Texas Standard for Nov. 19, 2024: After nearly 50 years, food critic Pat Sharpe asks for the check

Pat Sharpe started out as an editorial assistant at Texas Monthly in 1974 and for the past five decades has traveled around Texas eating, reviewing and documenting the flavors of the state.

By Texas StandardNovember 19, 2024 9:41 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024:

Despite pro-Trump bona fides, top Texans are being looked over for cabinet

The state’s political leaders have been among the most staunch advocates for former President Trump during the Biden administration – Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton among them.
Even so, it appears Paxton and other Texans – at least so far – are not among the president-elect’s cabinet picks.

Jasper Scherer, who covers state politics for The Texas Tribune, joins us to discuss.

Who might Trump nominate to the Supreme Court this second term?

Trump’s appointment of three Supreme Court judges was one of his biggest impacts during his first time in office. With a second Trump presidency around the corner, many have speculated that two conservative justices, Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas, may retire in the next four years.

So who is on the shortlist this time around? Isaac Yu, who reports for the Houston Chronicle’s Austin bureau, joins us to parse through the potential picks.

YA novel retells famous Mexico City legend

A new YA novel, “Hearts of Fire and Snow,” retells a famous Mexican legend – one centered around the origin of the two volcanoes outside Mexico City. Co-authors David Bowles and Guadalupe Garcia McCall share more.

VA still checking on veterans in Helene-hit areas

More than a month after Helene, the VA is still sending teams out to check on thousands of military veterans in western North Carolina. Many have serious health problems and are isolated and having trouble getting around.

Jay Price of the American Homefront Project went out with one of the teams.

Behind the push to turn a former San Antonio golf course into an arboretum

In these divided times, one policy that many can agree on locally is the need for more green spaces. On San Antonio’s South Side, a transformation is underway to turn a former golf course into an arboretum. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan takes us there.

After nearly 50 years, food critic Pat Sharpe asks for the check

When it comes to understanding the ever-changing food culture here in the Lone Star State, there are few people who have paid closer attention than Pat Sharpe, who started out as an editorial assistant at Texas Monthly in 1974 and for the past five decades has traveled around Texas eating, reviewing and documenting the flavors around the state.

In her time as a food critic, she’s compiled lists of the best places to eat and won awards from the James Beard and Texas Restaurant Associations – and now she’s getting ready to step down. She joins us today.

Symposium delves into issues facing rural Texans

Last week, the Standard previewed this year’s Texas Tribune Rural Symposium. The two-day event brought residents, state lawmakers and local officials together to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing rural parts of Texas.

Jayme Lozano Carver, Lubbock-based reporter for the Tribune, joins us with a recap of the event:

All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Raul Alonzo with the Talk of Texas.

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