Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022:
The Dallas Fed on the state of the Texas economy
If Texas were its own country, its economy would be in the top 10 largest in the world. But as robust and strong as the state’s economic output may be, it’s been through a lot over the past few years. Dallas Federal Reserve economist Christopher Slijk joins us with more.
Next month, a federal court will hear a lawsuit charging Texas with discriminating against minority voters in last year’s redistricting process. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says Asian American and Pacific Islander voters are taking the lead in this suit.
Neighbors protested housing for homeless Austinites. Then, they (sort of) changed their stance.
Last year, Austinites voted to reinstate a ban on public camping, essentially making homelessness a crime. Experts say solving homelessness in Austin means building or finding thousands of homes for those who don’t have them. KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy reports one proposal to build apartments for unhoused people in Central Austin hit a roadblock: the neighborhood association.
The historic Battleship Texas’ latest mission: self-care
One of only eight battleships to have served in both world wars, the U.S.S. Texas sailed through some of the globe’s most treacherous waters. Its latest journey is tomorrow, when it’s pulled to a dry dock in Galveston for repairs. Bruce Bramlett, executive director of the Battleship Texas Foundation, joins us with more.
LGBTQ+ couples in Texas are taking steps to make sure their marriages and families are protected
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, many LGBTQ Texans fear the court will revisit other rulings, including same-sex marriage. If the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges is overturned, gay marriage would be left up to the states, making it illegal in Texas. The Texas Standard’s Yvonne Marquez reports that LGBTQ couples in Texas are taking legal matters into their own hands.
New Mexico sees an opening to poach Mexican trade from Texas. Will it work?
After Texas temporarily halted trade at its international bridge to pressure Mexico over immigration, New Mexico is looking to poach trade with Mexico from its neighbor. But will a friendlier political climate be enough? Bloomberg reporter Shelly Hagan joins us with more.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.