Here’s what’s on Texas Standard for Thursday, June 17, 2021.
Texas House Democrats’ dramatic walkout last month doomed new voting restrictions for the time being. The walkout prompted threats from Gov. Greg Abbott to veto the funding that pays lawmakers and others. Houston Public Media’s Jen Rice says we’ll soon know whether he’ll follow through.
Texas Dems Meet With Vice President Harris
The House Dems’ walkout caught the attention of many, including the White House. A group of state House and Senate Democrats wrapped up a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris this week. She’s pushing to restore federal oversight of elections in Congress. Tarrant County Democratic state Rep. Chris Turner chairs the Texas House Democratic Caucus. He was at the meeting with Vice President Harris and joins us now.
The Texas Legislature began this session facing what appeared to be a fiscal crunch. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession looked like they would put a big dent in state revenues. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says in the end that didn’t happen, but the result was a mixed bag – particularly for health care.
South Dallas Nonprofit Grocery
A South Dallas church is opening a small non-profit grocery store with an upscale aesthetic. As KERA contributor Sujata Dand reports, community leaders wanted to provide access to affordable, healthy food – and create a space the neighborhood can be proud of.
Thinking about a short-term rental from Airbnb or Vrbo this summer? Well, that idyllic beach house or lake cabin will probably cost more than you expected. And you might want to keep a few safety concerns in mind, too. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga is here to tell us what you ought to know before you book that vacation rental.
Saturday is Juneteenth. It’s been celebrated in Texas since 1865 – and a whole lot of those celebrations have included food. While last year’s gatherings were altered by the pandemic, many people are feeling safer about getting together in 2021. Still, we learned a few things over the past year – including how a virtual event can sometimes do more to connect people from all over. That’s some of the background for a Juneteenth Virtual Cookout. It’s hosted by Dallas-based food blogger Meiko Temple, who joins the Standard for an extended conversation.
Texas Monthly’s Best And Worst Of The 87th Legislature
Since 1973, Texas Monthly has offered readers a list of the best and worst state lawmakers following a legislative session. And despite collective challenges including a global pandemic and a fragile electric grid, Texas politicians still found a way to make this session one of the most ideologically polarizing. So which lawmakers stood out – in good and not-so-good ways? Chris Hooks is a political writer for the Monthly that worked on the list, and he joins us today.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
