Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024:
Supreme Court hears pivotal transgender health care case
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Skrmetti, a case addressing access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender teens. At stake: the future of gender-affirming care in America.
Tara Grove, professor and Vinson & Elkins Chair in Law at the University of Texas at Austin, was following the arguments closely. She joins Texas Standard with her insights:
Ken Paxton subject to new scrutiny over property holdings
State ethics regulators have tightened rules requiring elected officials to disclose properties held in blind trusts if they have “actual knowledge” of them. The Texas Ethics Commission also mandated transparency about rental properties, including addresses and renters’ names. These changes could reveal more about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent real estate transactions.
Lauren McGaughy, investigative reporter and editor for the Texas Newsroom, breaks it down.
Austin Water gets a clean bill of health on PFAS
Austin Water has found little to no trace of PFAS – nicknamed “forever chemicals” – in the city’s drinking water. KUT’s Katy McAfee reports on how Austin achieved this reassuring result:
Enron rebrands, shocking Houston and beyond
More than two decades after its infamous collapse, Enron has launched an unexpected media campaign, complete with a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle. What’s behind this revival of a brand synonymous with corporate scandal?
Houston Chronicle reporter John Lomax V joins the Standard with the story.
Uranium mining poised for a comeback in South Texas
Dormant for years, South Texas uranium mines are set to restart operations. Two companies are leading this renewed push, raising questions about the environmental and economic implications.
Dylan Baddour, reporter for Inside Climate News, discusses the latest developments.
Austin blogger and tarot card reader seeks out a meaningful life through the gig economy
Addie Broyles had written for a major Texas newspaper for 15 years when the pandemic hit. She was the daily’s food writer and spent her days in the world of print journalism. Then, COVID-19 arrived and shook up her plans. Hear from Broyles about what happened next.
What ChatGPT didn’t know about David Mayer – and why it matters
For most of us, being Google-able is a given. But a one David Mayer’s name was conspicuously absent from ChatGPT’s knowledge – until recently. This puzzling omission sheds light on AI “hallucinations.”
Omar Gallaga, tech expert and writer for CNET, joins the Standard with more on what it means.
Texas abortion laws drive OB/GYNs out of state
Stricter abortion laws post-Dobbs have caused ripple effects in Texas health care. While some doctors moved their practices immediately, new evidence shows medical trainees are also leaving the state. The trend, dubbed the “Texas Exodus,” threatens the future of maternal health care.
Stephania Taladrid of The New Yorker shares her reporting with the Standard.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
