Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Questions loom as investigation into West Texas shooting of migrants stalls
It’s been nearly seven months since two brothers were arrested in West Texas for a shooting that killed a man and critically injured a woman. Both victims were migrants. One suspect was the warden of the West Texas Detention Center, and the other worked for the sheriff. As KTEP’s Angela Kocherga reports, people in the town question why the investigation has stalled.
Texas lawmakers consider bill for earned time credit for prisoners
Texas lawmakers are considering a bill, HB 1064, that would give prisoners earned time credit for good conduct. Those in favor say measures like these are needed to rehabilitate prisoners. But others have concerns about the potential for violent offenders to be released early. Sam Houston State University professor Miltonette Craig joins us with more.
Federal Aviation Administration grounds SpaceX Starship
You probably remember SpaceX launched the largest rocket in the world last week – and then it exploded. Debris particles rained on the city of Port Isabel. There’s also extensive damage to the area around the launch site. Texas Public Radio’s Gaige Davila was one of the first to check out the impact to nearby Boca Chica Beach.
It may be dark out, but they’re keeping the lights on in the Lege
The Texas Legislature is in session. That means a lot of long days at the Capitol – and long nights. The Texas Newsroom’s Aurora Berry reports there’s even more going on at our statehouse than you might think.
What’s up with the Facebook class action settlement?
Facebook lost a lawsuit involving the unauthorized sharing of user data with third parties. If you had an account between May 2007 and the end of 2022, you could be due some money. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga is here to explain what the suit was all about, and what you can do to collect a portion of the settlement.
West Texans celebrate Pride despite legislation targeting LGBTQ Texans
Pride festivities usually kick off in June around the country. But the celebration came early in the Permian Basin, coinciding with a session of the Texas Legislature targeting LGBTQ Texans. Despite that, West Texans turned out to the Basin Pride Festival in Odessa. Marfa Public Radio’s Mitch Borden was there.
Evidence suggests Texas Rangers may have created mass gravesite
The Texas Rangers are marking their 200th anniversary this year, but not every Texan agrees the group has a history worth celebrating. Gabriel Daniel Solís says he’s found evidence the Rangers may have created a mass gravesite of Native Americans, Mexicans and people fleeing slavery in Seguin. Solís offers more in a commentary today.
Whether betting on sports or politics, Houston’s Mattress Mack goes big
Houston’s Jim McIngvale is better known as Mattress Mack, a furniture-hawking businessman who placed historically large bets on Houston’s hometown team and waded into city politics. But for as public of a figure as Mattress Mack is, there’s more to his story. The Houston Chronicle’s Sarah Smith recently wrote about Mack’s rise and joins us today.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
