Surprise! You thought you were insured but got an unexpected medical bill. Now a plan to help Texas patients left holding the bag, we’ll have the latest. Plus a new attempt to clear a backlog of untested rape kits statewide, we’ll have details. And for seniors, independent living facilities can be costly. That’s why one Texan’s alternative retirement plan is making national headlines, we’ll talk to him. Also, mariachi is nothing new, but here’s what is: a statewide festival of students embracing the tradition. We’ll look at why it marks a turning point of sorts. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
poetry
Sticky Notes
Sometimes you just need to write yourself a little reminder — or two — or two dozen. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Bless You
It’s the season for sneezin’ — and that was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: February 15, 2019
Second shutdown apparently averted, but the focus remains on the border as the fight over a wall looks set to shift to a new venue, we’ll have the latest. Also, a property tax cut that could carry a high price tag for Texans. And honk your horn if you’re behind on your car payments…what a record number of auto loan delinquencies tells us about the health of our economy. Plus 10 oscar nods for the movie Roma: why the spotlight comes at a crucial moment for Mexico. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Urban Coyote
A couple weeks back, Texas Standard did a story on urban coyotes. The story was about the animal but, for some, it also prompted a few images of hipsters — that was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: February 8, 2019
The confirmation of a republican Governor Secretary of State nominee: a slam dunk in the republican led Texas senate? Not this time. David Whitley facing an uphill battle to be confirmed as Secretary of State after questioning the citizenship of almost 100 thousand Texas voters, we’ll hear the latest. Also, Senator John Cornyn set for easy re-election in 2020, wanna Bet-o? Cornyn himself not taking any chances after seeing what happened in 2018. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Valentine’s Day
Chocolate is nice, wine is great — but what do most folks really want for Valentine’s Day? That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
The Lege Is Back
Texas lawmakers have reconvened at the State Capitol Building for the start of the 86th Legislative Session. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Government Shutdown
The ongoing partial government shutdown is causing frustration on both sides of the aisle and causing major problems in the lives of many. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: January 25, 2019
Slate magazine claims the supreme court is preparing to make every states gun laws look like Texas, but is that claim on target? We’ll take a closer look. Also, when was the last time a nuclear arms treaty was making headlines? Why some are warning of a renewed arms race with Russia. And we’ll take a look at the week that was in Texas politics, plus an original Cosmic Cowboy comes home again: singer songwriter Michael Martin Murphy teams up with who’s who of Texas talent in search of old Austin. All those stories and a whole lot 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:
Scooters
Dockless scooters: like ’em or hate ’em, they’re everywhere these days, and are likely here to stay because tech companies refuse to stop “disrupting” the way we get around. While they can be fun for a quick whirl around town, they also go faster than some expect when they first hop on, which has led to many an accident. They’ve become such a problem that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention even announced the launch of a special study in Austin to evaluate the health risks of these two-wheeled menaces. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: January 11, 2019
Day 21 of a government shutdown. The end in sight? Short answer, no. But a freshman congressman from Texas remains optimistic. We’ll hear why. Also, you wanna build that wall Mr.Trump? Texas will get ‘er done. That appeared to be the message from Lt. Gov Dan Patrick when the president visited south Texas yesterday. Was that a serious suggestion? If so who pays for that and with what exactly? We’ll take a closer look. And a new space race of sorts: now its quantum computing. Plus the week in Texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Ellen Bass
On the first 2019 episode of This is Just To Say, poet and novelist Carrie Fountain discusses the importance of metaphor, conveying experience and more in Ellen Bass‘s “I Could Touch It” with the author herself.
Carrie Fountain on Kim Addonizio
Poet and novelist Carrie Fountain wraps up a year of This is Just To Say and rings in 2019 with Kim Addonizio‘s “New Year’s Day”!
Texas Standard: January 4, 2019
U.S. Representative Will Hurd of Texas is a Republican but he sided with Democrats yesterday in a vote to reopen the government. We’ll ask him why. Also, volatility: It’s a term investors don’t much like to hear in talks about the stock market. Why the last several weeks have been so up and down. Also, security is a term houses of worship are reconsidering after sanctuaries have become targets. We’ll hear from church and mosque leaders in Texas. And federal employees suing the government, the latest on court battle over the Affordable Care Act, and a little arts and poetry today on the Texas Standard:
Quitting Facebook
Many of us threaten to do it, but most don’t go through with quitting Facebook. Leaving the social media site that connects us virtually with so many people can sometimes leave us feeling even more isolated, but it just might be what we need to feel more connected in real life. That was the inspiration of this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
The New Year & Responsibility
Reflecting on 2018 and welcoming 2019, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe connects jazz and reinvention, then recites “New Year’s Recipe” by Carlos Drummond de Andrade.
Music: Art Tatum – “Prisoner of Love”
Carrie Fountain with Girl Scout Troop 42607 on Galway Kinnell
Happy holidays! In this wholesome edition of This is Just To Say poet and novelist Carrie Fountain joins Girl Scout Troop 42607 from Lee Elementary School to discuss the meaning of “Crying” by Galway Kinnell.
Texas Standard: December 28, 2018
The border remains the top issue in national politics, but in Texas it’s also a local issue. We’ll hear from a state representative on the latest in her district. Plus, Texas is once again one of the deadliest states for law enforcement officers. We’ll break down the numbers including a disturbing trend involving firearm deaths. And if one Texas lawmaker has his way the severance tax could get a bit of a makeover in the next legislative session. What it is and why you should care. Also, the Texan believed to be the country’s oldest man has died at 112. We’ll take a look back at his life. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard: