Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Wednesday, May 3, 2023:
Biden sends troops to border ahead of Title 42 repeal
The Biden administration is planning to temporarily send 1,500 more active-duty troops to the border ahead of an expected rush of migrants seeking asylum. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley political science professor Carla Angulo-Pasel joins us with more.
A ‘Death Star bill’ aimed at overriding local government control powers is likely to pass the Senate
Over the past several years, Republican state lawmakers have passed laws blocking local governments from regulating issues ranging from fracking to ride-sharing services. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider says lawmakers are poised to adopt a far broader measure to limit home rule powers.
It looks like retired Texas teachers will get a cost-of-living increase
SB 10, a bill that would give retired teachers their first cost-of-living adjustment in a decade, has passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature. Texas Public Radio’s Camille Phillips has more:
‘Intimidation tactic:’ Special ed parents see school attorneys in routine meetings
In some Texas school districts, parents of disabled children are met by attorneys when they advocate for better services. Families say that makes it harder for them to get special education services. As Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh reports, the federal government says the practice should be discouraged.
These groups are suing over SpaceX’s explosions and environmental impact
Several environmental and cultural heritage groups are suing the Federal Aviation Administration over SpaceX’s rocket test flight in South Texas late last month. Center for Biological Diversity attorney Jared Margolis is with one of the groups behind the lawsuit and joins us today.
Wizzie Brown is a program specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and our go-to insect expert. Something bugging you? Drop us a line and we’ll pass it along.
Community and concern in a West Dallas artists’ collective
Around 35 acres of land in West Dallas was recently purchased by a major developer. Some of that land is home to the Tin District, one of few affordable spaces for local artists in Dallas. KERA’s Michelle Aslam visited one group of artists to learn how this collection of studios has grown in a rare find: a supportive community for local creatives:
Chuck Schumer threatens to clamp down on judge shopping in Texas
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could mess with the way the federal northern district of Texas assigns cases. Instead of assigning cases randomly, the district assigns cases geographically, allowing parties to choose the most favorable judge. Kathryn Rubino with legal news and commentary site Above the Law joins us today.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
