Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Nov. 11, 2022:
Legislature extends life of troubled juvenile justice department – for now
The Texas Legislature’s Sunset Advisory Commission voted on Thursday to extend the life of the embattled Texas Juvenile Justice Department by two years. The department, charged with rehabilitating youth, has been in crisis for some time and is under federal investigation for systemic civil rights violations leading to sexual and physical abuse. Texas Public Radio’s Paul Flahive has the story:
The first Muslim lawmakers join the Texas House
This week, Texas voters elected the first South Asian and Muslim state legislators. We’ll talk with Salman Bhojani, representative-elect from District 92 in North Texas.
All 15 positions were up for grabs this year on the State Board of Education, which approves textbooks, sets curriculum standards and has veto power over new charter schools. Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh reports Republicans picked up one seat with the help of record-shattering campaign contributions – and by targeting “critical race theory.”
Sure, Texas is big – but it used to be even bigger
Texans have a kind of proverb that goes like this: “Driving across Texas isn’t a trip – it’s a dang career.” Think it’s a haul now? Commentator W.F. Strong reminds us that the size and shape of our state wasn’t always what it is today.
‘Sam and Kate’ mines Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek’s real-life families for big screen drama
There are movie stars … and then there are film icons. Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek certainly fit into the latter category. They’re Oscar winners who’ve starred in films that became cultural touchstones: “Carrie,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” “Tootsie,” “The Graduate.” In a new film hitting theatres today, they’re teaming up – but that’s not all. They’re also sharing the screen with their real-life children: Spacek’s daughter and Hoffman’s son. The Texas Standard’s Laura Rice has more.
A Veterans Day remembrance from a historic Tuskegee Airman
When he was 11 years old, Harold Brown decided he wanted to be a pilot. He flew 30 missions during World War II as one of the Tuskegee Airmen – the first Black aviators in the U.S. Military. Learn more in this “American Veteran” excerpt, recorded by Insignia Films for GBH Boston, and produced by the American Homefront Project.
The Hispanic Army pioneer Fort Hood will be renamed for
Killeen’s Fort Hood will be renamed next year in honor of a four-star general from South Texas. He was the first Hispanic to reach that rank and his 33-year career was marked by loyalty to his troops. For the Texas Standard, the Voces Oral History Center’s Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez has this Veterans Day story.
The gang delivers another custom poem.
Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán stops by with a recap of the week that was.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
