Texas Standard for June 10, 2022: Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunman

In his first interview since the massacre, Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo says he lacked the key to unlock classroom doors during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24. Also: New revelations from a nationally broadcast congressional hearing on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection – we have more on the primetime hearings and their potential impact. And: The effect of child abuse investigations of Texas families providing gender-affirming care to their trans kids as three more families sue the state.

Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardJune 10, 2022 9:54 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, June 10, 2022. Check back later today for updated story links and audio.

Jan. 6 hearing makes the case against Trump

On Thursday night, the first in a series of ready for primetime hearings on the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection were broadcast nationwide. It was a two-hour presentation designed to refocus Americans’ attention on what Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney described as an unprecedented conspiracy against the U.S. government. And at the center of it all: former President Donald Trump. Todd Gillman, bureau chief for the Dallas Morning News,  joins us after watching it all unfold from Washington, D.C.

Lawsuits build against Texas over investigations into parents of trans children

Three more families with transgender children are suing to stop child abuse investigations the state has opened into them. The lawsuits come after the state Department of Family and Protective Services — under the leadership of Attorney General Ken Paxton — now considers certain gender-affirming care for adolescents child abuse. Lauren McGaughy, who has been reporting on the lawsuits for the Dallas Morning News, joins us today.

Frustration grows as some Big Bend area rental owners skirt taxes

In far West Texas, the number of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals in Brewster County has exploded. But despite the broader economic gain, some in the Big Bend tourism business are frustrated by what they call an unfair taxing system. They say some rental owners are paying what they’re supposed to – and others are getting away with not paying at all. Marfa Public Radio’s Travis Bubenik has the story.

Austin home market overpriced at three-decade high, according to report

Housing prices across Texas remain very high, even as the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates for borrowers. But while we’ve covered this issue before, a recent Axios headline put it very starkly: “How much homebuyers in Austin are overpaying.” Asher Price, who wrote the story and has also been keeping an eye on home sales in other Texas markets, shares more.

Uvalde schools police chief defends delay in confronting gunman

What delayed armed officers and Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo from entering a classroom where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers? A reinforced door and a missing key, in his telling. In his first interview since the massacre, Arredondo says he lacked the key to unlock classroom doors during the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24. Zach Despart, who has been reporting on the Uvalde tragedy for the Texas Tribune, joins us.

‘Bad Mexicans’ re-examines the revolution through its unsung heroes

When it comes to the Mexican Revolution, Pancho Villa is a familiar name. But what about Ricardo Flores Magón? He was a radical who galvanized journalists, miners, migrant workers and many more to take part in the revolution. His story and how it impacts the Mexican American population of today is told by author Kelly Lytle Hernández, who joins us to discuss her new book “Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire, and Revolution in the Borderlands.”

Typewriter Rodeo

The gang delivers another poem inspired by events both current and timeless. Submit your own suggestions here!

The week in Texas politics

Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán stops by with a recap of the week that was.

All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.

If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.