Results on Texas constitutional amendments
Texas voters have cast their ballots for eight proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution – and all eight have passed. Helping us go over the results is Richard Pineda, director of the Sam Donaldson Center for Communication Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso.
With updates on notable local races from around the state, we’ll hear from Audrey McGlinchy with KUT on Austin’s Prop A; Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios on the HD 118 runoff; and KERA’s Bill Zeeble on Fort Worth ISD bond spending.
Texas owes $5.9 billion to the federal government for loans it took out to pay record high unemployment claims during the pandemic. The state has been forced to take a federal loan during each recession the past 20 years. But this time, Texas will not have to pay it back. Texas Public Radio’s Paul Flahive explains.
The role of banks in preventing elder abuse
When it comes to child abuse, there’s a phrase that challenges the community to rally around children and report suspected abuse or neglect: if you see something, say something. Texas law is the same when it comes to older adults. Every Texan is responsible for elders’ well-being and are asked to report suspected abuse or neglect to Adult Protective Services – even banks.
All week we’re looking at different roles in preventing elder abuse. Our special webpage is now live! Visit https://www.texasstandard.org/elders.
Tensions are rising between China and Taiwan as Chinese troops continue exercises near the island. Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it would boost troop training, including sending marine forces to Guam to train with U.S. service members. And last week, the Biden administration said that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China invaded – moving away from a policy of “strategic ambiguity.” Its a complicated situation all around. Helping us put it into context is Sheena Chestnut Greitens, director of the Asia Policy Program at the University of Texas’ LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Texas gained more people than any other state over the past 10 years, and those people need water. In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, a major part of the water plan involves building a massive reservoir in Northeast Texas. Building the Marvin Nichols Reservoir would likely secure a water supply for the metroplex into the next century. But residents in northeast Texas have been fighting the project for years, and are doubling down on their efforts. KERA’s Bret Jaspers has more.
W.F. Strong: ‘Origins of the word “Maverick”‘
Texas is the birthplace of many standouts in all sorts of industries: Beyoncé, Selena, LBJ and Bucky the Beaver, to name a few. It’s also the birthplace to a certain word that grew up and went global. Commentator W.F. Strong notes the word “maverick” has gone beyond its roots as a simple noun to become an impressive and uniquely Texan metaphor.
The Biden administration has announced plans to open the Gulf of Mexico to offshore wind projects. Officials say initial development could begin as early as 2022. An offshore wind farm would be a first for our region. So how do they work? Shelby Webb, energy reporter for the Houston Chronicle, joins us with the details.
All this plus the Texas News Roundup and Social Media Editor Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
