Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, November 8, 2021.
Fifth Circuit Temporarily Blocks Biden Vaccine Mandate
The Biden administration has been temporarily blocked from enforcing its COVID vaccine mandate, which isn’t set to take effect until January 4. Saturday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit – one of the most conservative circuits in the nation – released a two-page order blocking the as-yet implemented requirement for now. Steven Vladeck with the University of Texas School of Law joins us to discuss the decision and what’s next.
Border Travel Restrictions Lifted
Today, all fully vaccinated visitors from Mexico will be allowed to cross into the U.S. It’s the first time since March 2020 that non-essential travel has been allowed; previously, only trips to school, work or for medical care were permitted. KTEP’s Angela Kocherga reports the travel restrictions have been tough for residents in close-knit border communities.
The energy market can feel like it’s comprised of codes: SPR, OPEC and RBOB, to name a few. Today, we’re digging into them with Matt Smith, director of commodity research at Kpler and the Standard’s resident oil and gas expert.
American Homefront Veterans’ Day: Nick Irving
Veterans’ Day is this Thursday. And leading up to it, we’re sharing some of their stories. Sgt. Nick Irving made a name for himself as a special operations sniper in the Army’s 3rd Ranger battalion. He deployed six times to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a reputation as one of the most effective Army Rangers in military history. You can hear more on the PBS series “American Veteran” and the podcast “American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories.”
Industrial facilities like refineries and chemical manufacturers emit all kinds of chemicals into the air, some of which are toxic to humans. The Environmental Protection Agency tracks how much pollution each facility produces and what’s being emitted. But in places like Port Arthur, Baytown, and Longview, there’s a high concentration of industrial activity, which creates a cumulative risk not fully captured by the EPA’s records. Now, a new interactive report from ProPublica shows how industrial facilities affect cancer risks in communities across the country. Lylla Younes, news app developer for ProPublica, joins us with an overview.
When Guy Clark died in 2016, the media remembered the West Texas born folk artist as a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter. But it’s his winding journey towards fame and unusual relationships with his closest collaborators – Townes Van Zandt and Clark’s wife Susanna – that are the topic of a documentary now available for streaming. “Without Getting Killed Or Caught” is coproduced and directed by Tamara Saviano, and based on her book of the same name. We’ll hear from her today.
More on the border reopening: for the first time in twenty months, fully vaccinated Mexicans will be able to enter the U.S. to shop or visit friends and family. As Marfa Public Radio’s Annie Rosenthal reports, that’s a huge deal for people in Presidio and Ojinaga, Chihuahua, where the restrictions have taken a toll on both sides of the river.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
