Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023:
Republican fight over speakership brings U.S. House to a standstill
It’s three days into the new Congress in Washington, D.C., and there’s still no House speaker. Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy has failed a record six votes in his leadership bid. Will today be any different, and when can the House get down to actual business? Brandon Rottinghaus, political science professor at the University of Houston, has the latest.
The new Congress on Capitol Hill faces numerous challenges. Bloomberg has identified 10 lawmakers to watch, based on their legislative track records, areas of expertise and ability to get things done. One Texan made the list. Bloomberg’s Congress editor Megan Scully shares their pick.
Are kids getting sicker as the pandemic wears on?
The CDC has warned of a rise in severe Strep Group A infections among children, amid an active respiratory virus season that has put pediatric hospitals under intense pressure. Kids seem to be catching everything and getting sicker as the pandemic enters its third winter. Texas Public Radio’s Bonnie Petrie explores why.
The software meltdown at Southwest Airlines
Managing the operations of an airline is a complicated business: Specialized software has been around for decades, making steady improvements. But after a cold snap and a massive holiday travel meltdown, Southwest Airlines is pointing the finger at – you guessed it – the software. Tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us to talk about what really went wrong and why.
Huntsville turns library over to private management after censorship concerns
The Hunstville Public Library, which has been a source of controversy for months, will soon be under entirely new management: The Huntsville City Council approved a deal last month with Library Systems and Services (LS&S), a private library operations company. We’ll hear from Kelly Jensen, a writer and former librarian who covered what’s happening at the library for Book Riot.
Disagreements over civil rights leader’s death lead to calls for a new investigation
When Texas civil rights hero Frank J. Robinson died in 1976 there was a public outcry for an independent investigation. That never happened, and since then there have been doubts about the official ruling of suicide. In the final part of his series Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports on calls for a new investigation.
How domestic violence disproportionately hurts women of color
If a white woman in Dallas County is the victim of a homicide, it’s most likely the result of domestic violence. But women of color are more likely to be killed. KERA’s Caroline Love has the story.
El Paso scraps plans for multimillion dollar arena
In 2012, El Paso approved a bond that included $180 million for a new downtown venue and arena. But plans hit a wall when its proposed location was revealed: an older, historic part of the city called Duranguito. Now, after over a decade of debate, the arena is officially not happening in Duranguito. Elida Perez, senior reporter for El Paso Matters, joins us to discuss the decision.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
