We are just 20 days away from the first ballots being cast in Texas.
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We are just 20 days away from the first ballots being cast in Texas. And we're faced with a pandemic, a closer-than-expected presidential contest in the Lone Star State, a vacancy in the Supreme Court turning the spotlight on the U.S. Senate, a hotly-contested race in Texas, and enough Texas House races in play that there could be an historic power shift in Austin. This promises to be a general election year like few others in Texas history. Although we are learning that voter registration numbers in Texas have hit new record highs (again), those anticipating change are holding their collective breath given factors less often discussed. First, those registration numbers might have been even higher were it not for COVID-19, and secondly, registration does not equal voting. Although it is often considered conventional wisdom in U.S. politics that increasing registration tends to improve chances for Democrats, a less-known fact is that new registrants are less likely to actually cast a ballot, according to Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle . As we continue to cover what's at stake, our editors have pulled together some recent stories worthy of your consideration, below. As you get caught up on the latest, a note of thanks for making such coverage possible by supporting your public radio station. If you haven't yet cast your vote for the fact-based journalism you rely on from the Texas Standard, we hope you'll make that commitment with a contribution to your station right now. Your vote counts. Now, more than ever. Until next week, we'll see you on the radio.
- David Brown
Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Listen: When She Debates John Cornyn, MJ Hegar Plans To Focus On Health Care


The Democratic candidate is attacking Cornyn’s efforts to "dismantle" the Affordable Care Act, saying Texas voters without jobs because of the pandemic are also losing access to health care.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Legacy, And What Her Death Could Mean For Texas-Led Cases At The High Court


DACA, the Affordable Care Act and abortion access are among the issues Ginsburg’s replacement will face this term.
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Oil Giant BP Says Peak Oil Usage Is Behind Us


"For the first time, a super-major oil company is saying that they do not see a scenario where demand for oil grows much higher than it was last year."
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New ‘Pause/Play’ Podcast Highlights Impact Of Pandemic On Live Music Capital


A new podcast investigates the pandemic’s affects on the industry – from musicians and artists to venues and bartenders.
Read More
  • Houston Evictions Move Forward Amid Flooding, COVID-19 And A Federal Moratorium (Houston Public Media)
  • Texas Historical Commission Denies Request To Relocate Alamo's Cenotaph Monument (Texas Public Radio)
  • SXSW Will Have Online Events In 2021. A Physical Festival Is Still A Possibility. (KUT Austin)
  • Gun Control Group To Spend $2 Million In Texas House Races (KERA North Texas)
Hey! I’m Miguel Perez with KERA in North Texas. I’m currently an arts and culture reporter, but I’ve worn many hats at the station. Before my current gig, I was the assistant producer for the local Morning Edition, and I started at KERA as an intern in 2017. I started the arts beat at the beginning of March, so it neatly coincided with the start of the pandemic. It’s been a challenge trying to build a beat through video calls, but I’ve found ways to get creative. In April, I reported on online music classes and the divide in Internet access , and I found some interesting ways to use terrible Zoom call audio. As I continue to build my reporting skills, I’m thinking about ways to stretch and push our definition of an “arts” story. How do I tell compelling radio stories that connect to the cultural moments we’re living in right now? With the death of George Floyd in May and the wave of protests against police violence that followed, I really wanted to hear from Black artists in North Texas about how this moment was impacting their creativity. It turned into an entire series that I hope shows the diversity of creative expression and experience of our region’s artists as they grapple with the challenges of 2020. I’ve been able to explore a lot of ideas through the series like art as activism and the power of images. Each artist is approaching 2020 in vastly different ways, but I think there’s also a lot that connects them. Ultimately, I think that’s the heart of cultural reporting. There’s more to come, so stay tuned!
- Miguel Perez
@quillindie
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