Texas Standard for November 5, 2021

The deadline for the federal vaccine mandate for large employers looms. We’ll look at what it means for Texas companies and workers. And: As shipping containers pile up on the West coast, can Texas ports deliver the goods? Also: Protecting older Texans from abuse, neglect and exploitation: prosecuting those crimes. Plus: Georgia O’Keefe’s other talent: photography. A new exhibit in Texas showcases some of her photos for the first time. And a new book offers an intimate look at the lives of Braceros during their time as guest workers in the U.S. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardNovember 5, 2021 9:30 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, November 5, 2021.

Federal Vaccine Mandate

The Biden administration’s January 4 deadline for large employers to require COVID vaccination or weekly testing is destined for a legal fight, with Texas leading the way. The state is already suing over the federal mandate for federal contractors, and Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order forbidding mandates by “any entity” in Texas that’s already being challenged in practice. Meanwhile, Texas employers and employees are caught in the middle of all this legal wrangling. We’ll talk to Dietrich von Bidenfield, assistant professor of business law at the University of Houston-Downtown.

Texas Port Traffic

Considerable congestion at west coast ports is being blamed for supply chain issues across the nation, Texas included. So could some of that ship cargo get diverted to Texas? Joining us to explore the issues is Jim Kruse, director of the Center for Ports and Waterways at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

COVID Vaccines for Kids

The CDC has approved COVID-19 vaccines for kids 5 to 11. Over 400,000 doses have arrived in Texas and more are on the way. In Lubbock, where about 50%  of people are fully vaccinated, dozens of parents lined up at the city’s vaccination hub for children. Texas Tech Public Media’s Kaysie Ellingson reports.

Texas Adult Protective Services, part 2

Adult Protective Services investigates reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults with a disability and those 65 and older. Last year, APS verified more than 52,000 such cases in Texas. As the Texas Standard’s Joy Diaz reports, APS’s hopes to intervene before anyone gets hurt, but sometimes it’s too late. Then, APS’ job becomes escalation in pursuit of prosecution.

Archiving Mexican Masculinities in Diaspora

Through intimate archival photos and nuanced reporting, “Archiving Mexican Masculinities in Diaspora” deconstructs traditional thoughts around Mexican machismo. We’re joined by the book’s author, Nicole M. Guidotti-Hernández.

Georgia O’Keeffe Photography Exhibit

Chances are you’ve seen Georgia O’Keefe’s masterful paintings of life-sized flowers, New York skyscrapers, and desert landscapes. But an important aspect of O’Keeffe’s artistic career that’s not as well known is her photography. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is hoping to change that with what they call the first major exhibit of the artist’s photographs, called “Georgia O’Keefe, Photographer.” The museum’s associate curator of photography, Lisa Volpe, joins us with more.

Typewriter Rodeo

We always end the week with a poem from the Typewriter Rodeo. Request a topic for a poem anytime by reaching out!

The Week in Texas Politics

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.

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