Social Studies from Texas Monthly

This set of true stories about Texas begins with "Busting Out of Mexico" by Jan Reid. A father finds desperate men to break his son out of a Mexican prison. The prison escape works, but the ensuing celebrity is unexpected. "Showdown on Waggoner Ranch" by Gary Cartwright explores a massive ranch in Texas and the owning family that has been stuck in a legal battle for decades. These two stories are narrated by Bruce DuBose, whose baritone and slight drawl make for easy listening. "Cops and Robbers" by Katy Vine discusses a group of drug-busting cops who go rogue and begin to break the laws they're supposed to protect. "Lost and Found" is Vine's essay on foreign refugees and their struggles after landing in Texas. Lydia Mackay narrates both of Vine's stories with compassion. "The Trouble with Innocence" by Michael Hall, narrated with perfect tone by Christopher Ryan Grant, tells the story of a man who spent 20 years on death row and was eventually released after being retried. Both the former convict and the prosecutor are interviewed, leaving the listener with uncertainty about the truth.