Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, March 16, 2023:
What happens when the state takes over a local school district?
The TEA’s announcement that it would run Houston ISD is far from the first state takeover of a local school district. What can the results of previous takeovers tell us about the possible outcome for this one? That’s a question that Anna Bauman has been looking into as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle. We’ll speak with her today.
Making your voice heard: How to testify at the Texas Legislature
The pace of activity at the Texas Legislature has picked up recently as lawmakers have proposed thousands of bills. Throughout the process, members of the public have various opportunities to provide comments on the bills they care about. This usually happens at the committee stage of the process. But how exactly can you make your voice heard? Megan Menchaca, who covers higher education for the Austin American-Statesman, joins us.
Lawmakers consider a local preemption bill
A bill filed in the Texas Legislature aims to prevent cities from implementing some ordinances – including those that protect workers. And, as expected, the proposal has prompted pushback from labor organizers and local elected officials, who say lawmakers in Austin are trying to strip away their authority. The Texas Newsroom’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán reports:
Austin’s COVID experts are reuniting to take on future pandemic threats
On March 13, 2020, Travis County officials confirmed the first local cases of COVID-19. Three years later, some of Austin’s most visible leaders from the pandemic are looking ahead to future threats. KUT’s Olivia Aldridge reports.
NCAA women’s basketball tournament preview
The first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament kicks off Friday. With 64 teams, and 32 games scheduled for this weekend, there’s a lot to unpack. Laken Litman, a writer for Fox Sports based in Dallas, joins us today.
‘The Lady Bird Diaries’ tells a first lady’s story in audio and on film
During the turbulent 1960s, with President Lyndon Johnson mired in the Vietnam War and pushing for new civil rights and voting rights laws at home, many observers didn’t realize that Lady Bird Johnson had become one of the most influential first ladies to occupy the White House. And she chronicled it all in audio diaries that are now the basis for a new film from director Dawn Porter. She tells us about the film, along with Julia Sweig, who chronicled the first lady’s time in Washington in a book and podcast.
Our tech expert Omar Gallaga covered the South by Southwest festivals in Austin this week. He joins us to talk about what’s new in tech and entertainment, and how the failure of Silicon Valley Bank affected attendees.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Shelly Brisbin with the Talk of Texas.
