Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024:
Texas Supreme Court justice’s oversight of trust raises ethics concerns
In 2022, Elvie Kingston’s dementia was deteriorating her mental capacity. The 76-year-old millionaire and longtime conservative activist signed legal documents that removed her family’s right to make decisions about her health and finances.
Two years later, those powers remain almost entirely in the hands of Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine and his wife. But legal experts say Devine’s control of Kingston’s trust is a clear violation of Texas ethics rules.
Robert Downen, who covers democracy and disinformation for The Texas Tribune, joins us with the story.
Voters of various faiths mull how to cast their ballots
Early voting for the November election is underway in Texas. For the last month and a half, we’ve been sharing stories about the role religion plays for Texans in the choices they make at the ballot box – and how they think about government.
Today, we’ll hear more about that from voters across the state, plus what they’re most focused on as Election Day rapidly approaches.
This week in Texas music history
This week in Texas music history, a Texas trombonist lays down a classic track with some of jazz’s biggest stars.
West Texas town dealing with insect invasion
The dust and wind in West Texas conspire to keep front steps and porches coated in a layer of grit. But in Socorro, just southeast of El Paso, it’s not just dirt piling up in front of people’s doors. For months, the town’s been plagued by a small species of insect that seem to be everywhere: the red flour beetle.
Patrick Porter, an entomologist based in Lubbock for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, joins us to discuss.
How Texans came to remember the Alamo
Even though the words “Remember the Alamo” are available on t-shirts, bumper stickers and kitchen kitsch, the Alamo wasn’t always remembered with the reverence it is today.
For a long time, the Alamo was used mostly as a warehouse. Even the church, which people rather universally think of as The Alamo, was used as an Army depot for decades.
Commentator W.F. Strong has the story of two women who helped to change that.
New book highlights voices of trans teens
Young people today have more ways than ever before to describe themselves when it comes to gender and sexuality. For some, understanding all this can be confusing, or even threatening. Some of those feelings have led to legislation across the country especially targeted at the transgender community.
Nico Lang has reported on those issues for more than a decade but wanted to focus instead on just the voices and experiences of trans teens. They’ve done that in a new book, “American Teenager: How Trans Kids are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era.” Lang joins us today.
Microcredential programs gaining appeal outside of traditional degrees
A growing number of students are looking for post-high school opportunities outside the traditional four-year university. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have pinned their hopes on what are called “microcredentials” as quicker pathways to in-demand careers including phlebotomy, welding and more.
Sara Weissman wrote about all this for Inside Higher Ed and joined us to discuss.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Raul Alonzo with the Talk of Texas.
