Welcome to Texas Standard for Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Tune in to your Texas public radio station or use your smart speaker to listen to Texas Standard. Stay tuned for updated story links and audio later today.
The Texas General Land Office is offering a 1,400-acre Starr County ranch to the Donald Trump administration for use as a “mass deportation” center. This move has raised legal concerns regarding the president-elect’s plans and potential conflicts with U.S. law. Denise Gilman, a clinical professor at UT Austin, will be joining us to discuss this issue.
With Donald Trump’s second term on the horizon, there is a lot of focus on what to expect in terms of tariffs. During his first presidency, Trump increased tariffs on Chinese goods and imports from other countries as well. Raymond Robertson from Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government will be sharing insights on what we can anticipate in terms of tariffs during Trump’s second term.
As stress and anxiety levels among children and young adults continue to rise, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is taking action by providing educators with mental health first-aid training. This initiative aims to equip school and college staff with essential skills to support students’ mental health. Camille Phillips from Texas Public Radio will be reporting on the impact of this training program.
Texas is looking to expand its nuclear power capabilities, with Governor Greg Abbott pushing for an increased presence of nuclear energy in the state’s energy mix. The Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group has outlined plans to further strengthen nuclear power in the state. Reed Clay, president of the Texas Nuclear Alliance, will be discussing this push and its implications for Texas’ energy landscape.
There is speculation about a potential 16th team joining the WNBA, with teams already set to be added in San Francisco, Portland, and Toronto. Could Austin be the next city to host a WNBA franchise? Fran Harris, a former University of Texas and Houston Comets player, is advocating for bringing a WNBA team to Austin. She will be sharing her vision for the city as a future hub for the league.
Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter have the potential to turn ideas into reality, but success depends on a solid strategy. Tech expert Omar Gallaga will be sharing insights from UT Austin researcher Raghunath Rao on how to inspire potential backers for crowdfunding campaigns.
In addition to these topics, Alexandra Hart from the Texas Newsroom will provide a state roundup, and Wells Dunbar will bring us the Talk of Texas.
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