It’s almost time to turn the page on 2025, but we’re stretching out Texas Standard’s 10th birthday celebration a little longer with our 10 favorite book interviews from the past decade. It’s a list that includes children’s books, young adult literature, and books diving deep into history. Join us as we count them down. The post Our top 10 books stories of the past decade appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Just a few weeks ago, the editors and producers of the Texas Standard made out their lists and checked them twice, picking out stories from the past year that filled them with a certain sense of uplift – something that can at times seem so elusive. In the spirit of the season, we’re sharing some of these feel-good stories with you on a special Christmas Day edition of the Texas Standard. The post Stories to warm your heart this Christmas appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
Music is a huge part of what makes Texas what it is. And as part of Texas Standard’s yearlong 10th birthday celebration, we’re celebrating our top 10 favorite music stories from the past decade. Those include an exclusive interview with Phil Collins at the Alamo, an expansive conversation with the boundary-pushing band Khruangbin, and deep dives into the lives and legacies of Texas greats Johnny Canales and Nanci Griffith. We’ll also hear from the man entrusted to take care of Willie Nelson’s gu...
How will you remember 2025? This hour we’re listening back to some of our favorite stories of the year from reporters with the Texas Standard and Texas Newsroom. Remember the author of “Holes,” who made a sharp turn in 2025? Or when it was blazing hot outside and the swimming pool became too irresistible to say no to? What about the rise and rise of Labubus? All this and more on a special holiday edition of the Texas Standard. The post Our favorite stories from the Texas Standard and Texas Newsr...
This holiday season, we’ve been listening back to some of the most compelling reporting by our in-house journalists here at the Texas Standard, as well as a team of public media reporters statewide known as The Texas Newsroom. From an effort to help more adults complete a high school education, to a mystery Bible in Boerne, to the long-awaited launch of a new college football team in the Rio Grande Valley, you’re in for a treat on this special edition of the Texas Standard. The post The best of ...
Politicians can raise a lot of money running for election. But what happens to it when the campaign trail ends? Elected officials in Texas have a loophole to help them spend the money they raise on campaigns after they retire. How many concert venues have made it 75 years? We’ll take a tour of Dallas’ historic Longhorn Ballroom. All that plus the latest political headlines, SpaceX going public, and the Typewriter Rodeo. The post Dallas’ Longhorn Ballroom marks 75 years appeared first on KUT &...
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a Wisconsin-based electronic health records company has a monopoly over the industry. We’ll have more on the AG’s fight against Epic. Remembering a couple of major figures in the Tejano music world who we lost this past weekend: Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla. Plus, counties are getting new equipment to warn residents before flooding strikes. What is it, and will it help? The post Tejano music mourns two foundational figures appeared first on KUT &...
He’s been an elected Democrat for over 50 years, but now local party officials in Houston are refusing to endorse Mayor John Whitmire. Unwinding the political drama, today on the Texas Standard. Texas’ new bathroom law effects schools and government-owned buildings, but one reporter found enforcement depends on exactly where you go. Texans Michael and Susan Dell are giving away billions to American kids. Who’s eligible and how the donation will work alongside so-called Trump Accounts. Texas driv...
Texas does not allow people change their gender on driver’s licenses. Those who still try are now being tracked. How the Trump administration is reorganizing the Army to reflect a new focus on Latin America. Professors caution students about relying on AI, but some universities are doing just that to review course content. And a new memoir by the man who helped invent the carefree Cosmic Cowboy movement. Our talk with musician Bob Livingston, plus a reflection on the legacy of Joe Ely, who died ...
Houston, Fort Worth… Now three more Texas school districts are expected to be taken over by state education officials. Where, why and what comes next? The son of Texas A&M’s campus rabbi is among those critically injured in the mass shooting at Bondi Beach near Sydney, Australia. Mexican citizens who routinely cross into the U.S. at Texas’ southern border to donate plasma may be taking advantage of an immigration loophole. And our own Sarah Asch tells us why a library in a tiny Texas town ma...
Austin and San Antonio have long been home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Together, they are becoming what the authors of a new book are calling a “Megaregion.” This is an extended conversation with former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros and longtime journalists Robert Rivard. The post Texas Extra: The challenges and opportunities ahead for the Austin-San Antonio ‘Megaregion’ appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts ....
The Geminid Meteor Shower is happening, and we’ll have tips for your stargazing in a special live broadcast from the McDonald Observatory. Today we’re focused on space science, including the history of this West Texas research gem – and how it’s continuing to contribute to what we know about the universe and beyond. Dark skies are essential for observation, but there are challenges with light pollution. What they’re doing out in Fort Davis and what you can do at home. Plus: A conversation with S...
Millions of student loan borrowers are bracing themselves for big changes. We’ll have details on the end of the so-called SAVE program and why experts worry millions of student loan borrowers may be forced into default. As some Texas cities cut funding for homeless services, a look at one approach from nonprofits: giving cash directly to people who need it. With Netflix in the news this week, tech expert Omar Gallaga notes some users are already spotting a change in how they stream the service a...
Texas’ top two political officials are lockstep on a new effort to make sure conservative youth organization Turning Point USA can launch at every high school in the state. We’ll take a closer look. Human plasma is vital for medical needs, but it’s also a multibillion-dollar industry on its own. We’ll explore. A Texas school district is sounding an alarm about some robotaxis, saying they’re passing school buses and may be putting kids at risk. Black bears are living in West Texas again. A look a...
High-profile Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett launches her campaign for the U.S. Senate. We’ll look at how she’ll compete in a crowded field against primary opponent State Rep. James Talarico and prospective general election foes incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Last month Texas voters approved funding for a dementia prevention and research institute. Now a lawsuit means that plan is on hold. Plus, why more and more Texans are selling their blood plasma for ca...
