Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, June 14, 2023:
What’s changing in school libraries after laws targeting ‘explicit’ materials take effect?
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law this week banning “explicit” books in schools. House Bill 900 was part of a session-long push among Republicans to increase parents’ input in Texas classrooms. For more on what it means for school libraries, we’ll hear from Shirley Robinson, the executive director of the Texas Library Association
Southern Baptists fend off challenge from far right
This year’s Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans saw the resounding re-election of President Bart Barber, fending off a fight from members that would push the convention further to the right. The Texas Tribune’s Robert Downen joins us with more about what the results mean for the future of the Southern Baptists.
Athena Strand’s mom says a newly passed Texas alert system could save lives
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Tuesday that will localize missing child alerts. KERA’s Toluwani Osibamowo says the new law was inspired by the disappearance and death of North Texas 7-year-old Athena Strand last year:
Family of Henrietta Lacks speak out
Henrietta Lacks’ cells changed modern medicine – without her knowledge or permission. Her family spoke at a gathering of scientists in San Antonio recently about ethics and equity in science and medicine. Texas Public Radio’s Bonnie Petrie reports.
The science behind ‘fish kills’
It’s an unsettling sight: tens of thousands of fish piled up dead all along the shore of a Texas Gulf Coast beach, with scores of dead fish filling the waters. The culprit? Low oxygen levels in the warm, shallow waters near the beaches. Texas A&M-Galveston Sea Life Facility manager Katie Saint Clair joins us to talk about the phenomenon.
Meet the founders of the Oblivion Access festival
While many of the bands on the Oblivion Access festival may not be what you’d call household names, the four-day fest of underground and extreme independent music and art will leave an indelible mark. We’ll hear from founders Dusty Brooks and Dorian Domi.
Why Ron DeSantis is outpacing Greg Abbott in political momentum
Two governors – Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis – are both presidential hopefuls, and both have made similar headline-making policy decisions for years. But it’s DeSantis who’s emerged as the conservative culture war leader. Michael Mooney has been writing about this for Axios and joins us today.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
