Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024:
The politics of David Cook in the Texas House speaker race
As the wrangling over who will be Texas’ next House speaker continues, we’re profiling the top contenders for the gavel. Yesterday, we looked at Dustin Burrows; today, we focus on Rep. David Cook. Do their politics differ?
James Barragán, who covers state politics for the Texas Tribune, joins the Standard with more.
Groundwater contamination cases rise across Texas
Texas saw 252 new cases of groundwater contamination in 2023, according to the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee’s latest annual report. What are the implications for the state’s water supply?
Martha Pskowski, an El Paso-based reporter covering climate change and the environment for Inside Climate News, joins Texas Standard with the details.
Travis County scrutinizes Central Health partnership
A controversy surrounding Central Health, Travis County’s public hospital district, took center stage at a county commissioners’ meeting yesterday, with leaders faceing tough questions about conflicts with a partnering organization. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge reports:
After its buyout, has Whataburger lost its spice?
Some Texans claim Whataburger just isn’t what it used to be, blaming changes on its sale to a Chicago-based company. Are those iconic A-frame restaurants still delivering Texas charm, or is something actually amiss?
Omar Gallaga, who recently tackled this question for the Washington Post’s Travel section, joins Texas Standard with his findings.
Addressing chronic absenteeism in schools
Chronic absenteeism rates surged nationwide after the pandemic, and many schools are still struggling to bring students back.
KUT’s Becky Fogel reports from a Northeast Austin middle school experimenting with new ways to improve attendance.
Dallas Symphony program teaches more than music
A Dallas Symphony Orchestra initiative is offering free instruments and music lessons to students in Southern Dallas.
But as KERA’s Elizabeth Myong reports, the program is about more than music – it’s teaching life skills, too.
Stories from Texas: Fronters and backers
Do you pull into a parking space frontwards or do you back in? Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong asks his fellow backers why they prefer that method.
Antitrust policies in focus after grocery merger blocked
An Oregon judge has temporarily halted the $20 billion merger between Albertsons and Kroger, citing antitrust concerns. Under the Biden administration, federal efforts to prevent monopolies have intensified. But with Donald Trump set to begin his second term soon, could this approach change?
Stacy Mitchell, co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, joins the Standard with more on the implications.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
