After three deaths on a cruise ship, fears over hantavirus are going viral online. A top Texas epidemiologist shares what science says. The race for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas is getting a lot of attention as current Attorney General Ken Paxton tries to take the seat of a fellow Republican. But what about the seat he’s vacating? How much do you know about who’s in the running? Wind power: One of the biggest stories of Texas energy in recent years. But now, wind is set to take second place to ...
May 08, 2026•50 min
Texas lawmakers have long known about flood dangers along the Guadalupe. So why were calls for life-saving protections not heeded? Amid lawsuits, two top state leaders say they want to make it easier for summer camps along the Guadalupe to reopen this summer, less than a year after the deadly July 4 floods. Plans to open a data center at U.S. military base Fort Bliss is getting serious pushback from nearby El Paso residents. Also, what’s behind a huge increase in drug overdose deaths at Texas pr...
May 07, 2026•50 min
Some of Ken Paxton’s usual big backers have not pitched in yet for his U.S. Senate race. What does that tell us about the runoff election? Houston ISD is trying something new next school year, launching so-called AI-focused schools. What’s that mean exactly? The business of craft brewing was growing for years, but now they’re shutting down faster than they’re opening. A look at the shift. We’ll also look at how Texas is working towards getting mental health patients out of the criminal justice c...
May 06, 2026•50 min
The Supreme Court intervenes in the battle over the medication mifepristone that is used for abortions mailed across the country. An ICE agent shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, on South Padre Island in 2025 — but his family in San Antonio didn’t find out how he died for nearly a year. What happened? Plus, Houston ISD proposes major changes for special education. Also, a look at the history of the Voting Rights Act and how it reshaped Texas. And a large, unusual animal was spott...
May 05, 2026•50 min
A cloud of confusion over rulings involving THC and smokable hemp in Texas: What’s legal, what’s not, and why now? In this midterm election year, a test of efforts to expand legal protections and access to voting for Texans with visual impairments. We’ll hear why researchers say barriers are still common. Thousands nationwide are exonerated as laws banning “junk science” take hold. But in Texas, the state’s top criminal court has blocked defendants from using the state’s junk science law to get ...
May 04, 2026•51 min
Camp Mystic withdrew its application to operate this summer, but dozens of other Texas camps are still trying to get state approval to open. Corpus Christi’s water crisis could soon mean people have to make big cuts in water usage — but there’s concern leadership isn’t prepared for the mounting emergency. A Texan in the Trump administration is facing an ethics complaint. Why Agriculture Commissioner Brooke Rollins is on the defense. Abilene is trying to increase access to emergency care to a spr...
May 01, 2026•50 min
The Voting Rights Act is losing more teeth. We’ll look at what a Supreme Court ruling means for redistricting. Also, another Supreme Court case is examining when and how police can use cell phone data. We’ll check in with our tech expert about what’s at stake. China is making brand-new cars for cheap. It’s hard to get them in the U.S., but not impossible — just ask folks in El Paso. So, will more folks be driving them soon? You’ve probably heard by now that FIFA World Cup games are coming to Tex...
Apr 30, 2026•52 min
Corpus Christi has been careening towards a water emergency, but it’s not the only city along the Gulf with water woes. Another court battle over hemp, this time what stores can sell during a longer legal tie-up is at stake. The United Arab Emirates is leaving the world’s most powerful oil cartel. We’ll look at what that may mean for OPEC and the prices we pay. New rules for autonomous vehicles are now in effect in Texas, but some experts want to see more. And commentator W.F. Strong has a story...
Apr 29, 2026•50 min
The Trump administration prepares to target elected officials in Mexico with suspected ties to cartels. That, plus the effort to build more border walls in Texas includes bonuses for some landowners in the Rio Grande Valley to speed up the process. Teachers who work as tutors could earn extra money under the new voucher plan. Sound good? Critics say otherwise. Also, a group of marine biologists in Texas discover a new jellyfish species. And we’ll have a report from the Texas Parasport Games in S...
Apr 28, 2026•50 min
Texas lawmakers hold the first public hearings on last July’s deadly flooding at Camp Mystic. Sticker shock at the supermarket: How some Texans are bypassing the meat counter and going straight to the ranch. The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks with more. How Greg Abbott has reshaped the state’s top executive office. Texas is hosting 16 World Cup Matches as officials warn of an increase in sex trafficking. What does the data have to say about the connection to major sports events? And this week in...
