Here’s what’s coming up on Texas Standard for Monday, September 21, 2020. Listen on your Texas public radio station, or ask your smart speaker to play Texas Standard. We’ll have full posts for each story, including audio, a little later today.
Remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg comes at a moment when Democrats have appeared on the verge of achieving historic political change and many Republicans see many of their long-term goals now suddenly within reach: the potential for a six-justice conservative majority on the high court. Meg Penrose, a professor of law at Texas A&M University Law School in Fort Worth talks to the Standard about Ginsburg’s impact.
Tropical Storm Beta & COVID-19 Hospitalizations
Tropical Storm Beta is making landfall today on what the National Weather Service calls the central Texas Coast. Though it won’t reach hurricane status and is expected to weaken to a tropical depression by tomorrow, Beta is bringing flooding rains. For a look at how coastal Texas communities are preparing, we turn to Victoria Mayor Rawley McCoy.
TikTok Deal
On Saturday, a deal was struck giving Walmart and database and cloud storage giant Oracle a 20% share in TikTok, But just what happened to keep the app up and running here, and what’s it got to do with Texas? The Standard talks with Kate Cox, a reporter for the tech site Ars Technica
Black Admirals In the Navy
A group called the One Navy Task Force is looking at why only a handful of African Americans reach top jobs. It’s also examining discrimination in all aspects of Navy life. Steve Walsh from the American Homefront Project has more.
Trouble for BP
It’s no secret that the pandemic has knocked the wind out of the oil industry. Optimists in the industry say that demand will recover once things start opening up. But one oil giant’s energy outlook paints a far bleaker picture for the future of oil, suggesting that things will never be the same as they once were. Chris Tomlinson, a Houston Chronicle business columnist talks to the Standard.
Jessica Brannon-Wranosky on Voting & Jovita Idár
J.D. Moore Profile
J.D. Moore started out as a tattoo artist, inking elaborate masterpieces on skin. His tattoo work has led him to another passion: fine art. He paints lifelike oil portraits and large-scale murals. As part of an ongoing series on the creativity of Black artists in North Texas, KERA’s Miguel Perez spoke to Moore about capturing the nuances of Black skin.
Reaction to Texas Loosening Nursing Home Visitation Rules
Families with loved ones in elder care facilities have been hit doubly hard by COVID-19. Older people are more susceptible to the deadly virus. But strict visiting guidelines imposed on nursing homes and assisted living facilities has meant those kept inside could not see their loved ones for months. The Texas Tribune reports that starting this Thursday, visitors will be allowed back even if there are confirmed COVID-19 cases at the facilities. Brian Lee, executive director of nursing home advocacy nonprofit Families for Better Care, talks to the Standard.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.
