Texas Standard

The U.S. Supreme Court declines to block Texas from verifying the age of app-users. We’ll dig into what it means for parents, kids and others.

We continue to remember lives lost in the Hill Country flood a year ago, including beloved Houston artist Tim Walker, whose work lives on in the Bayou City.

Plus, a memorial in the Sandy Creek neighborhood honors victims of the July 4, 2025 flood in Travis County.

Also, her goal was to swim in 50 bodies of water as she approached the age of 50. “Midstream” author Kate W...

The CDC is trying to get to the bottom of a parasitic infection causing sickness in Texas and other parts of the country. The current spike in gastrointestinal illness has hit Texas, New York, Illinois and Michigan the hardest so far. We’ll hear what medical experts say about the dangers, possible causes and recommendations to stay healthy.

Many might think of fire ants as being as Texan as bluebonnets, but they don’t remember the war against them. Echoed in the more recent fight against the New World screwworm, we’ll hear the backstory.

This weekend marks a year since the deadly and devastating Hill Country floods. Now, a final report is out for the Texas Legislature on what happened at Camp Mystic one year ago.
We’ll also hear from a University of Texas at Arlington researcher developing a comprehensive warning system to save future lives.
Also, the story of the Hill Country couple hailed as heroes in the aftermath of last year’s flooding.
Mando Rayo on a trained group of volunteers formed after Mexico City’s 1985 earthquake who came from Mexico to help with the Hill Country flood...

In the year since the Hill Country floods, how much has changed, and what hasn’t?
A communication breakdown was heavily blamed for the large loss of life during last year’s floods. Neena Satija of The Texas Newsroom tells us about signs of change along the banks of the Guadalupe. Plus, a closer look at a less-talked-about site of the disaster, where the response has been far more limited.
After calling for more regulatory oversight of data centers, Gov. Greg Abbott appears to ratchet up a clampdown on continued expansion.
The first-ever GOP midterm convention happ...

The Trump administration says immigration crackdowns target the worst of the worst, but what do the numbers say? We’ll dig into the details of a Houston Chronicle analysis of immigration arrest data in Texas and what the numbers suggest about who’s really getting rounded up by immigration enforcement.
Also, the U.S. military reverses course on vaccines after flu numbers rise at bases like San Antonio’s Lackland.
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including skeeters, it would appear — especially this year. How health officials are trying to stay on top of the diseases mosquitos carry.
And in...

It’s the last official day of the U.S. Supreme Court’s term. Among the decisions — whether to end birthright citizenship.
Dust from the Saharan Desert traveled thousands of miles to Texas, creating hazy skies and air quality concerns.
Smaller herds mean higher beef prices. Our Michael Marks has the all the details.
The largest virtual school in Texas is closing. What happened to the Lone Star Online Academy?
And the author of “The Chismosas Only Book Club” on friends bonding over books.

All that and more just ahead on the Texas Standard.<...

A much-awaited decision from the U.S. Supreme Court expands the range of presidential power over regulators with a caveat.
Bernie Sanders keynotes as Texas Democrats convene in Corpus Christi to prepare for the midterms. We’ll look at the signals they’re sending in the run-up to November.
The state Board of Education made national headlines with a vote to add Bible passages to the public school curriculum. We’ll dig into what this means for classroom instruction and the likelihood of a legal battle.
Also, a red-letter day looms for folks with student loans. Change...

On July 4th, 2025, devastating floodwaters ripped through the Texas Hill Country, killing more than 130 people.

After the Flood, a new podcast from the Texas Newsroom and PBS’s Frontline, has followed survivors over the last year and  tries to find out why this happened – and whether it could happen again.

In this first episode, you’ll hear what happened during those harrowing early morning hours of the flood. And you’ll meet a father who had just sent his daughter to Camp Mystic two weeks earlier.

The post Texas Extra: Introducing After the Flood app...

As the nation awaits some politically charged decisions from the Supreme Court, some new opinions were handed down yesterday with profound implications for immigration. We’ll discuss the decisions concerning asylum and Temporary Protected Status.
Venezuelans in Texas hope to help people back home affected by this week’s devastating back-to-back earthquakes.
This week in Texas politics looks at new polling data in the closely watched U.S. Senate race between State Rep. James Talarico and Attorney General Ken Paxton in Texas.
Plus, a World Cup update.

The post What to make of n...

Facing a summer without campers and millions of dollars in debt, Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy. We’ll delve into what that means.
Recent rains buy time for Corpus Christi, which had been facing an imminent water shortage emergency, but is it enough time to find a long-term solution to its water woes? Dylan Baddour of Inside Climate News with the latest.
Renters face a rise in junk fees from the largest apartment manager in the country.
The A-B-C’s of all things Texas: A new children’s book takes learning about the Lone Star State to new...

