Should a joint land you in jail? Thats the pot law on the books now in Texas: up to six months, in theory. But we’ll hear from a republican who’s fighting to reduce that penalty. Plus historic antiquities swiped from Mexico and intercepted by park rangers on a smuggling route through Big Bend. We’ll hear from the chief ranger about why it’s a big deal. And a self-driving shuttle bus making a slow tour through Texas cities – could this be the vehicle that convinces us to give up the steering wheel? Plus, fitbits on cows, the typewriter rodeo, a wrap of the week in Texas politics and so much more coming up today on the Texas Standard:
poetry
Texas Standard: March 3, 2017
Put aside who’s gonna pay for it, who’s gonna build it? As companies start lining up, a hidden price for doing business? We’ll explore. Also, farmers and ranchers may have turned out for Trump back in November, but with new numbers and NAFTA on the line, what you might call ‘growing’ concerns…We’ll have the story. Plus in a time for belt tightening in Texas, one state agency comes up with a plan: ask for more of it. We’ll hear why they think it’s a winning strategy. And that’s the way it is: a pioneer of public radio, Cokie Roberts, on the state of the media in an era of fake news. And Waco get’s its wings, with the help of a flying W. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Haunted House
Some people believe in ghosts, others stand their ground and say they don’t exist. And some don’t quite believe in ghosts – but cautiously respect them when the lights go out at night. No matter what kind of (non)believer you are, we can all agree that spooky clowns are worse.
Texas Standard: February 10, 2017
A proposal to fix the state’s broken foster care system that could get more adults involved in the temporary care for kids in need. We’ll hear why the idea is personal for one Texas lawmaker. Plus gas prices could go up a lot under a proposal from a Texan in Washington. Not so good for drivers but how about the oil and gas industry? We’ll explore. And love thy neighbor. How a fire at an Islamic Community Center in Central Texas actually sparked new friendships. Plus how a song about a little boy in South Texas connects two generations of a legendary music family. And a reminder to never to read the comments from the Typewriter Rodeo. That and more on this Friday edition of the Texas Standard:
Never Read The Comments!
It’s never been easier to share opinions – political or trivial – with the public. Sometimes those opinions inspire productive, civil conversations, and other times…well, it’s just safer to adhere to the motto of the internet.
Texas Standard: February 3, 2017
The president takes aim at a decades-old law preventing tax exempt churches from engaging in politics. But there’s more to the story – we’ll explore. Plus: After hours of public testimony, a controversial bill banning sanctuary cities moves on to the full senate. We’ll have the latest. Also: The wall’s not up yet, but another barrier’s already rising, hitting Texas border cities: the surging dollar versus the peso. We’ll have the view from main street. And new life for an old idea: Teachers are telling students to learn what ever they want. All those stories and more, on today’s Texas Standard:
Ode to the Break Room Donut
Tupperware with leftovers, salads from around the corner, candy from the vending machine – office food can get boring. Some of us try to eat healthy, waking up an extra half hour early to prepare a midday meal, others go for the multi-snack approach. And every now and then, a magical thing happens in the breakroom: someone brings donuts.
Texas Standard: January 27, 2017
Sanctuary cities versus Washington: when it comes to the Constitution, who trumps who? We’ll explore. Also it’s not just President Trump, Governor Abbott has issued a deadline to a county sheriff: back off your sanctuary plans, or I’ll pull funding and maybe your job to boot. Can he really do that? Plus the rise in emergency rooms- as new urgent care centers sprout across Texas, one woman offers her own experience as a warning. And we’ve heard the political promise, more American jobs. Are you ready for that interview? 5 tips, so your body language won’t blow it. Plus the week in politics and much more…turn it up y’all, its Texas Standard time:
Texas Standard: January 20, 2017
The 45th president of the United States promises big changes right away, with immigration high on the list, we’ll explore. Also, though many of the new president’s proposals remain rather ambiguous when it comes to detail, we do know how Mr.Trump plans to move forward with what he calls extreme vetting, we’ll break it down. And another big change expected early on: repeal of the affordable care act. Not so fast- we’ll hear why experts think this won’t be as simple a matter as Republicans might wish. And what kind of hat is that? A run on pink yarn points to legacy of craftivism, as women descend on Washington for protest. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 6, 2017
The report cards are in —and what do they teach us about the state of Texas public schools? A collision course over the grading system. Also, water closets everywhere, but who gets to use which ones? Texas lawmakers move to regulate public bathrooms a la North Carolina, as business groups warn that the price could be billions of dollars lost. We’ll hear all about it. Plus Texas bankruptcies on the rise. An ominous sign, or a hint that the worst of the oil bust may be behind us? And some new potential challengers to Ted Cruz and the rest of the week in politics plus a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Memorization
There are so many fascinating aspects of what we remember and what we forget, but one we rarely ask about is what is the point of memorization. In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about why it’s important to store poems, math facts and more in long-term memory.
