Texas Standard For February 11, 2021

The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump is underway. So what have we learned and will any of it affect the chances of a conviction? We’ll explore. And: The COVID-19 vaccine could put an end to this pandemic in the way we’ve been living it so far, but only if people get the vaccine. We’ll explore some challenges. Also: Mexico doesn’t get the credit it deserves when it comes to the way it’s shaped the global economy. That’s the premise behind a new book. What we could stand to learn about our neighbor to the south. Plus: The growing backlog of unsolved murders in Texas and what it tells us about policing in the state. And we’ll take a break and nerd out a bit about gaming graphics. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:

By Texas StandardFebruary 11, 2021 9:30 amWhole Shows

Illustration by Wells Dunbar/Texas Standard

Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, February 11, 2021.

Impeachment Trial

Jeffrey Engel is a professor and founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University. He joins the Standard to discuss the latest developments in the impeachment trial of former President Trump.

Vaccine Acceptance Rate

Public health officials say that between 75 and 80 percent of the population will need to get the vaccine in order to reach herd immunity. Texas Tribune reporter Karen Brooks Harper talks to the Standard about whether Texas will get there.

Rapid Test for Homeless

Temperatures in parts of Texas are expected to drop below freezing this week – a dangerous development for people experiencing homelessness. During the pandemic, homeless shelters have struggled to meet demand for their vital services, partly because waiting on COVID-19 testing results slowed things down. But as KERA’s Christopher Connelly explains, new rapid tests are changing that.

Gaming Graphics

Tech expert Omar Gallaga talks to the Standard about how serious gamers don’t need to break the bank to have a great gaming experience online.

Mexico and the Global Economy

The economic history of our neighbor to the south is chronicled in a new book: “Revolution in Development: Mexico and the Governance of the Global Economy.” Its author, the historian and sociologist Christy Thornton, joins the Standard today.

West Fertilizer Explosion Investigation

Years after a 2013 ammonium nitrate explosion in West, Texas killed 15 people, little has changed regarding chemical safety policies. As a joint Texas Public Radio-Houston Public Media investigation details, despite a sweeping review of safety procedures, many changes remain incomplete or have been rolled back. Texas Public Radio’s Dominic Anthony Walsh reports.

Homicide Investigations

Police violence against minorities has sparked intense debate over public safety budgets. But how police employ existing resources, specifically when it comes to murder investigations, is the subject of a new report in Texas Observer by reporter Lise Olsen. Olsen joins the Standard.

All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.

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