An important rethink of the state’s K-12 curriculum is on the drawing board in Austin. We’ll get up to speed on a week of contentious hearings now underway as the state board of education takes up a new statewide reading list featuring Bible passages and a reshape of the social studies curriculum.
One year after the deadly flooding in Texas’ Hill Country, a new podcast examines what happened last July and what’s changed in the months since.
Plus, scholar and storyteller W.F. Strong’s modest proposal to help those struggling with diphthongs and drawls: A...

As Texas copes with concerns about water, a small river agency near Corpus Christi makes plans to build the largest desalination plant in the country.
Pesticides used in the Rio Grande Valley may be the link to the large number of Parkinson’s patients in the region.
“The Last 12 Weeks,” a new podcast from The Marshall Project, offers a look behind the scenes at the effort to stop the execution of the El Paso man known as “The Desert Killer.”
And best-selling author Lauren Hough sets off from Austin with her dog on a cross-country road trip for h...

Texas’ Supreme Court hands down a major ruling that looks like a win for SpaceX on the surface but leaves open serious questions about a clause in the Texas Constitution.
Texas Tech and Texas A&M try to narrow a health care gap in rural Texas.
In North Texas, another World Cup match for Argentina today, this time against Austria, and another chance at history being made. All eyes are on the pitch in Dallas as soccer legend Lionel Messi takes the field as part of the tournament many see as his “last dance.”
After the excite...

It’s been a celebration for more than 160 years — but only a federal holiday for a few. We’re recognizing Juneteenth on today’s Texas Standard.
North Texan Opal Lee is known as the grandmother of Juneteenth for her efforts to get the holiday recognized on a national level. We’ll delve more into the history, as well as other stories about Juneteenth celebrations.
And we’ll revisit conversations that explore Black Texan history and modern-day experience: a  National Park Service site in Texas that served as a refuge for enslaved people seeking freedom in Mexico, the joy of a Blac...

With a U.S. Senate contest stealing the political spotlight, where do we stand in the races for the two top spots in Texas politics? A check-in on the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s races.
An unannounced feature in smart glasses could reveal the identities of people without their knowledge. Is this the future of personal networking, surveillance, or something else? Omar Gallaga tells us about it.
Also, we’ll get up to speed on the World Cup in Texas.
And what does it take to create social change in a Texas city with a conser...

Weather off the Texas Gulf Coast has the potential to bring a lot of rain. We’ll dig into what it might mean for water-hungry cities around the state.
We’ve talked a lot about the number of data centers coming to Texas, especially outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Now, a closer look at the legal bind some rural counties are getting into as they try to slow the growth.
A lawsuit led by Texas could have huge implications for people with disabilities. A look at what everyone needs to know about the case.
A conv...

When the World Comes Comes to Texas is a podcast from our partners at KERA in North Texas exploring what it means to bring the World cup to the Lone Star State. We’re sharing these episodes with very Tuesday night through June 16th.

Episode 5: How to Enjoy Every Kick This World Cup

While football might mean something different here in the U.S. (and Texas specifically), it means something much different around the world. And it has so much merch attached to it as well: everything from jerseys, hats and giant banners called tifos. In...

The Strait of Hormuz is set to reopen after months of conflict between the U.S. and Iran. We’ll look at what it could mean for Texas drivers and gas prices.
As Corpus Christi faces potential water cuts, questions are mounting over a nearby crypto mine’s water consumption. Why are city officials withholding updated records?
With the FIFA World Cup underway, Houston is welcoming fans with a new way to get to the matches. A look at what it could mean for the city’s future beyond the tournament.
Plus, from giant boomboxes to Texas...

Texas regulators are moving closer to allowing treated wastewater from oil and gas drilling operations to be reused on farmland and other sites outside the energy industry. Some fear the proposal is getting ahead of the science.

Texas Republicans signaled their priorities at their convention in Houston, with Gov. Greg Abbott outlining his vision for another term.

The Spurs’ hopes for a championship came to an end with a Game 5 loss to the New York Knicks — but it’s still a big win for San Antonio.

One Texas school district near is eliminating librar...

They say it’s only a game, but Texas sports fans know better. This time, however, some see an existential threat to college sports.

A scandal involving Texas Tech football quarterback Brendan Sorsby is now in the national spotlight. We’ll hear why and what’s at stake.

Meanwhile in Houston, evidence that there’s nothing like a challenging race to focus political will. After years of infighting, Texas Republicans putting up a united front at their party convention.

In El Paso, an effort to open up frontiers to an underrepresented communit...

Sunset for the days of Texas as the wild west of AI? A closer look at the Gov. Greg Abbott’s new plan for greater oversight of the rapidly expanding landscape of data centers statewide.
Day one of the World Cup — do the numbers add up? A closer look at projections about the economic impact here in Texas.
Also, the great dot cake debate goes viral online. What is a dot cake you ask? We ask Tacos of Texas host Mando Rayo, who has some choice words about a dessert that’s divided the internet.

The po...

