Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
Rep. Filemón Vela, a longtime Democratic congressman, had already announced he would not be seeking reelection in the 34th Congressional District which runs from San Antonio to Brownsville. But last week, he said he would resign early so that he could take a position with the prominent law and lobbying firm Akin Gump. Juan Carlos Huerta, professor of political science at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, speaks to us about the forthcoming special election to fill Vela’s seat.
El Paso voter disenfranchisement
In the March 1 primary elections, 15% of the absentee ballots cast in El Paso County were rejected, thanks to new voting restrictions in Texas. Molly Smith, reporter for El Paso Matters, spoke to some of the long-time voters whose ballots weren’t counted.
Ukraine consul general in Dallas
Ukraine’s consul general has a very simple request for Texas elected officials: stop investing in Russia. KERA’s Alejandra Martinez reports on the message from Vitalii Tarasiuk.
The ‘tawny’ or ‘raspberry’ crazy ant first showed up in Texas a little over 20 years ago. And since then, they’ve been driving a lot of Texans – well, a bit crazy.They not only drive out local ant species but can also get into electrical equipment and cause major damage. There’s not usually a quick and easy answer to dealing with an invasive species — but University of Texas at Austin researchers may have found one. In fact, they’re calling it “kryptonite” for crazy ants. Edward LeBrun, a research scientist based at UT-Austin’s Brackenridge Field Laboratory, tells us more.
It was about two years ago when things seemed to suddenly go silent. COVID-19 had arrived in Texas, and as stay at home mandates took hold, downtown areas went quiet and traffic largely disappeared from most major arteries. For many, the relative silence was frightening and surreal. But for people who research sound, the lockdown was also an opportunity to study what happens when humankind takes a break. Mose Buchele of KUT reports on the results of one study that starts to answer the question: why did the birds seem louder?
Pat Sharpe, executive editor and food writer at Texas Monthly, breaks down her annual list of the best new places to eat out in Texas.
Abortion advocates challenge state law
Abortion rights activists haven’t had much success trying to defeat Senate Bill 8, the law which bans abortions in Texas after about six weeks of pregnancy. Court challenges to the law have failed so far. But two advocacy groups are now bringing a new lawsuit forward to attack the law. Eleanor Klibanoff of the Texas Tribune tells us more.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Michael Marks with the talk of Texas.
