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To me, walls in the United States have always seemed to be incongruent with the country's culture, and even with its architecture. That's different than where I grew up in Mexico City. Homes are almost de facto surrounded by walls and gates. Some walls are even topped with broken glass to deter anyone with criminal intentions from climbing them. But when I came to the United States, it seemed so different. The most I noticed were gated communities. But right now, it seems walls are again the center of the conversation. It's a conversation that's putting Texans at odds with one another. Gov. Greg Abbott is asking counties to criminalize border-crossers by issuing disaster declarations. The largest counties are refusing, while places like Galveston, on the coast and away from the
border with Mexico, are going along: it's our top story today. The border also plays a role in one of the stories
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we've highlighted for you from the past week. And the push and pull of
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Mexican-American identity plays a role in another. We hope you'll enjoy this look back.
- Joy Diaz

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@KUTjoydiaz

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What Might Be On The Agenda For Texas’ First Special Legislative Session

Gov. Abbott will reconvene the Texas Legislature for 30 days starting July 8, likely to revisit the voting bill that died during the regular session.

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Read More




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Two Decades After His Death, A New Effort To Better Understand DJ Screw

The Houston hip-hop legend is the subject of a whole season of the “Mogul” podcast.


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Read More




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Odessa College Receives Largest One-Time Donation Ever, From MacKenzie Scott

The school’s president hopes to use the $7 million to offer more opportunities to students looking for a “restart in life."

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Read More




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‘My Family Didn’t Talk About This’: A Podcaster Explores Her Confederate Roots

“Sounds Like Hate” producer urges others to have hard conversations about slavery and the Confederacy with their own families.

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Read More




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Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas Visits San Antonio To Continue Biden's Push For Vaccinations
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(TPR News)
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Blaming The Pandemic Made Stressed-Out Couples Happier, UT Study Finds
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(KUT News)
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'The Rain Just Keeps Coming': Storms Hit West Texas, Leading To Significant Flooding
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(Marfa Public Radio)
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Texas' Proposed Plan To Reduce Haze In Its National Parks Falls Short, Critics Say
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(Houston Public Media)

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The Texas Standard team is still primarily working remotely. Like many in this situation, we stay connected with the help of tools such as Zoom and Slack. And I'll let you in on a little secret: we have a couple of custom emojis to help us share lighter moments. One is the face of Dolly Parton. Executive Producer Rhonda Fanning is a BIG fan. Another is an orchid blossom. Orchids, as you may have heard us mention before, have become a sort of team mascot. I'm not exactly sure how it began. I think maybe a former intern left a tiny orchid, as a gift, in the office. What I know for sure is Technical Director Casey Cheek adopted the plant and helped it grow. The collection has expanded thanks to another plant donation from producer/reporter – and this week's substitute host – Joy
Diaz. I think there are now three orchids sitting in the office window sill by the table where we used to – and will soon again – meet for daily show planning. Unaware of this background, a friend gave me an orchid after my son was born in January 2020. I planned to take it to the office but never got the chance because the coronavirus hit Texas right before my maternity leave ended. Instead, I've been caring for this beauty at home and thinking of my coworkers during each weekly watering. The blossoms recently fell off and I undertook the intimidating challenge of repotting my orchid. There's still uncertainty ahead for both me and my plant: How will we adjust to changing surroundings? I don't know. But this morning I noticed what looks like a new leaf coming in.
- Laura Rice, Managing Producer
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@LauraRiceKUT

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