Gov. Greg Abbott touted plans to have Texas build a border wall, even soliciting donations from the public. Why the project’s now being scrapped. The U.S. Supreme Court is issuing decisions today, including one affecting gender-affirming care for transgender minors. Lawyers use previous cases to argue in court – but the Houston Housing Authority is caught citing dozens of case quotes that don’t exist. Journalist Liz Bruenig is exploring her opinions on the death penalty – her own family still he...
Jun 18, 2025•50 min
Why a stretch of border just over the West Texas state line has become the deadliest place for migrants. How cuts included in the president’s “big, beautiful bill” could affect Texans who depend on Medicaid and Obamacare. Why Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law the largest state-funded psychedelic research initiative in history. Solar panel scams targeting Texans – especially elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners. And regional Mexican music fans: some of your favorite bands won’t be visiting ...
Jun 17, 2025•50 min
Texas-based historian and author Jeremi Suri joins with the latest about the military back-and-forth between Iran and Israel, threatening to become an even larger all-out war, and what that could mean on the home front – including Texas’ role as the world’s energy capital. Protests against president Trump’s second administration reach a new high water mark with thousands turning out at events across Texas and the rest of the country over the weekend. And: LBJ Foundation CEO and presidential hist...
Jun 16, 2025•51 min
Texans under the age of 18 make up almost a quarter of the state’s population, so we’ve put together a show with them in mind. We’re joining you today from Abilene and the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival. We begin with a conversation about politics: We’ll hear from some Texas teens who make their voices heard, even though they can’t yet vote. Checking in with our go-to tech expert about kids and technology – some tips for engaging them while avoiding some of the pitfalls. Other familiar voi...
Jun 13, 2025•50 min
A very busy Thursday for first responders and meteorologists with flood conditions and heavy dust for many Texans – and it’s expected to get worse before it gets better. We’ll have an update. Houston, we have a problem, and it may be related to a spat between the president and the world’s wealthiest Texan. The Dallas Fed offers an assessment of the Texas economy and the Standard’s Sean Saldana has the details. Also, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel talks about a new album focused on his favorit...
Jun 12, 2025•50 min
Gov. Greg Abbott is calling National Guard troops into Texas to respond to immigration raid protests in the state. Texas had a new speaker of the House this legislative session. So how did Rep. Dustin Burrows handle the job? Flights out of the busy, and getting busier, Austin airport have been increasingly delayed because of staffing shortages. How it’s affecting passengers. President Trump reportedly wants Texas to re-draw district lines to favor Republicans – but some in his party aren’t so su...
Jun 11, 2025•50 min
Texas has spent years challenging the federal government. So why not fight a recent order to end in-state tuition for undocumented students? Using DNA testing to solve cold cases involving abandoned babies. Why Texas doesn’t require most employers to use E-Verify, the federal system that checks a worker’s legal status. The new book “Detained” shares the story of a 14-year-old’s life inside a U.S. detention camp in Texas for migrant children. Also: Why customers are using buy now, pay later servi...
Jun 10, 2025•50 min
Gina Ortiz Jones made history over the weekend, becoming San Antonio’s first openly lesbian mayor and only the third woman to hold the office. An assault case is exposing deeper failures in Texas group homes. With the rise of data centers across Texas, a push for private power plants run by natural gas. The new documentary “Sally” explores the private life of public space hero Sally Ride. We’ll talk to writer and director Cristina Costantini. And: Diving into the history of Adolph Hofner, the Te...
Jun 09, 2025•51 min
For the first time since Texas’ measles outbreak at the start of the year, there are no new reported cases. We’ll get an update on efforts to contain the disease. A new report in The Guardian reveals pressure from Immigration and Customs Enforcement leadership to ramp up arrests, even of people not originally targeted. Flag football is helping to tackle a gender gap in youth sports, getting a boost in Texas from none other than the NFL. A simmering trade dispute could make tomatoes more expensiv...
Jun 06, 2025•50 min
A old law suddenly no more: a judge strikes down in-state tuition for undocumented students in Texas. What changes can Texans expect for energy and the environment after this week’s conclusion of the 89th Texas Legislature? After the Smokehouse Creek Fire scorched over 1 million acres, lawmakers also passed a slate of wildfire preparedness bills. The devastating New World screwworm, eliminated from North America decades ago, are on their way back. The Standard’s Michael Marks talked to ranchers ...
Jun 05, 2025•50 min
The race to be San Antonio’s next mayor was narrowed from a field of 27 to two. What to know before the runoff election on Saturday. Arrests outside of immigration court have happened in El Paso, Dallas and San Antonio. Why activists say this tactic encourages migrants to break the law. Texas is set to become the next in a handful of states to ban lab-grown meat for human consumption. It’s Texas vs. Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series championship, with Game 1 tonight. And: We’ll expl...
Jun 04, 2025•50 min
The 89th Legislature is history. We’ll look at what lawmakers accomplished and what was left to do. We continue our series on an adult literacy program in Texarkana that does much more than help people get an education – and why it could be a model for other parts of the state. A Houston-based aerospace company successfully tests a hypersonic engine and hopes to one day fly passengers from the U.S. to Asia in just two hours. And: Popular images of gunslingers are pretty on target, according to t...
Jun 03, 2025•50 min
Texas lawmakers have approved additional funding for public schools, including more money for teachers. Some San Antonio school districts have found a way to help struggling students catch up following the pandemic. What can we learn from those efforts? Texas ranks near the bottom when it comes to adults with a high school education. As the Standard’s Sarah Asch reports, a literacy program in Texarkana offers a solution. Despite headline-grabbing moves by companies like Tesla and Oracle, tech em...
Jun 02, 2025•50 min
Severe storms brought flash floods, hail and widespread power outages to Central Texas, killing one and hospitalizing two. More than 10,000 are still without power. Rare earth minerals are being wasted when you toss out an old phone or TV. Research in Texas could change the disposal process. Texas Tech just won its first-ever game in the Women’s College World Series. We’ll introduce you to star pitcher NiJaree Canady, the first softball player making $1 million a season in NIL deals. Plus: How a...
May 30, 2025•50 min
Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration. Why now, and what’s next for the Texas-based billionaire. A bill that aims to plug the state’s abandoned oil and gas wells – sometimes called “orphaned wells” – is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Insurers in Texas are partnering with aerial imaging and AI companies to assess homes from the sky. The Trump administration continues to threaten mass deportations. But dairy farms don’t seem to be losing any workers. And: “Tacos of Texas” podcast host ...
May 29, 2025•50 min
The House has passed a bill mandating the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms. If the Senate signs off, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to make it law. A 2023 law expanded polling place requirements – but many small counties couldn’t keep up. Now a new bill that rolls back those mandates is headed to the governor. Water insecurity is a problem around Corpus Christi – and that’s before a new Tesla plant coming in that will require more of it. What you need to know. Plus: Th...
May 28, 2025•50 min
A bill banning all products with THC is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Is this the end of the state’s hemp industry? Lawmakers are also revisiting efforts to reform or replace the STAAR test. An investigation finds that some people in Central Texas are stuck behind bars beyond the 90-day limit without being indicted – only to have their charges dropped. From Tejano to Texas country, the sounds of the Lone Star State are getting a new home at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Plus: We’ll go behind th...
May 27, 2025•50 min
This Memorial Day, we’ll hear the story of Florentino Cantú Jr., a Laredoan who saw military service as a ticket to a better life for his parents and 10 siblings. Memorial Day is a day of reflection to be sure, but it is also the unofficial start of summer for many folks. We’ll be getting some tips on how Texans can make the most of it, from experiencing the great outdoors to keeping cool – plus some Texas summer songs that hit just right. And: Hurricane season starts June 1, and CenterPoint Ene...
May 26, 2025•51 min
With just over a week to go at the Texas Legislature: what’s passed, what’s stalled, and where we stand. Retailers track your every move to build shopper profiles and offer “personalized discounts.” But these loyalty perks may be more misleading than helpful. Declining enrollment and tight budgets have school districts reevaluating their campuses. In Fort Worth, officials are proposing a five-year plan to close more than a dozen schools. And: the week in politics with Jasper Scherer of The Texas...
May 23, 2025•50 min
A look at the behind-the-scenes dealmaking happening at the Texas Capitol with less than two weeks until lawmakers gavel out on June 2. How proposed cuts to SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, would impact Texans. Apple has a plan to make it possible to use your laptop, phone and even smartwatch with brain control. Tech reporter Omar Gallaga says it’s no gimmick and could bring serious accessibility benefits. Plus: A new coach, a new star – and a bumpy takeoff for the Dallas Wings. The post As ...
May 22, 2025•50 min
Texas lawmakers are considering a plan that could help prevent fentanyl overdoses in the state. Why it may not become law. A decade after the deadly biker shootout in Waco that led to nine deaths and more than 100 arrests, some civil cases against the city are still moving forward. Some Texas law enforcement agencies are getting rid of a gun they consider too risky for their officers – by selling them to civilians. State and federal money has been set aside to connect rural Texans to the Interne...
May 21, 2025•51 min
Today we’re broadcasting live from El Paso for a special edition of the Texas Standard. We hear from some prominent El Pasoans – former Congressman Beto O’Rourke and former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo – on the city’s dynamic politics. El Paso has become a leader in innovative water management. How the city is securing its future in the desert. KTEP’s Aaron Montes visits a local academy training the future stars of lucha libre. And: How bighorn sheep have returned to El Paso’s mountains after a centu...
May 20, 2025•50 min
A bipartisan bill on abortion has passed the Texas Senate and is making its way through the House. Why lawmakers agree it’s necessary. It’s been a decade now since a deadly shootout involving rival biker gangs at a Twin Peaks in Waco. What an investigation reveals about how the case was handled. Thousands of Brazilians live in Central Texas. How they’re feeling about those from their country being targeted for deportation. Plus: We’ll take you to the Kentucky Club in Juárez, a beloved border bar...
May 19, 2025•51 min
As the school year winds down, Texas lawmakers cramming for their final days at their desks are focused on education – and what some had hoped would be an increase in state spending per student may be shifted to teacher pay raises. Consumer Reports investigates a tip that sale prices at Kroger aren’t showing up at the checkout, with consumers taking the hit. Texas Parks and Wildlife has rolled out motorized track wheelchairs to improve access at state parks. Plus: A 15-minute film from Waco, “Th...
May 16, 2025•51 min
A bill would make it possible for criminal offenders as young as 15 to be sent to state prisons for adults. Why hopes for a big increase in per-student funding for Texas public schools may have slipped away for this legislative session. Also at the Capitol: The loud bang of a wooden mallet is supposed to keep lawmakers in check. But it’s a symbol of power, too. What’s the story behind the use of the gavel? For decades, a quiet but growing movement has supported artists with intellectual and deve...
May 15, 2025
Texas gets a lot of flack for its culture wars – but some note a change at the Capitol this legislative session. More than a year after the state took over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass during the peak of illegal border crossings, it has now reopened to the public – and residents have bittersweet feelings. After a big push from the Trump administration, Mexico promises to make good on water treaty deliveries to Texas. But farmers fear it’ll only be a drop in the bucket. And: “Finnegans Wake” by Jame...
May 14, 2025
A record-breaking heat wave will blanket big sections of the state. Is this a preview of summer? The U.S. has suspended imports of cattle from Mexico as a devastating pest, the New World Screwworm, makes its way north, threatening livestock. The Houston City Council kicks off budget hearings this week, weighing steep cuts. The new book “Freedom Season” by Texas author Peniel Joseph explores how the year 1963 transformed civil rights in America. And: Planning a pit stop at Buc-ee’s? Some of you c...
May 13, 2025
Abortion pills, denial of bail, and a ban on land purchases for some people: What’s happening in the final weeks of the Texas Legislature? After jackpot controversies, multiple resignations and a ban on online lotto ticket sales, the state’s lottery system is now under investigation. Cities on the rise across Texas are quite literally sinking, with Houston faring the worst out of any major U.S. metropolis. The latest projections on a fast-approaching hurricane season. And: Checking in with Catho...
May 12, 2025•50 min
Texas Catholics, now almost a third of the state population, are celebrating the selection of Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from America. Gov. Gregg Abbott has just signed into law a school voucher plan, but some Texans are continuing to push back. A judge orders the sale of the Texas Renaissance Festival, following a civil court trial over a purchase deal that fell through in 2023. Fans can get an early look at this summer’s “King of the Hill” reboot at the ATX TV Festival. And: the week in p...
May 09, 2025
Several current and former Frio County officials have been indicted for alleged vote harvesting, part of a years-long investigation led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. One critic calls it voter suppression 101. What’s behind the charges? In the conversation over cash bail reform, what’s missing? An new investigation points to a lack of focus on the bail bond industry. The new world screwworm, a livestock pest, may be making a comeback in the U.S., and experts say Mexico hasn’t been coopera...
May 08, 2025•50 min
