Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, April 1, 2022.
How the Biden administration’s trying to mitigate surging energy prices
In an attempt to keep energy prices low, the United States will release one million gallons from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve every day for the next six months. James Osborne has been following the story from the Houston Chronicle’s bureau in Washington D.C and joins us to explain this historic announcement.
Defense budget cuts might hit Fort Worth
President Biden’s proposed budget for 2023 would cut down on the number of F-35 strike fighter planes. Aerospace company Lockheed Martin, which makes the strike fighters, is based in Fort Worth. Anthony Capaccio is a defense reporter for Bloomberg and explains what effects this budget cut might cause on the city and state’s economies.
When you think about organized labor groups in Texas, long-established teacher or police unions may come to mind. But Texas has seen multiple, new unions in some unexpected workplaces so far this year. Texas Standard intern Addie Costello reports on whether or not these recent moves are part of a larger, growing trend.
Last night San Antonio kicked off Fiesta 2022 with a fireworks show and celebration. It’s been two years since Fiesta has been held in its entirety due to the pandemic. Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios reports the next 10 days will be filled with more than 100 events that benefit nonprofits across the city.
Texans design space suits that are out of this world
Bonnie Dunbar knows a thing or two about space suits: the retired NASA astronaut flew on five space shuttle missions between 1985 and 1998. Back on Earth, she’s working on making better space suits for astronauts of the future. Dunbar and her Texas A&M University lab are working to develop technology to create custom-fitting space suits. She talks with us about her journey and developments.
The sounds of Texas: Guitarist’s roots grew in Iran, Canada and Texas
The first-ever Texas HBCU conference begins
Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Texas could use more resources and support. That’s part of the motivation behind the first-ever Texas HBCU Conference being held at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin today and tomorrow. Robert Ceresa is an associate professor of Political Science at Huston-Tillotson and is the conference’s lead organizer and joins us on today’s show.
The gang delivers another timely poem. Submit your own suggestions online!
Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán stops by with a recap of the week that was, including the parents of Botham Jean sending a cease and desist letter to a Democratic state representative, Texas Republicans calling on President Biden to keep in place an asylum rule. And finally, President Biden saying he’ll meet with the parents of the Marine veteran being detained in Russia.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
