Who are the best and who are the worst legislators in the 2017 session? It’s the list that’s got Texans talking on this Wednesday, we’ll hear why. Also the new bill outlawing so-called sanctuary cities doesn’t take effect until the fall, which leaves cities and counties exactly where when it comes to who do detain and for how long? We’ll hear about some hard lessons being learned by detainees and those doing the detaining. Also, if more and more nanny’s are watching out for Texas kids, who’s watching over the nannies? Those stories and a lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Travel
Texas Standard: March 27, 2017
Who’s in charge here? With the president giving more latitude to the military, rising civilian casualty counts in Syria trigger growing concerns. Plus reading, writing and reboot. Texas public school students hunker down for assessment tests statewide, but the score that may wind up mattering most: the one for the test makers. We’ll hear why. Also, fancy a trip to the moon? As commercial space tourism becomes big business concerns about who’s in charge of safety and who’s writing the rules for the future of private space travel. And the would-be laws you haven’t heard about. We’ll check out the so called sleeper bills. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Statewide Ban
The Texas legislature is considering a statewide ban on texting while driving. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem for the Texas Standard.
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:
Texas Standard: December 16, 2016
A federal warning for pregnant women: do not travel to Brownsville. But what if you live there? What the new Zika warning means for a mother to be..today on the Standard.
Repeal and replace Obamacare. What’s that gonna mean for coverage? We’ll take it up today with the powerful Texas lawmaker who’s setting the stage right now with a rare recess conference on Capitol Hill.
Also, as holiday fliers prepare to deal with screaming babies on board, the one thing worse–and ways to cope.
Plus, could it happen this Christmas? A legendary honkytonk awaits the return of Gary Floater. But don’t hold your breath. Or maybe you should. All that and more…today on the Texas Standard.
Texas Standard: November 29, 2016
The Ohio State University attack and the Texas connection: does the incident underscore concerns about refugee resettlement? We’ll explore. Also to alert Ohio State students yesterday, administrators sent out a message on social media: run hide fight. A phrase that may turn out to be a 21st century version of duck and cover, which has its origins in Houston. And a Texas elector defects, saying its his moral and civic duty not to vote for Donald Trump. We’ll hear his explanation. And the true costs of coaching-did Charlie Strong lose his job over what happened on the gridiron, or something else? The bottom line and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: November 10, 2016
Is governor Perry going to Washington after all? Why the president elect may be looking to Texas to fill some top jobs, we’ll explore. Also, a prominent congressman from Texas tells us the Senate should kill the filibuster. Not that there’s no precedent for such a rule change, as Senate democrats may recall. Plus Wendy Davis tells us this week’s vote stands for something perhaps less obvious: the need for a new focus on education. We’ll hear her explanation and the potential for a democrat challenge to Ted Cruz in 2018. And tips for your weekend getaway, how to eat tacos and write about them too and much more, today on the Texas Standard:
I-35
Highways are supposed to let us get around local traffic, across town or to the next big city quickly. But anyone who has lived in Texas for more than a week knows that there’s one exception to the rule: Interstate 35. Locals who live along the highway itself avoid it on their daily commutes. Long-distance travelers will drive an extra two hours on backroads just to ensure they won’t have to use it. But sometimes you just have to, sometimes there’s no choice, sometimes you sigh and say, “Let’s try I-35.”
Texas Standard: September 15, 2016
Remember that Washington Post poll that put Clinton ahead by one in Texas? New numbers suggest that may not be too far off the mark. More on the Texas Lyceum poll, with a new snapshot of Texas voters as we enter the home stretch. Also, in the wake of a report that the state’s limiting access to special education programs, there’s this: plans for cuts in a state program that helps kids with developmental issues. Plus, a doctors shortage in Texas and an aging cohort of baby boomers. Now what? Experts say its time to get creative. We’ll hear one prescription. And the future of law enforcement: robocops? May be more real than you think. All that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Summertime
It’s July, and everyone is in the midst of pool parties, fireworks and cookouts. But that also means August is around the corner, so it’s time to squeeze every bit of fun out of the season. That feeling inspired Typewriter Rodeo’s Jodi Egerton to write this week’s poem.
Texas Highways
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including our highways. Summer is on its way and that means planning a road trip across one of these concrete titans. That was the inspiration for Typewriter Rodeo’s David Fruchter as he wrote this week’s poem.
Texas Standard: May 5th, 2015
The plaintiff: a US army Captain. The defendant: president Barack Obama. The claim? That the war against Isis is illegal. We’ll explore. Also, how safe is your drinking water? A warning for pregnant women, especially those who live in rural parts of Texas. And if you’ve been the victim of a crime, you may have some money coming to ya. Though in Texas you may have to go hunt it down…why the state is sitting on millions of dollars in unclaimed restitution money. Plus some pre weekend tips for a quick Texas getaway. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Road Trip!
Millions of Texans are hitting the roads this weekend for Memorial Day. Soon, it’ll be time for the Texas road trip – you know, where you drive ten hours and are STILL in Texas! That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem by Sean Petrie.