Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, March 22, 2021.
Anti-Asian American Hate Crimes
The nation’s Asian-American community is grieving over the victims killed in mass shootings at three Atlanta, Georgia area spas. The massacres left eight people dead, six of them Asian-American women. Authorities say they have yet to determine whether or not it was a hate crime. But for Asian-Americans, it’s the latest in a dramatic uptick of racist encounters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just last weekend an Asian restaurant in San Antonio was vandalized with racist slurs after the store owner said he would continue to require customers to wear face masks after Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the mandate. Eric Tang, director of the Center for Asian American Studies at The University of Texas at Austin, talks to the Standard.
Lawmakers scolded Army investigators over a lack of improvement in the wake of a damning report out of Fort Hood last year. The report found the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command to be understaffed, under-resourced and unable to pursue some cases properly. Texas Public Radio’s Carson Frame reports.
The Human Rights Initiative of North Texas has launched an online tool to help immigrants and refugees navigate the healthcare system. As KERA’s Stella Chavez reports, users can find affordable healthcare providers and how to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine.
A Family Struggling With Virtual Learning
The stress and strain of living through a pandemic has hurt the school attendance records of many Texas students. Districts have ironed out some of the problems with access to virtual learning. But some of the challenges of learning from home aren’t easy to solve. Texas Public Radio’s Camille Phillips tells us the story of one family’s struggles with virtual learning and why they’re determined to keep at it anyways.
Texas Standard’s Vaccine Tracker, Part 4
Vaccine eligibility opened up for more Texans this week. Phase 1C expands access to those aged 50 to 64. About 10-percent of Texans are now fully vaccinated and close to 20% have had at least one shot. The Standard’s Laura Rice has been tracking the process through your stories. Today, she has an update.
The Sounds of Texas: Jasmine Stodel On ‘Kid Candidate’
A 20-something from Amarillo who starred in a viral video about running for city council decided to actually seek office. A new documentary follows his journey. Jasmine Stodel is the director of “Kid Candidate” which is premiering at SXSW.
The US Versus Reality Winner Film
The name Reality Winner is one that sticks in the memory. You might even remember that she was a whistleblower. But do you remember what the Texas-born 20-something did? And how she changed the political conversation, perhaps even the political trajectory of the United States? A new documentary premiering now at the SXSW Film Festival explores that. It also tells the story of how Reality Winner’s decision to disclose a classified document changed her own life.
Typewriter Rodeo: Pandemic Road Trip
Texas Tribune reporter Juan Pablo Garnham joins the Standard to review this week in politics.
All this and Texas News Roundup, plus Michael Marks with the talk of Texas.
