First, it was adjusting to working at home, with kids taking classes under the same roof. Now comes phase two: working at home with kids out-of-school. As Tuesday's Texas Standard went off the air, I went to the family room, committed to find some educational activity. My youngest, having earned a few dollars helping in the garden, made a suggestion: "Daddy, can we go get some cupcakes at H-E-B? I'll pay!" As far as educational activities go, making change at the cash register is math, right? At least no screens are involved. Cupcakes purchased and back in the car, we approached the first red light. In the median, a large man in a tank top, his skin looking deeply burnt from the early summer sun, made his way down the row of cars waiting for the green light. "It's sad that people look down on other people just because they don't have a home," my daughter piped up from the backseat. "They're part of our community too." Before I could prompt her to say more, I heard the back window roll down as the man approached our car. Suddenly, my daughter leaned out the window, her face in my side mirror, mask still in place from the store. The man's trembling hand took the red-topped cupcake she held out to him, its base wrapped in a dollar bill. "Thank you ma'am and God bless," he said, taking a big bite to signal his appreciation. The light turned green and as we slowly rolled forward I swallowed my heart. In a soft voice that broke the silence, I heard her say to herself, "That made me happy. Very, very happy." After a few more red lights, the cupcakes were gone. "Dad, you know what? I could start a company! I could call it Cup Cares!" And so went our educational activity of the afternoon – as I realized, once again, how much more I have yet to learn. I hope you find our news picks of the week, below, educational and enriching, too. Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Global Health Expert Says Reopening Puts Texas At Risk For Sharp Rise In Cases Over Summer

Dr. Peter Hotez understands Gov. Greg Abbott’s urgency to reopen the state, but says “everything’s going to fold” if cases spike.

What Might Have Been: The Forgotten History Of Women On The SCOTUS Shortlist

In a new book, two law professors profile women who made presidential shortlists for nomination to the high court. Only a handful have ever been selected.

Gardening Restores Control To Lockdown Life

Throughout history, Americans have turned to gardening in times of uncertainty.

Fishing Businesses Say They’re Threatened By Rules To Protect Flounder

The new rules restrict which fish can be kept. They also close flounder season for six weeks annually.

Video Of Arrest Raises Questions Around How Midland Police Treat Minorities (Marfa Public Radio)
Need A COVID-19 Relationship Rescue? Tips For Couples Trying To Survive A Pandemic (KERA News)
Water Parks, Adult Sports Programs, Mall Food Courts Can Reopen This Month (KUT)
El Paso Ramps Up Cross-Border COVID-19 Contact Tracing (El Paso Matters/KTEP)

Hey, y'all! It's Carlos with Marfa Public Radio . Like everyone else at our remote, rural station, I wear a lot of hats. There's hosting, reporting, producing, and even editing the occasional story. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, how I do those jobs has changed a bit. I still come into the station to host Morning Edition, but when I finish, it's oddly empty. Instead of seeing my coworkers shuffle into the station, it stays quiet since most of them work remotely now. I spend the rest of my day at home, huddled in a makeshift studio where I record interviews and newscasts for our local broadcast. It's a bit scrappy and not entirely soundproof. (If you listen closely, you'll hear the occasional train in the background.) But it's how we're making do. And as our station weighs going back into the field for in-person interviews, we're considering all the necessary precautions to ensure reporters and the people they're interviewing are safe. But those are just technical hurdles. The real difficulty has been connecting with our listeners while providing the news they need to stay informed and safe. I know these challenges aren't as great as what other people are facing right now, but they're what I'm working through so Marfa Public Radio can continue to be there for our listeners and communities in far west Texas.

- Carlos Morales

@celizario

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