Texas officials fulfill a promise: no more Medicaid money to Planned Parenthood. The implications and what comes next. Plus a multi million dollar emergency infusion for child protective services. The plan: hire new caseworkers and give raises to keep others from leaving. But there’s a hitch, just in time for the holidays. We’ll hear about it. Also she was a full throated communist, cast as a a working class hero and a villain. And then her story was almost lost to history. A revival of interest in the lady called ‘the passionate one from Texas’. And veterans signing on to wage a new kind of war…in cyberspace. All of that and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
school
Higher Ed: What Else Could Be Taught in School?
Most people who get at least a high school education will experience a pretty standard set of courses no matter where they go to school: Math, English, Social Studies, Biology, and the like. But are there things not being taught in schools that should be? What if the traditional academic slate were wiped clean and replaced with a new “road map;” what might that look like? In this episode of KUT’s podcast Higher Ed, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss some things that could be added to curricula to enhance education – even well beyond school years. Now, don’t expect Ed to make concrete suggestions such as “more Math” or “less History.” Ed actually believes the tweaks are more about process than content and should focus more on learning itself than on any specific subject. Listen on to hear Ed and Jen discuss those tweaks, and to get the latest puzzler… which might sound a little familiar.
This episode was recorded on October 4, 2016.
Texas Standard: October 25, 2016
By all accounts, a record setting first day of early voting. Some motivated by fears of funny business at the ballot box. How well founded? We’ll explore. Also a few things possibly overlooked in the conversation about a Texas based telecom giant taking over Time Warner: such as what if AT&T gets into the journalism business? Plus, a construction boom in north Texas. Workers needed, for sure, but the real shortage some say are managers. What’s being done to deal with the shortage. And at one of the nation’s top centers for drug abuse data, a discovery: when it comes to the drug war, the numbers don’t add up. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: October 18, 2016
The US promised retaliation against Russian hacking. Is the wired war now underway? We’ll consider the implications of all out cyber warfare. Also The Clinton campaign buys media time in deep red Texas. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they think the state is in play. We’ll take a closer look at the ad, and the strategy. And a matter of choice or false choices? Lawmakers relaunch a long running debate over a voucher-like plan for schools. And after raising expectations of impending expansion, the Big 12 punts –sticking with the 10 teams currently in the conference. So what was that public pageant all about, anyway? Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Your School Librarian
Whether you need to read a book for school or for book club, you can likely find it online as an ebook, audiobook, or have the real book shipped in a matter of hours. But before you head straight to the internet, remember that there’s a magic place you can look first. A place with people who would love to help you find what you need – all without relying on a wifi connection.
Texas Standard: September 13, 2016
Reading writing and, racism? Public outrage today over a textbook which claims to teach Mexican American history. We’ll explore. Plus, sick of traffic? Science to the rescue. Texas A&M has a plan to move cargo off the road so cars can go…could be huge for cities like Houston, we’ll have details. Also a Texas metropolis nipping at the heels of the nation’s top 10 export cities. Any guesses? We were surprised, perhaps you will be too. And officially it calls itself the Live Music Capitol of the World but city leaders worry about an unhealthy exodus of musicians. Too late for a turnaround? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Waiting-For-Autumn Blues
While many Texans firmly believe seasons do not exist in our great state, we all look forward to the few weeks of cool weather in the fall. It’s the perfect time for cardigans, sweaters, and a cup of hot chocolate. The hard part is waiting for the blissful respite from the heat.
Texas Standard: June 7, 2016
The Trump Factor and Latino Voters: does the latest blowup over Mexican ancestry really tilt the balance in Texas? We’ll explore. Also Texas is on track to set another new record for inappropriate relationships between teachers and students. Is the fix a ban on social media? And home again, home again, jiggity jig: more young adults now live with parents than with significant others. Why mom and dad need not be that bummed out. And the many national and state parks in Texas are missing something: african american visitors. New research points to why. Those stories and much more today on the Texas standard:
Commencement
It’s the time of year when graduates take the long walk to pick up their diploma.
