Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Aug. 11, 2023:
A federal grand jury is looking into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to report
Federal prosecutors have asked witnesses who were close to suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to appear before a grand jury in San Antonio, according to reporting from the Austin American-Statesman.
The report comes after Paxton’s lawyer revealed last week that his client is the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation. Following a complaint by top aides suggesting that Paxton had abused his position to aid a campaign donor, federal agents started investigating Paxton in October 2020.
Ryan Autullo, chief Texas political reporter for the American-Statesman, joins us with an update.
GOP candidates challenge Houston election results, despite flimsy evidence
A Houston jury is mulling whether to toss out November election results, after arguments concluded in a Houston courtroom Thursday. Following Republican claims of mismanaged elections, a total of 21 lawsuits are pending from unsuccessful GOP candidates.
The defense criticized the plaintiffs for weak, anecdotal evidence, but what does the stream of lawsuits mean for voting in Texas and the nation? Houston Chronicle reporter Jen Rice joins us with the latest.
Texas summers are getting hotter. That puts outdoor workers at risk
The U.S. lacks national heat standards to protect outdoor workers – and earlier this year, the Texas Legislature passed a law that blocks cities and counties from requiring water breaks on construction sites. So how can outdoor workers keep themselves safe in the brutal Texas heat?
KERA’s Stella Chávez reports.
Chronic wasting disease isn’t just a threat to deer – it affects Texas’ hunting economy
Whitetailed deer hunting generates over $4 billion of economic activity in Texas each year, but chronic wasting disease poses an increasing threat to the industry. The disease is a contagious neurological affliction, and it’s of particular concern to breeders who raise herds of whitetails to sell to game ranches.
After a recent rash of cases in breeding facilities, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has enacted new emergency rules to manage the spread of the disease.
The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks has more.
First rule of high school marching band practice: Try to stay cool
It’s almost back-to-school time across Texas. But students in football, cross country and marching band are already back at work, practicing during this summer’s record-setting heat.
KUT’s Becky Fogel reports that some school districts are taking steps to keep everyone safe by keeping students cool now and preparing for a warmer future.
What’s the Texas song of the summer?
Music often immortalizes the sweltering season, invoking memories that outlast the heat. With Texas being a musical treasure trove, there plenty of summer anthems with a Texan origin to celebrate.
To explore these gems, we turn to Susan Castle, the music host at Austin’s KUTX and a key contributor to the Texas Music Experience at TMX.fm.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
Texas Tribune managing editor Matthew Watkins stops by with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
