Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, April 8, 2021.
Paxton Deportation Lawsuit and Detention Facilities
On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over their new procedures for deporting undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. Richard Pineda, an associate communication professor at the University of Texas El Paso, talks to the Standard.
Military Extremism Stand Down
In the wake of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed military leaders to meet with their units to talk about what extremism is, and how to respond to it. The last of those gatherings took place Tuesday for active duty military. TPR’s Carson Frame talked with service members at Joint Base San Antonio about what they got from the experience.
Transmigrantes in Presidio
For years now there has been talk of transmigrantes, Central American drivers, being re-routed through Far West Texas. The drivers make a living towing second-hand goods across the Mexican border. While they are a familiar sight in the area, Presidio is offering what will be the state’s second crossing point for transmigrantes to Mexico. Some Presidio residents hope transmigrantes will usher in a new wave of business. Others though, are worried the traffic might cause more headaches than its worth. Marfa Public Radio’s Carlos Morales shares a report.
Clubhouse
Maybe you’ve heard of Clubhouse, the one-year-old social platform that’s generated lots of celebrity buzz, cachet and cash. This week, the service, where users gather in “rooms” to participate in audio-only conversations about everything from Bitcoin to Bollywood, announced that hosts of these events can now accept payments from their followers and fans. Tech expert Omar Gallaga gives the Standard the scoop on Clubhouse – and its inevitable imitators.
1-45 Project
The social and economic consequences of highway construction in Texas has long been linked to a history of inequity. But now a TxDOT project to expand Interstate 45 into Houston’s Third Ward, possibly displacing a majority of Black and brown residents, has been put on hold. For more on this, the Standard talks to Megan Kimble, executive editor at the Texas Observer.
Heel to Toe: Sarah Spellings Vogue Editor
Transportation for Vaccines
All Texas adults are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. But for folks without a car, getting an appointment isn’t that simple. As KERA’s Alejandra Martinez reports, some Dallas city leaders are trying to fill transportation gaps.
Houston is the Capital of Texas
In Texas, top state officials are increasingly critical of city and county leaders who make their own rules. Take Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Blasting pandemic-era voting access there, he said “I have news for Harris County: you’re not the capital of Texas.” But don’t be so sure, argues ShaCamree Gowdy, digital reporter for the Houston Chronicle “Houston is, in fact, the unofficial capital of Texas,” she writes. “And we don’t care who disagrees.” Hear from her today.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
