Here’s what’s on Texas Standard for Monday, Aug. 23, 2021.
Ongoing Legal Battles Over Masks
The latest surge in COVID-19 cases has made for a chaotic return to school for Texas students and parents. Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order stating no school or local government could require masks. But then school districts and colleges began challenging the governor’s order both in and out of court. Here to talk about what is going on across the state is Texas Tribune reporter Joshua Fechter.
New Texas Laws Part 1: Critical Race Theory
Next month, more than 650 new Texas laws take effect. Leading up to Sept. 1, reporters from across the state are explaining some of the most high profile and consequential new laws. Today, we’re tackling House Bill 3979, which targets teaching critical race theory (CRT) in schools – even though CRT is not mentioned by name in the text. KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports.
Texas Dems Return Ahead Of Upcoming Redistricting Session
The Texas House regained a quorum last week after enough Democrats returned to the Texas Capitol. That means the second special session will resume, but there’s another huge job ahead for lawmakers – drawing new political districts in a state that has grown more than any other over the past decade. KUT’s Ashley Lopez reports.
The weather’s burning hot but one thing cooled off a bit last week: oil prices. You may have noticed it in the form of a slight dip in gas prices over the past several days. Here to explain why and what the state’s energy outlook is going forward is Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData.
Insect Farming Sustainability Project
Climate change is forcing us to rethink pretty much everything, including what we eat. In order to meet the food demands of population growth, we’re going to have to get creative. A new program at Texas A&M will explore one avenue that could accomplish this: insect farming. Joining us now to tell us more is Jeffrey Tomberlin, professor of entomology at Texas A&M University, and one of the co-leaders of the project.
As the pandemic continues, KERA and The Dallas Morning News are collaborating to document how North Texas’ arts and culture scene is working to adapt. KERA’s Jerome Weeks traveled to Massachusetts where Dallas Black Dance Theatre was opening its new season.
Vietnam Veterans And Withdrawal From Afghanistan
The images of chaos in Afghanistan have resonated with veterans from another long war: Vietnam. That conflict was far more deadly than the one in Afghanistan, but both ended with an enemy takeover of the capital city and a desperate American-led evacuation. Some Vietnam veterans say the Afghanistan withdrawal has triggered symptoms of post-traumatic stress, while others are voicing frustration and powerlessness. Texas Public Radio’s Carson Frame reports for the American Homefront Project.
Each decade, new electoral districts are drawn across the country to accommodate for population changes. In theory, redistricting is about an even distribution of power and resources. In reality, redistricting is more about power than anything else. And a group called the Prison Policy Initiative argues Census power and influence can be exponentially higher for communities with large prison populations. To talk more about this, we’re joined by Aleks Kajstura, legal director for the Prison Policy Initiative.
All this plus the Texas News Roundup and Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.