Here are the stories for Texas Standard for Tuesday, May 24, 2022:
Report on Southern Baptist Convention confirms decades of abuse
Prompted by a 2019 investigation that uncovered pervasive sexual abuse and lack of accountability inside Southern Baptist Convention churches, the SBC has released a report it commissioned confirming the findings. We’ll talk to Houston Chronicle reporter John Tedesco.
Democratic candidates seek to succeed Eddie Bernice Johnson in Texas’s 30th Congressional District
Today is the final day to cast your ballot in the primary runoffs. One of the most closely watched contests in the state is the Democratic runoff in Congressional District 30. Veteran Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson announced her retirement in November. As KERA’s Stella Chavez reports, the race pits Johnson’s pick against the candidate backed by longtime Democratic Party titans.
A handful of Republican Texas lawmakers are warning companies that pay for out-of-state abortion care they’re not welcome in Texas – and are threatening legislation to that effect for the next legislative session. Those companies include many major drivers of the economy, including Amazon, Apple and Tesla. Is their threat feasible? We’ll talk to Zach Despart, the Texas Tribune reporter behind the story.
A darkened neck could be a sign for type-2 diabetes. But Texas screenings have slowed.
Texas has one of the highest rates of diabetes. That rate has almost doubled over the past decade, and the number of people with diabetes in Texas is projected to quadruple to nearly 8 million by 2040. The explosion of diabetes in Texas is especially alarming in children. That’s why there’s a state law requiring school children are screened for diabetes, but those screenings haven’t always been happening as planned during the pandemic. Texas Public Radio’s Yvette Benavides and David Martin Davies explain.
Everything’s coming up roses for Garden Marcus 🌹
The COVID pandemic pushed people outside because it was safer to socialize that way. In the process, a lot of folks found solace connecting with nature, including gardening. In the search for tips from those with greener thumbs, some new gardeners turned to TikTok, where they found Garden Marcus: a plant whisperer, mindfulness enthusiast, and wholesome content creator who lives in Spring, Texas. Now, in addition to all that, Marcus Bridgewater is also an author. His new book is called “How To Grow: Nurture Your Garden, Nurture Yourself.”
GOP runoff for railroad commissioner asks voters, ‘What is the job of a Texas oil regulator?’
In a typical election year, the race for a seat on the Railroad Commission of Texas doesn’t get a lot of attention. Even less so, a primary runoff. But this is not a typical year. This year’s fight for the GOP nomination has revealed longstanding divisions within the party – and in the Texas oil patch – over exactly how much influence the fossil fuel industry should have in state government. KUT Austin’s Mose Buchele reports.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
