Texas Standard

The Prairieland 22 is a podcast from our partners at KERA News and NTX Now. We’re sharing these episodes Wednesday nights. Episode 1: “4th of July Party!” July 4, 2025. A protest, the shooting of a police officer, and a case the government cites as an example of a growing domestic terrorism threat: “Antifa.” Over the next year, 22 people would be arrested for the nonfatal shooting of an…

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Democrat Bobby Pulido is leading a poll in Texas’ Congressional District 15 that had heavily favored Trump. The district’s Latinos may be leaning even further left. Some Texas school districts shifted toward a four-day school week during the pandemic. Now there may be legislation to discourage that. Texas is considering doing away with a program meant to serve children across the state with autism.

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Early voting is underway. We’ll go over five things to watch for as Texans cast ballots in races that are too close to call. Is the state of Texas trying to sell a beloved beachfront state park to Elon Musk? Plus, how school cafeterias are coping amid rising costs and cuts to federal food assistance. And why out-of-state colleges are increasing their effort to recruit students from Texas.

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The border is secure, but there’s a border emergency. Why the difference between two GOP narratives? We’ll have a closer look. The first in-person votes are being cast in the Texas midterms today as early voting kicks off. The Standard’s Michael Marks joins us with a look at the race for agriculture commissioner, and how one of the most talked-about issues has little to do with farm policy and…

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A border wall cutting through Big Bend is on hold, but something connected to the wall still has many locals unsettled. This week saw a debate between candidates hoping to represent what is geographically the biggest congressional district in Texas, and the stakes for both parties are high. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies tells us more. Also, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.

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The last time a Democrat served as Texas governor was decades ago. Is that about to change? For years, politics-watchers have all but dismissed the prospect of a Democrat being elected governor in deep-red Texas. But polls suggest the closest gubernatorial race in recent memory between incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Gina Hinojosa. Two veteran political analysts consider the potential…

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A new poll from the Texas Politics Project suggests the Republican winning streak in the Lone Star State faces its toughest test yet. It’s cotton picking season in Texas. Scientists studying wild cotton and its ancestral origins hope older genetic traits could eventually strengthen the varieties farmers plant today. And: One of the most durable sayings about Texas pride gets a reality…

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What’s next for Camp Mystic as a judge rules wrongful death lawsuits filed by parents can move forward. Republican Monica De La Cruz is seeking a third term in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, where Democrat Bobby Pulido, a Tejano singer and first-time candidate, is challenging her. The South Texas race will test whether recent Republican gains among Latino voters can hold.

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New details from a deposition more than a decade old shed light on how Ken Paxton has amassed his wealth. Could they rattle the tight Texas U.S. Senate race?A new military push for AI, and an outsized role for Texas. Why some say the process is moving too fast.San Antonio’s Fiesta will look different in 2027, with its longtime Night in Old San Antonio canceled. What’s changing and what could come…

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President Trump’s performance in the Rio Grande Valley surprised many observers of the 2024 election. But was that that the start of a trend, or just a blip on the political radar? A new professional sports league is hoping to spur new interest in an ancient practice. The Sumo Championship League’s first-ever event is happening this weekend outside of Austin. Vincent Valdez has spent…

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Texas school districts appear increasingly suspicious of STAAR test results graded by a computer system. We’ll dig into what’s going on. Republican candidate for railroad commission Bo French recently drew criticism from many in his own party for comments widely labeled racist. We’ll look at the potential impact on the rest of the ballot. Texas leads the way in the number of recent ICE arrests…

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The midterms are just around the corner and we’re watching several competitive races in the Texas House. We’ll have details on some of those races. A botched execution in Tennessee is having immediate impacts in Texas. A look at why the 2009 Fort Hood shooter will be executed by firing squad. Meanwhile, there’s a push to spiritualize the military. We’ll share a report about the creation of a…

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With less than two weeks to go before the first in-person early votes are cast in the midterms in Texas, great expectations are rising among Democrats here and nationwide with polls and pundits alike predicting big gains. We’ll break down the what, where and why. So stressed or frustrated you just want to scream? Welcome to the club: The Dallas Yell Club. We’ll hear what that’s all about. Also…

