Texas Standard for March 31, 2023: Will Texas ban the death penalty for people with severe mental illness?

The Standard’s Sean Saldana reports that the impact of a bill making its way through the Texas House of Representatives would be limited to schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders and bipolar disorders.

By Texas StandardMarch 31, 2023 8:52 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, March 31, 2023:

What new census data says about Texas

Over 30 million people now call Texas home, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data. It’s the fourth fastest growing state in the nation. But that growth is not being felt evenly across the state. Helen You, associate director of the Texas Demographic Center, joins us to talk numbers.

Will Texas ban the death penalty for people with severe mental illness?

A bill that would outlaw the death penalty in Texas for capital offenses committed by people with “severe mental illnesses” is making its way through the Texas House of Representatives. The Standard’s Sean Saldana reports its impact would be limited to schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders and bipolar disorders.

Texas Republicans want out of a national voting security system

Some Texas Republicans want to abandon a national voting security system that’s charged with ensuring that individuals can vote only in the state where they currently live – despite there being no replacement in sight. Michael Morse wrote for Slate about how the Electronic Information Registration Center works, and why GOP lawmakers want out.

GOP-authored bills target Harris County’s control over elections

The Texas Senate is considering a pair of bills aimed at removing Harris County’s elections administrator. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says the bills come in the wake of high-profile problems with last year’s primary and general elections in Harris County:

A taste of taco gentrification

With growth and gentrification comes displacement. You can literally taste it in Austin’s tacos, where what might be a $2 meal at one location could cost $9 just a few blocks away. Taco journalist and podcast host Mando Rayo talks about it with us.

As Toyah residents lived under a boil water notice, state regulators hesitated to act

The tiny West Texas town of Toyah has been under a boil water notice for five years. The town’s leaders say the water is fine, despite reports of rashes, bacterial infections and noticeably dirty water coming out of taps. Marfa Public Radio’s Mitch Borden, in collaboration with Inside Climate News, met up with a team that recently came to test the water.

Typewriter Rodeo

The gang delivers another custom poem. Get in touch with your own topic suggestions!

The week in Texas politics

Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán stops by with a recap of the week that was, including U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee announcing a run for Houston mayor, the resignation of state Rep. Jolanda Jonessenior office staff, and state troopers enhanced patrol of Austin streets.

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

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