A construction on what at the border? As the wall gets the lion’s share of attention, a new facility for asylum seekers is going up. We’ll have details. Also, we often bemoan the growing political divide. But is it possible we were just born this way? A new book by a San Antonio based researcher makes claims about a biological basis for our political inclinations. And a Dallas sports legend who’s done more from globalizing basketball. Plus a presidential pop quiz for Texans. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
school
Texas Standard: February 13, 2019
A year after Parkland, what if anything is changing to make Texas schools safer? Five things you need to know about what happens next. Also: The end of El Chapo’s career, but not his cartel. After years of work to win convictions against the drug kingpin, what changes? We’ll take a look. And as many New Yorkers rethink the three billion dollar price tag to land Amazons second headquarters, a researcher says New York could learn a thing or two from the Texas experience. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 6, 2019
The State of the State and the State of the Union: after speeches by Governor Abbott and President Trump, what happens next? Governor Abbott issues what he calls emergency items for Texas lawmakers and President Trump calls for unity but presses for a hard line on the border, we’ll take a closer look. Also a maquiladora walkout ends with a surprise victory for labor, and a democrat seeking the White House says paychecks aren’t keeping up with inflation: a Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 30, 2019
People have been flocking to the Lone Star State for its economy, but is a good job the key to the good life in Texas? We’ll take a look at the unreported face of household hardship. One problem with the poverty line: what it fails to factor in. A new report shows more working Texans struggling with economic hardship than you might think. Also, a politifact check on the cost of illegal immigration. And it’s not just what you say but how you say it: an expert linguist decodes the Governor’s Texas twang. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 24, 2019
After school shootings nationwide, a Texas county recruits its very youngest students in an effort to be prepared for the worst. We’ll have the latest. Also, a crisis beyond our borders that could become a crisis on our border in rapid order. Political turmoil in Venezuela reaches a boiling point. We’ll explore. And Texas lawmakers keep promising to focus on education; code for a renewed push for vouchers charter schools and other alternatives? We’ll take a closer look. Plus 19 places to visit in 2019: five of em are in Texas. You may want to take notes. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 18, 2018
It started with a few hundred headed for the U.S. border, now 4 thousand strong: the Honduran caravan en route for the U.S. border, we’ll have the latest. Also, days away from the start of early voting, and a once reliably Republican congressional district now one of the most closely watched of the election season. Why the Texas 32nd matters. And they’re the fastest growing demographic in Texas and politicians are eager to court them. But how much do the political parties really understand about what makes young Latinos and Latinas tick? A new survey offers some answers. All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: August 24, 2018
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announces millions in grants to address school safety concerns after a recent shooting, but what about mental health? We’ll take a look at the details. Also, Texas headlines have been dominated by the upcoming one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. But Harris County voters seem unmotivated to make a trip to the polls to vote on future flood prevention plans. We’ll look at why. And the smallest shrimpers on the Texas Gulf coast may have taken the biggest hit from Harvey. We’ll hear their stories. Also, what was your most uncertain moment during the storm? That’s the question we asked Texans. Plus a top tier college football coach briefly sidelined. What it says about the state of sports leadership. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Back To School From The Teacher’s Perspective
School is about to start up again. Parents feel one way about that, students feel another, and teachers feel yet another. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: August 14, 2018
As members of the senate return to Washington, one issue in particular is set for the spotlight, again. The issue of the Border Wall never really went away. But now demands from the President, and a separate issue congress has kicked the can on, appear to be coming together, we’ll explain. And pilots in training report problems with their planes but the Air Force doesn’t want to talk about it. What’s really happening in the skies over Texas? Plus kids return to classes in San Antonio but who’s really playing the teachers salaries? At one community school, a controversy. And are you ready for a visit to the man camps? Those stories and a whole lot more on today’s Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: August 10, 2018
Is it possible to prevent another Sutherland Springs? The military sure hopes so, that’s one reason it’s changing the way it reports domestic violence, we’ll have the story. Plus, there’s more political races to keep an eye on than the O’Rourke / Cruz one. But don’t fret, we’ll tell you which. And has the Rio Grande Valley perfected the formula that leads to academic success? Results from the last few years are hinting yes. And all the reasons why Texas is soon to be home to America’s largest cricket stadium, of course it’s a story about changing demographics. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: July 24, 2018
