Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022:
Thousands of undocumented migrants have been sent to either Washington, D.C., or New York under the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott. According to the governor, the policy is a response to the Biden administration’s failure to secure the border. That’s also what’s behind another policy involving the transportation of migrants. Since July, state troopers have taken migrants to ports of entry along the border and handed them over to federal authorities. But that’s not normally how it works. The federal government is responsible for enforcing immigration law and taking custody of migrants. Now, the American Civil Liberties Union has asked the Department of Homeland Security to look into the policy. For more on all this, we’ll hear from Elissa Steglich, co-director of the Immigration Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Law.
Many in DFW struggle with debt they took on to survive COVID’s financial storm
For some Texans, the arrival of COVID-19 also unleashed a pandemic of debt. To those without little financial cushion losing work in the early days of the pandemic often meant racking up credit card bills to keep the family whole. In the next installment of KERA’s One Crisis Away project, Christopher Connelly reports on the huge effort now to pay off pandemic debt.
Notable small-town shops in Texas
Road trips are not just about where you’re going, of course, but also where you stop along the way: maybe an antique store, fruit stand or five and dime. In this month’s edition of Texas Highways magazine, you can find 15 of the best mom & pop shops across the state. Michael Hoinski, deputy editor for Texas Highways, tells us more.
Texas has added a lot of jobs lately. But hiring could slow later this year
Job growth in June was a “labor market on steroids,” according to one economist. But how long that momentum continues in Texas depends on several factors. That means the rate could dip slightly in the coming months. Julián Aguilar of The Texas Newsroom joins us to share more.
Austin Latina sisters seek to empower a generation through music
The Tiarras are a Latina band of sisters from Austin breaking boundaries and empowering others through music. Inspired by their Mexican-American roots, the trio’s unique sound is a fuse of cumbia, reggae, indie and more that defies a genre. The three-time Austin Music Award-winning artists sat down with The Standard to talk family, advocacy and music after going viral on TikTok.
Folding his way to gold: SMU paleontology student is an origami Olympian
Travis Nolan attends Southern Methodist University and ranked fifth in the world last year after taking gold in the International Origami Internet Olympiad. KERA’s Bill Zeeble sat down with the 20-year-old paleontology student, who’s been into dinosaurs since the time he could talk, to learn more about his accomplishments.
Will Houston’s gun buyback program help reduce crime?
On July 30, the City of Houston spent $100,000 on a gun buyback program. Handing out gift cards ranging from $50 for non-functioning weapons to $200 for automatic rifles, the city was able to purchase 845 guns. Mayor Sylvester Turner came out in support of the effort, calling it a success — but will it actually help lower gun crime in the city? Mark Anderson, a professor at Montana State University, joins us to discuss more.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Shelly Brisbin with the Talk of Texas.
