricane
Texas Standard: March 30, 2018
Through hail and high water, communities in Texas stand again because the weather is NOT gonna keep us down. Join me for a virtual tour. We’ll hit Refugio, Port Arthur, Austin and even Washington DC. Plus, the bombs that destroyed the facade of racial harmony: we’ll tell you more. And who exactly is Ronny Jackson? And can he manage a 200 billion dollar budget? Also oil, cattle-ranching, big hair and Cadillacs. Nothing better than a good soap opera! Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 23, 2018
It’s been more than half a year since harvey and is anyone testing the water near Houston? Some reporters just did, and what they’re finding is alarming, we’ll explore. Also, much is being made of why officials aren’t calling the Austin bomber a terrorist. We’ll hear an explanation. And after a church shooting that stunned the world, Texas offers grant money for recovery. How will the millions help Sutherland Springs. Also, the often overlooked coastal safe rooms that may have saved hundreds of Texans lives, plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 28, 2018
We begin by talking about national election security. Also, the long awaited tracker of hurricane Harvey spending is out: we’ll tell you more. Plus towns near the Texas/Louisiana border flooded before and after Harvey. learn about their recovery efforts. Plus, Election information “compromised” by Russian hackers? In Texas? We’ll take a look. And watch out! The light rail is coming! A program aimed at preventing crashes. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 8, 2018
America’s farmers in the national spotlight today: we’ll hear what some in the Texas agriculture industry want to hear from President Trump. Also the Rio Grande is an important part of Texas identity, but the waters in it don’t just belong to Texas. A dispute between states in front of the nation’s highest court today. We’ll have the details. Plus: cold weather last week put natural gas in high demand. How freezing temperatures impacted the energy industry. And airlines including Southwest and American are accused of working with other carriers to limit seating choices and raise prices. How plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit allege they struck informal deals. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 3, 2018
North Korea wants to re-open communication with South Korea, and protests in Iran raise tensions. We’ll explore how the U-S might balance these dual crises. Also, the flu is going around. Doctors say wash your hands, stay home when you’re sick and, yes, get the flu shot – even though it might not protect you. Plus, if you’ve been on the roads at all this holiday season you might have this question: why do Texans speed so much? We’ll try to answer it. And a question for you: hows that New Year’s Resolution going? Feel like you’re about to burn through your self-control already? Some advice from Texas researchers about to keep your motivation battery running. Those stories and a whole lot more on todays Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 1, 2018
From a crisis in Teacher Retirement to the never ending Twin Peaks saga, a massacre in south Texas and a hurricane named Harvey. This hour, its all things reconsidered as we look back in the rearview at the top stories in Texas in 2017. From a historic storm that literally and figuratively forever altered the landscape of the lone star state, to the hometown heroes whose hollywood ending brought smiles to Harvey hit Houston. There there was something called the bathroom bill, remember that? A surprise resignation among the top three most powerful Texas lawmakers and much more…your picks for top Texas news in 2017:
Texas Standard: December 27, 2017
Trips to Israel by Texas officials are costing taxpayers. Is it worth it? We’ll explore. Also we’ll take a look at the longstanding economic ties between Texas, and oil! Plus while all eyes have been on the North Pole the last few days we turn our attention to the South Pole. We’ll hear from a couple who spent time there for research on a future journey to Mars. And if you’ve got a poinsettia in the house, check the leaves. We’ll tell you why. And we’ll look to commentator WF Strong for some predictions for Texas not in 2018… but in 2118. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 18, 2017
The GOP says it has enough votes in the Senate to pass its tax bill. The reason? What might be called a last minute Santa clause…The story today on the Texas Standard.
When Katrina made landfall in 2005–more than a thousand guns disappeared in the chaos, reappearing in crimes years later. But after Harvey, the story was different…the results of an investigation by the Texas Standard and the Houston Chronicle.
Also, what’ll it take to bring tourism back to the coastal bend.
And the occupation with the highest rate of suicide? It’s probably not what you think. We’ll hear about a crisis down on the farm –and what can be done…All that and much more today on the Texas Standard.
