Texas Standard For August 17, 2020

Lovers of political theater get two extra hours of screen time today as the Democratic National Convention kicks off. And: COVID cases in children are steadily increasing, says the CDC.And yet in-person classes have resumed in some Texas school districts. Also: Airlines are losing money – but airlines are hoarding money? How those two can be true.Plus: Join us as we reimagine the U.S. Postal Service. This reimagining has to do with health care and wellness checks that could come along with your mail. All this and more on today’s Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardAugust 17, 2020 9:32 am

Here’s what’s coming up on Texas Standard for Monday, August 17, 2020. Listen on your Texas public radio station, or ask your smart speaker to play Texas Standard.

Thrall ISD Reopening

Not all school districts in Texas are postponing their start days or teaching most classes online. In the Thrall Independent School District in central Texas, children started in-person school last week. Thrall ISD Superintendent Tommy Hooker joins us to talk about how the first week of classes went.

Democratic Convention Preview

The Democratic National Convention kicks off today with a two-hour virtual event built on the theme of unity. Recent polling shows Biden in a virtual dead heat with Trump in Texas.

Quantu Project

A University of Texas at San Antonio researcher is spearheading a sweeping new study looking at neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimers. And the data is measured using a tool you may have on your wrist right now.

Airlines Hoarding Cash

After months of big hits to their bottom lines, air carriers are adopting a strategy they hope will protect them from greater losses: they’re hoarding cash.

Cancel College Semester

Should colleges and universities just cut their losses and call off the fall semester? The Atlantic’s Yascha Mounk thinks so.

Bug Bites: Sphinx Moths

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service insect expert Wizzie Brown swoops in with some facts about the sphinx moth

Lubbock Compact

In Lubbock, where development pushes out the city’s boundaries, a new grassroots group is pushing to preserve what they call “Old Lubbock.”

Reimagining U.S. Postal Workers as Health Care Employees

The slowdown and potential sabotage of the United States Postal Service is dominating headlines, and includes stories about deliveries of prescription drugs being delayed. But what if the Postal Service was reimagined as part of the healthcare system.

All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the talk of Texas.

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