Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022:
Dr. Peter Hotez on staying safe over the holidays
As news outlets warn of a “tridemic” this holiday season (COVID, flu and RSV), one of the world’s top viral disease specialists says we face more like a septademic: seven viruses and pathogens taking aim at the population. Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor School of Medicine joins us to talk about who’s most affected and how to stay healthy during this holiday season.
Abortion provider who violated Texas law speaks out
San Antonio abortion provider Dr. Alan Braid recently had a lawsuit against him dismissed, after he performed the procedure in alleged violation of Texas law. His biggest regret, he says, is that he did not provide more abortions. He talked with Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies about the lawsuit and the future of abortion in Texas:
How Google tweaks your search results
If you suspect that your Google searches don’t always yield the same results, or that the kinds of results you get have changed over time, you would be right. Our tech expert, Omar Gallaga, talked with members of Google’s search team for a piece on wired.com. He’s here to tell us what he learned.
As lawmakers ramp up ‘invasion’ talk, migrants in El Paso instead search for places to sleep
There’s a lot of news breaking at the border: thousands of migrants arriving in El Paso at once, Gov. Greg Abbott accusing non-governmental organizations of helping migrants enter the U.S. illegally, and the return of increased inspections for commercial trucks. Julián Aguilar, digital breaking news reporter for the Texas Newsroom, has more.
What happens when rural hospitals close
The pandemic has put many hospitals in rural parts of Texas in a bind. Inflation has driven up costs. They’re having to pay more for everything – from nursing staff, to medical supplies, to drugs, putting many rural hospitals at serious risk of closure. Houston Public Media’s Sara Willa Ernst tells us what a closure could mean for a community.
Big Bend National Park to add thousands of acres of parkland
Big Bend National Park is about to get a little bit bigger: The Big Bend Conservancy is expecting to finalize the purchase of almost 4,000 acres of land early next year. The Big Bend Sentinel’s Mary Cantrell joins the Standard with more.
Jury finds former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean guilty of manslaughter
Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean has been convicted of manslaughter, a lesser crime than his original charge of murder. Dean was indicted for murder after he shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson in her own home. KERA North Texas’ Miranda Suarez shares the latest.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
