Texas Standard For November 20, 2020

Is the presidential contest still a real contest? Texas’ senior senator says it’s too close to call, we’ll have the latest. And: He pledged to heal the soul of the nation, but when it comes to immigration, some wonder why that topic doesn’t make it too Joe Biden’s top five list of policy priorities. We’ll hear about the concerns of advocates of immigration reform. Also: Airlines may be hard hit by the pandemic, but some Texas towns with ties to the skies are taking off. We’ll hear why. Plus: The week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune, and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardNovember 20, 2020 9:30 am

Here’s what’s coming up on Texas Standard for Friday, November 20, 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.

Texas Republicans Respond to Trump Election Dispute

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn says the election is too close to call and that he does not consider Joe Biden the president-elect. Todd Gillman, the Washington Bureau Chief for The Dallas Morning News, talks to the Standard. 

Biden Admin and Immigration

How much of a priority will President-elect Joe Biden put on immigration? Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., talks to the Standard

American and Southwest Boeing 737 MAX

North Texas-based airlines Southwest and American are trying to reassure customers they’re proceeding safely with the Boeing 737 Max airplane now that it’s been cleared to fly again. Two years ago it was grounded because of flaws that caused overseas crashes that killed hundreds of people. KERA’s Bret Jaspers reports.

General Aviation in Fredericksburg

As the hard-hit commercial airline industry struggles to get back in the air, there’s been one  bright spot at airports that serve smaller cities and towns. Private, corporate and state agency planes are actually helping these smaller markets through this pandemic, as Texas Public Radio’s Dominic Anthony Walsh reports.

Post-Election Border Condemnations

On Thursday, we reported on a group called the Valley Land \Fund, which owns a birding preserve along the U.S.-Mexico border. The preserve was going to be sold to the federal government as part of the property seized for the border wall. The group isn’t the only entity battling the government when it comes to selling land for the border wall. But how will those negotiations change now that there’s a president-elect who’s pledged to halt construction on the wall? Roberto Lopez, the community outreach coordinator in south Texas for the Texas Civil Rights Project, talks to the Standard.

U.S Election Reactions from South America

Many Texans are closely watching the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, including South Americans who’ve lived through power grabs in their home countries. For some of them, Trump’s refusal to accept the results has them anxious about a peaceful transition. Houston Public Media’s Elizabeth Trovall talked to some of the city’s Latin American residents who have shared their election takes with her.

Reworking Arts for Streaming

For nearly eight months, performing arts groups have been figuring ways to transfer their live shows to your digital screen. KERA’s Jerome Weeks checks on what’s happening with local audio plays, filmed performances and streaming stage shows in North Texas.

Typewriter Rodeo

The Week in Politics with The Texas Tribune

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

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