Texas Standard

Coverage of politics, lifestyle, environment, technology, innovation and money matters from a uniquely Texas perspective.

Last refreshed: June 11th, 2026 at 4:39 PM

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Episodes

Houston ISD has half the nurses it did last year

Healthcare providers and people on both sides of Texas’ abortion ban are working together – kind of – on an effort to clarify the law. The VA is trying to trim its budget without affecting patients. A closer look at the plans and their potential holes. The number of nurses in Houston public schools has dropped by 50% in the past year. Now there’s an effort at the Texas Capitol to set requirements for having nurses on campuses. What you need to know as the federal government restarts collections ...

Apr 23, 2025•49 min

Remembering the ‘People’s Pope’

The Supreme Court halts deportations under the Alien Enemies Act. We’ll have the latest on the case involving migrants held in Texas. He was called a “monster” by one of the survivors of the El Paso Walmart mass shooting. We hear from victims and relatives of those killed as the gunman is sentenced. Pope Francis once made a high-profile visit to the Texas-Mexico border where he celebrated Mass on the banks of the Rio Grande. Residents on both sides of the river remember the People’s Pope. How th...

Apr 22, 2025

Harris County deputy suicides raise questions about mental health support

From Houston to Fort Worth, thousands of Texans joined people across the country over the weekend in a national day of protest against the Trump administration. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey gets us up to speed on what’s happening at the state Capitol with six weeks left in the legislative session. Four Houston-area suicides among members of law enforcement are drawing more attention to an issue some peace officers are reluctant to talk about openly. And: Many Texans are mourning Pope Franc...

Apr 21, 2025

Texas Extra: Our favorite Typewriter Rodeo poems

Texas Extras are special and extended content put together just for our podcast listeners! Texas Standard recently revealed our Top 10 list from April: the Top 10 Typewriter Rodeo poems from the past decade. Each poem is pretty short, usually just about a minute long, but we still didn’t have time to play them in their entirety in our on-air Top 10 – which just felt like a shame. We remedy that for you here, enjoy! The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT &am...

Apr 19, 2025

Bird flu is spreading across Texas wildlife

Bird flu is spreading fast among wildlife including foxes and raccoons in Panhandle counties. Twenty-seven candidates are running to become the next mayor of San Antonio – the city’s biggest field in recent memory – as voters head to the polls next month. Deployed Resources, a Texas company that grew into a contracting giant building tent shelters, is turning its focus to deportation. Looking to buy a vehicle? What you should know about the car market amid tariff uncertainty. And: The history of...

Apr 18, 2025•50 min

Texas House gives initial approval to school voucher bill

For the first time ever, the Texas House votes to approve the use of taxpayer money for private school education. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom shares what comes next. Many farmers in South Texas say a water treaty with Mexico is costing them dearly. Now the Trump administration appears ready to get involved. Thousands of acres of Hill Country land have been set aside to create a new state natural area, and Texas Public Radio’s Jack Morgan got a preview. And: Politics and water take center...

Apr 17, 2025

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