Here are the stories from Texas Standard for Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024:
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic opponent U.S. Rep. Colin Allred engaged in a debate in Dallas last night. It was their only debate before Election Day. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider, who covered the debate, will provide the latest updates on whether the debate changed any minds and what were the key moments.
Black churches in Texas have always been an essential part of community life, contributing socially and politically. Opal Lee, also known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” has been speaking at various Black congregations, carrying on a tradition from the Civil Rights Movement. Despite the general assumption that Black churches lean left, some embrace conservative views. KETR’s Mark Haslett delves into the relationship between faith and politics at a historic Black church near Sulphur Springs.
A new novel titled “The Witches of El Paso” by Luis Jaramillo tells the story of teenager Nena in 1943 El Paso, who experiences strange premonitions and fainting spells while looking after her nieces and nephews. When a mysterious nun appears, Nena embarks on a journey across time and space. More insights from Jaramillo will be shared today.
In Collin County, rural areas face delays in emergency response when calling 911. While city fire departments are attempting to bridge the gap, KERA’s Caroline Love reports that their resources are stretched thin and may not be able to sustain the current demand for much longer.
Rocío Villalobos discovered her love for running in adulthood, connecting it to her Indigenous roots after growing up in an East Austin neighborhood with subpar parks that discouraged outdoor activities. Unable to find a welcoming running community, she decided to create her own. Villalobos shared her inspiring journey with Kaiya Little for NPR’s Next Generation Radio Project.
The Texas Farm Workers Union, a split from the United Farm Workers in the 1970s to represent agricultural laborers in Texas, is a forgotten chapter in the state’s labor history. While only one of these unions is recognized in Texas textbooks and state historical markers today, Texas Standard digital producer Raul Alonzo explores the efforts to include new histories in the final segment of a three-part series.
Lastly, Gov. Greg Abbott claimed that Texas had removed over 1 million ineligible voters in the current election cycle, including more than 6,500 noncitizens. However, an investigation by ProPublica, The Texas Tribune, and Votebeat revealed that these numbers were exaggerated. The state actually identified only 581 noncitizens removed from the voter rolls. Votebeat reporter Natalia Contreras will join the Standard to discuss these findings.
In addition to the above stories, Alexandra Hart will provide the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup, and Wells Dunbar will present the Talk of Texas.
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