Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
Texas Abortion Law SCOTUS Arguments Recap
After a day of arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court, justices have plenty of questions about Texas’ near total abortion ban. Enforcement of the law seems to be raising the most issues in the High Court, including among its conservative justices. Emily Caldwell has been covering these arguments for The Dallas Morning News, where she’s a Washington D.C. correspondent. She’ll give us a recap today.
Latest 2022 Governor’s Race Poll
There’s still no Democratic nominee to challenge Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. But say Beto O’Rourke decides to run: what are his chances? A new poll out this week from the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation sheds some light on what a potential Abbott/O’Rourke matchup could look like, along with other races in statewide primary and general elections next year. Joining us now is Jason Villalba, a former Dallas-area Republican state lawmaker who is now CEO of the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation.
Castro Texas National Guard
Days after Texas congressman Joaquin Castro signed a letter urging federal scrutiny into Gov. Abbott’s border operation, he’s speaking out again about what he calls a “misuse” of the state’s National Guard. Texas Public Radio’s Carson Frame reports.
There’s a word Texas state leaders have used a lot since last February’s big blackout: winterization. That’s because getting power plants ready to withstand cold weather is crucial to guarding against future energy failures. It’s so important, the state’s Public Utility Commission recently passed new requirements for winterizing power plants. But what exactly does that mean? To show you, KUT Austin’s Mose Buchele visited a natural gas power plant in Midlothian, Texas, and filed this report.
Deaths in Texas Prisons
The death of Sandra Bland in a Texas jail may be the most infamous example of a death in police custody, but her story is not the only one: it’s actually one of 1,100 jailhouse deaths since 2010. As part of a months-long investigation, Texas Observer writers Michael Barajas and Sophie Novack reviewed more than 400 Texas Ranger investigations into jail deaths over the past decade. What they found were stories of neglect, apathy and abuse. Michael Barajas joins us with more today.
The Doctor’s Role in Preventing Elder Abuse
In a community setting, everyone is responsible for each others’ well-being. When it comes to older adults, doctors play a crucial role, and not just when it comes to treatment and healthcare. Doctors can also be crucial witnesses in court on behalf of older Texans.All this week we’re looking at roles in preventing elder abuse. A great web build will be online shortly!
Climate change is leading to severe droughts and wildfires in the West. And while much of Texas has been out of a drought since 2015, the state is unlikely to escape the hotter and longer droughts caused by climate change. How, then, does the state plan for its water future? KERA’s Bret Jaspers looked at the state’s recently-finished water plan.
Democrats are down a candidate in one of the most competitive congressional race of 2022: the 15th Congressional District in the Rio Grande Valley. The 15th is currently U.S. Rep. Vincente Gonzalez’s seat. But the McAllen Democrat announced last week that he will instead seek reelection in the nearby 34th District, where Rep. Filemon Vela is retiring. Now, Democrats are scrambling to find a replacement candidate in the 15th to go up against what is likely to be a fierce Republican challenger. Texas Tribune primary political correspondent Patrick Svitek reports the 15th District has been made more competitive after redistricting. He joins us with an overview today.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
