A surprise announcement from a Texas congressman. We’ll take a look at what Will Hurd’s exit from Capitol Hill means for the GOP and the Lone Star State. Also, so much for the honeymoon with the new Texas house speaker Dennis Bonnen, now caught up in a scandal. More on a secret meeting and the tale of the tape. And after another fire at a petrochemical plant, how Harris county Judge Lina Hidalgo plans to get the industry to take environmental protections seriously. Plus the Texas Tribunes Evan Smith with the week that was and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
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Texas Standard: July 26, 2019
After an unofficial moratorium, a revival of the federal death penalty. The protocol they plan to use mirrors the Texas model, we’ll have more. And: Texans with ties to Puerto Rico ask what’s next after the resignation of the territorial governor. Many are wondering where the movement that led to his ouster goes from here. Also: UT San Antonio gets tapped to boost research on battlefield trauma care in hopes of helping veterans. Plus: The week in Texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: July 18, 2019
Fear and uncertainty south of the border as asylum seekers waiting in Ciudad Juarez wonder what a U.S. rule change means for them, we’ll have the latest. Also, the Lone Star State now at the center of an effort to end the spread of HIV. We’ll hear why Texas, and what could change under a new federally directed plan. Plus, how video games could be a game changer for some wounded veterans. And the week that was in Texas politics with Emily Ramshaw of the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: July 12, 2019
As ICE raids are planned for the weekend, a so-called “Sanctuary Cities” lawsuit targeting San Antonio loses some steam. We’ll explain. Also, when we talk about Texas politics we always talk red and blue. But what about green? Purple? An effort to get more options on the ballot. And Texas is becoming just the second state to require high school seniors to fill out the form for federal student aid. But the path to accomplishing that is unclear, we’ll look at why. Plus, when most Texans hear the word cricket they think insect, not sports. That might be changing. And it’s Friday: that means the Typewriter Rodeo and a wrap of the week in Texas politics. All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: July 5, 2019
Texas’ fraught relationship with everything cannabis just took a new turn. The new hemp law that’s left law enforcement agencies scratching their heads, we’ll have details. Also, some of Texas’ fastest growing cities have public schools where the population is shrinking: “The Charter Effect”. We’ll explore. And from the days of the California Gold Rush to today, the Midland area remains crucial to those seeking fortune. Plus, nurdles and the woman in a kayak who’s fighting to rid Lavaca Bay of these plastics. And should your relationship with your gun change as you age? We’ll take a look at that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: July 1, 2019
Texas lawmakers passed a bill making it harder for their emails to go public. Why that could impact what we know about why district lines are drawn today on the Texas Standard.
The Supreme Court made a decision about the citizenship question on the US census. But there’s still an outstanding legal challenge. We’ll explain.
Plus, oil is abundant in Texas. One historian says it’s intertwined with religion in the state, namely Christianity.
And why cows might help in the fight against HIV or breast cancer.
Those stories- news from the World Cup, the NBA, and more…
Texas Standard: June 28, 2019
Round two of the first Democratic Presidential debates is in the books. So what did we learn and how do the Texans stack up? Today on the Texas Standard.
So you want a raise, or you want a new job? How can you actually do that. We’ll talk with a psychologist who says it’s as simple as using your brain. Is it really?
The system of state-run in-patient psychiatric hospitals across Texas is way overdue for some updates. There’s money to do it, but what’s being done and is it enough?
Plus, we’ll take a look at two competing bills in Washington aimed at bringing some relief to the border.
Texas Standard: June 27, 2019
The Supreme Court issues rulings on gerrymandering and a citizenship question on the census. Details plus the impact for the Lone Star State, today on the Texas Standard.
In addition to breaking news from the nation’s highest court, analysis of the first of two democratic presidential debates this week. The two Texans in last night’s nationally broadcast event. Beto O’Rourke and Julian Castro: at least one appears to have gotten serious traction.
Plus, a former Speaker of the House jumps back into the political ring, the return of Joe Straus and more.
Texas Standard: June 26, 2019
Another fight over state versus local control. This time the battle line is drawn over homelessness, sleeping in public spaces and soliciting.
The city of Austin loosens laws some say criminalize homelessness, the Governor promises to override. A closer look coming up.
Also, as enforcement operations at the border tighten, more migrants turn to more treacherous places to try to pass through.
Plus, a Texas senators claim that the Lone Star State is one of the most heavily affected by drug trafficking. True? A Politifact check and more.
Texas Standard: June 21, 2019
A mass migration from California to Texas. Is it all about the Benjamins? Or could it say something about the future of the U.S.? Two visions for the future of America, and according to the Economist Magazine, one is better suited for the future, we’ll hear why. Also, is Texas big enough for a second vet school? The Governor says yes, approving 17 million to green light a challenger to Texas A&M. We’ll hear from the new dean. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 14, 2019
The prelude to war with Iran? Concerns about attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region, and what this could add up to on the home front.
