Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, July 3, 2023:
Air conditioning-free Texas prisons are baking in the summer heat
Every summer, thousands of officers and tens of thousands of prisoners are cramped inside concrete and steel buildings with little ventilation. In fact, over two-thirds of Texas’ 100 prisons don’t have air conditioning in most living areas. Texas Tribune reporter Jolie McCullough joins us with more.
Doctors will have just a bit more legal protection to perform emergency abortions under a bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. The measure comes after numerous reports of medical care being delayed due to confusion over the state’s abortion ban. Houston Chronicle reporter Julian Gill shares the details with us.
How you and you loved ones can stay safe this July 4…
Americans love their fireworks. Throughout 2022, they spent $2.2 billion on them. But over that same period more than 10,000 Americans reported fireworks injuries, with teens making the most ER visits. Austin Fire Department division chief Thayer Smith joins us with some safety tips.
… and help your pets declare independence from fireworks anxiety
Fireworks can be a lot of fun, but they can also cause a lot of anxiety for our pets. The Animal Defense League of Texas has assembled a how-to guide on pets and fireworks. Development and marketing manager Nadia De La Garza joins us with tips on keeping your furry friends safe.
What the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action means for Texas universities
The Supreme Court has ruled that colleges and universities can no longer consider race in admissions decisions. The case involved two universities, but the ruling will affect affirmative action programs at schools nationwide – including the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University and Southern Methodist University. The Texas Tribune’s Kate McGee joins us with more.
This Texas folk trio was lost to time – and that’s mostly OK with them
If you’ve never heard of the Pozo-Seco Singers, you’re not alone. The Corpus Christi trio rose to prominence during the 1960s folk music revival but seemingly vanished afterward. Now a documentary released earlier this year brings their music to light. The Standard’s Leah Scarpelli reports.
‘Be My Eyes’ app uses AI to help people with disabilities
Many folks feel uneasy about artificial intelligence and its disruptive potential. But there’s at least one use for AI that has the potential to enhance independence for people with disabilities. The Standard’s Shelly Brisbin introduces us.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
