With the Afghanistan withdrawal, the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant and much more occupying the front pages of late, it is easy to overlook an issue that was – at the start of the year, at least – major news. Back in January, shortly after Joe Biden took his oath of office, the new administration announced it would not continue to enroll asylum seekers in a in a program from the previous administration that had been widely criticized by immigrant rights groups: the Migrant Protection Protocols, more widely known as the "Remain in Mexico" policy. This policy required asylum seekers to wait outside the U.S. – often in squalid camps on the Mexican side of the border – for their asylum cases to be considered. As The Texas Tribune reported, President Biden considers the policy "counterproductive and at odds with the nation's historic practices." Now comes a decision from the Supreme Court denying a request by the Biden administration to put the policy on hold. The high court deemed the administration's request likely to fail the test of being “arbitrary and capricious:” a legal standard that prohibits presidents from acting independently without legal authority. The Washington Post called the move "an ominous sign for the new administration," and now there are signs closer to home that this story may resonate in Texas politics, too. As Gov. Greg Abbott gets set to enter a re-election campaign, he’s sending out signals to the GOP base that he opposes any change to the “Remain in Mexico” program. So far, Democrats have yet to field a prominent challenger to Gov. Abbott. This is a developing story and one of many we continue to follow. We hope you enjoy some of the highlights from our recent coverage, below. Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio – and online.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

Don’t Ditch Your Homemade Mask, But Make Sure It’s Giving The Best Protection Against The Delta Variant

Not all masks are created equal. We talked to a scientist specializing in PPE to learn more.

One Way To Make Redistricting More Fair? End 'Prison Gerrymandering.'

The Prison Policy Initiative argues incarcerated people should be counted as residents of the communities where they’re from, not where they’re locked up.

Why Bugs Should Be On The Menu For Livestock Feed

A Texas A&M University entomologist says insects can be much more efficient and environmentally friendly sources of food for livestock than traditional feed.

Texas Has Long Offered Virtual Public School Options. So What’s The Problem Now?

Funding for virtual school through districts happened on a waiver earlier in the pandemic. Now legislators are trying to make it law.

Permitless Carry Becomes Legal In Texas Next Week. Here’s What You Need To Know. (Houston Public Media)
Austin Area Sees Jump In COVID Cases As Students Return To Classrooms (KUT Austin)
NRA Cancels 2021 Annual Meeting In Houston Due To COVID-19 Surge (Houston Public Media)
Texas GOP Advances Voting Bill Following Democrats’ Return (KERA News)

Hi, I’m Paul DeBenedetto, senior digital producer with Houston Public Media. I started here in February of 2020, just weeks before the coronavirus hit Texas. But in addition to being a reporter, I’m also a dad. And now that we’re in a fourth wave “pandemic of the unvaccinated,” I’m reporting on one population that has no choice: young children. And right now Texas is dealing with levels of pediatric hospitalizations unseen since the start of the pandemic. That’s only going to get worse as schools reopen. We reported more than 150 total active COVID-19 cases on the very first day of school in Houston Independent School District. In Fort Bend County, which just instituted a mask mandate , it’s more than five times that. Meanwhile, local school districts and other governmental bodies are challenging an order from Gov. Greg Abbott banning mask mandates across the state. But beyond the numbers and the public officials are real people. Parents are nervous (I’m one of them) and kids remain at risk. We’ll keep telling those stories. And if you want to share your stories, reach out: [email protected]. You can also follow me on Twitter. Thanks for reading and listening!

-Paul DeBenedetto
@pauldebenedetto

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