Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, July 7, 2021.
Governor Greg Abbott has released the call for the special legislative session that begins tomorrow. As expected, it includes election law changes that were stymied by Democrats during the regular session, and a lot more. Are there any surprises on the list? The Standard checks in with Dallas Morning News Austin Bureau Chief Bob Garrett.
For nearly 20 years, the United States has been at war with Afghanistan. As the Biden administration makes an effort to withdraw all US troops from the Middle Eastern country by September 11, the Pentagon announced this week that effort is 90% complete. But a complete withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan has caused concern among some military and foreign policy leaders who fear a complete lack of U.S. presence will allow a resurgence of terrorist groups and civil war. Here to weigh in is William Inboden, executive director of the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs.
The Affordable Care Act allows states to expand their Medicaid coverage. But 12 states, including Texas, have not done so. Now Democrats in Congress have an idea to go around those state leaders and allow local governments to expand Medicaid themselves. The move highlights the often rocky relationship between the federal government, recalcitrant conservative state leadership and Texas’ more liberal cities. Texas Public Radio’s Paul Flahive has more.
Five Year Anniversary of Dallas Police Shooting
Today (July 7), marks the five-year anniversary of the deadly downtown shooting that killed four Dallas police officers and one Dallas Area Rapid Transit officer. KERA’s Alejandra Martinez explores what happened that night, and what’s at stake today for law enforcement in Dallas.
One Weird Trick to Cure Hiccups
Everyone has a trick for dealing with the hiccups – but those remedies aren’t exactly cures. In 2021, shouldn’t we have something that just works? Well, maybe we do. Joining us now to tell us more is Dr. Ali Seifi. He’s an associate professor in the neurosurgery department of the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
With COVID-19 vaccination numbers up and new cases far down from the peak, gathering is generally safer now than it was during much of the pandemic. But with the increasing risk of the delta variant, and many Texans unable or unwilling to get the vaccine, making gatherings comfortable and safe for everyone can be tricky. So, how do you handle it? Lizzie Post is an etiquette expert and has thoughts on COVID-19-related etiquette.
Gov. Greg Abbott said that unauthorized immigrants are causing “carnage” along the border. Is that a fact? PolitiFact Texas’ Brandon Mulder is on the case. We’ll hear from him today.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
