Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022:
Secretary of Homeland Security talks government plan for border
Ahead of a visit from Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday, El Paso experienced a major increase in illegal border crossings. The Biden administration has been expecting such an influx of migrants, as the Trump-era COVID policy Title 42 ends later this month. KTEP’s Angela Kocherga spoke with Mayorkas on the state of the border and what the government plans to do from here.
Kirk Watson elected mayor of Austin
The mayoral runoff is over, and former Mayor Kirk Watson is returning to City Hall. KUT’s Audrey McGlinchy has more:
Central Texas school district addresses fentanyl problems
Four students in Central Texas’ Hays CISD died of fentanyl poisoning over the summer and in the first week of school. Recently, a middle school student had to be treated on campus to prevent another death. Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright joins us to discuss efforts to educate his community about the deadly drug.
Remembering former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach
Among those who covered sports, he was always good for a provocative soundbite – but as a coach, he was much more than just talk and bluster. Mike Leach, who died Tuesday at 61, transformed football at Texas Tech and beyond. We’ll hear from KUT reporter Jimmy Maas about Leach’s legacy.
Armed protesters gather outside San Antonio’s Aztec Theatre during Christmas-themed drag show
A Christmas-themed drag show in San Antonio was the subject of two armed protests Tuesday night. Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios reports while far-right demonstrators made unsubstantiated claims the show was “grooming” children, pro-LGBT supporters showed up in defense:
The gay-straight student alliance inside a conservative Texas school
In October we aired a story about students at Katy ISD who pushed school officials to lift filters blocking websites with LGBTQ+ resources in some of its high schools. We’re keeping up with those students as they navigate a school year fraught with book bans and other censorship. Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh has more.
New law to ban keeping big cats as pets
The Big Cat Public Safety Act prohibits keeping big cats as pets – legislation many animal advocates have sought for years. It’s now on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk. We’ll learn more from Shelby Bobosky, executive director with the Texas Humane Legislation Network.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
