On This episode of "Texas Matters"
- Racial bias in Texas school districts' discipline and how reform efforts are dropped by the Trump administration.
- Emergency preparedness items are tax free for the weekend (15:05).
- The biggest little race in Texas is a .5K for a good cause (19:50).
Racial Bias In Texas Schools
It’s called the school to prison pipeline — a pattern of action by school districts, administrators and security personnel who send students into the juvenile criminal justice system for infractions that used to be handled in the principal's office.
Infractions including dress code violations, talking back to teachers and tardiness can now mean a court date, and possibly spending time in jail. But which students are impacted the most?
Annie Waldman, who wrote about this for ProPublica in the story“Shutdown of Texas Schools Probe Shows Trumps Administration Pullback on Civil Rights,” joins us to discuss the issue that might just be black and white.
Tax Free Preps
Hurricane season begins June 1 and if this year’s spell of storms is anything like last year’s then Texans need to gear up. This past weekend was an opportunity to stock up on emergency supplies like batteries, first aid kits, ice chests and hatchets. These item and more can be purchased tax-free across Texas. Kevin Lyons is a spokesperson for the Texas Comptroller’s office
The Race To The Bottom
A common way to raise money for a good cause is to hold a 5K race. There’s one almost every weekend in most Texas metro areas. But let’s face it, not everyone is jazzed about having to run the 3.1 miles of the 5K. So on May 5 in Boerne, there's a race geared specifically for those who prefer a more sedentary lifestyle.
David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org or on Twitter @DavidMartinDavi