Political musical chairs is underway in Texas on deadline day for candidates to file for the midterm elections. We’ll explore where we stand and what it means today. Mandatory course reviews and changes to policies at universities have faculty warning of dire threats to academic freedom, especially when it comes to teaching hot-button topics – like transgender identity. Kaye Knoll with that story. Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds… What about snacking on cottonseeds? The A&M researcher betting ...
It is a city as well known for its history as its growth in the here and now. Today we’re broadcasting from San Antonio for a special edition of the Texas Standard. As we celebrate 10 years of the Texas Standard, our yearlong tour of Texas takes us to the studios of our partners at Texas Public Radio, based in one of the most beautiful big cities in all of Texas. Though its many landmarks bring in the tourists, new residents are rushing in, too – putting pressure on resources like energy and wat...
Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar from Texas faced charges of conspiracy, bribery and money laundering. Why did the president just pardon him? We’ll dive in today. Texas becomes the first state to buy bitcoin. Why, and what it adds up to in a larger context. Imagine distilling your entire year into a snapshot – like a top 10 list. Spotify may have popularized the year-end personal recap craze, but they’re not the only game in town. Holiday wrapping and a whole lot more today on the Texas Stan...
Some new Texas laws are going into effect this week, including a modified bathroom bill. Other new laws include yet another one affecting abortion access, and one changing the tests kids take in Texas schools. Texas flagged hundreds of voters as potential noncitizens earlier this year, but county officials have already determined many were mis-flagged. The latest AP Top 25 college football rankings are out, but the handwringing continues over which teams will make the playoffs. And we’ll talk wi...
Questions about the Trump administration’s military operations in the Caribbean against Venezuela are growing. We’ll delve into the details. We’re also following the special election in Houston’s 18th Congressional District amid uncertainty over which congressional map Texas will use. Fort Worth and Tarrant County cut back on some public meetings, leading to an outcry. Is Texas becoming a dumping ground for oil waste from another state? And we get a tour of San Antonio’s new Museo del Westside. ...
The eyes of many Texans are on the U.S. Supreme Court – with new redistricting maps hanging in the balance. The Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff joins us with an update on a legal back and forth that could affect which maps Texas uses for the 2026 election season. Another Texas Republican, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, says he won’t seek reelection to Congress. That makes him the sixth GOP lawmaker to step back from elected office as we approach a new election season. What’s behind these departures? Al...
We’re bringing you a special rebroadcast from the studios of our partners at Houston Public Media, the November destination in our yearlong waltz across Texas marking 10 years on the air. Today, we’ll explore Houston’s rise to become the nation’s newest global city. Also, a mission to tell the true story of the first female astronauts, the Houston Chronicle with a new list of the top Houston restaurants, a take on Texas zydeco, and a whole lot more. Texas Standard is a listener-supported product...
Texans under the age of 18 make up almost a quarter of the state’s population, so we put together a show with them in mind, from Abilene and the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival In June. 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 voices on the show wil...
From the oldest radio station in Texas, in Dallas’ historic Fair Park, site of the State Fair of Texas, it’s Texas Standard Time. As we continue to celebrate our 10th birthday this year, the Texas Standard tour bus in October pulled into the historic home of WRR, temporary home to our partners KERA North Texas. We’ll explore the economic boom across North Texas, hear voices from the fair, learn about a new sports classic set to kick off at the Cotton Bowl and much more. It’s a special edition of...
As we continue our yearlong 10th birthday celebration, we’re sharing a special rebroadcast of our July show before a live studio audience at a place that’s been called the “Athens of Texas” – Waco, itself celebrating 25 years of public radio from our partners at KWBU. We’ll be sampling some of the sights, sounds and tastes of this historic Central Texas city. After all, when you’re the birthplace of Dr Pepper, home to a national monument marking an epic concentration of mammoths, and with a grow...
Today we’re bringing you a special rebroadcast of Texas Standard’s May show from El Paso. 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 cen...
He’s cultivated relations with top political figures, but how much is known about the ties between Elon Musk and Gov. Greg Abbott? The Texas Newsroom’s investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy on what started out as a public records request that turned into an odyssey as she tried to learn more about the relationship between Musk and the Texas governor. Also, she’s one of the most successful Texas songwriters in history – yet many Texans don’t even know her name. The Standard’s Leah Scarpelli repo...
You’ve heard about the ruling striking down Texas’ new congressional maps, but what does that mean as a practical matter for the upcoming primaries? The new ruling on Texas’ redistricting plan, and an expected appeal throws a lot into limbo. Space shuttles once routinely orbited the earth many times over, but a plan to bring one to Texas is having trouble getting off the ground. Plus, the Standard’s Sarah Asch looks at how the Mexican government is filling in the gaps for some adult education pr...
A ruling out of West Texas has upended Republican redistricting efforts to get more seats in Congress. Where things stand now that a federal judge in El Paso has struck down Texas’ new congressional map. We’ve reported before on how Texas school district leadership seems to have become increasingly partisan. We’ll take a closer look at the fallout in one part of the state. El Paso’s highway system has a history and impact everyday commuters might not know. Miguel Juarez, author of “Frontera Free...
Texas A&M bans professors from discussing race or gender ideology. Will other universities follow? They were supposed to be protected from deportation, but now ICE is going after some DACA recipients, too. How some Dreamers are ending up in detention centers. Why the VA is making it harder for men with breast cancer to get medical care and disability benefits. Also, the wild, little-known history of the NFL’s Dallas Texans, as well as how AI is making old lottery scams targeting Texans seem ...
