Texas Matters

In the spring of 1949 nearly every major newspaper in Texas published an eight-part series called “The Shame of Texas.” It was a shocking and horrid look at the state of mental health care in Texas and exposed them as the nation’s worst mental hospitals. Since then there have been periodic attempts at reform and fully funding mental health care in Texas – with mixed success. Today there continues to be a great unmet need for mental health professionals in the state. One reason for that is the

The Texas Identity – what do you think that might be? What does it mean to be “a Texan.” What is a Texas thing to do or say? Most people might think of a John Wayne cowboy type of character as the archetype of the Texas Identity. But has the image hit its expiration date. More Texans live in urban areas than in the country. And even then maybe more Texans today identify with Pedro Infante’s charro than with The Duke. A new book takes a look at the Texas identity with a series of historical

Thursday Sandra Cisneros received the National Medal of the Arts, the highest honor given for achievement in the arts. Cisneros said she accepted the medal to honor her family and all other hard working Mexican Americans. Sandra Cisneros said she briefly thought about turning down the trip to Washington D.C. to accept the National Medal of the Arts. “At first I wasn’t sure if I should go. I just started a new book and I wanted to be home writing, ” she said. But the part-time resident of San

What could be more Texan than Tacos? Tacos are a favorite food but where are the best tacos? And how did tacos become a culinary super star that it is today? Certainly this wasn't always the case. For generations tacos were considered a food of the underclass and not appropriate for polite society. But tacos have arrived. Mando Reyo calls himself a taco journalist and with Jarod Neece has written the book “The Tacos of Texas.” It’s published by the University of Texas Press.

This week the State House Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility heard invited testimony on Governor Greg Abbott’s plan to make major fundamental changes to the United States Constitution.

On this Labor Day, a look back to 50 years ago – a labor fight, a strike and a legendary march for better wages, improved working conditions and human dignity for farm workers. On June 1, 1966, farm workers in Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley, virtually all of them Latino, left the melon fields. They did the unimaginable and went on strike. They were demanding a $25 dollar-an-hour wage, and improved working conditions, including clean drinking water. The strike was met by derision,

Singer/songwriter Lila Downs uses the traditions and iconography of Mexico to create musical landscapes depicting the great diversity of her homeland. She weaves native music of Mexico with modern day styles including rock, blues, mariachi and cumbia. Throughout her career Downs has received several awards, including a Grammy, a number of Latin Grammys. She has developed a global audience of dedicated listeners who are as drawn to her for her unique music as for her activism on social issues –

Guns are a major issue in the current political season. We’ve recently seen Democratic members of Congress stage a sit down strike on the floor of Congress and a Fillibuster by a Senate Democrat calling for votes on keeping guns from suspected terrorists on the no fly list. “Making a Killing” is a documentary by Robert Greenwald takes a look at the untold stories of guns in America and the political power of the National Rifle Association. There’s a screening of the documentary and panel

"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" opened on Broadway in 1978 and was a hit musical comedy, winning two Tony Awards. In 1982 it was turned into a film with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton. The play and the film told the story about the Chicken Ranch – a brothel – which was a Texas institution. But where does the movie end and reality begin? The book “Inside the Texas Chicken Ranch” exposes how the chicken ranch began and how it stayed open – and how it was finally closed. Jayme Lynn Blaschke

For those who lawfully want to enter the United States the first question is about obtaining a visa – but for many getting one is virtually impossible. That is the heart of the problem for the U.S. immigration system according to a report released this week by the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper titled “The Inefficient U.S. Immigration System: A Texas Perspective” examines the breakdowns with the U.S. immigration system and recommends state based solutions. Katherine

Texas coal mining, the spread of fire ants, the growth of light pollution, the shrinking migration of monarch butterflies, the reduction of Hill Country springs, sprawl of cities and colonias in Texas. They all add up to a raft of massive environmental challenge for the Lone Star State and included in the book “The Texas Landscape Project: Nature and People.” The book includes hundreds of detailed maps and charts that illustrate the complex and sometimes abstract environmental problems the

Monarch butterflies are vanishing from America’s backyards at an alarming rate. This could have devastating consequences for the ecosystem as well as...

Monarch butterflies are vanishing from America’s backyards at an alarming rate. This could have devastating consequences for the ecosystem as well as the food supply. Now the National Wildlife Federation is looking to help the monarchs by turning I-35 into an oasis that they can follow on their migration. Collin O’Mara is the president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.

As part of an ongoing battle between Planned Parenthood and the Texas Medicaid program, just over six months ago the state of Texas cut off funding to a planned parenthood affiliate for an HIV prevention program. The move came two months after Texas Republican leaders announced they would kick Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid. That was a pronouncement spurred by a set of hoax undercover videos that sought to portray Planned Parenthood selling aborted fetal tissue. Following up on the

As part of an ongoing battle between Planned Parenthood and the Texas Medicaid program, just over six months ago the state of Texas cut off funding to a...