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The first Monday in October means the U.S. Supreme Court is back to work. We’ll have an early look at the docket, what Texans should watch for and more. A red-hot congressional race in a huge district — a contest between YouTube gun rights supporter Brandon Herrerra and child rights advocate Katy Padilla Stout — is drawing a lot of attention. We’ll explore why the race for the 23rd is so…

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Remember redistricting in Texas? The plan was to try to secure more surefire wins for Republicans. Now we’re seeing some surprises. We’ll have the details today. And another political surprise possibly in the making: The governor’s race, initially not expected to be much of a battle for Gov. Abbott, is forcing many to reconsider. We’ll hear more. Also, do public libraries have a return on…

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In Texas’ biggest metro, Houston, a vote looms to tell police whether to deprioritize marijuana cases. But even if it gets the green light, will it make a difference? Also, the latest on an alleged threat on the Texas capitol and a possible change of heart over a border wall in the Big Bend region. Where things stand on the push to get police connected to AI. Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why…

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If you’ve consumed any media with commercials lately you know why the race for U.S. Senate between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has become so expensive. We’ll dig into the details. With the election now just weeks away, it’s worth making sure your voter registration is in order. A backlog is affecting a lot of Texans. We’ll walk you through how to fix things.

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The remnants of Hurricane Polo are expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding across much of the state. We’ll have the details. It’s been a year since a gunman opened fire at an ICE office in Dallas. We’ll hear from the wife of one of the victims — a man who was in ICE custody. Plus, the Endangered Species Act protects animals from extinction. Now, the Trump administration’s…

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Artificial intelligence is developing fast, and if you think it’s impacting life now, just wait. This is a special edition of the Texas Standard — “The New Wild West: Texans on the AI frontier.” What happens when you press that return button in ChatGPT? We’ll follow the energy-intensive requests. We’ll also explore the life-changing benefits AI can offer, and we’ll weigh that against privacy…

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Tens of thousands of unprocessed voter registrations were never forwarded to county officials for processing, leading to chaos and questions. If you registered to vote through the DPS, such as when you were updating your driver’s license, you may want to check with county officials who are now working through a backlog of forms they should have received long ago. We’ll talk to the reporter who…

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Last year’s tragedy at Camp Mystic moves into the realm of criminal investigation, with search warrant requests by the Texas Rangers. As many Texas communities try to push back on more data centers, they often find local officials can’t do much. How did Texas find itself in this position? What new studies are revealing about the connection between AI and what robots will do…

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A shooting involving immigration enforcement is under investigation in Austin — and it’s sparked protests. Also, a federal judge has ordered Texas to air condition every state prison by the end of 2029. We’ll look at the years-long fight over extreme heat behind bars. Houston’s new homeless services center in East Downtown has been open for about three and a half months. We’ll hear how the…

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Do data centers help local economies? The largest one is under construction in West Texas and could provide some answers. Also, we’ll get an update on the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin and take a look at the use of deadly force by ICE on city streets across the country. Plus, the struggle to pay for childcare in Texas. Texas Standard reporter Sarah Asch takes us to a Texas…

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Another ICE shooting in Texas, this time in the Texas capital city on Sunday. Also, what could be an important week of speeches and negotiations in New York. UT’s Michael Mosser joins the Standard with more on what to look for, and what’s at stake at the UN general assembly gathering. With much of the UN focused on current conflicts, we’ll hear how an expansion of the war between the U.S.

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In the Big Bend region, local businesses are banding together to push back against border wall construction. Growing food insecurity in rural areas is on par with some of the country’s biggest cities amid changes to federal nutrition programs. In the fight against the spread of a destructive parasite, a look at what may be a gaping hole in the strategy. A new warning about the New World screwworm.

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As concerns grow over data centers in Texas, something is conspicuously missing: Reliable data on the impact. We’ll have a look at the search for real numbers. A global conference on energy wraps in Houston as gas prices reach wallet-slimming levels across the Lone Star State. We’ll hear more on the G20 energy summit and ask about a possible disconnect. Facebook’s parent company Meta claims to be…

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We assume the hundreds of new data centers popping up across Texas use quite a bit of water, but we’ll look at why we don’t know for sure. Texas has a program to help expand access to preschool. But why do some providers say it’s having unintended consequences? Republican candidate for the Texas railroad commission Bo French put dozens of UT students in an unexpected spotlight with a racist social…

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Texas pulled smokable hemp out of stores but it’s still available in other forms. So, what does the law say now? A North Texas community weathered a recent wildfire but still lacks basic resources for another emergency. And there’s a rise in dangerous ectopic pregnancies and it varies by state. We’ll delve into what’s happening in Texas. Dallas-raised, best-selling author R.F.

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Rural Texas has long been a GOP stronghold, but one issue could make a top statewide race more competitive than previously thought. We’ll look at how data centers have emerged as critical in the Texas gubernatorial contest. Some Texas institutions of higher learning are encouraging students to use AI. We’ll dig into why. Public libraries in Texas aren’t just for checking out books anymore.

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There’s a lot to talk about in Texas on a daily basis and Texas Standard wants to get to as much as we can. But sometimes that means taking a great conversation and making it much shorter than we’d like. Such is the case with one this week with longtime Texas politico Ben Barnes. Our David Brown talked with him about his new memoir “Get It Done: Seven Decades of Lessons from a Political Legend.”…

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25 years since 9/11, in which a series of coordinated attacks on the U.S. marked the end of one era and the start of another. We’ll share some stories of Texans whose lives were impacted. A first-of-its-kind midterm political convention wraps up in Dallas. Did Republicans move the needle with just two months to go before midterms? Caroline Love of KERA North Texas joins us with a closer look.

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How might AI-generated images affect a high-stakes political contest in Texas? Rice University political professor Mark Jones joins the Standard to talk about how Ken Paxton’s campaign is hoping to win votes with AI-generated images of his Democratic opponent, James Talarico. Also: Some top-line takeaways from the first day of a first-of-its-kind GOP midterm convention underway in Dallas.

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Costs for air conditioning are so high that some on limited incomes are trying to do without. But with temperatures also at extremes, that’s leading to some grave outcomes for seniors, in particular. The GOP’s unconventional convention is in Texas for a reason — and part of that is the state’s fundraising power. We’ll take a closer look. And do your feelings about AI change if it helps you save…

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While all eyes are on the upcoming midterm election, there are signs one particular Texan is looking at running for president again. Is Ted Cruz gearing up for 2028? Also, why Democrats see James Talarico’s Senate run as an opportunity to gain votes in parts of West Texas that have been reliably red for decades. And Texas political luminary Ben Barnes joins us to talk about his new…

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This Labor Day holiday marks 15 years since the most destructive wildfire in recorded Texas history — measured not by acres burned, but by homes lost. The Bastrop County Complex Fire was just one of more than 30,000 that ignited in 2011 — by far the worst year since the Texas A&M Forest Service has been keeping track. It was spurred by an unprecedented one-year drought. Today on the Texas Standard…

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Following the money: What are super PAC donations telling us about Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race? Democrat James Talarico is outfundraising his Republican rival Ken Paxton big time. Who’s writing the checks and what does the money add up to in a high-stakes midterm? Also, as the GOP puts finishing touches on next week’s national convention in Dallas, a closer look at the Bush Family…

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Tarrant County, a big Texas county seen by some as key in the upcoming midterms, cuts the number of polling places. We’ll have the backstory. It’s not political convention season — or is it? What looks like an unconventional convention set for Dallas. Also, more on a mysterious kidney disease that’s arrived in Texas hitting young men from Central America especially hard. We’ll hear what health…

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$27 million a day. That’s how much Texas hospitals are losing because of a disagreement with the Trump administration over Medicaid funding. We’ll have the details. Much of the talk of the November election in Texas has focused on the race for U.S. Senate. But who will be Texas’ next attorney general? We’ll share a closer look at candidates Mayes Middleton and Nathan Johnson. As tropical winds and…

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Tropical Storm Edouard heads toward the Texas coast. What to expect as it makes landfall. An update on recovery efforts in Nepal, where Texans are among the missing. How Texas is helping mount a defense against hackers who broke into systems that control water infrastructure across the U.S. New laws take effect as September begins. We’ll highlight some of the big ones…

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Liftoff for a mission set to answer cosmic mysteries. We’ll go over the main objectives and the West Texas connection for NASA’s new Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This summer, thousands of enlisted troops were forced out of a major Texas base over dangerous living conditions — the tip of the iceberg when it comes to barracks in disrepair. Also, why some activists say a Lubbock library is…

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