A Texas GOP congressman isn’t pulling punches: the Russians he says, are actively interfering with… fracking? We’ll have the latest. Also Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has had a lot to say at rolling back property taxes, but not so much about what those taxes cover: education. But on the eve of the special session he’s changing his tune, offering bonuses to teachers, money for schools and help to retirees, we’ll hear why. And its been a long time since military base closures made headlines, but Texas, brace yourself. A coming fight that could be a matter of survival for some Texas towns. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
poetry
Summer Reading
It’s high time for a good summer read. That’s the subject of this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: July 7, 2017
Shots fired: a year after a deadly shootout at an otherwise peaceful march in Dallas, how much has healed and where are the scars? We’ll explore. Also many thought the black death the stuff of history books, but the plague is back, and its in west Texas. A CDC researcher tells us why. And back to the future? A Texas city decides the best way to secure elections: a return to the paper ballot. And researchers battle an unexpected problem for solar power, you might think of it as burnout. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 30, 2017
As a judge in San Antonio mulls the legality of a Texas sanctuary law, lawmakers in Washington take action on the federal level, we’ll have the latest. Plus Texas senator Ted Cruz said no to his fellow senate republicans. Now, he’s floating what he calls a compromise on health care. What’s the big idea, we’ll hear about it. Also cuts proposed for Amtrak, coming to a station near you?
And the battle over Keystone XL may not be over yet. This time the roadblocks not protesters but businesses. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Ode To The Perfect Summer Watermelon
The watermelon: for many, it’s the fruit that best symbolizes the long days of summer. And it was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Summer Beer
As the Texas heat settles in to stay awhile, some people’s thoughts turn to a cool, refreshing beer. And it’s better if the brew is local. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: June 16, 2017
Amazon’s virtual retail revolution just got a whole lot more real: a 14 Billion dollar purchase of Texas based Whole Foods, we’ll have the latest. Also is there anything more American than baseball? As congress explores bipartisan huddles, its an inter-party rivalry causing sparks. The latest move: the governor’s veto of scores of just passed bills. We’ll look at what was left on the cutting room floor plus a look at what’s about to become Texas law in our roundup of the week in politics. Plus in light of news that election season hackers struck 39 states and tried to crack databases in Dallas, what can be done to better defend election systems? Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
It’s Not The Heat, It’s The Humidity
The temperatures across Texas are climbing and, in many places, so are the humidity levels. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: June 9, 2017
Obstruction of Justice? Vindication for the President? What did Texans hear in yesterday’s testimony on Capitol Hill? We’ll be listening. Also, on the eve of voting in 3 tight mayoral races, low turnout means all three could be decided by a relative handful of ballots. Will your vote make the difference? We’re checking in with reporters across the state. Plus, obscured by the avalanche of news yesterday, what appears to be a breakthrough treatment for all kinds of cancers, we’ll hear about it. And he’s launched a space company, a solar energy business, a car company and more. But after years of trying, there’s one nut Elon Musk can’t quite crack…and Texans may be paying the price. We’ll explore. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Come and Gone
There’s a little more elbow room in the Texas capital city these days… with the university students gone and the legislature out of session… for now. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Cleaning Out Your Backpack
School is over for most Texas kids. It’s time to take stock of the year past. One way to do that is with a good cleaning and disinfection of that ubiquitous part of the school uniform – the faithful backpack.
Texas Standard: June 2, 2017
Climate agreement fallout. How Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could affect Texas. Plus a deadly shootout in broad daylight at a North Texas car dealership, innocent people just feet away from two bounty hunters and their target. We’ll break down the role of the “fugitive recovery agent.” And it’s been more than 60 years since Brown versus Board of Education. Why the south is now seeing wide re-segregation of schools. Plus we’ve got the inside scoop on some books that will likely be topping must-read lists. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard :
Texas Standard: May 26, 2017
Tasers are supposed to be a less-lethal tool for police. But sometimes they still result in deaths, we’ll explore. Also the double-s word is getting thrown around again: special session. We’ll check in on the Texas Legislature as lawmakers set to wrap up. And Texas sheep and goat ranchers are losing animals to predators. How an old-world solution could help. Plus a job interview in Houston like you’ve never heard of before. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Severe Weather Alerts
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are in the forecast for parts of the state over the weekend. Texans also know to keep there eyes and ears out for anything that could be more severe. That was the inspiration for this week’s poem.
Texas Standard: May 19, 2017
A police pension crisis creating big problems in Dallas. Now has a solution that appears to make all sides happy, we’ll explore. Also legislation being pushed by Texas Republicans could benefit Democrats, so why do Dems oppose it? We’ll check it out. And a new music festival in San Antonio that may be the first like it anywhere… how “Good Vibrations” is reaching an otherwise under-served audience. Plus it’s Friday so that means we’ll hear from the Typewriter Rodeo and wrap up the week in Texas Politics. All that and more today on the Standard:
Back To The Nest
College commencements are taking place across Texas over the next few weeks. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: May 12, 2017
D-day at the Texas lege: as lawmakers hit deadlines, hundreds of bills fall by the wayside. We’ll explore what made it and what didn’t. Also Washington’s asking federal immigration judges to leave detention centers in South Texas. The reason might surprise you. Plus, no sanctuary cities in Texas? Try telling that to the mayor of El Cenizo, the first Texas city to challenge the new sanctuary city ban. And we’re number one! In wage theft? Efforts to crack down on crooked employers yield uneven results. Plus a unique ephemeral film archive gets ready for its closeup. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Marfa Lights
Visitors to far West Texas usually make a point to visit Big Bend, the McDonald Observatory and to try to catch a glimpse of the mysterious Marfa Lights. Those unexplained lights were the inspiration for this week’s poem from the Typewriter Rodeo.
Texas Standard: May 9, 2017
Mere hours after the governor signed it into law, his attorney general sues a Texas county over the sanctuary cities bill, we’ll explore. Also: they say robots will eventually take your job. For one Texas town, that day could be around the corner. We’ll have more. Plus billions on the table and less than three weeks to decide how the state spends it. The hangups in the budget negotiations at the capitol. And speaking of billions, Sinclair Broadcast just made public its plans to buy another major broadcast company. What will it mean for TV watchers here in Texas? Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 5, 2017
Repeal and replace? Republicans are halfway there. Next stop the Senate. Who’ll pay the price, literally and politically? Plus in a state notorious for its use of the death penalty, a convicted killer is removed from death row. We’ll hear why, and what it means for capital punishment in Texas and beyond. Also fidgety kids? Some experts are recommending little hand held gadgets called spinners to help with focus. But some teachers say its a fad that’s gone too far. We’ll hear more. And you remember Waylon and Willie, right? Now Waylon’s better half breaks her silence: Jesse Colter on life as a musical outlaw. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard: