Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, November 19, 2021.
After three decades in the Texas Legislature, Rep. Garnet Coleman is retiring. The Houston Democrat joins us today to talk about his decision, his legacy in the Lege and more.
National Guard Troops Strained
Natural disasters, domestic protests, foreign wars and COVID-19 are just a few of the missions Army and Air National Guard members have been assigned to in recent years. Critics say that heavy use is straining the force. Now some states, including Texas, are pleading for more troops. Texas Public Radio’s Carson Frame reports for the American Homefront Project.
Unincorporated areas of Collin County in North Texas are seeing significant numbers of new homes. Unincorporated areas tend to have fewer regulations. So when a problem pits a developer against residents – who’s in charge? This question came up recently as a development owned by Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines started clearing land. KERA’s Bret Jaspers reports.
Astronauts at the International Space Station had to take shelter from a debris cloud orbiting the earth this week. At first the source of the cloud was unclear. But the U.S. ultimately said Russia was responsible, as it had recently tested a missile on a decommissioned satellite – a test the missile passed, apparently. For more on this we now bring in Moriba Jah, associate professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin.
For those with kids, Thanksgiving can include conversations about why we celebrate the holiday in the first place. The easy part is telling them it’s about being grateful for what we have. Tying Thanksgiving into its historical roots can feel trickier. Marleen Villanueva works for the Indigenous Cultures Institute based in San Marcos and joins us with some suggestions.
We always end the week with a poem from the Typewriter Rodeo. Request a topic for a poem anytime by reaching out!
Joining us for a look back at the week in Texas politics, our Friday regular: James Barragán, political reporter for the Texas Tribune.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
