The top local stories this evening from KERA News:
Apprehensions of people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border fell sharply last month. Total apprehensions fell by nearly 20 percent between May and June, following four straight months of increases.
The Department of Homeland Security attributes the drop to the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy, which calls for prosecuting any person who crosses the border illegally.
But the drop may be due to seasonal factors. The number of illegal border crossings typically falls during the summer, when the heat makes the trip more dangerous.
Other stories this evening:
- For the sixth consecutive year, cyclosporiasis cases are popping up around Texas. The intestinal infection is caused by a parasite called cyclospora, which is linked to unwashed, uncooked vegetables. Officials have reported 56 cases across the state since May. Dr. William Schaffner, who teaches preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, talked to Texas Standard's David Brown about how the disease spread.
- The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Underground Railroad” follows the trials of a young runaway slave who escaped her plantation and made her way north. Today on Think, Krys Boyd talked with author Colson Whitehead about the freedom he found in fictionalizing history.
- The teen theater company Cry Havoc is opening a play about gun violence this weekend. More than that, they’ve built a set for their play as an art installation, open daily for anyone to visit. This week in the Art&Seek Spotlight, KERA's Jerome Weeks reports the room-sized artwork uses video projections - plus lots and lots of shoes. ‘Babel’ and ‘The Cenotaph’ run through July 15th.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