How Rockdale went from mining very tangible coal to the intangible bitcoin, we’ll have the story. Also, Trump’s regulatory roll back plan: critics say it would be his biggest roll back yet, but it still has to go through. And from Victoria: the house of worship that was burnt down and what came out of the ashes. Plus they call it the kissing bug, but beware of it’s smooch. And some high schools getting ready for kids playing video games as a sports? All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 29, 2018
Should immigration and customs enforcement be dissolved? It’s not just democratic socialists asking, it’s some of the agents themselves, we’ll explore. Also grumblings south of the border as Mexico prepares to go to the polls and pick a new president. And polls point to a victory for a man described as a Trump of the Mexican left. We’ll have an update of these final hours before balloting begins. And Texas Senator Ted cruz accused Facebook’s CEO of liberal bias. Now reports say social media honchos have been huddling in secret with GOP leaders. We’ll hear what’s on their agenda. Plus the week in Texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 26, 2018
Critics call it the tent city at Tornillo, now set to be dismantled. Is it a sign of a policy change or strictly a business decision? We’ll explore. Also, you’ll get your kids back if you sign this paper to deport yourself. That’s the claim being made by some detainees and their attorneys at a detention center south of Houston. The Texas Tribune got the story, we’ll talk with one of the reporters. And a win for Texas before the Supreme Court and what it means for future legal claims over race discrimination. Also the populist, nationalist, politically incorrect candidate polls say is set to win Mexico’s election: and how he could change fortunes in Texas. All that and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 1, 2018
Governor Abbots plan to fight gun violence includes a proposal from a Texas Democrat. Could a Red Flag Law stop a school shooter? We’ll explore. And gimme a T for Texas, T for tariffs too. How new White House duties on imports could help or hurt matters in our own backyard. Plus, hello hurricane season! Are we better prepared than we were this time last year? Three Harvey survivors look back on their experiences and lessons learned from last years storm. Also the story of the Abilene High football team that went all the way to state and on to Hollywood. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 31, 2018
A first of its kind plan to address gun violence in public schools. What do the state’s school superintendent make of Governor Abbots outline? We’ll have school chiefs from San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Buena Vista weigh in on the governor’s proposals to stem gun violence in the wake of the school shooting in Santa Fe. Also, dear Mark Cuban: Texas monthly’s Michael Hall pens a public letter to the Dallas billionaire and Shark Tank investor making the case for a Texas music museum. And could Texas do what the germans and the Japanese could not? The slow motion sinking of the Battleship Texas and the congressman fighting to save it. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 28, 2018
People who’ve illegally immigrated to the United States with underage minors are being separated from their children. What’s happening to those kids? Over the weekend reports have spread that some 15 hundred kids seized by border agents are now lost, but is that story true? What’s happened to those kids? We’ll hear what’s behind the story. And states of emergency declared along the gulf coast, welcome to hurricane season 2018. And are others tracking your travels by tapping into your cellphone data? What one privacy expert says is a bigger scandal than Cambridge Analytica. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 25, 2018
The Lt. Governor mocked after the Santa Fe shooting for claiming Texas schools have too many entrances and exits, but is he right? After the Sandy Hook school massacre, the old building was raised and a new more secure building built in its place. One of the experts involved says Texas schools should reconsider their architecture too. And another year another season of glitches for Texas’ standardized public school testing scheme. Now penalties for the company behind the tests, and a reprieve for many students who didn’t pass, we’ll take a look. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 16, 2018
Did the maker of Oxycontin engage in deceptive marketing in Texas? The Lone Star State joins a lawsuit over who fueled the opioid crisis. “We must make those who have caused the opioid crisis feel the pain that they have inflicted on our community”- so says attorney general Ken Paxton announcing the lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. Some Democrats complain the move comes rather late and in a re-election year to boot. We’ll have more. Also Austin’s controversial move to force private businesses to provide paid sick leave may be going viral. And the term illegal alien: many find it offensive, the Texas DPS chief says it’s just a term of law: a Politifact check and more, today on the Texas Standard:
Theatre Kids
This Typewriter Rodeo poem was requested in memory of a school theatre teacher.
STAAR Testing
Some students in Texas are taking the state’s standardized tests. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.