Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025:
How Texans have weathered the cold snap
How did Texans contend with the extreme cold snap that brought snow across the Lone Star State on Tuesday? For a recap, we’ll hear from Houston Public Media’s Lucio Vasquez, Audrey McGlinchy with KUT News in Austin, and Texas Public Radio’s Brian Kirkpatrick in San Antonio:
Rescue operation will save cold-stunned sea turtles
As Texans try to keep warm, volunteers are bundling up to help a particularly vulnerable population: sea turtles. South Padre Island-based nonprofit Sea Turtle Inc. is gearing up for a rescue operation as a second cold snap in two weeks threatens turtles with “cold stun,” a life-threatening condition.
Wendy Knight, CEO of Sea Turtle Inc., joins us with more on the effort.
Reproductive rights in Texas’ latest legislative session
Reproductive rights activists are strategizing how to move their cause forward during the current Texas legislative session. KUT News’ Olivia Aldridge has the story:
Trump declares energy emergency in the US
President Trump’s first day back in office included a flurry of executive orders, including one declaring an energy emergency in the U.S. His orders aim to promote fossil fuels, end incentives for electric vehicles, and roll back other Biden-era climate initiatives.
Houston Chronicle reporter James Osborne explains how Texas could be impacted.
Libraries and mental health services
Libraries are safe spaces for Texans to get information and internet access, but some have also provided mental health services. A program at nine Central Texas libraries is set to end in a few months, and participants are divided on whether it’s worth finding new funding.
We’ll hear more from Oli De Los Santos, who has been following this story for Texas Community Health News, based out of Texas State University.
A look at the Texas ties at Sundance
The Sundance Film Festival begins tomorrow, despite the ongoing California fires. Among the 88 feature-length films are several with Texas connections, hoping to generate buzz for broader audiences. The Standard’s Laura Rice highlights five screenings with Texas ties.
Strong cold front doesn’t freeze out San Antonio’s MLK march
Martin Luther King Jr. Day dawned cold and gray in San Antonio, with temps in the 20s. Despite the chill, over 200,000 San Antonians joined the 2.5-mile march honoring Dr. King.
Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan reports.
The constitutional implications for presidential pardons
We’ve seen two presidents exercise their sweeping pardon powers. In his final days, Biden pardoned family members, former CDC Director Anthony Fauci, and other figures controversial on the right. On his first day back in office, Trump pardoned nearly 1,500 people, including Capitol rioters.
UT Austin law professor Tara Grove breaks down the constitutional implications.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
