Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Nov. 22, 2024:
The sudden disappearance of the Alliance nonprofit
The Alliance, formerly the Alliance for Multicultural Services, welcomed refugees to Houston for nearly four decades with critical resources like food, job training and language classes. But in June, the organization vanished, leaving many surprised. A Houston Chronicle investigation reveals the collapse wasn’t entirely unexpected for its leaders.
Chronicle investigative reporter Andrea Ball joins the show with more on what went wrong.
Texas sees a boom in international students
The U.S. is hosting more international students than ever – up over 7% from last year. Among the top destinations are the University of North Texas and UT Dallas. Why the increase, and what does it mean for higher education and global relations?
Lee Satterfield, acting under secretary for public diplomacy at the U.S. Department of State, shares her insights.
Mental health delays in Texas jails
Inmates in Texas jails often wait months, even years, for mental health treatment – a costly burden for local facilities. Now, Williamson County is trying something new.
KUT News’ Kailey Hunt reports on how the county is addressing this urgent challenge with innovative solutions:
Trump’s efficiency initiative and Texas jobs
President-elect Trump’s efficiency initiative, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, could lead to sweeping federal job cuts and agency overhauls. And Texas, home to many federal jobs, may see significant impacts.
Axios reporter Asher Price explains what this plan could mean for workers in the state.
SpaceX backs out of Boca Chica Beach land swap
In a surprise move, SpaceX has pulled out of a land swap deal with Texas Parks and Wildlife. The agreement would have given SpaceX 43 acres of Boca Chica Beach in exchange for 477 acres near Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge.
Bloomberg space reporter Sana Pashankar joins us to explain what derailed the plan.
A football star rises from nowhere
Tobi Haastrup didn’t know the first thing about football when he stepped onto the field last summer at 17. But now, the Houston player is one of the most talked-about recruits in college football.
Grace Raynor, who profiled Haastrup for The Athletic, shares the story behind his incredible ascent.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The Texas Tribune’s James Barragán joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
