The Standard’s news roundup gives you a quick hit of interesting, sometimes irreverent, and breaking news stories from all over the state.
While artists like Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar dominated the blockbuster categories at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, Texans left their mark on Sunday’s broadcast.
Several artists from the Lone Star State lit up the stage throughout the three-and-a-half hour show. Austin’s Gary Clark Jr. teamed up with the Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader, Jon Batiste, for a salute to two of the “late fathers of rock and roll”: Fats Domino and Chuck Berry. Clark Jr. tore into a rendition of Berry’s 1955 classic “Maybelline.”
Later in the show, Arlington’s Maren Morris joined fellow country stars Brothers Osbourne and Eric Church for a heartfelt rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven.” It was a tribute to the victims of last year’s mass shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 people and injured hundreds more.
West Texas was also represented at the Grammy Awards. El Paso’s Khalid, who was nominated for five Grammy’s last night for his debut album ‘American Teen,’ took part in one of the night’s most talked about and political performances. He joined Logic and Alessia Cara for their hit “1-800-273-8255,” which is named after the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Logic closed the performance with a message that called for activism in the face of racism and sexism and also denounced President Donald Trump’s recent statements denigrating African countries. You can read Logic’s entire statement in the Washington Post.
A few of the Texas winners include the Houston Symphony, which took home their first Grammy ever for “Best Opera Recording.” It was for a 2013 live recording of Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck” that was released early last year.
It was the orchestra’s first nomination in its 104-year history. Dallas native Lisa Loeb also won her first Grammy last night for “Best Children’s Album.”
Federal immigration authorities arrested 86 people in north Texas and Oklahoma during a three-day operation that ended late last week.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says that 55 of the immigrants they arrested had criminal convictions, such as assault, drug possession, and illegally entering the United States. The agency reports the immigrants range in age from 19 to 61-years-old and hail from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Nigeria, and Jordan.
The majority of arrests were made in Texas and took place in 16 Texas cities and towns including Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano. 16 people were arrested in Oklahoma.
We’re just about five weeks away from primary election day in Texas. And the deadline to register to vote is next Monday, February 5. Ben Philpott with KUT News in Austin explains what you need to know to make sure you can vote on March 6.
Step one is to make sure you’re registered in the first place. You can do that by going to votetexas.gov, clicking on the register to vote tab and entering some information.
But Texas does not have online registration. So if you’re new to town or have moved within Texas — or even the same county — since the last election, you’ll need to register by mail or in person at a county office.
Time is also running out to make sure you have the right ID to vote. Texas has a voter ID law that requires people to provide a photo ID at the polls. That can be your Texas driver license, a passport or a couple other types of government ID. If you can’t afford to get one of those, the state does have a free voter ID. And at the polls if you sign a form stating you couldn’t get any other ID, you can show some supporting documents, like a utility bill or paycheck to vote.
