Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, August 19, 2022.
What is the state doing about attacks on local election officials?
The elections staff for Gillespie County has resigned, with death threats and harassment as the cause. It’s not just the Central Texas county, either; across the country, local election officials have been harassed by citizens echoing former President Trump’s false, unfounded claims of fraud. Sam Taylor, spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State’s office, joins us with more on what’s being done.
On the Texas park system’s 100th birthday, a call for more land
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Texas State Park System next year, an environmental group released a report urging state lawmakers to create more public lands. The new study details the increased demand for state parks as well as the need to preserve natural habitats as the state’s population grows. Marfa Public Radio’s Mitch Borden reports.
No, Elon Musk won’t be taking us to Mars
Space exploration in science fiction has given humanity a lot to dream about. But as one writer points out, there are downfalls to leaning on science fiction as a blueprint for humanity’s future – and especially for leaning on one man to draft those blueprints. Paris Marx explores futurists’ collective obsession in their latest piece for Time Magazine. We’ll hear from them today.
Banned books and speech laws: How are teachers adjusting to teaching in Texas?
The Texas Newsroom heads back to school this week, with special reports seeking to find out how students and teachers are adjusting after Uvalde, the COVID pandemic and more. Today, the newsroom’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán looks at how teachers are navigating a fraught political landscape.
Gone To Texas: The Activist
Amy Wong Mok attended high school at 162 Austin Rd. in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Decades later, she now lives in Austin, Texas. We’ll hear the story of her journey today.
Ten years on, where does DACA stand?
This summer marked the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, enacted by former President Barack Obama in 2012. DACA has helped over 800,000 undocumented youth brought to the U.S. as children, receive benefits like a Social Security card, driver’s license, a two-year work permit, and even a college education – but not a guaranteed pathway to citizenship. Now the future of DACA remains uncertain. The Texas Standard’s Cristela Jones reports.
Typewriter Rodeo
The gang delivers another custom poem. Submit your own suggestions online!
The week in Texas politics
Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán stops by with a recap of the week that was.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
