Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022:
Abbott calls for investigation into Harris County election
Gov. Greg Abbott has called on state authorities to investigate issues arising over the midterm elections in Harris County. The governor claims that delayed openings at polling locations, understaffing and paper ballot shortages in Republican precincts caused Houston-area voters confusion and delay. Is there more to the move than politics? Taylor Goldenstein, state bureau reporter for the Houston Chronicle, joins us with more.
Uvalde families that fought for change this election take stock of results
In Uvalde, families of those killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting say they are outraged and disappointed at the election results. None of their preferred candidates won, locally or statewide. But as the Texas Newsroom’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán reports, some families say they are not completely discouraged – and they will continue to fight for change to the state’s gun laws.
Combating teacher shortages in San Antonio
Teacher shortages are largely driven by high turnover. They existed before the pandemic – the pandemic just worsened them and made them more widespread. Researchers and teachers say systemic changes are needed to keep more of them in the classroom, including better working conditions and significantly better pay. In the next installment of Texas Public Radio’s series on the teacher shortage, education reporter Camille Phillips has more.
‘It just keeps coming:’ Piles of trash continue to plague Houston’s bayous
The average person in the U.S. generates about five pounds of trash a day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Unfortunately, a lot of that trash ends up in our waterways, harming the environment and creating health issues. Houston Public Media’s Katie Watkins saw the magnitude of the problem on a recent cleanup along the Houston Ship Channel.
How Texas spent millions on a school safety app few use
After 10 people were killed in the 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state would invest more into an app called iWatchTexas. The app allows users to report anonymous tips about suspicious activity, but since 2018, the app has fielded fewer tips than other platforms and fallen into disuse. Lauren McGaughy, investigative reporter for The Dallas Morning News, has more.
Texas refugees try to help those left behind
Texas has resettled more than 10,000 Afghan refugees since the U.S. withdrawal, but tens of thousands more are struggling to get the right paperwork approved. Now, Afghans in Texas are hoping to help. Our Laura Rice has the story.
Drama on the San Antonio City Council
The San Antonio City Council has had a tumultuous week: The council gave no confidence votes to two of its own members, and yesterday it nearly asked one of those members to resign – but changed its decision at the last minute – after he was arrested for an alleged hit-and-run and drunk driving incident. To tell us more, Texas Public Radio’s Joey Palacios joins us from San Antonio.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
