It is not often that you read that the Texas Capitol has been "shaken to its core," but those were the words the Texas Tribune used to describe the mood right now in Austin. "I stand here today having to address these disgusting, detestable allegations that are a symptom of a culture that has been festering in this building for far too long," said House Speaker Dade Phelan as he called the House to order on Monday. Just a few days earlier, the Austin American-Statesman first reported allegations that a lobbyist used a date rape drug on a legislative staffer. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed it has opened an investigation into the complaint and HillCo, the prominent Austin lobbying firm, said it had been tipped off that one of its employees was a person of interest in the DPS investigation. That person has not been named but has reportedly retained counsel. Speaker Phelan announced that immediate steps were being taken to make it easier to report incidents of sexual misconduct at the Capitol but that has not done much to tamp down outrage over the incident among lawmakers and staffers. Some House members have taken to social media declaring a ban on any lobbyist or lobby firm associated with the incident. State Rep. Donna Howard of Austin wrote a letter signed by more than 30 state representatives, all women, offering support to the person who came forward with the allegation. This session is far from the first in which lawmakers have pledged steps to deal with what many at the Capitol refer to as a culture of silence and cover-up. If you miss our conversation with Rep. Howard this morning (a segment produced by our own Jill Ament), we encourage you to visit texasstandard.org to hear it in full. It is a developing story with important implications for all Texans, and one we will continue to follow here at the Standard.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Lost A Loved One To COVID-19? How To Apply For FEMA Funeral Financial Aid.

“With any death, family is hit hard emotionally and financially. And this program is designed to help with the financial aspects of that.”

Acknowledging Someone's Pronoun Preferences Isn't About The ‘Grammar Police.’ It’s About Respect.

Language is a part of culture that's always evolving. Lately, it's included a focus on pronouns – like "they" – to accommodate expanding views about gender identity.

How Viable Is A Matthew McConaughey Gubernatorial Run?

Is name recognition enough to make the Austin-based actor a realistic candidate for Texas governor? It's happened in other states.

Beware The Emerald Ash Borer, An Invasive Species That’s Killing Texas Ash Trees

The tiny beetles aren’t native to Texas, but they’ve been found in six counties so far. You can easily transport them when you move firewood from place to place.

ERCOT Hires Interim CEO And President As Major Grid Reforms Stall In Legislature (Texas Public Radio)
'History Is Written By The Victors,' But The Texas Freedom Colonies Project Works To Change The Narrative (KUT Austin)
Dallas Lawyer Takes Up Mission To Help People Avoid Eviction (Associated Press)
3 Texas Refineries Continue To Emit Cancer-Causing Benzene Above Federal Limits (Houston Public Media)

Hi! I’m Florian and I cover business as well as criminal justice for Houston Public Media. I’ve worked the business beat since 2016, keeping tabs on Houston’s economy, including – of course – oil and gas, real estate, the housing market, and tech innovation. For a few years, I had a weekly interview series for which I interviewed local business news makers. In 2017, I began covering gun policy, policing and law enforcement and criminal justice issues as the result of the Sutherland Springs church shooting. When the pandemic started, most of my focus was on the business impact – like this story on some beloved Houston bars that were struggling to stay in business through the lockdown. Working from home during this time has had its challenges. Not all newsmakers stream their press conference or we can have technical issues obtaining good sound for radio. But for the most part it’s been going pretty smoothly, thanks to livestreams, Zoom and phone recording ability. I also do not miss the daily Houston rush hour traffic and I appreciate being able to spend more time with my kids, who thankfully are back in physical school after nine months of virtual lessons. I do hope we can move towards pre-pandemic life sooner, rather than later!

- Florian Martin
@Florian_News887

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