Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, March 3, 2022.
As families of trans Texas kids fear investigations, Biden administration pushes back
Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a nonbinding legal opinion calling gender affirming care for transgender teens and children, like hormone treatments and puberty blockers, child abuse. Gov. Greg Abbott followed suit, directing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate any such instances of gender affirming care. Now three probes have been launched against parents – and the federal government is pushing back. Orion Rummler, breaking news and LGBTQ issues reporter for The 19th News joins us with the story.
The Texas primaries are over – kinda
In some high profile races, we won’t know who will be on the ballot this November until runoff elections on May 24. And adding to the turmoil: a North Texas incumbent’s surprise drop-out from the runoff battle over a salacious sex scandal. KERA’s Bill Zeeble has been looking at some of the most significant runoffs ahead and brings us the latest.
Growing up too soon: When kids and teenagers are caregivers for disabled veteran parents
More than two million American children and teenagers live with a wounded or ill veteran, many helping with the veteran’s care. And those young caregivers often suffer from stress, social isolation, and a lack of parental involvement. Now, a new study is trying to understand their experiences. Texas Public Radio’s Carson Frame reports for the American Homefront Project.
How US tech is responding to Russia’s aggression
American tech giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook have all responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Their actions range from removing Russian news apps to screening platforms like YouTube and Facebook, and offering up encrypted direct messaging inside Ukraine. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us now, with a look at how American tech companies are responding to the invasion.
Despite billions in funding, schools can’t meet new tutoring requirements
Over two million Texas elementary and middle school students failed state assessments last year. In an attempt to catch them up, the state legislature required that schools provide tutoring – setting aside billions in pandemic relief funds to implement the program. But school districts are now saying the requirement is impossible to meet. Emily Donaldson, education reporter for Education Lab at The Dallas Morning News, joins us with more.
One of Austin’s first Black communities has largely been erased. This building tells its tale.
A 150 year-old historic building in West Austin has roots in one of the first Black communities in Texas’ capitol city. The building has been closed for the last four years as an apartment complex was built around it. Some say the historic structure has never really gotten its due. KUT’s Marisa Charpentier takes a look into the building’s history and it’s possible future.
Fact check: Were more journalists killed in Mexico in 2020 than any other country?
During a recent U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations meeting, Sen. Ted Cruz said that more journalists were killed in Mexico in 2020 than anywhere else in the world. Is that a fact? Nusaiba Mizan with PolitiFact Texas, based at the Austin American-Statesman, joins us with more.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
