The top local stories this morning from KERA News:
If the U.S. Senate misses its deadline to pass a spending bill, the federal government will shut down. That would also mean furloughs for 200,000 Texans.
Essential services related to national security or public safety will remain open.
Alex Samuels with the Texas Tribune told public radio’s Texas Standard says a possible shutdown would shutter 10 parks and historic sites in the state, as well as the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Department of Homeland Security will also likely halt its e-verify program, which allows businesses to check the immigration status of prospective employees.
Essential services would remain open, such as anything related to national security or public safety.
Social Security recipients and other entitlement beneficiaries will still get their checks, but new applications won’t be processed in the event of a shutdown.
Other stories this morning:
- Just a week after state officials threatened to shut it down, the century-old Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas is voluntarily closing its doors. The facility’s faced the scrutiny of regulators for safety issues, including sexual assaults.
- The flu death count is up. Collin County reported six deaths Thursday, the first for the county this season.
- State Rep. Victoria Neave talks about how women have turned the enthusiasm from last year’s Women’s March into action.
You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.
