1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,200 I'm just in Dane with a brief look at the latest news in Texas politics 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:11,880 and policy from the Texas Tribune. A Texas A and M University department head 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:17,359 involved in the failed efforts to recruit a black journalism professor said Friday that then 4 00:00:17,559 --> 00:00:22,960 President M Katherine Banks interfered in the hiring process and that race was a factor 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:28,359 in university official's decision to water down her job offer. Hart Blanton, head 6 00:00:28,359 --> 00:00:32,200 of the Department of Communications in Journalism, said, I understand it to be 7 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:36,840 illegal for any employer, much less a public university, to subject a job 8 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:42,079 candidate to strict your scrutiny due to her race or caller. Doctor Kathleen McElroy, 9 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:46,000 a nineteen eighty one Texas A and M graduate and former director of the 10 00:00:46,079 --> 00:00:50,520 University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism, turned down an offer to reboot 11 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:55,719 A m's journalism program earlier this month. After a fraught negotiation process, first 12 00:00:55,759 --> 00:01:00,960 reported by The Texas Tribune, what originally was a ten year track offer was 13 00:01:00,039 --> 00:01:03,920 reduced to a one year position, from which she could be fired at any 14 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:10,560 time. McElroy ultimately walked away from the negotiations, saying the final offer makes 15 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,959 it clear they don't want me here. The collapse of the hire sparked outraging 16 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,439 concerns about academic freedom from faculty and comes. As universities are facing scrutiny over 17 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:26,079 their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Some conservatives have recently labeled programs and 18 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,159 schools of thought that center on the perspectives of people of color as woke ideologies 19 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:36,120 that make white students feel guilty for the country's history of racism. Legislation to 20 00:01:36,239 --> 00:01:41,519 purge state university's d EI offices was signed into law last month and goes into 21 00:01:41,519 --> 00:01:46,519 effect in January. The A and M system recently began a system wide audit 22 00:01:46,599 --> 00:01:53,480 of all d EI offices in response to the new law. As the entire 23 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,640 state sees blazing temperatures that only keep climbing, farmers are questioning whether the summer's 24 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,280 weather will lead to another busted year. The heat has been unrelenting across the 25 00:02:02,359 --> 00:02:07,640 state. Last month, there were an unusually high number of days when temperatures 26 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,439 were above a hundred degrees. The High Plains region, which includes Lubbock, 27 00:02:10,599 --> 00:02:16,080 has experienced whiplash first an astounding amount of rain earlier this year. Two hundred 28 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,840 percent of the normal rainfall in the Panhandle and one hundred and thirty percent in 29 00:02:20,879 --> 00:02:23,800 the Lubac area. That early rain helped keep the region slightly cooler than the 30 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,120 rest of the state at the start of the summer. The current US rout 31 00:02:28,159 --> 00:02:31,719 monitor shows most of the region is clear from drought, but now sweltering heat 32 00:02:31,719 --> 00:02:37,000 waves are sapping the moisture from the ground. There are also concerns about how 33 00:02:37,039 --> 00:02:40,360 crops and livestocks are getting relief from the heat at night. Victor Murphy, 34 00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:46,639 Climate Service program manager with a National Weather Service says unless some rainfall appears soon, 35 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:51,240 these high temperature anomalies will increase through the end of July. That would 36 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,080 be devastating for the high plains. The region's economy took a big hit last 37 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:59,120 summer when the drought caused billions of dollars in losses, which has pushed farmers 38 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,919 to lobby for a dish disaster assistance in the twenty twenty three farm bill. 39 00:03:02,479 --> 00:03:07,240 With Farm Bill discussions under way, Senator John Cornyan visited Lubbeck to talk about 40 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:13,039 the high stakes legislation that pays for crop insurance, as well as the usdya's 41 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:16,919 World Development programs and the nation's food subsidy program, known as SNAP. The 42 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:23,319 massive legislation is projected to reach one trillion dollars. The deadline for the farm 43 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,879 bill is September thirtieth, though Cornyan said that his colleagues are indicating they may 44 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,599 need more time. He said crop insurance funding is one of his priorities for 45 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:37,800 the legislation. We have a big favor to ask. Would you go to 46 00:03:37,879 --> 00:03:43,960 Texas Tribune dot org slash brief survey to take a five minute listener survey. 47 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,560 This is the best way for the Texas Tribune journalists to know what works and 48 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:53,439 what doesn't for our podcasts. The link again as Texas Tribune dot org slash 49 00:03:53,639 --> 00:03:58,280 brief Survey. There's also a link in the show notes. We appreciate your 50 00:03:58,319 --> 00:04:01,400 feedback. Check for up dates on any of these stories at Texas Tribune dot 51 00:04:01,479 --> 00:04:06,360 org and follow the Brief podcast for daily news updates wherever you get your podcasts. 52 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:15,480 I'm Justin Dane for the Texas Tribune. You've been briefed. Today's brief 53 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:21,120 is brought to you by Educate Texas. Educate Texas stimulates creative solutions to key 54 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:30,120 educational challenges throughout the state. Learn more at eedtx dot org. Here from 55 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,240 Adam Kinsinger, Renew Qatar, Catherine Clark, Aaron Franklin, and many others. 56 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:39,800 At the twenty twenty three Texas Tribune Festival, happening September twenty first through 57 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:44,600 the twenty third in Austin, one hundred newly announced speakers join an already stellar 58 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,360 lineup who will debate new ideas and take on big issues that matter to Texans 59 00:04:48,519 --> 00:04:53,199 and the nation. Learn more at Tribfest dot org.