Apr 27, 2026•51 min
Writer/director/editor/producer David Lowery talks more about the creative relationship that inspired “Mother Mary” and his need to be so hands on with his work in this extended interview. He also opened up more about making movies in Dallas again and on what he thinks is the best Texas film. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps. The post Texas Extra:...
Apr 25, 2026•20 min
Tens of thousands of DACA recipients are living in legal limbo in Texas under the threat of sudden deportation. We’ll look at the ripple effects in Texas and beyond. At a Baptist university well known for its conservative values, twin events at Baylor between Turning Point USA and a progressive event called All Our Neighbors is raising questions and eyebrows. A sudden shutdown of the airspace over El Paso back in February led to widespread confusion. We’ll hear about the inter-agency feuds that ...
Apr 24, 2026•51 min
Civil rights groups say the Houston City Council has caved to threats from Gov. Greg Abbott. We’ll hear more on the city’s decision to amend an ordinance limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE agents. The latest frontier in the politics of energy: Andy Uhler on rising electricity demand statewide and the challenge convincing some rural Texans to get on board. Austin archery students take aim at a national competition. We’ll hear about the real target of this undertaking. “Mother Mar...
Apr 23, 2026•50 min
A judge has ordered the release of a family held in a South Texas detention center for 10 months. We’ll have a look at the case and what’s next. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is leading a Religious Liberty Commission for President Trump. Patrick’s recent comments denying a separation between church and state could tell us more about the group’s forthcoming policy recommendations. With gas prices still high, there are calls on both sides of the aisle to suspend the gas tax. What would that save you,...
Apr 22, 2026•50 min
The state of Texas is poised to spend millions on psychedelic drug research. We’ll have the details about the clinical trials set for ibogaine. Profits for Texas restaurants are plummeting as ICE conducts more immigration raids. We’ll hear what restaurant owners want the Trump administration to do. A deadline to ensure digital materials are accessible for people with disabilities has been extended. We’ll have a look at why and what the delay means. A new cancer center for patients who need care ...
Apr 21, 2026•50 min
The war in Iran and the big energy bottleneck presents implications for the Lone Star State. As we parse out the latest, we’ll have a closer look at the impact on oil and why one top analyst says despite record oil exports from Texas, we’re still not out of the woods. There has been a lot of talk about cheap drones that are giving an edge to adversaries on the battlefield. Why is the U.S. lagging on using them? A new study examines an educational experiment in Dallas, rewarding teachers for stud...
Apr 20, 2026•51 min
David Streitfeld wrote the new biography “Western Star” about his friend Larry McMurty. In this extended interview, you’ll hear more about “Lonesome Dove,” McMurtry’s reaction to the television miniseries and whether McMurtry himself was more of an Augustus McCrae or a Woodrow Call. Streitfeld also talked about what he hopes readers will get out of his new book. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also availab...
Apr 18, 2026•19 min
As Corpus Christi and neighboring cities try to head off a water catastrophe, water demand exceeds supply across Texas and there are new staggering estimates for a statewide water plan. We’ll go over the numbers, what’s behind them, and what comes next. A runoff for lieutenant governor looms in Texas — but do Texans know either of the candidates? Also: Born in Houston, raised in Wimberley, and leaving his mark on music worldwide — singer-songwriter Buck Meek on his new solo album, “The Mirror.” ...
Apr 17, 2026•50 min
The biggest city in Texas faces intense pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott over cooperation with immigration enforcement. David Goodman of the New York Times joins us with more on a threat to cut funding for Houston police unless it changes a new policy on collaboration with ICE agents. What happens next to Camp Mystic? A hearing over what to do with damaged structures as questions remain over last July’s deadly floods. What’s the price for memory? More than you might imagine, especially if you have...
Apr 16, 2026•50 min
Texas Republican Tony Gonzales has begun the process of resigning amid accusations tied to sexual misconduct. What’s next for Texas’ 23rd congressional district? There’s an annual ritual going on right now on parts of the Texas Gulf Coast. Why conservationists are celebrating the unusual display of the Attwater’s prairie-chicken. The San Antonio Spurs are headed into the NBA playoffs, but its parent company is facing a challenge. Why Bexar County says it’s owed millions. The Trump administration...
