News

In "Siegfried" we return to the origins of Wagner's conception of "The Ring." Before there was an explanation and an event, a plot before a back story.

These various sketches, fragments and early drafts were separated by a quarter of century from the opera's first performance (1851-1876).

We recreate the fairytale atmosphere of "Das Rheingold" with a dwarf, a dragon, giants, a singing bird and a boy so innocent he has "never" seen a girl.

Texas Matters: A former environmental inspector talks about regulations and their role in industrial safety following the deadly explosion in West, Texas. Also on this show, an update on the Keystone XL Pipeline, which is hitting some speedbumps along the way.

As Congress debates future guest worker programs, unresolved issues remain with both current and past guest workers. Also on the show: A multi-part series on deportation. We look at the children left behind when parents are deported and what happens to the kids deported by the United States.

A bill in the Texas House calls for an increase in vehicle registration fees in order to help fix Texas roads and pay down debt. 

Rep. Drew Darby, R- San Angelo, said his bill does away with fund diversions by reallocating the portion of the state’s highway fund that currently goes towards the DMV and DPS and has that money go toward road construction.

House Bill 788 will allow the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for greenhouse gas emissions, but a last minute change to the bill removed the phrase, "climatic changes, including global warming."

Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, initially supported the bill until this change in wording.

Travelers departing the San Antonio airport will soon have another way to get through security faster. A private program will allow travelers to be vetted once for all departing flights from participating airports.

It’s  a new program just approved by Homeland Security called CLEAR, which allows those approved to jump to the front of the line at the TSA security check. CLEAR members still have to take off their shoes and go through security.

San Antonio City Attorney Michael Bernard has proposed changes to the city's ethics code and some council members would like time to review the proposed changes.

As of right now, city council is expected to vote on the changes in early May.

Among the most drastic recommended changes to the city's ethics code is adding a compliance officer to be hired by the city manager.

Bernard said that takes the burden off him because, as he told the city council, it's hard to be the lawyer and the client.

In the early 1990s in Venezuela, a group of young musicians decided to compose and play music unlike any thing they heard in the clubs of Caracas.

Los Amigos' style is described as disco/funk and is definitely dance music. Amazingly, the original line up is unchanged over their twenty years of playing together.

Gov. Rick Perry said details are coming in about the destruction in West, Texas and there is still an on-going search and rescue effort for missing families near the blast site.

"We know there were 75 residencies that are either going to have minor to substantial damage, up to and including being pushed off their slabs, and you have a school that has a substantial amount of damage," Perry said.

In 2006 the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was called out to the plant.

Context is everything. Ludwig van Beethoven dedicated his 26th piano sonata to Archduke Rudolph of Austria. The nickname of the sonata is "Les Adieux" or "Farewell," and I've heard speculation on the supposed relationship between the composer and his patron and friend.

Just knowing the title page on the first edition helps clarify some facts: "On the departure of his imperial highness, for the Archduke Rudolph, in admiration."

Why was his highness leaving? War.