Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, April 14, 2022.
Abbott lifts restrictions on one part of border, but says slowdowns will continue elsewhere
Less than a week after announcing Texas Department of Public Safety would search vehicles crossing the Texas-Mexico border, Gov. Greg Abbott says inspections will go back to normal at one such crossing. Will it impact snarled truck traffic? Julian Aguilar, breaking news reporter for The Texas Newsroom, joins us with the latest
What’s up with the bid-fixing indictments against Lina Hidalgo’s staffers?
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is under scrutiny after three current and former aides were indicted on felony charges. The charges stem from an investigation into allegations Hidalgo’s staffers steered a vaccine outreach contract to a politically connected vendor; Judge Hidalgo claims the legal proceedings are politically motivated. Jasper Scherer, Austin bureau reporter for the Houston Chronicle, offers up an overview
Arlington is considering filling in ‘missing middle housing.’ Experts explain what that means
Arlington city planners want to make it easier to build duplexes and triplexes around town. A set of proposals they’ve created would pave the way to do just that, but it’s a tough sell to some neighbors who claim it would mean more traffic and higher crime. KERA’s Kailey Broussard asked planning experts what Arlington’s plan might mean for its neighborhoods.
Etsy sellers are striking over higher fees
Thousands of sellers on the popular web site Etsy are on strike this week. These sellers of handmade crafts, jewelry and more say fees for sellers are too high, and that other rules imposed on them by the site make it difficult to continue to make a living selling their products. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga has been following the story, and he’s here to tell us what it’s all about.
Indie Meme Film Festival brings stories from South Asian filmmakers to Austin
A South Asian film festival kicks off tonight in Austin with a series of short films from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the United States. KUT’s Sangita Menon reports the festival will screen 37 films from 11 countries touching on social issues like domestic abuse, climate change, and the barriers of social caste.
Celebrating an important milestone in school integration and equality
April 14 is the anniversary of one of the most significant civil rights rulings in U.S. history. 75 years ago in Orange County, the Mendez family sued the local school district because their daughter had been forced to go to a “Mexican” school, segregated from white students. The suit was successful, improving educational equality and paving the way for even more change. Joining us now to tell us more is professor Lisa Ramos, coordinator of the Mexican-American studies program at San Antonio College.
Federal judge rules UNT can’t charge out-of-state students more tuition than undocumented students
For over two decades, Texas law has allowed undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, provided they’ve lived in-state for three years and graduated from a Texas high school. But now a federal judge has ruled that the University of North Texas cannot charge out-of-state U.S. students higher tuition than undocumented students – a decision that may wind up invalidating policies at public institutions statewide. Texas Tribune education reporter Kate McGee brings us more.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
