Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Sen. Roland Gutierrez on Uvalde, one year later
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez represents District 19, which covers large parts of Southwest Texas – including Uvalde. He’s been an outspoken advocate for the families of the Robb Elementary School victims and has called, without success, for further gun restrictions in the wake of the mass shooting. Gutierrez joins us to talk about the aftermath of Uvalde, one year later.
Title 42 has expired, but many immigrants’ futures are as uncertain as ever
Despite the expiration of Title 42 border restrictions, the anticipated surge at the southern border has not materialized. Customs and Border Protection has reported a 50% decrease in encounters compared to the pre-Title 42 period. Still, tens of thousands of individuals remain at the border, contemplating their next steps. Texas Public Radio’s Stephania Corpi reports.
If you’ve spent any time around farmers, you may have noticed the pragmatic approach to life many share. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong says it’s something he’s long observed.
Austin firefighters pick up the slack at the expense of their mental health
Firefighters in Austin are racking up millions of dollars in overtime pay as the department faces a staffing shortage. Those grueling hours are taking a toll on their mental health. KUT’s Haya Panjwani reports how the department is addressing those challenges.
‘Texas Wild’ reimagines classic tunes to benefit state parks
Texas’ physical landscape is vast and full of variety. So is its musical one. Now, Texas Parks and Wildlife has collaborated with renowned musicians to revamp famous Texas songs in a project called “Texas Wild.” The production is led by musician Walker Lukens. We’ll talk to him today.
One year later, trust in police remains frail in Uvalde
On the day of the deadliest school shooting in state history, 376 officers waited outside the Robb Elementary classrooms in Uvalde. It took 77 minutes for them to kill the gunman, creating massive distrust between the community and law enforcement. Texas Public Radio’s Kayla Padilla reports.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.