We may be weeks away from knowing whether Gov. Greg Abbott's "Texas strategy" will prove sound from a public health perspective.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
Well, Texas, it's on. After we went off the air on Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott updated reporters on the next steps in combating the coronavirus after launching a phased-in reopening of the state on Friday. Despite outbreaks in places like Abilene and Amarillo, the governor said he wouldn’t be re-imposing stricter stay-at-home rules. Instead, he says he’ll rely on so-called ”surge teams” made up of health officials, emergency response workers and the National Guard to deal with flare-ups. Come Friday, more businesses will be allowed to reopen, including hair salons and pools. Last week, Gov. Abbott said that if coronavirus numbers began to spike, he would reconsider plans to relax restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. But so far, he's decided to press ahead. Given the nature of the virus' spread we may be weeks away from knowing whether his "Texas strategy" – in stark contrast with those imposed in California and New York – will prove sound from a public health perspective. But the stakes could not be higher. We will continue to cover this story and offer guidance wherever possible to help you navigate through these uncertain times. We hope you enjoy a sampling of our latest, below. Until next week, stay safe and strong, and we'll see you on the radio.
- David Brown
Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Busy Phone Lines, Backlogs And Benefits: Unemployment Questions Answered


The Texas Workforce Commission’s executive director says his agency is getting upwards of a million calls a day, and there are no real signs of a decline on the horizon.
Read More

Red Raiders Will See A Different Campus This Fall


Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec says the coronavirus pandemic has transformed his college’s campus.
Read More

Llama Antibodies Could Be Just A Year Or So Away From Providing Coronavirus Protection


A Texas researcher says sharks make similar antibodies but, “llamas are much easier to work with.”
Read More

Ray Benson Shares His COVID-19 Recovery Story


“I went public because I couldn’t get a test,” the Asleep at the Wheel frontman says.
Read More
  • Port Aransas Sees Thousands Of Visitors As Texas Stay-At-Home Orders Relax Amid Pandemic (Texas Public Radio)
  • Armed Protestors Arrested In West Odessa While Supporting A Local Bar Illegally Reopening (Marfa Public Radio)
  • Family Of Man Who Died Of COVID-19 Suing Dallas Meat Plant (KERA)
  • Front Yard Concerts Give Austin Artists A Chance To Perform While Helping Others (KUT)
Working as a producer on Texas Standard can be demanding under ordinary circumstances. So imagine what it’s been like for the past month working from home! We’ve traded in our noon meetings around a big white table for, like many of you, Zoom. There, we pitch ideas and interviews for upcoming shows. Quick questions must be asked via Slack; gone are the days of popping up from our cubicles like office meerkats. Once we’ve slated something for the show, the real work begins: tracking down a guest, and coordinating times for an interview. Before the shutdown, producers would be on the other side of the glass while an interview happened; now we listen in on our phones, almost like an old school call-in show. Once that’s done, we’ve got to cut the Q&A, and then upload it to our secure server, where it gets one more final listen before its sent out over the airwaves. All in all, it’s a strange process, much like these strange times. But despite being physically apart – missing things like our monthly breakfast taco birthday celebrations and trips across the street to the soda fountain – we’ve rolled with the punches. We’re thinking about news you need that you aren’t getting anywhere else: news our neighbors need, our families need, and we need. Because especially now, now that the world around us starts to open up, more questions are emerging. And the team at Texas Standard is looking to answer those questions, because we’re all in this together.
- Kristen Cabrera
@MsKCabrera
Listen to stories from Texas with W. F. Strong
Thank You to our Sponsors
Texas Tech University Offers Flexible Options
The Texas Standard is a partnership of
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
No matter where you are,
you're on Texas Standard Time

Connect with The Texas Standard

512-471-1631 | Contact Us

This email was sent by: KUT and KUTX Public Radio
300 W. Dean Keeton, A0704, Austin, TX, 78712-8546 US