Texas Standard: December 30, 2016
The number of U-S police officers who died in the line of duty at a five-year high. Texas by far lost the most. How that’s affecting those still serving. Also, a price surge, long lines and shortages: the gas crisis going on just south of the border. And extending our quality of life with the help of robots. How artificial intelligence can help the aging. And a look back at Texas’s role in the civil rights movement and what community organizers can learn from it. Plus, sweet or unsweet? It’s a question Texans are used to, we’ll explore the history. And how an NBA rookie broke barriers with the Houston Rockets this week. Those stories and a whole lot more on today’s Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 22, 2016
A foreign government cyberattacks the election. The US president pushes back. But is the response big enough to satisfy Texas? We’ll explore. Scores of Texas hospitals on a list for federal cuts and why in this case the injuries might be self-inflicted. Also: the doctor sees the symptoms, but what about the whole person? We’ll hear about a culture shift underway in medicine. Plus, a quiet revolution in how Texans are getting their energy. And worried you waited too long for holiday decorations, our tech guru tells us what you might need is laser like focus….or maybe not. All that and a whole lot more…turn it up, its Texas Standard time:
A Rhapsody in NOG
It’s that time again – time to pull out the yule log, unwrap a candy cane, spin the dreidel and pour yourself a cup of nog. The creamy holiday treat is what inspired Typewriter Rodeo’s David Fruchter to write this week’s poem.
Willie Nelson
It’s a common misconception that all Texans love country music. Sure, a lot of us do but you’ll find plenty of Texans that just don’t care for it.
Unless it’s Willie Nelson. We all love Willie.
Texas Standard: November 25, 2016
Improving education: a lot of Texans know the talk, but a Texas lawmaker walk the walk. We’ll meet him and hear his strategy. Plus as mainstream media continues to wrestle with how they got the election so wrong, what’s next? How the events and the outcome of campaign 2016 translate for tomorrow’s journalists. Plus free stuff. Anybody up for that? Viral videos claim to teach consumers how to get expensive high tech goodies without paying. We’ll explore the truth behind the claims. Also a conversation with one of the Lone Star State’s best known film makers: Richard Linklater. Plus the week in Texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 18, 2016
According to some in Sacramento, the election outcome is an existential threat. Has California become the new Texas? Plus Texas has legalized the medical use of cannabis oil, but the fees for doing business may make it impossible. A co author of the bill wonders if that wasn’t part of the plan, we’ll hear from her. Also, a prominent public figure delivers a concession speech: only this one’s not politics, it’s football. We’ll hear what the fuss is about, and why it matters in a larger sense. Plus a Texas history textbook from the 1950’s rediscovered, and reviewed. And the week in politics and much more coming up today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 11, 2016
The supreme court’s docket could get much lighter with a few strokes of the pen, and the impact for Texas could be profound. Plus the President elect promised to drain the swamp. But a Texas republican with first hand experience staffing the white house says that’s gonna be messier than Mr.Trump might imagine. We’ll hear why. And in the wake of Tuesday, how are conversations going around your dinner table? We’ll have some words of wisdom on how to keep the heat in the kitchen when relatives want to talk politics. Plus the week that was according to the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 4, 2016
In the works as we speak: an emergency spending plan for the agency responsible for at risk kids, but is it enough? We’ll explore. Also, by now you’re likely sick of hearing how sick we are of this political season. All the negativity bad for civic engagement? Why the extra long early voting lines suggest a silver lining. Also, the buzz surrounding the Zika panic, or lack thereof. The collateral damage of spraying for skeeters. And NFL fans, where did ya go? The sports agent who inspired Jerry Maguire tells us whats behind the shrinking viewer numbers. Plus, the week in Texas Politics and much more…we’re just getting started. It’s Texas Standard time:
Texas Standard: October 7, 2016
It’s being described as the biggest ever voter fraud investigation in Texas. And in what may be the unlikeliest of counties, we’ll explore. Also paddling against the stream: as a majority of states turn away from corporal punishment in public schools, why new research in Texas could lead to a rethink here as well. Plus why industrial development in Southwest Texas is setting off a political dustup over dust. Also Texas teams up with an unlikely ally to target modern day slavery, allegedly online. Plus our weekly round of the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and much more, today on the Texas Standard: