Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, April 20, 2023:
More questions loom as DPS’ partnership with Austin police continues
An informal partnership between Austin police and the Department of Public Safety was brokered by Mayor Kirk Watson to assist police with things like traffic patrol. But as DPS has begun writing tickets and making arrests, community leaders and some Austin City Council members have questions about how the DPS is doing its job. KUT’s Andrew Weber joins the Standard with an overview.
Voucher backers weigh narrowing proposal to students with disabilities
As the Texas Legislature debates a voucher program that would give families public funds to help pay for private school, Republican backers are offering changes to win over skeptics. Among them: a narrow option that would provide education savings accounts just to students with disabilities. Dallas Morning News Education Lab reporter Talia Richman joins us with more.
What a Texas book ban could mean for indie bookstores
Texas House lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would place major restrictions on the books allowed in public school libraries. It would remove books deemed “sexually explicit” and create a content rating system for vendors who sell to schools. The Texas Newsroom’s Aurora Berry reports independent booksellers worry this all could hurt their bottom line:
Astronaut Christina Koch on NASA’s upcoming Artemis 2 mission
This month, NASA announced the four astronauts traveling to space as part in the Artemis 2 mission, the first crewed spaceflight to the moon in more than 50 years. Among them: space flight veteran Christina Koch. She joins us to preview the mission today.
What’s happened to Black Twitter since Elon Musk took over the site
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, many Twitter users from marginalized groups are finding it a less welcoming place. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga joins us to talk about the implications for one of the platform’s most influential communities: Black Twitter.
A 4/20 celebration of cannabis in country music
In some circles, today is a very special day: April 20, aka 4/20. And while one iconic Texas musician is heavily associated with weed, country music’s history goes beyond Willie Nelson. Spencer Dukoff recently co-authored “Country Music’s Complicated Relationship with Weed in 10 Songs” for the website Consequence and joins us today.
Joppa residents: When will the asphalt plant go, and why can’t we get answers?
In the southern Dallas community of Joppa, there’s been a fight for years over an asphalt plant. Neighbors have complained they believe the plant poses a serious health risk. Now, Nathan Collins of KERA reports residents want to have a say in decisions about the plant’s future.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
