Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, February 3, 2022.
How Texas is faring during the winter storm
It’s finally here: freezing temperatures, icy roads and the first major test of Texas’ electrical grid since last February’s deadly blackout. We’ll hear from reporters across the state: Rachel Osier Lindley, statewide editor for the Texas Newsroom, in Dallas; Texas Tech Public Media’s Sarah Self-Walbrick in Lubbock; Mitch Borden, covering the Midland area for Marfa Public Radio; and KUT Austin’s Nathan Bernier with a look at Central Texas.
Hurricane Harvey assistance program dries up
It’s been over four years since Hurricane Harvey flooded parts of Houston. Thousands of people are still waiting for assistance to repair their homes. The Harvey Homeowner Assistance Program is no longer taking applications, and officials say there likely won’t be enough money to help everyone who already applied. Houston Public Media’s Katie Watkins has more on the shortfall.
Big acquisitions rock the gaming world
It began when Take Two bought Zynga, the studio behind mobile games like Farmville. Then Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. Now game maker Bungie has been scooped up by Sony. Why are gaming companies suddenly getting gobbled up like dots in a game of Pac Man? Our tech expert Omar Gallaga has been keeping tabs and joins us with more.
A deadly prison fight in Beaumont was felt across the nation
Two people were killed and two inmates were injured during a fight at a federal prison in Beaumont Monday. That same day, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced all facilities would be locked down: inmates restricted to their cells, no visitors allowed, until further notice. Here with more about the fight and its ripple effects is Meagan Ellsworth, public safety reporter with the Beaumont Enterprise.
For teachers, the pandemic make a tough job tougher
Teaching was a tough job before the pandemic. Texas Tech Public Media’s Kaysie Ellingson reports the stressors of the job are pushing educators out of the profession, and making school districts scramble to retain them.
During the pandemic, an alarming increase in suicides among teen girls
We’re talking about these issues because COVID-19 has taken a toll on many people’s mental health — but especially teenage girls. Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. has seen a steep increase in the number of young women experiencing severe mental health issues.
So far, so good for Texas’ electrical grid
If you’ve lost power as winter storm Landon makes its way through the Lone Star State… it’s likely not because of electric grid failures. That’s because the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is running a large power surplus this morning. What does that mean? KUT’s environmental reporter Mose Buchele is here to tell us more. Mose, thanks for being here.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
