Texas Standard for November 1, 2021

Two of the highest profile cases the Supreme Court will hear in a term full of controversial issues both come from Texas. Before the High Court today: Texas’s SB 8. We will have more on oral arguments in a pair of cases challenging the unusual enforcement mechanism in Texas’ de facto ban on most abortions. And: What’s been called the “red rural wall,” and what Democrats may have to do to unseat GOP control of Texas. Also: We’ll meet a letter carrier whose doing much more than just getting out the mail. Plus: The unlikely translator who’s playing an outsized role in the Astros’ championship bid. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardNovember 1, 2021 9:32 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, November 1, 2021.

SCOTUS Abortion Arguments

On a docket filled with some of the most controversial cases the U.S. Supreme Court has considered in years, two Texas cases being argued this morning are among the highest profile. In Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson, the court is essentially being asked to decide whether Texas’ near total abortion ban can escape review in federal court by outsourcing enforcement of the law to the public. And in United States v. Texas, the Biden administration seeks to prohibit Texas’ abortion ban from being enforced. Elizabeth Sepper, law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, joins us now for what we might expect from today’s arguments.

Long-Haul COVID

A year ago, a Lubbock teacher was diagnosed with COVID-19. She wasn’t sick enough to be hospitalized as facilities filled up at the beginning of what would be a winter-long outbreak. But Texas Tech Public Media’s Sarah Self-Walbrick reports she’s still struggling with effects, and is one of an unknown number of Americans classified as a COVID long-hauler.

Rural Texas Voters

What’s been called Texas’ “red, rural wall” has helped Republicans dominate statewide elections for decades. Democratic candidates like Beto O’Rourke and Mike Collier did come close to unseating their Republican opponents in 2018. But as the Texas Standard’s Jill Ament reports, state Democratic organizers say if their party is ever going to turn Texas blue, they’re gonna have to take rural voters more seriously.

Being the Astros’ Spanish Translator

The Houston Astros’ championship hopes are still alive. The Astros beat the Atlanta Braves last night in the sixth game of the World Series. It was a must-game win for the ‘Stros, who are still down in the series, three games to two. The World Series is a huge stage for everyone: from the players, all the way to the Astros’ Spanish translator. Andrew Dunn-Bauman, Spanish translator for the Houston Astros, joins us today.

 The Letter Carrier’s Role in Preventing Elder Abuse

One worrisome outcome during the early months of the COVID pandemic was an increase in the numbers of cases of child abuse resulting in hospitalization. The CDC attributed that to a combination of factors including “heightened stress … loss of income, and social isolation.” Another group who suffered abuse and neglect during the pandemic were older adults. Most don’t go to school, many don’t have jobs; fewer people see them and few people notice. But some people regularly do – people you might not think of. That’s where we start this series from our Joy Diaz looking at ways to protect older Texans.

Tackling Poverty in Fort Worth, part 4

We’ve been following up on an ambitious anti-poverty program, started in 2015 by Catholic Charities Fort Worth. The end goal: moving people out of poverty permanently. The program has had mixed results. Half of the participants dropped out in the first year. But a third of those enrolled met their financial goals. In part four of KERA’s One Crisis Away series “Tackling Poverty: A Case Study in Fort Worth,” contributor Kavitha Cardoza introduces us to one family that experienced a dramatic transformation.

“Trump Train” Lawsuit

Just days before the 2020 election, a highway skirmish between a Biden campaign bus and supporters of then-president Donald Trump made national news. A so-called “Trump train” of trucks surrounded the in-motion bus on the way to Austin. Democratic staffers said they feared for their lives. Now, in an updated lawsuit filed last week, they say that law enforcement refused to send help. Kate McGee is covering the story for the Texas Tribune and joins us with more.

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

If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.