Senate confirmation hearings of President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee begin
Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, will begin her Senate confirmation hearings today. Jackson is the first Supreme Court nominee from a Democratic president since the Obama administration, and if confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve on the high court. Joining us to talk about how the nomination process is Renee Knake Jefferson, a professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center.
As Russia continues to take a stronger hold on Eastern Ukraine, President Biden prepares to travel to Europe for diplomatic discussions surrounding the war. Democratic Congressman Marc Veasey of Fort Worth talks with us about the U.S. response to the war in Ukraine.
Texas oysters harvesters face more closures
Texas has closed nearly all of the state’s public oyster reefs for harvesting. For those who work in the industry, that’s a devastating blow. Houston Public Media’s Katie Watkins reports on the clash between state officials and oyster harvesters over how the resource should be managed.
Small airports take a big hit during the pandemic
While we’ve all been watching how major airlines and airports handled the pandemic, airports in smaller communities have struggled unnoticed. For example, Skywest airlines plans to leave many smaller markets, – including Victoria, where it is the only airline to serve the airport. Taylor Rains, who covers the aviation industry for Business Insider talks with us about the future of small airlines.
Rain relief for deadly forest fires
Rain is finally on the forecast for parts of Texas that are experiencing deadly wildfires. The fires have caused the deaths of two firefighters and a sheriff’s deputy. The largest of the fires has burned nearly 85 square miles so far. For more on the latest we’re joined by Erin O’Connor, spokeswoman for the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Since the early missions featured in “Hidden Figures” and beyond, women have been breaking barriers in spaceflight throughout NASA’s history. Now, 21 of those women’s experiences are compiled in a new book. NASA historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal chats with us about editing, “Making Space for Women – Stories from Trailblazing Women of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.”
Breaking down the major changes proposed by the VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing a sweeping makeover of its health care system. That includes closing 17 medical centers and building more than 30 new ones. Reporting on the plan affecting hundreds of other VA facilities is Jay Price for The American Homefront Project.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
