University of Texas

Texas Standard: February 15, 2022

As early voters begin to cast primary ballots, Black Voters Matter activists draw attention to what they call a crisis of voter suppression. Also a snapshot of political sentiment as voters prepared to pick nominees for statewide offices. The results of a new UT-Texas Politics Project poll. And student journalists report firsthand on the effects of the pandemic on Young Americans. Plus a homecoming of sorts for one of Texas’ best known rock and roll exports. Our conversation with Spoon frontman Britt Daniel on his band’s new release. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 6, 2021

Twas the month before an election year and all thru the House and Senate and beyond, concerns rising among Democrats in Texas. Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune reporting on a push for change at the top of the Texas Democratic Party. Also a growing list of unanswered questions one month after the deadly tragedy at the Houston’s Astroworld festival. We’ll hear about findings by the Houston Chronicle. Plus representative Donna Howard on where we stand with reproductive rights in Texas in the wake of last week’s oral arguments in a major abortion case. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: November 9, 2021

More lawsuits pour in as officials continue to investigate how a concert crowd turned deadly, we’ll have the latest. Also, Texas is worse off now than a year ago. At least that’s one takeaway from the latest University of Texas / Texas Tribune Poll… We’ll have a look deeper into the data. Also a celebration of Jewish religion and culture on screen, even as the community has faced recent attacks. The mission of the Austin Jewish Film Festival. Plus we’ll explore a new book that highlights some underrepresented voices in the historic record on civil rights. And a tiny Texas town adjusts to unprecedented growth and explores how it might maintain what’s made it unique. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: September 23, 2021

It’s been a long haul for Texans struggling with the pandemic, but for some it may be an even longer haul. We’ll look at what Texas doctors are doing to help. Other stories were following, climate change: now called the number one cause of weather related death in the country. But not all communities are feeling the heat the same. We’ll hear about what are called urban heat islands. And how China has helped make Texas prime real estate for Bitcoin miners. Also the story behind the country’s first bilingual kids TV show, launched some 5 decades ago in Texas. Plus a conversation with the man called the Charles Kuralt of the Lone Star State and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: September 8, 2021

The date’s been set: September 20th. And so has the agenda, if the Governor has his way. What’s in store for a third special session? We’ll have details. Also, new lawsuits take aim at Texas’ new election laws. And as the U.S. goes, so goes Mexico? Quite the contrary, as Mexico’s Supreme Court, in a dramatic step, decriminalizes abortion. A victory for an increasingly strong women’s rights movement there. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 30, 2021

We’re going into another academic year that will be impacted by the pandemic. What we know now about how it’s affected student progress. Also, the DACA program can no longer accept new applicants based on a Texas judge’s ruling. So what’s that mean going forward? And the pandemic’s impact on employment has meant some gains for Americans with disabilities. What employers can learn. Also the pandemic’s partly responsible for Texas’ frenzied housing market. But will the bubble burst? We’ll ask an expert. We’ll also remember a dark day in Texas history, 55 years ago. And we’ll wrap up our Friday with the top news from this week in Texas politics. All of that today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 27, 2021

For the first time a federal agency is issuing Coronavirus vaccination mandates to employees. Are more such mandates coming to Texas? We’ll have more on what some are calling a growing consensus over vaccine mandates as the Delta Variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly across Texas and the nation. Also, a Texas-based expert weighs in on growing casualties and uncertainty as U.S. forces withdraw from what’s been called America’s longest war. And a game changer: why a decision by the University of Texas to leave one college football conference for another is big news for more than just sports fans. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 24, 2021

Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston. We’ll look at why it’s not getting any federal money for flood mitigation managed by the Texas General Land Office. Also, Texas uses gas taxes to help to maintain and build new roads. So how does it make up the loss in revenue from more people driving electric vehicles? Some say the potential answer sends the wrong message. Plus, PTAs in wealthy parts of one Texas school district have actually been paying staff salaries. Why the practice is ending and what could replace it. And there’s been a lot of back and forth about how the capital city makes room for people experiencing homelessness. Austin voters said one thing, now state lawmakers may add another. Where things stand now. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 4, 2021

President Joe Biden is as popular with Texans as the the current Texas governor? What are the takeaways of a new survey of political attitudes among Texans? We’ll do the numbers with Jim Henson of the Texas Politics Project. Also Houston’s reputation as one of the more affordable major international cities, but for how much longer as housing prices skyrocket? And the Texas food writer now nominated for a prestigious award for digging deeper than what’s for dinner and focusing on the cultural origins of what we eat. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 11, 2021

