Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Nov. 4, 2024:
400-acre wildfire near Bastrop State Park leads to evacuations
The Hudson Fire in Central Texas has prompted the voluntary evacuation of about 65 homes in Bastrop County. As of this morning, the fire spans roughly 400 acres, with the vast majority of it out of containment.
Kari Hines from the Texas A&M Forest Service joins Texas Standard with updates on the fire’s status, any reported injuries and more.
When faith and art meet in Marfa, politics take a backseat
In the heart of Marfa, the First United Methodist Church has stood for over a century, witnessing the town’s evolution into a vibrant art destination. Yet, as its congregation has shrunk, a core group of devoted members has held on to a sense of unity. Their secret? Steering clear of politics, even in the midst of a tense presidential race.
In the final chapter of our series on faith and politics, Marfa Public Radio’s Mitch Borden brings us this story.
What early voting looked like in Texas this election
Election Day is tomorrow, and while many Texans will head to the polls, millions have already cast their ballots. The Texas Newsroom’s Rachel Osier Lindley reports on early voting, which wrapped up on Friday:
Why Texans can’t put abortion – or other citizen-led initiatives – on the ballot
After the end of Roe V. Wade, some states are voting on whether to enshrine abortion protections in their constitutions via citizen-led ballot initiatives. These referendums have gained traction, even in states with Republican-controlled legislatures. But in Texas, there’s no way for voters to get an initiative on the ballot themselves.
The Standard’s Sarah Asch reports on the history of direct democracy in Texas and why the state lacks this path for citizen-driven policy changes.
Are Californians pushing Texas toward the left?
The phrase “Don’t California my Texas” has become a rallying cry for some Texas Republicans wary of newcomers from blue states, especially California, influencing politics. But are these transplants actually shifting Texas to the left?
The political impact might not be that significant, the Houston Chronicle’s Matt Zdun says. He joins the Standard to talk about how demographic changes are really reshaping Texas’ political landscape.
Robert Roberson and the death penalty in Texas
The legal clash over death row inmate Robert Roberson continues, with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton blocking Roberson from testifying before a Texas House committee. The bipartisan subpoena delayed Roberson’s execution and has drawn attention to questions of potentially exculpatory evidence in his case and others – renewing discussions on the death penalty’s role in Texas.
Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies explores how Roberson’s story could shape public opinion in the state.
Migrant families say Texas National Guard took their dogs
While false claims about Haitian migrants eating cats and dogs in Ohio made headlines this election season, a real story involving migrants and their pets is unfolding on the Texas border.
KTEP’s Angela Kocherga reports that migrant families say members of the Texas National Guard have taken their dogs, raising concerns and sparking questions about the treatment of migrants and their animal companions:
Political shifts in the Rio Grande Valley ahead of Election Day
The Rio Grande Valley has captured national attention in recent election cycles, with Trump’s surprising gains in 2020 and Republican wins in 2022. As Election Day approaches, what changes are we seeing in the Valley’s political scene?
Border reporter Gaige Davila, who covered this for the Texas Observer, joins us to discuss the shifts underway and what they could mean for tomorrow’s results.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