A long scary slide for a famous Texas-based waterpark company- now a rescue of sorts may be in the works for Schlitterbahn. We’ll hear details.
Where the rubber meets the road in the West Texas oil boom: tires tires everywhere, raising the risk for disaster.
Also, the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more.
Texas Standard: June 13, 2019
Environmental concerns in Midland and in Brownsville. How are they different and how are they the same? The story today on the Texas Standard.
We explore the California to Texas migration. Why are so many looking for opportunity in the Lone Star State?
Another group in search of opportunity – this one detained under a bridge in El Paso. An eyewitness calls the enclosure “a human dog pound”.
A son remembers his father – on the days leading up to Father’s Day
And In other news: the E3 Trade Show. Games, consoles and hours of entertainment
Texas Standard: June 12, 2019
Ruffled feathers: the so called Chick-fil-A bill signed into law, which some say guarantees religious liberty, others say licenses discrimination. The implications today on the Texas Standard.
Eat it or pitch it? The FDA in a new push to get food companies to standardize expiration dates. Also, you’ve heard about boom times in the Permian Basin. But how do West Texans balance the benefits with an explosion in trash. Plus, remembering Lonesome Dove screenwriter Bill Wittliff.
Texas Standard: June 11, 2019
With Twitter flourishes and media fanfare the Governor signs new legislation declaring Texas Republicans the party of results. Why that could be fear talking. Today on the Texas Standard.
With Texas Democrats promising a record setting turnout in the 2020 election cycle, Governor Abbott’s pulling out the stops to pitch GOP unity over ideological purity.
Also, two years since the controversial Trans-Pecos pipeline went into service. Now many more projects in the pipeline- we’ll hear what’s at stake.
And, not just Central Americans but an increasing number of central Africans crossing the southern border.
Texas Standard: June 10, 2019
Mayors selected by voters into two of Texas’ largest cities. Who they are, and what the outcomes say about the state of the Lone Star State. More on this weekends mayoral runoffs in San Antonio and Dallas.
A Fort Worth family fighting a federal law that sets adoption priorities for Native American children. The family says it’s racial discrimination, tribes say its not about race.
Also, sexual assault evidence kits gathering dust in police evidence closets for decades. Why that’s about to change.
Plus, the possible return of Wendy Davis and a whole lot more.
Texas Standard: June 7, 2019
Politically radioactive: a popular plan to protect domestic violence survivors gets the governor’s veto. The reason? Nuclear waste. We’ll have the backstory. Also summer’s here, does that mean your kids will lose a lot of what they’ve learned? Probably not, says a Texas researcher who’s bucking the conventional wisdom… we’ll hear why. And from San Benito all the way to the Big Apple and the Billboard top 10: our conversation with Charlie Crockett. Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 4, 2019
Policing the police? A Texas Democrat running for president wants to make police accountability a theme in 2020, we’ll have details. Also, they went abroad to spread the gospel. Now an investigation finds a legacy of abuse by Southern Baptist missionaries, we’ll take a look. And new rankings for public schools across the Lone Star State, one part of Texas continues to shine. But a surprising downturn for some larger districts…we’ll have a closer look. Also, what didn’t happen in the just concluded 86th legislature? All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 31, 2019
A 5% tariff on all Mexican imports. What could President Trump’s latest effort to curb immigration do to the Texas economy? We’ll have the latest. Also, it’s a disturbing fact fairly well-known in East Texas, the area has a higher-than-average suicide rate. But what do we know about why? We’ll take a look. Plus, Texas school children got a boost from the latest legislative session. But did that focus take away from efforts to help kids in foster care? We’ll explore. And a Texas farmer is trying something new that’s actually very old. We’ll look at why. And Friday means the Typewriter Rodeo and wrap of the week in Texas Politics. That and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 30, 2019
The latest front in the culture wars? A game of political chicken, sandwiches? We’ll look at the backstory behind the conservative cry to save Chick-fil-a. AT&T is one of the biggest and best known brands in the world, but it ain’t your parents Ma Bell anymore. How the Dallas based phone company is morphing into a digital media giant. And a wake up call to save older buildings across the Lone Star State. Plus how Texas got its name: there may be more to the story than you think. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 24, 2019
Chers at the capitol as lawmakers pass changes to school finance and property taxes. Will Texans more broadly be cheering as well? We’ll explore. Also, both Money for schools and property tax cuts passed by the Texas legislature. How’s that gonna work, exactly? We’ll take a closer look. And 50 years after Apollo 11, another trip to the moon in the works: this time it could be permanent. Plus the week in politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard: