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bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

Education & Policy Episodes

March 29, 2025

111. The Last Word - Leave the City Bond Elections Alone

This week's Last Word dives into the ongoing battle between local and state government in Texas, focusing on San Antonio's fight to retain control over its financial future. With Republican lawmakers seeking to tighten their grip on predominantly...

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March 15, 2025

107. The Last Word - A Legal and Moral Crisis: Texas Public Schools D…

This week’s Last Word examines Texas’ growing education funding crisis. Despite a record state budget surplus, public schools—especially in San Antonio—are being left behind. Lawmakers continue to prioritize political battles over solutions,...

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March 14, 2025

106. Tom Slick’s Legacy: The San Antonio Institution Studying Conscio…

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we delve into the unexpected legacy of Tom Slick and his enduring influence on San Antonio’s scientific community. Though known as an oil wildcatter, Slick’s curiosity and visionary investments laid the groundwork...

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March 7, 2025

104. Inside UTSA Honors College: A Different Kind of Higher Education

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a deep dive into UTSA Honors College—one of the most unique and rapidly evolving honors programs in Texas. Unlike traditional programs, UTSA Honors College is built around real-world experience, preparing...

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Feb. 21, 2025

100. The Future of UTSA with President Taylor Eighmy: Merger, Expansi…

This week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown explores how UTSA is rapidly evolving into a top public research university—and what this means for San Antonio’s future. With its confirmed merger with UT Health San Antonio now in progress, UTSA is...

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Feb. 14, 2025

98. Public School Funding in Texas: What San Antonio’s Business Leade…

This week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown dives into the urgent conversation surrounding public school funding in Texas. With schools in the San Antonio region reaching a financial breaking point, business leaders are stepping in to advocate for...

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Nov. 15, 2024

80. Dr. Bryan Gervais and UTSA’s New Center for Policy Studies

This week’s guest is UTSA’s Dr. Bryan Gervais. He is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science & Geography, and he's in the studio because he is the inaugural director of the UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR),...

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