Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024:
Republican incumbents maintain hold on Texas Supreme Court
All three incumbent Republicans on the Texas Supreme Court were reelected this November. It was a blow to Democrats, who had hoped that backlash to the court’s abortion rulings would deliver them their first victory to the high court in 30 years. As it stands, Republicans will continue to hold all the court’s nine seats until 2026, when three other justices are up for reelection.
Ryan Autullo, who covers Texas courts for Bloomberg Law, joins us to discuss.
Not all solar panel customers are happy amid boom
We are in the wake of a solar panel boom here in the Lone Star State. But not everyone who’s had them installed on their roof is happy about the decision.
Sara DiNatale, energy and labor reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, joins us to talk about why.
What are the issues facing rural Texans ahead of symposium?
The Texas Tribune is hosting its biennial rural symposium in San Antonio this week. The two-day event will feature discussions with ranchers and farmers, elected officials and civic leaders from every corner of Texas and across the country.
Lubbock-based reporter Jayme Lozano Carver and regions editor Nic Garcia join us from the Tribune to talk about what issues will likely be discussed.
Mini hearts head to space for research project
A multiyear research project began a new phase last week when a collection of tiny artificial heart-tissue structures, known as cardiac organoids, blasted off for the International Space Station. By studying these organoids, scientists hope to learn about the impact of microgravity on human heart tissue.
Dr. Munmun Chattopadhyay is a faculty scientist at Texas Tech Health El Paso and a member of the team working in Earth-based labs to study what happens to these mini-hearts during a long space flight. She joins us today.
New book charts growing identity of the Texas capital city
Ahead of his appearance at the Texas Book Festival this weekend, author Alex Hannaford talks about his latest book, “Lost in Austin: The Evolution of an American City.”
Michelin names first inductees to Texas guide
French tire company Michelin has announced the first recipients of its coveted stars – along with other designations – for its guide to the culinary scene of the Lone Star State.
Laura Rice breaks down who some of the winners were.
Travis County voters approve subsidized childcare
Earlier this year, the Texas Workforce Commission published a report looking at the state of childcare in the Lone Star State. To do this, UT-Austin researchers looked at survey results from more than 1,400 childcare centers around Texas and found that Austin has the most expensive childcare in Texas.
This is why last week, 60% of voters in Travis County approved a tax rate increase that would help subsidize childcare in Austin. KUT News’ Katy McAfee has been following this story and joins Texas Standard to discuss.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Raul Alonzo with the Talk of Texas.