Texas Standard: May 18, 2016
The viral video showed a officer slamming a student to the ground. Advocates say it’s past time to make changes to school policing. We’ll explore. Also Texas can do its own background checks… even while accepting federal funding to resettle refugees? We’ll take a closer look. Plus… one part of the state has twice the rate of liver disease… but why? And a record-setting athlete hopes her legs will take her to Rio this summer. The Texas track star with Olympic goals. And do students at UT have less debt than others across the country? A fact-check. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 13, 2016
A long awaited ruling over how Texas pays for its kids to get an education. The ruling: its ugly, but’s its constitutional. We’ll explore. Also the Obama administration ups the ante in the bathroom wars of 2016–issuing a directive to all schools in the US. Texas is plotting a legal pushback. And a de facto Fort Knox for Texas? At the GOP convention in Dallas, companies pitch plans to store billions in Texas bullion. But…why? And a 100 years after the Waco horror, what do modern day Texans know about that ugly chapter of history. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 10, 2016
No need to wait till the next legislative session, the bathroom wars of 2016 are on in Texas. We’ll explore… So the drug kingpin El Chapo gets moved to a lower security prison, just south of the Texas border. Now a Mexican judge gives the green light to extradition. Are you thinking what we are? Also..a shuffle in Saudi Arabia and what it might or might not mean for the price of Texas tea. And in a nation full of choices…why is it just red or blue when it comes to politics? A duopoly revisited and we’re just getting started. Those stories today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: May 6, 2016
A fire in Houston takes on statewide significance, raising questions over chemicals stored close to schools. We’ll explore. Also a pipeline that cuts thru one of the most pristine areas of Texas gets the green light…we’ll discuss the implications. A Texas vote tomorrow on services like Uber and Lyft. At stake, not just the rules in Austin, but perhaps in cities across the nation. We’ll hear why. Also the week in Texas politics, with the Texas Tribune and a new manual on how to be a Texan. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: April 11, 2016
When is it ok to use Texas taxpayer and campaign funds for travel? Going to an out of state rodeo? Wouldn’t that qualify? We’ll explore. Also prisoners have precious few rights behind bars, but many in Texas are asserting the right to strike. Its led to lockdowns last week. We’ll hear about it. And are plummeting oil prices causing problems at school? We’ll hear about an often overlooked connection. Plus, we’ve heard for years that the robots are taking over…but a rice professor warns, this time its for real. Those stories and much more on todays Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 10, 2016
Back to New Orleans-Texas’ Voter Id Law, ruled unconstitutional, gets another hearing in the 5th circuit. Also the State of Texas is fighting an order to fundamentally overhaul Child Protective Services…but CPS employees protest that Texas should give in. We’ll hear why. And If at birth you don’t succeed…an irreverent Texas-based comedian talks about living with cerebral palsy and making lemonade out of wheelchairs. Superbugs in the water and trip tips for spring break…oh we’re just getting started ya’ll it’s the national news show of Texas:
Texas Standard: February 16, 2016
Brake lights for miles- But is building more lanes on highways making things worse? We’ll explore. Also taking a bite out of crime… or at least the way we treat some criminal evidence. Plus… how some invasive plants are making it tough for border patrol agents to do their jobs. And we’ll check in on a case that was at the center of the cops lives matter movement… but is now fraught with scandal. That and more in today’s Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 12, 2016
Texas set to announce a crack down on 21st century slavery. We’ll meet the woman in charge and why she’s doing it. Also the Houston based head of one of the nation’s most notorious biker gangs convinces a judge he’s no flight risk: why federal officials have set their sights on the Bandidos. And what’s killing the lights over and over outside Houston? A Texas teenager named to Forbes 30 under 30 and his invention inspired by the BP oil spill. Plus the white house promises an out of the ordinary state of the union…how far could they go? Those stories and much more today on the Texas standard:
Parent-Teacher Night
Now that the back-to-school buzz has abated, it’s almost time for the next school-year milestone: parent-teacher conferences. These public school nighttime events inspired this week’s poem by Kari Anne Roy.
First Day of School
Schools across Texas will be teeming with students and teachers soon. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem by Jodi Edgerton.
Tax Free Weekend
It’s already time to start buying school supplies – good thing Tax Free Weekend is coming up. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem by Karie Anne Roy.