Kris Kristofferson, a legendary songwriter, actor, and outlaw figure in country music, passed away at the age of 88. Although he was born in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson’s Texas roots were always evident in his work, especially when he collaborated with fellow Highwaymen like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. John Spong, a senior editor at Texas Monthly, joined Texas Standard to reflect on Kristofferson’s iconic career.
In addition to honoring Kristofferson’s legacy, the Texas Standard also covered various other stories on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. One notable report highlighted the challenges faced by thousands of voter registrations in North Texas due to a few individuals who are raising baseless theories about election fraud. Caroline Love from KERA provided insights into this issue.
The show also delved into similar voter registration challenges across Texas as part of The Drill Down series, shedding light on the broader impact of these actions. Furthermore, new allegations surfaced regarding market manipulation during the 2021 Texas winter blackouts, alleging that some fossil fuel companies intentionally drove up energy prices. Saul Elbein from The Hill shared more details on this ongoing legal battle.
On a historical note, Fort Martin Scott, a 19th-century military fort in Fredericksburg, was designated as the Texas Historical Commission’s 39th historic site. This recognition ensures the long-term preservation of the fort, which was established in 1848 to protect frontier settlements from attacks by Native peoples. Shannon Smith, the fort site director, elaborated on the significance of this designation.
Additionally, the Texas Standard covered the case of a deadly shooting near Sierra Blanca that occurred two years ago and has since stalled. The shooting involved the warden of a nearby prison and his twin brother, who claimed they were hunting wild animals when they killed a man and injured a woman, both of whom were migrants. Angela Kocherga from KTEP reported from Sierra Blanca, where concerns and uncertainties about the incident remain.
To stay informed about these and other stories, listeners can tune in to Alexandra Hart’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar’s Talk of Texas segment on the Texas Standard. If you appreciate the valuable reporting provided by Texas Standard, consider making a donation to support their work and help sustain quality journalism. Your contribution helps fund everything available on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. Thank you for supporting local journalism by donating today.