Texas Standard For June 9, 2021

Democrats and Republicans agree the U.S. needs to figure out immigration. But what exactly does that mean and how do we get there? We’ll explore. And: Gun policy at the Texas Legislature. We’ll look at what passed and what didn’t. Also: What’s in the bills Gov. Abbott just signed to address problems with the electric grid? Plus: One view from Texas about the ongoing coronavirus crisis in India. And we’ll take a look at what researchers call the seven threads of Texas. Where do you fit into the fabric of the state? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardJune 9, 2021 9:30 amWhole Shows

Graphic by Wells Dunbar

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

Harris Visit to Mexico & Central America

As Vice President Kamala Harris wraps up her historic visit to Central America and Mexico this weekend, she and the Biden administration are facing pushback from progressives and conservatives alike over what’s been done and hasn’t been done during the trip. Here to weigh in on what this visit did and did not accomplish is Antonio Garza, U.S. ambassador to Mexico during the George W. Bush administration from 2002 to 2009.

Guns and the Legislature, part 2

Guns were a hot topic in the Texas legislative session that just wrapped up but not in the way some thought they might be, after two major mass shootings in 2019 in El Paso and Odessa. KERA’s Mallory Falk looks at what legislation around guns actually passed, and why some bills failed where others succeeded.

Abbott Grid Legislation

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed two bills aimed at improving the reliability of the state’s electricity grid during times of extreme weather. This is in direct response to the winter storm in February that took out power to millions in the state and killed at least 150 people. Texas Public Radio’s Dominic Anthony Walsh has more.

Threads of Texas

Looking at the state of the world, it can feel like there are more things that divide a community than unite it. A new report focuses on what brings us together. It’s called the The Threads of Texas. Christiana Lang, a senior associate at More In Common, the U.S. nonprofit group behind the research, talks to the Standard.

COVID Orphans in India and Texans

While deaths in Texas due to the coronavirus have slowed significantly, India continues to suffer mightily. The deaths there are also touching lives here. The Texas Standard’s Joy Diaz reports.

Bug Bites: Assassin Bugs

San Antonio Runoff Election

Four new faces will join the San Antonio City Council this month. Over the weekend, voters unseated two sitting council members and elected new members to open seats. New members include the council’s first openly gay man, a housing advocate and an environmental advocate. Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios reports it’s a sign there may be a progressive shift on the new council.

PolitiFact: Huffines on Property Taxes

All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.

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