It's almost officially summer in Texas and the heat we're seeing across the state is nothing surprising. But – as we explored on Texas Standard on Tuesday – a lot of Texans are feeling anxious about the months to come and the reliability of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ERCOT, of course, controls the power grid. There are plenty of jokes and memes being shared right now. But the trauma of February's winter storm remains not forgotten. And it's hard to imagine dodging warnings of energy conservation won't be a part of this summer's activities for Texans. Another headline-grabber for at least the next few weeks will be Gov. Greg Abbott's plans for Texas to build a border wall with Mexico. The latest there: he now says he'll crowdfund the wall. And former President Trump is coming to Texas at the end of the month at Gov. Abbott's invitation to tour the border. The Texas Tribune's Patrick Svitek has more on the Standard today. Elsewhere in politics, a look at election history paints a rough path ahead for potential gubernatorial challenger Beto O'Rourke. Social media editor Wells Dunbar curated this past week's picks – including a contribution from web editor Shelly Brisbin. We hope you'll learn something new with us.

- Laura Rice
@LauraRiceKUT

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Long Before Summer Peak, ERCOT Urges Conservation After Electric Plants Go Down

The utility overseer says it’s looking into why so many plants were down at the same time this week, as concerns grow over whether the state’s electric grid can handle the heat.

At Border Summit, Greg Abbott Says He Wants The State To Build A Border Wall

Gov. Abbott also said police and DPS will begin arresting migrants for trespassing on private property. But his plan will face legal pushback.

Beto Be Warned: ‘Perennial Candidates’ Risk Career Ruin By Running Too Much

A FiveThirtyEight analysis found candidates’ odds of winning a major office drop dramatically if they’ve lost before.

Apple Doubles Down On Privacy For iPhone And Mac

The company’s aggressive push to lock out sites and apps that track online activity have some marketers and media-makers worried.

Gov. Abbott Wants To Crowdfund His Border Wall, Something That Didn’t End Well For Trump (Texas Public Radio)
Police Arrest Second Suspect In Mass Shooting On Austin’s East 6th Street (KUT)
Fort Worth's New Mayor & City Council Take The Reins (KERA North Texas)
Travis County Commissioners Postpone Construction Of New Women's Jail (KUT)

¡Hola! I’m Bárbara Anguiano, Morning Edition host at Marfa Public Radio . Before coming to West Texas, I was the Statewide Health and Science Reporter for Indiana Public Broadcasting — yes, during a pandemic. I’ve produced stories for both Hoosier airwaves as well as NPR. I’ve reported on everything from immigration to go-kart races, and interviewing anyone and any dog who will stop for two minutes. A native of Northwest Indiana — or “the Region”— I grew up just outside of Chicago and love spending time in the city, mostly to watch baseball games. I’m a graduate of Indiana University’s School of Journalism, where I first learned about audio storytelling, and later attended the Transom Story Workshop, where that love of audio grew. As a native Spanish speaker, I would love to one day create a masterpiece in my native tongue.

- Bárbara Anguiano

@radiospice219

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