Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, March 15, 2021.
State Disputes with Federal Vaccine Distribution
Texas is getting shortchanged on vaccine doses. And state officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott, say the federal government is to blame for relying on outdated population figures for the Lone Star State. Cayla Harris covers state politics for The Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express News and talks to the Standard.
The Texas Lege and The Governor’s Powers
A proposal that could give a special legislative committee oversight of the governor’s power during a pandemic is making its way through the Texas capitol. The measure is expected to be added to a priority bill for Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. Cassandra Pollock has been writing about this for the Texas Tribune and talks to the Standard.
Working Class Moms
The pandemic has forced moms to take on second jobs: supervising their children’s home schooling. Nearly a year ago, Houston Public Media’s Elizabeth Trovall talked to a single mom named Sunny for the first time. Back then, the pandemic had her at a breaking point. Here’s how she is doing now:
Black Churches and Politics
The Black church has a long, historic relationship with electoral politics. The most recent chapter came with the election of a prominent pastor as the first Black U.S. senator from Georgia. Black churches have significant influence in North Texas politics as well. As part of KERA’s ongoing series on the Black church, Bret Jaspers looks back at a noteworthy election in Dallas County.
Ask a Doctor: Answering Your COVID-19 Questions
Throughout the pandemic we’ve been seeking answers to your questions about the coronavirus from Dr. Fred Campbell. He’s a doctor of internal medicine and associate professor of medicine at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio.
Sounds of Texas: Mama Duke
Dallas Symphony Remote
The Dallas Symphony debuted a new work this past weekend. In rehearsals, the composer offered suggestions and even made changes while listening from a seat in the audience. Strange as it may sound, she was also 1,600 miles away. KERA’s Bill Zeeble explains this slight of sound.
Mask Lawsuit and SXSW Cancellation
A virtual South By Southwest festival kicks off today. But the absence of visitors to Austin will be a financial hit for the city which saw SXSW cancelled for the first time a year ago, because of the pandemic. Austin Mayor Steve Adler talks to the Standard about the last year and why he is asking residents here to keep their masks on their faces.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
