Texas Standard for Sept. 15, 2022: Latest on Corpus Christi’s troubled Harbor Bridge project

A construction project in Corpus Christi to replace the current Harbor Bridge, built during World War II, has given public officials headaches for years. New bridge construction has halted as TxDOT and other engineers worry those design issues could lead to a collapse. Also: The latest on the railroad worker strike that wasn’t. Plus: You’ve heard of blue books, the green book, but what about the beige book? It’s choc full of the economy’s secrets, and our own Sean Saldana’s been looking through a copy.

That and the biggest headlines of the day, today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardSeptember 15, 2022 9:30 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022:

Agreement appears to prevent railroad strike

Details are vague, but after marathon negotiations it appears U.S. railroads will avoid a strike. We’ll have the latest today with Jim Tankersley, who’s covering the story for The New York Times.

Latest polling shows tightening race for Texas governor

New poll results show Gov. Greg Abbott leads Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke by 5% in the upcoming Texas gubernatorial race. That’s one of the findings in the latest poll from the Texas Politics Project at UT-Austin. Joining us to explain the results is executive director Jim Henson. 

Mexico’s president is unlikely to reopen the country’s energy sector to private investment, even if he loses a trade dispute with the US

The Biden administration has opened a trade dispute against Mexico to allow U.S. companies the ability to invest in its energy sector. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports that even if the U.S. wins, Texas companies aren’t likely to see much relief.

Reviews say Nintendo’s Splatoon 3 hits the mark

The Nintendo Switch gaming platform has plenty of hits, but there’s a new gunslinger in town. Splatoon 3 is racking up impressive sales in Japan, and’s expected it will do the same here this fall. Tech expert Omar Gallaga’s here to help us understand why Splatoon’s expected to be an explosive hit.

Inside the Dallas Fed’s Beige Book

Eight times a year, regional federal reserve banks around the country put out something called the Beige Book, summing up economic developments in various regions of the country. Last week the Dallas Fed released its latest entry. Texas Standard reporter and producer Sean Saldana is here to help us flip through it. 

Here’s Johnny!

In the 1980s, The Johnny Canales Show brought together Latino families at home around the world. The television show ended in 2005, but now Canales is back on a different medium. Terry Gutierrez brings us this story as part of Texas Standard’s collaboration with the Voces Oral History Center during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Childrens’ book travels to ‘Where Wonder Grows’

A colorful new children’s book explores the culture of South Texas. We’ll learn about “Where Wonder Grows” from author Xelena González and illustrator Adriana Garcia.

A troubled bridge over waters in Corpus Christi’s harbor

A construction project in Corpus Christi to replace the current Harbor Bridge, built during World War II, has given public officials headaches for years. New bridge construction has halted as TxDOT and other engineers worry those design issues could lead to a collapse. For more we’re talking with Corpus Christi Caller-Times reporter Chase Rodger.

All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.

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