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
According to a new poll, Texans have predictable opinions along party lines about Donald Trump’s immigration policies – but it’s more complicated on the economy. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is taking legal action against Austin ISD, accusing it of teaching critical race theory. It’s not the first time a Texas district has faced such charges. Shrimp fraud is driving that sector of Gulf Coast agriculture to the brink. What you need to know about it. The National Trust for Historic Preservati...
May 07, 2025•49 min
State lawmakers from the House and Senate reach a deal lowering property taxes. Will it pass? It’s the ultimate company town: How Space X’s launch site in South Texas became a city. Generic and house brands are taking off as people look to save on grocery bills. But that’s not the only reason shoppers prefer them. What’s next for Gregg Popovich in his new role with the Spurs. And: Author Rachel Cockerell on her new family memoir about an effort in the early 1900s to create a Jewish homeland in T...
May 06, 2025•50 min
As the clock ticks down on the legislative session, how close is Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to completing his wish list? Weekend balloting across Texas brings some big local changes. We’ll hear from reporters statewide. Texans dominate at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney. The documentary “The Stones Are Speaking” tells the story of Michael Collins, the man who helped open the Gault site to researchers. And: Who’ll be the next mayor of San Antonio? Voters have narrowed a field of 27 ...
May 05, 2025•50 min
This week, Willie Nelson celebrated his 92nd birthday. Last weekend, the latest film he served as executive producer on had its debut. It screened at the Dallas International Film Festival and it was co-directed by his daughter, Amy. This is an extended interview with her about the film, “King of the Roadies.” It’s about the world’s first roadie, Ben Dorcy III, who long worked with Willie Nelson and other well-known musicians. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on...
May 03, 2025
A South Texas ruling prevents the deportation of some detainees. What it means for the Trump administration’s strategy. Houston’s large Afghan population is closely watching efforts to unwind programs providing them legal status in the U.S. Why many say they can’t return to their home country. Some Texans will be headed to the polls tomorrow for local elections. A preview of some of the biggest races and initiatives, including one that would create a new company town. Efforts to change what peop...
May 02, 2025
An $8 billion funding bill for public schools has passed the Texas House. But is it enough? Where lawmakers stand on education spending. After a string of weather disasters, a bill could bring financial relief to impacted farmers. A new book, “Rethinking Medications: Truth, Power, and the Drugs You Take,” examines a shift in trust over federal guidance. Author Dr. Jerry Avorn joins with more. In the not-too-distant future, iPhones may not be made in China. Omar Gallaga has the latest on talk of ...
May 01, 2025
Texans weigh in on everything from artificial intelligence to the economic outlook. What a new poll tells us about the state of the state. We’ll also dig into consumer spending, and what the latest information from credit card companies does and doesn’t tell us about consumer confidence. Creeks and watering holes are a beloved aspect of Central Texas, but there’s a challenge in keeping them clean as the population booms. A new book explores the dark undercurrent of early 1970s Houston. We interv...
Apr 30, 2025•49 min
We’ve been here before, but this time feels different. President Donald Trump has rounded out 100 days in office, but getting a grasp of this moment in our country’s history is a challenge. Whether what’s unfolding is good or bad depends on where you look, and who you ask. This hour, we’re getting a snapshot of Trump’s second term by exploring what it’s like in California and Texas. The country’s two largest states, in population and economies, but living different versions of the same America. ...
Apr 29, 2025•51 min
Though a voucher-like plan has passed in Texas, lawmakers are far from done with education-related changes. What’s still on the legislative docket? Just about a month left before scheduled sine die at the Texas capitol, Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media shares some of the less well-known school-related measures lawmakers are considering. In other news, a death at a Dallas County jail raises questions about how such deaths are investigated and reported. Marina Trahan Martinez of KERA North...
Apr 28, 2025
A measure long sought by Texas Republicans is now on its way to the governor’s desk: A voucher-like plan to use public dollars to pay for private education. We’ll get details from Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom. A massive plan was once proposed to keep Texas from running out of water in the late 1960’s… Voters said no. How the debate has resurfaced decades later. And a big win for opponents of local marijuana decriminalization moves in Texas. The post After yearslong fight, school voucher b...
Apr 25, 2025•50 min
After lawsuits and a long delay, the Texas Education Agency releases rankings for schools in the Lone Star State. The school rankings are more than just an indicator of how well students are doing, they can have ripple effects on the schools themselves, as well as on housing prices and more. KERA’s Bill Zeeble joins us with what the report cards tell us. After record levels of deaths connected to police car chases, what, if anything, do Texas lawmakers plan to do? A historic theatre, once a hub ...
Apr 24, 2025
