Texas Standard for April 4, 2022

The Biden administration set to end a Trump-era policy aimed at keeping migrants out of the U.S. due to pandemic concerns. And: What’s the difference between Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke? According to a new survey of potential Texas voters, about 2 points; the research director of the Texas Lyceum Poll on Gov. Abbott’s slim lead. Also: Richard Linklater on his new film celebrating growing up in Texas during the space age. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardApril 4, 2022 9:30 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, April 4, 2022.

Trump used this rule to keep migrants out, citing COVID. Now Biden’s undoing the decision.

In March 2020, the Trump administration issued an order that quickly expelled migrants in the U.S.-Mexico border, citing pandemic-related health concerns. Now some two years later, the Biden administration is set to end it. Tony Payan, director of Rice University’s Center for the United States and Mexico joins us to discuss changes to the public health rule known as Title 42.

It’s early, but a new poll shows near dead-heat between Abbott and O’Rourke 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott leads his 2022 Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke by a scant 2% in a new poll from The Texas Lyceum. The poll also finds the economy and cost-of-living are the most pressing concerns for voters. Joshua Blank, research director for The Texas Lyceum, talks with us about what these results might mean.

How women’s basketball could rebound in Houston

As women’s basketball grows in popularity, Houston basketball fans don’t have a professional home team to root for. But it wasn’t always that way. Houston Public Media’s Kyra Buckley reports on what it would take for Houston to welcome back professional women’s hoops.

Art, history and controversy come to a head in downtown San Antonio

A 20-foot tall steel sculpture quietly appeared in downtown San Antonio. The large piece is far from traditional, and it has a long history of controversy. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan reports on new firestorms of emotion caused by who it depicts and when it was erected.

Military families often have to move every few years. Critics say it’s disruptive and unnecessary.

Frequent moves are normal for members of the U.S. military. That means uprooting every two to three years, or even more often. The Pentagon says the constant shuffling of troops is necessary to meet its staffing and training needs. But as Eric Schmid reports for the American Homefront Project, it creates hidden challenges for military families.

Richard Linklater’s latest film circles the moon and lands in Houston 

The filmmaker behind “Slacker” and “Dazed And Confused” has deep ties to Austin. But director Richard Linklater grew up around Houston and his new feature film, now streaming on Netflix, celebrate Space City. Our Laura Rice talks to Linklater about his latest animated opus “Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood.”

As contract expires, Anson still searches for a fix to its EMS troubles

The city of Anson is about 30 minutes north of Abilene. It’s home to about 2,500 people, And as of April 1, it no longer has its own ambulance service. City leaders say they don’t have the money for a full contract with a provider. KACU’s Heather Claborn reports on rural Texas’ struggles to keep EMS in place.

All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.

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