Apr 15, 2026•50 min
The state is taking control of more struggling school districts, but how effective are the takeovers? We’ll discuss with two Houston Chronicle reporters tracking takeovers in Texas. Should the state attorney general make national politics one of his primary duties as outgoing AG Ken Paxton has done? It’s become an issue as voters elect the state’s new top legal representative. Texans can no longer use SNAP benefits to buy candy or sugary drinks, but what qualifies at the checkout counter? We’ll ...
Apr 14, 2026•50 min
After talks with Iran fall apart, energy prices are back on the rise — as are military tensions. UT global affairs expert Jeremi Suri on what happened in talks and what it means for the foreseeable future. The end of the Artemis II mission, the start of a new chapter in space exploration. We’ll have more on that front, as well as the discovery of the remains of what looks like an armadillo the size of a lion. What a Central Texas cave is telling us about what Texas really looked like in the Ice ...
Apr 13, 2026•50 min
Texas Standard talked with Bob Odenkirk during SXSW about his new film “Normal.” Now, it’s hitting theatres. This extended conversation goes beyond why he loves the new film to include how he feels he adds to the action genre and why he votes “Rushmore” for the best Texas film. He also gets real about how he feels about Texas barbecue and film incentives from state to state. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is...
Apr 11, 2026•27 min
The threat of hail, possible tornadoes and flooding conditions spells what could be a severe start to a stormy weather season in Texas. Meteorologist Eric Berger joins us with what to expect and how it fits into the bigger weather picture. How are you weathering rising gasoline prices? We’ll hear how some Houstonians are coping. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s election-year forecast: Not a rosy one for the Texas GOP. We’ll talk about that with Jasper Scherer of the Texas Tribune. We’ll reveal our winner ...
Apr 10, 2026•51 min
High stakes in Texas as cannabis businesses file suit over a new statewide ban on smokable hemp. This year’s midterm elections signal the biggest turnover in recent memory and Texas is part of that trend. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey on what’s behind this changing of the guard. Despite a tenuous ceasefire with Iran, tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us high-tech battles are still being waged. The prescription for a nursing shortage in Texas? A new training opportunity launches in Abilene. And...
Apr 09, 2026•50 min
A proposed overhaul of Texas classrooms could change what millions of students read. We’ll look at how this could impact classrooms across the state. An investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales uncovers a pattern of pursuing staff members. What we know and how the congressman is responding. Billions of dollars in clean energy investment across Texas is now in question, as federal policy shifts put projects at risk. We’ll delve into what this could mean for the state’s energy future. Plus, th...
Apr 08, 2026•50 min
A deepening water crisis in Corpus Christi is raising questions about how South Texans get their water — and who gets it. For students pursuing job training instead of a traditional college degree, there are some long-awaited changes to financial aid. Now, new support could open doors for workforce programs. A reckoning over the legacy of Cesar Chavez: We’ll discuss the fallout and the future of the farmworker’s movement. And a historic journey deep into space: Astronauts traveling farther than ...
Apr 07, 2026•50 min
A runoff in the Houston area between challenger Christian Menefee and longtime incumbent Al Green is being seen as part of a much bigger fight for the future of Texas Democrats. Also, an executive order from the Trump administration may put the postal service in the middle of election-year politics. Also — explosions on the other side of the Texas-New Mexico border near El Paso, and what they portend for the future of a border wall. Meanwhile, Artemis II astronauts are making history with a flyb...
Apr 06, 2026•51 min
The water crisis in Corpus Christi has been on the minds of many Texans for the past few weeks. But in the city itself, officials have been dealing with drought and increased demands for water for years. On April 3, David Brown spoke with Corpus Christi city manager Peter Zanoni about how the city plans to beef up its water supplies, the state’s role and why no water emergency has been declared. This is an extended version of the interview that appeared on the radio show. The full transcript of ...
Apr 04, 2026
Despite warnings of a water crisis, Corpus Christi’s top official overseeing water says “we will never run out.” Gov. Greg Abbott has warned of a state takeover if the city can’t deal with a water crisis. The city manager tells Texas Standard why he’s so reluctant to declare a water emergency. The maker of a popular weed killer blamed for cancer deaths is facing more than 100 thousand lawsuits is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to limit their liability. Michael Marks unpacks that case. Plus, t...
Apr 03, 2026•50 min
