Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, December 10, 2021.
Supreme Court Abortion Rulings
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down a ruling related to Texas abortion ban, essentially allowing it to remain in effect as abortion providers peruse a narrowed challenge against it in the courts. Seema Mohapatra with SMU’s Dedman School of Law in Dallas joins us today to unpack the decision.
Fort Bend Teacher Shortage
Houston area schools continue to struggle with a staffing shortage. Meanwhile, teachers are dealing with more students returning to the classroom and the traumatic toll the pandemic has taken. Houston Public Media reporter Sara Willa Ernst went to Townewest Elementary School in Sugar Land to see what that looks like in Fort Bend ISD.
A group of students at Texas State University are experimenting with ways to upcycle an invasive plant species in the San Marcos River. KUT’s Riane Roldan reports on the project.
Texas’ Multimillion Dollar Parsonages and Tax Breaks
Some religious leaders are skirting taxes on their multimillion dollar estates, thanks to an obscure law that allows them to declare those homes as “parsonages.” A Houston Chronicle investigation found nearly 3,000 parsonages in Texas, totalling one billion dollars, are avoiding paying $16 million a year to their local governments because of this law. Reporter Jay Root is a part of the investigation, and he joins us today.
The federal government has given Texas $800 million to facilitate COVID testing in schools. But so far, schools have spent less than $4 million of those federal funds. Dallas Morning News Education Lab reporter Talia Richman joins us to discuss the issue.
Holiday season on the San Antonio Riverwalk means music – but not just any music. It means big, bold, tuba music. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan explains.
We always end the week with a poem from the Typewriter Rodeo. Listeners can submit requests anytime by reaching out!
Joining us for a look back at the week in Texas politics, our Friday regular: James Barragán, political reporter for the Texas Tribune.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
