Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, April 21, 2023:
The Texas Senate OKs a ‘use it or lose it’ voting bill
This week, the state Senate passed new voting restrictions: if someone misses two consecutive federal elections, their local election authority will send a letter asking to confirm the voter’s address. Failure to respond could mean being removed from the voter rolls. UT Austin School of Law professor Mimi Marziani joins us with more.
A true crime podcast may get some credit for a delay in a Texas man’s execution
Ivan Cantu was scheduled for lethal injection in Huntsville next week. But a Collin County court has ordered that the execution date be withdrawn. Houston Public Media’s Michael Hagerty reports that order came less than 24 hours after a clemency petition was filed, citing new developments in the case.
LNG projects nearing approval in the Rio Grande Valley
Houston-based NextDecade corporation is one step closer to beginning construction on two proposed LNG projects on the Texas Gulf in the Rio Grande Valley. Texas Public Radio’s Pablo De La Rosa reports the company has been navigating complicated regulatory and financial issues:
An Earth Day appreciation for the Texas Hill Country
Central Texas’ Hill Country is one of the most biodiverse areas of the state. Biologist David Hillis has spent the better part of five decades studying it, and now he’s sharing his knowledge in a new book called “Armadillos to Ziziphus: A Naturalist in the Texas Hill Country.” We’ll hear from him today.
Houston’s IslamInSpanish mosque offers services for Muslim Latinos
Today marks the end of Ramadan: Eid al-Fitr. That means it will be a busy day at Houston’s IslamInSpanish Centro Islamico. Established two decades ago, IslamInSpanish is one of the most prominent Spanish-speaking mosques in the country. Jhair Romero wrote about the center for the Houston Chronicle and joins us today.
It’s a Texas homecoming for SNL’s Devon Walker at Moontower Comedy Festival
Austin’s Moontower Comedy Festival regularly brings big names to the Lone Star State; this year includes Seth Meyers, Leslie Jones, and Samantha Bee. But it’s a homecoming for some, like new “Saturday Night Live” cast member Devon Walker. We’ll hear from the Austin native today.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Get in touch with your own topic suggestions!
Texas Tribune political reporter James Barragán stops by with a recap of the week that was.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
