Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, April 6, 2023.
It’s the last day to register for the May 6 election. Here’s what you need to know.
For many people, Election Day means the second Tuesday in November. But Texas has another election each year in May. Many towns, counties and school districts have candidates on the ballot in the upcoming May 6 election. Today is the last day to register. If you have questions about that, we’ve got you covered. Bethany Albertson is assistant director at the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Life at UT–Austin, and she joins us today.
More domestic abusers can keep guns after 5th Circuit Court ruling – risking deadly consequences
Guns can be deadly in domestic violence situations – that’s why federal and state laws prohibit people with protective orders against them from having firearms. But a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling could change that. KERA’s Caroline Love reports.
Supporters of Brownsville activist Bekah Hinojosa rally against charges
Supporters of Rio Grande Valley activist Bekah Hinojosa rallied in downtown Brownsville on Tuesday afternoon, continuing to push for charges against her to be dropped. Texas Public Radio’s Gaige Davila reports.
The Farm Bill is about a lot more than farming
Congress is in the early stages of crafting one of the most consequential laws it considers: the Farm Bill. Congress passes a new farm bill every five years. It’s a big deal because it controls how a lot of money gets distributed. The Farm Bill dictates crop subsidies, funds agricultural research and insurance. It’s also the bill that governs social welfare programs like SNAP benefits and temporary assistance for needy families. KTEP’s Angela Kocherga spoke with Jonathan Coppess, director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois about the 2023 bill.
Twitter’s blue checkmark isn’t what it used to be
If you spend time on Twitter, you’ve probably noticed the little blue checkmarks next to some account names. When Elon Musk bought the company last fall, he declared that to keep a checkmark – which verifies that a Twitter user is who or what they say they are – account owners would need to pay a monthly fee. Last Saturday was the deadline to pay up, or risk losing the mark. But lots of accounts still have them. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga told Angela Kocherga that Musk’s threat to the old way of verifying users has changed how the checkmark is viewed on the site.
Funmi Ogunro on the film “Parker”
Filmmaker Funmi Ogunro was born in Austin, but she traveled to Missouri to help document the story of a Black family doing what generations of African Americans could not – legally changing their last name. Ogunro says “Parker” is a much-needed short film about Black joy.
Ribbons and rebar, drill bits and lace: Dallas’ Kaleta Doolin makes feminist art from such fusions
Ribbons or Rebar? Doesn’t matter for Dallas artist Kaleta Doolin. In her sculptures you’ll find scrap metal and drill bits alongside delicate lace knitting. Jerome Weeks of KERA reports a major show covering 30 years of Doolin’s artistry opens this weekend.
Bill would help colonias with water issues
State legislators proposed more funding and regulations to help colonias with water issues. But other programs that aid these unofficial neighborhoods along the border also need help. Texas Public Radio’s Carolina Cuellar reports.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Shelly Brisbin with the Talk of Texas.
