Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, February 8, 2021.
The Biden administration has been busy in its first month in office, repealing and reviewing controversial immigration orders put in place by former President Trump. In Texas, Republican leaders are already challenging one of the measures. At the same time, immigrant rights remain a top priority for Texas Democratic state lawmakers. State Rep. Mary Gonzalez, D-Clint, talks to the Standard.
Residents near the Houston Ship Channel have long complained about high levels of pollution and a lack of air monitoring in their communities. In this reporting collaboration with Houston Public Media, Texas Public Radio’s Dominic Anthony Walsh reports residents are now taking matters into their own hands.
Lubbock Planned Parenthood Update
In a last-minute move, a Texas judge blocked the state from kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid, giving temporary relief to thousands of low-income patients who rely on the health care provider. It’s one of many obstacles Planned Parenthood has faced since reopening a clinic in Lubbock. While the clinic has faced backlash from abortion rights opponents, Texas Tech Public Media’s Kaysie Ellingson reports, the clinic’s supporters say the clinic is filling healthcare gaps. This is a part of a larger report in collaboration with the Texas Observer.
Is a hobbled energy industry finally regaining its footing? With oil prices surging upwards, it might look that way. Last week oil prices hit their highest levels in more than a year, approaching nearly $60 a barrel on Friday. It may be tempting to believe that things are getting back to “normal” – but is that really the case? Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData, talks to the Standard.
We’ve done a lot of reporting lately on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in Texas. We’ve heard mostly from officials and journalists across the state about what’s working and what’s not. But it wasn’t until we asked on the Texas Standard Facebook page about how the process was going for you that we really saw a wide range of experiences. The Texas Standard’s Laura Rice is trying to track some of those experiences in a new project.
Juneteenth Art Installation in Galveston
The history of Juneteenth is about to be immortalized beyond the history books. A new art installation will be unveiled in Galveston this June. And the artist and visual storyteller in charge is Houstononian Reginald Adams, who joins the Standard.
Ask A Doctor: Your COVID-19 Questions Answered
Throughout the pandemic we’ve been speaking with Dr. Fred Campbell to get some common sense advice on the coronavirus. He’s a doctor of internal medicine and associate professor of medicine at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
