Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, March 21, 2025:
Trump signs order dismantling Department of Education
As he promised to do during the campaign, President Donald Trump has begun a process he hopes will shut down the Department of Education, saying that some functions will move to other federal departments, though no plan for doing so has yet been announced. This comes after the administration fired nearly half the department’s staff last week.
How would the closure of the department, a process that requires congressional approval, affect students – including those with disabilities, and beneficiaries of Title 1 funds for low-income students? David DeMatthews is a professor in the department of educational leadership and policy at UT Austin. He joins us to discuss.
Texas Music Madness continues
We’re looking for the best song about Texas, and we’re picking a winner, bracket-style. Vote for your favorite now!
Listeners weigh in on the Standard’s Texas songs bracket.
Rediscovering Texas farm worker history through photos
Last fall, the Texas Standard aired a three-part audio documentary about a little-known chapter of Texas history: the story of the Texas Farm Workers Union. The story was a deep dive into how the short-lived union in the ’70s led a march from the Rio Grande Valley to Washington, D.C.
Then, a listener shared their own connection to this history. The Texas Standard’s Raul Alonzo produced our series, and he’ll have an update.
Irving casino boosters change course
Last night, just hours before the city council in Irving was set to vote on plans for a casino resort near the former stadium where the Dallas Cowboys used to play their home games, the developer appeared to have a sudden change of heart. An official from the Las Vegas Sands corporation announced they would drop their push for a gambling resort, but they will press ahead with a mixed–use rezoning request.
So why the reversal? Penelope Rivera is a breaking news reporter at KERA News. She’ll tell us what happened.
‘Comida Casera’ puts vegan twist on traditional Mexican recipes
Veganism and vegetarianism have been increasing in popularity over the years. But some worry that vegan dishes can pull folks away from their culture, which is so often connected to traditional food.
San Antonio chef Dora Ramírez made it her mission to bridge the gap by veganizing all her family recipes. Her new cookbook, “Comida Casera,” examines more than 100 vegan recipes, from traditional to modern Mexican dishes. We’ll speak with her today.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The Texas Tribune’s Jasper Scherer joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Shelly Brisbin with the Talk of Texas.
