Texas Standard for Sept. 7, 2022: The music of Taylor Swift has its own class at UT – are you ready for it?

Say goodbye to that cruel summer: UT-Austin professor Elizabeth Scala is teaching a class on Taylor Swift’s songwriting this semester. Also: As students return to class in Uvalde, new scrutiny comes as five of the Department of Public Safety officers who responded to the shooting are under formal investigation, two suspended with pay.

Plus new polling numbers on the top three races in Texas politics and more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardSeptember 7, 2022 9:29 am,

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022:

School starts in Uvalde as DPS investigates five troopers’ response

Students returned to class in Uvalde on Tuesday, for the first time since the massacre at Robb Elementary School in May. Also yesterday, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced an investigation into five troopers in connection with the failed response at Robb Elementary. Austin American-Statesman and KVUE reporter Tony Plohetski offers an update.

New polling on top statewide races

New polling from two Texas universities offers some insight into voter preferences for the top three statewide races this November. For a look at the findings we’re joined by Renée Cross, senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston.

COVID remains, but Dallas County providers refocus attention on diabetes and hypertension

Health care is far from equal in Dallas County. Chronic disease impacts some parts of the community more than others, and the availability of care isn’t evenly distributed. Parkland Hospital had been working through plans to address those disparities, but the pandemic interrupted its progress. KERA’s Bret Jaspers looks at community health care in Dallas County as Parkland officials finalize a new assessment.

Tree tragedy gives wings to an angelic solution

For everything there is a season – but that doesn’t mean that letting go is easy. Take the example of a San Antonio homeowner and the massive tree on her lawn. Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan introduces us to her and the artist whose efforts lent a divinely inspired solution.

The ‘tipping point’ facing Texas schools

Recent state ratings show that Texas schools are at a “tipping point” and risk snowballing into further catastrophe. That’s according to an op-ed from two education professors, who say the system is especially failing children from low-income families, and students enrolled in special education. Co-author and University of Texas at Austin professor David DeMatthews joins us with more.

Ready for it? The music of Taylor Swift hits a UT classroom

With nine studio albums out and another on the way next month, Taylor Swift has already solidified herself as one of the biggest names in music of this generation. Elizabeth Scala agrees. The UT-Austin professor is teaching a class on Swift’s songwriting this semester and she joins the Texas Standard to talk about it.

Fact-checking Beto O’Rourke

A popular Facebook post says Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 Senate campaign was “charged” for illegal campaign contributions. Is that a fact? Joining us from PolitiFact Texas is Nusaiba Mizan.

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

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