Texas Governor Greg Abbott was once Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. What would the AG think of the Governor?? We’ll explore. Also, the stimulus package and how big Texans and little Texans could benefit from it. Plus ERCOT and the gray area in which it operates. It’s a non-profit but it looks like, works like and functions like a government agency. So why not comply with open records requests? And Twitter is 15 now and 15 year old girls in Texas should have a quinceaƱera. So we are throwing Twitter one. But we’re also asking is it time to start acting like a grown up? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 30, 2020

Lights camera, Texas! In 2020, the eyes of Texas were on small screens everywhere as streaming video reached a new peak. From Selena revisited to a journey inside Texas Boys State, from a drag queen in Paris, Texas to the untold story of Johnny Cash’s first wife who hailed from San Antonio. Texans and Texas itself took center stage as the world went on lockdown and turned to the big streams. This hour, we’re looking at TV and film with a Texas twist in a special year end edition of the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 21, 2020

We have a winner in a hotly contested state senate election. Can it tell us anything about the Texas Republican party? We’ll explore. Also, some health care providers across Texas have now received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Next up should be nursing home patients and staff. We’ll look at how one provider is feeling about it all. And UT-Austin is changing the way it determines who gets into a certain program. How an algorithm can show bias. Also Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit too overturn some election results was a failure, on all but one front. We’ll explain. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 2, 2020

Governor Abbott orders no more than one drop off point for absentee ballots per county. The official in charge of elections for Travis county is pushing back against the governor saying all options are open. We’ll have the latest. Also, how the president’s positive test for Coronavirus has the potential to move the needle in a big way for Texas come election day. Plus Texas doctors concerned about chronic Coronavirus. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: May 15, 2020

Record spikes in Coronavirus cases as Governor Abbott sets plans to further relax state rules on reopening. We’ll take a look at what’s behind the numbers and more. Also, remember when oil prices went into negative territory? All signs point to that happening again. We’ll hear why and what it really signals. And the future of higher education is what, exactly? Colleges and universities scramble to figure out the best way forward for the fall. Also high school graduation at the local drive in, your best best for live music this weekend and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: April 24, 2020

Are you ready to get back to normal? Attitudes in Texans on a planned return to business as usual or something closer to it. A new UT Texas Tribune poll on how Texans are feeling about efforts to curb the impact of the Coronavirus. Also, how the school lockdown is playing out on the other side of students’ laptops. And the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: November 6, 2019

The tally from election day 2019 in Texas: we’ll try to read between the numbers to see what message Texas voters were sending. Where do we stand with new constitutional amendments and a major mayoral race in Houston.. We’ll get caught up. Plus, what a new survey reveals about Texas attitudes on immigration and climate change as we head toward that next election cycle. And how to keep college students from leaving their Texas hometowns for good. Plus a weekly Politifact check and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 3, 2019

One sentence handed down. Many different reactions to it. We’ll look at the fallout from the trial of a former Dallas police officer convicted of murder. Also, court proceedings for the El Paso shooter will soon begin. So how should media outlets provide news without feeding into a narrative that could spark copycats? We’ll have two perspectives. Plus, evidence in University of Texas at Austin archives that the school was purposefully slow to move towards racial integration. And the mayor of the Texas Capital City joins us to react to a letter he just got from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: August 20, 2019

The governor launches a second panel to address immediate safety concerns in the aftermath of the El Paso shooting. What’s different? We’ll take a look. Among the lawmakers assigned to the new Texas safety commission, several from the El Paso area: Democratic representative Mary Gonzales on what she hopes will come out of the newly created Texas Safety Commission. Also, why Dallas is turning to a task force to deal with rising homicide rates. And are national developers driving up college debt? All those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 11, 2019

The latest disturbance in the Gulf seems to be on track to hit Louisiana. But the next one could head this way. We’ll take a look at how Houston’s prepared since Harvey. Plus, a new school being built in the Texas Hill Country is billed as the most water efficient in the state. How it’s doing that and whether the model can be replicated. And strife in the tech industry. We’ll take a look at how planned Amazon protests are just one example of a potential shake-up. Also, we’ll look at teen curfews. Why some cities are reconsidering laws that punish minors for being out late or on a school day. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Dolores Huerta and Andrew Young (Ep. 28, 2019)

This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson presents a conversation with co-founder of the United Farm Workers Association Dolores Huerta and Andrew Young, civil rights legend and former UN Ambassador, Congressman and Mayor of Atlanta, speaking at The Summit on Race in America, hosted by Mark Updegrove at the University of Texas this spring.