Y'all-itics WFAA

Has the education revolution begun in Texas? Republicans have made “educational freedom” a priority in Austin this legislative session and there is now a bill they say does just that. SB 8 would provide $8,000 for families to move their children from public schools to private schools. But critics wonder who will be holding private schools accountable since public schools are held to a different standard, as they’re judged by standardized testing and private schools are not. And SB 8 goes far beyond educational savings accounts (ESAs), from requiring “age appropriate” content to having teachers upload lesson plans to a portal so parents can review them. In this episode of Y’all-itics, you’ll hear from the Executive Director of the public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas. Dr. Michelle Smith explains why she thinks the bill is an attack on urban school districts. And to learn more about where the dollars will come from and behind-the-scenes political maneuvering, we head straight to the bill’s author, state Senator Brandon Creighton. The Republican chair of the Senate Education Committee explains why he thinks SB 8, and its companion bill SB 9, will lift up public schools, teachers and perhaps most importantly, Texas parents and students.
Guests
Dr. Michelle Smith, Raise Your Hand Texas Exec. Dir.
Sen. Brandon Creighton, (R) Conroe

Texas already has the reputation for being one of the hardest states in which to vote. But the legislature is now considering ways to make it even more challenging for some voters to cast ballots. Right now, more than 100 election-related bills are up for discussion at the state capitol. These proposals would ban voting on college campuses, ban mail-in ballots for anyone over 65, give the state the authority to replace county elections administrators, increase the penalty for illegal voting to a felony – even if the person doesn’t know they’re ineligible, and more. Jessica Huseman is tracking the ins and outs of these bills closely as the editorial director for VoteBeat.org. Wheeler has the week off so Jason Whitely and WFAA’s political producer, Berna Dean Steptoe, had a drink with Jessica to get the low-down on what’s happening and also learn why Texas is a non-voting state. Hint: It’s cultural. But this episode starts with a toast to almost 40-years of Dallas’ original Blue Goose Cantina on Lower Greenville before it closes for good on March 19.
 
GUEST:
Jessica Huseman / Editorial Director, VoteBeat.org
Nick Peterson / Blue Goose Cantina CEO

Businesses in Texas thrive on lower taxes and less regulation. That leads to jobs, flourishing communities, and the Texas Miracle. But does Texas now need to create an entire court system for companies here to settle their disputes? Gov. Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan call it a priority. Half the country already has business courts. Delaware’s business courts have been around since 1792. So, the Jasons called another Jason for this episode – Jason Villalba. He’s a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives who proposed this very idea in 2015. This year, though, there’s more momentum. Even the bill number this year – House Bill 19 – says something about its importance. But will juries play a role? Will the judges be elected or appointed by the governor? The Jasons have questions. A third Jason answered them.
 
GUEST:
Jason Villalba, former state representative, practicing business attorney

LOCATION:
On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen

BEER SELECTIONS:
Jason Wheeler: Jalapeno Saison (Dallas, TX)
Jason Whitely: Hans' Pils (Blanco, TX)
Jason Villabla: Lake Highlands Light (Dallas, TX)

February 26, 2023
Dallas’ numbers stand unmatched. Murders are down 15% over the last two years, rapes decreased 40%, robberies almost 30% and aggravated assaults are down 5% since 2021. Dallas is the only top 10 city in the country with two consecutive years of lowering crime stats across the board. It’s quite a turnaround for a city that just three years ago did not even have a crime plan and had to request the state to send extra troopers to help squelch violence. How did Dallas do it? There’s a new top cop in town and the Jasons went to headquarters to meet him. Ever since Dallas hired Eddie Garcia to lead DPD more than two years ago, morale has increased and crime has decreased. That’s just part of the story. Chief Garcia told the Jasons how he relies on criminologists from UT San Antonio to help Dallas target violent crime. It’s part of his crime plan and it’s working. P.S., Chief Garcia also enlightened the Jasons on a new craft beer they promise to try in the next episode.
 
GUEST:
Chief Eddie Garcia, Dallas Police
 

Y’all-itics: February 19, 2023
 
Less than nine-months after the mass murder at Robb Elementary, Governor Greg Abbott didn’t mention Uvalde in his state-of-the-state address. And that is symbolic of the difficult struggle ahead for Texans now pushing for gun reform after losing loved ones in mass shootings. The lawmakers who represent Uvalde have introduced several of what they call “common sense” gun reform bills this session. But is there common appeal to make any changes? How about having to show ID before buying bulk ammunition? Or requiring insurance before you can buy certain types of guns? In this episode of Y’all-itics, Sen. Roland Gutierrez joins the Jasons to discuss his proposals and an innovative marketing campaign trying to win the hearts and minds of suburban parents. A father who lost his son at Robb Elementary also tells the Jasons why he doesn’t think Republicans will allow any movement on the issue this session.
 
GUESTS
 
Sen. Roland Gutierrez, (D) San Antonio
 
Brett Cross, Uvalde Father

It's stealing in broad daylight. And state lawmakers have yet to fix the problem. Thieves forge sellers’ signatures on property deeds, file them with the county clerk and take control of properties they don’t own. A four-year investigation into "dirty deeds" by WFAA has exposed thieves stealing homes, a church, a former Burger King restaurant, even an entire Sam’s Club building. Two years ago, Texas lawmakers required anyone filing a deed in the state's largest counties to show ID. But they missed the devil in the details, so the problem continues today unabated. Texas, in fact, ranks second in the nation for deed fraud cases. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons sit down with investigative reporter Tanya Eiserer, one of the few journalists in the country to track these thefts. She explains why counties still don’t have clear authority to stop them and details what lawmakers are now considering in this legislative session to protect Texas families, their property… and their money. WATCH THE WFAA "DIRTY DEEDS" SPECIAL: https://bit.ly/3YDbj2N