Texas Standard For August 27, 2021

It was the story of the summer in Texas politics. Now, proposals at the center of a legislative walkout appear set to become law. The Texas House, where a quorum was broken over Democratic opposition to a voting bill, has just passed its version of that voting bill. Was the walkout all for nought? We’ll hear more. Also: At a health care hub in West Texas, emergency room wait times climb to 20 hours – we’ll have the latest as we continue to track the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus. And: 100 miles in a hundred degrees – what would you call it? How the Hotter’N Hell bicycle race is rolling into its 40th year. Plus the week in politics and more when today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardAugust 27, 2021 9:52 am

Elections Bill Heads To Governor’s Desk

The voting measure that led the Texas Legislature into quorum busts and special sessions has made its way to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Despite House Democrats’ attempts to derail what they call a voter suppression bull, the House passed the bill after a marathon floor debate between the parties. Richard Pineda, director of the Sam Donaldson Center for Communication Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso, joins us with his analysis.

Medicinal Marijuana Law Taking Effect

Next week, thousands more Texans will become eligible for legal, low-THC cannabis oil through the state’s compassionate use program. Not only that, the maximum amount of THC allowable in that oil is being doubled. Many see this as a progressive step towards making medical marijuana available to more people around Texas – but that’s not the whole story. Jerry Quijano from KUT Austin is here to tell us more.

COVID Is Stretching ERs Thin in Lubbock …

Texas hospitals are filling up as COVID-19 infection numbers rise. The same is true in Lubbock, a vital medical hub for rural communities around West Texas. Texas Tech Public Media’s Kaysie Ellingson spoke with one healthcare worker who says the wait time in their emergency room is averaging some 20 hours.

… And Elsewhere Across Rural Texas

For more on the challenges rural healthcare workers are facing, we’re joined by Andrea Malcolm, a certified registered nurse anesthesiologist at Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall, some 60 miles southwest of San Antonio.

What Afghanistan Attack Means For Evacuation

Deadly bombings at the airport in Kabul yesterday disrupting U.S. evacuation efforts in Afghanistan. Thirteen U.S. service members were killed and more than a dozen others were injured. For the latest on the situation, we’re joined by Jeremi Suri from UT-Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs.

An Adaptive Clothing Line

Abilitee Adaptive Wear provides adaptable clothing that caters to people with unique physical and developmental needs: G-tubes, catheters, ostomies and chemotherapy ports. We’ll hear from founder Marta Elena Cortez-Neavel.

A ‘Hotter n Hell’ Cycling Competition

There are lots of ways to celebrate a birthday. But the way Wichita Falls commemorates its own founding every year is certainly more strenuous than most, with a cycling endurance race called the Hotter’N Hell Hundred. The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks has more.

Recapping The Week In Texas Politics

Joining us for a look back at the week in Texas politics, we’re joined by our new Friday regular: James Barragán, political reporter for the Texas Tribune.

All that’s coming up, plus the Typewriter Rodeo, the News Roundup, Social Media Host Wells Dunbar and more.