Texas Standard: December 15, 2017
The UN and Amnesty International among the groups warning of a new move to green light the militarization of Mexico, we’ll have the latest. Also, NASA celebrating the discovery of a new planet in a solar system that looks not entirely unlike our own. But it’s how the discovery was made that’s a breakthrough unto itself, we’ll hear why. And on a fateful November day in Dallas, 1963, a secret service agent threw himself on top of the first lady to shield her from bullets. And for years blamed himself for the death of a president. Today, that agent, Clint Hill, joins us. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 14, 2017
With new allegations of of an abusive office culture laced with sexually demeaning language, a Texas congressman says he’s calling it quits. The US congressman from Corpus Christi: Blake Farenthold pulls the plug on his re-election bid, but says he plans to serve the remainder of his term. The tipping point? We’ll explore. Also, in many offices, sexual harassment training is a requirement. But is it making a difference? And 7 universities from three gulf coast states, including who know where, teaming for a first of it’s kind institute for hurricane research. Also, an an unlikely mecca for espresso aficionados. Is that why they say Amarillo by morning? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 7, 2017
Should a gun license be treated like a drivers license? So one could carry anywhere in the US? The house green lights a landmark gun bill, we’ll have the latest. Also, he may not be a seasoned politician, but politics has long been part of his life. The son of a former governor becomes the second democrat in as many days to announce a challenge to Texas Governor Abbott. And a warning for parents using portable electronics as pacifiers: the digital playland’s not nearly as safe as some would have you believe. Plus a major Texas newspaper calls on Texas lawmakers to shutdown the government to force the issue of funding post hurricane Harvey. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 6, 2017
No democrat has been elected to statewide office since 1994. But the state’s first openly Gay Hispanic Sheriff says she’s ready to be Governor. It had been rumored that Dallas county sheriff Lupe Valdez was mulling a bid to challenge Governor Greg Abbott, but now that the shoe has dropped. Do Democrats have a serious contender? We’ll explore. Also, a Texas police department takes aim at the Grinch offering an alternative to leaving holiday parcels on the front porch. And it started in Chicago, got revived in Austin, and has gone global: the story of the real life roller derby queens. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 5, 2017
Lawmakers thought they’d fixed the voter ID question in Texas. Today, the state defends the new law in federal court, we’ll have the latest. Also, when hurricane Harvey made landfall, Rockport took it on the chin. As people talk about rebuilding in other parts of Texas, the question for Rockport is far more stark: can it survive? With its tax base disappearing, the mayor’s literally counting the days until coffers hit zero. Plus: four juvenile justice groups call for the state to close its youth lockups. The response from the top? You might be surprised. And a surprising study on racism south of the border. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 30, 2017
A one way ticket back to Texas for Rex Tillerson? A new report details plans for a major cabinet shakeup by year’s end, we’ll have the latest. Also, she was a 25 year old school teacher, a former beauty queen, found dead in April of 1960. Her case: never solved. More than a half century later, a media circus descends on McAllen as opening arguments get underway in the murder trial against a former priest, the last person to see her alive. Also, a case of failure to launch? Why’s progress been so slow at the much ballyhooed SpaceX Texas launch site? And what’s in a name? A whole lot more than most, if the name is maverick. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 29, 2017
Midterms aren’t usually the most exciting elections, but there’s a whole lotta shakin goin on: political turnover our top story today. Also, more than 30 quakes this year in and around Pecos, more than all recorded there in the past ten years put together. We’ll ask why. Plus, the university of Texas, landing soon in New Mexico? Or maybe Texas A&M? Details of the forthcoming battle for Los Alamos and whether there’s a Rick Perry factor. And as the hurricane season draws to a close, voices from a storm more than a hundred years ago that forever changed the Lone Star State. That and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 27, 2017
2018: the year of the underdog? With two weeks left for filing in next years elections, why it may turn into the year of the under card. Also- the emergency within an emergency. As Harvey’s rains hammered Houston, a chemical plant fire created the potential for an explosive catastrophe. What a new report says about disaster preparation in one of the world’s petrochemical capitals. Also the keystone pipeline once again takes center stage after an oil spill. And pushing back against the bullies. A north Texas mosque trying to help young muslims. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 22, 2017
Hundreds of thousands of Texas homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. But getting a total cost estimate of all that? It’s complicated, we’ll have the latest. It perhaps comes as no surprise. But new details reveal just how tied Texas is to Mexican drug cartels and corrupt officials. Plus- many a doorstep will be flooded with Amazon packages this holiday season. A closer look at how those boxes got there. And fighting traffic this holiday weekend? The “rude” maneuver that’s actually helping to move things along faster. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 8, 2017
A Texas senator pushing a gun control bill? After Southerland Springs, closing some of the loopholes in buying firearms, we’ll have the latest. We’ve been hearing about the 26 killed, 20 hurt at the church in Southerland Springs, now we’re getting to know their names and their stories. Also the air force admits it didn’t red flag the FBI with information that should have stopped the shooter from buying his weapons, we’ll explore. And new allegations of Sexual abuse at a Texas lockup for juveniles: what lawmakers are saying. And a Texan reconsiders his vote for Trump one year later. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Higher Ed: Learning From A Disrupted School Year
Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast on Aug. 25, 2017. Schools along the coast and in Houston were closed for weeks. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017, it was the strongest storm to make landfall there in over 80 years. Natural disasters cause devastating physical damage and disrupt life’s normal routines. In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss how students, teachers, and schools can rebound when their school year is disrupted. Sometimes that disruption happens on a wide scale, such as a natural disaster. Sometimes a student’s or teacher’s school year is shaken by an illness or death in the family. Ed and Jennifer discuss how disruptions large and small can impact a school year; how the people who are impacted can cope; and what everyone involved can learn from the experience. You’ll also get the solution to last episode’s puzzler about moving across a checkerboard.
This episode was recorded Sept. 22, 2017