New World screwworm is affecting a part of South Texas currently vacant a member of Congress. Some say that should spur a quick special election.
UT researchers believe they’ve figured out who has been scrambling GPS signals across huge swaths of Europe in recent years. We’ll find out about their discovery and what it might mean.
The World Cup means lots of fans descending upon Texas cities. Environmental scientists will be studying their impact in real-time.
A new film invites all Texans to participate in the ecological recovery of the Guadalupe River after devastating floo...

When the World Comes Comes to Texas is a podcast from our partners at KERA in North Texas exploring what it means to bring the World cup to the Lone Star State. We’re sharing these episodes with very Tuesday night through June 16th.

Episode 4: Take It to the Streets

We’ve talked about the professional side of soccer, but the sport is much more than elite athletes running around on the pitch in front of millions of fans. There’s also a strong and thriving street soccer culture that contributes to its immense popula...

Can Mike Miles, the man appointed to lead Houston ISD and help that struggling district, provide a roadmap for others in the state? We’ll have the details.
Also, a look at the federal government’s plan to stop the New World screwworm from spreading as more cases appear in South Texas.
Plus, fire safety concerns about the batteries powering e-bikes.
And Texas is likely to become the world’s largest hub for data centers — that’s led to growing concerns across the state, including in suburban areas.
Plus, Go Spurs go! The team recovered from two l...

Supreme Court cases on birthright citizenship, gun rights, transgender women and girls in sports… Where do we stand? Constitutional law professor Seth Chandler of the University of Houston Law Center joins us with what cases to watch for and where the high court appears to be leaning as the nine justices wrap up the current term.
More cases of New World screwworm in Texas discovered: How the Lone Star State is scaling up for all-out war on a parasite that could wreck the ranching industry.
And whither the pristine Big Bend amidst controversy over a border wall? A...

130 Texas towns and cities put on notice that they won’t be able to raise property tax rates. One city official calls it a catch-22.
The national Democratic Party sets its sights on flipping 12 seats in the Texas House — one sign that their candidate for senate, James Talarico may have serious coattails. We’ll hear more in the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.
A Texas opera company gives Bizet’s greatest hit gets the World Cup treatment, hoping to score points with a new audience.
A Southwestern University outdoor adventure leader is attempting to summi...

It’s considered by many to be the marquee race of the midterms: Paxton versus Talarico. But if you think that’s all there is to it, think again.
Shades of Ross Perot? Why a third-party candidate could upset the calculus in this year’s big Senate race in Texas.
And they’re back: For the first time in 60 years, a New World screwworm has been detected in Texas livestock. Now, an emergency quarantine in parts of South Texas. We’ll have details.
Also, a last-minute surge puts the Knicks over the Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA fi...

What control do county officials have when a data center wants to move in? A look at an investigation from the Texas Tribune.
The ballots are set for the midterm election in November, but at least one big thing is changing: Texas’ top elections leader, Secretary of State Jane Nelson, is stepping down.
What do the results from the primaries and primary runoffs tell us about how Texas Republicans are aligning with President Trump?
We’ve been digging into how Texas is reshaping the way the justice system responds to mental illness. Today, we step back and...

When the World Comes Comes to Texas is a podcast from our partners at KERA in North Texas exploring what it means to bring the World cup to the Lone Star State. We’re sharing these episodes with very Tuesday night through June 16th.

Episode 3: Gooooooooaaaaaaaaaal!

Sports commentary can be one of the most essential parts of the experience of a game, whether you’re watching it on television or listening to the play-by-play on the radio. But what does that experience feel like when you’re blind? Elliott Stockdale is the founder of Hear Sport...

Struggling school districts say extra funding approved by state lawmakers was too little and too late. We’ll delve into what the districts told lawmakers and what solutions may be on the table.
Independent testing finds toxic metals in the black wastewater released by a Tesla refinery near Corpus Christi.
A new book by a Texas doctor, “The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries that Changed Our World,” looks at the origins of public health practices many take for granted today.
And finding music and meaning at the Kerrville Folk Festival, nearly a year after the July 4...

After Uvalde, Texas bet big on safety with police in every school, but a new report suggests an unintended and very troubling side effect.

The New York Times and the San Antonio Express-News reports thousands of incidents of officers tackling, pepper-spraying even tasering students for offenses that once would have meant a trip to the principal’s office, and no clear standards to protect against over-policing at school. We’ll talk to two of the authors of this report.

Also, Angela Kocherga with how the latest on the border wall may lead to an unusual conf...

He wants to ban Islam in Texas and now he’s the GOP pick for a seat on one of Texas’ most powerful commissions. Who is Bo French? A closer look at why, after this week, a race for a seat on the Texas railroad commission suddenly carries more weight than it might seem at first blush.

A longtime U.S. Senator from Texas forced to give up his seat — what the end of the John Cornyn era says about Texas politics today.

And where to things stand with plans for a border wall in the Bi...

Ken Paxton handily beat longtime incumbent John Cornyn in the Republican runoff for Senate. So, what’s that mean come November?

We’re also unpacking big primary runoff races from across the state on both sides of the aisle. What do the results tell us about what Texas voters are prioritizing?

And did you vote in the primary runoffs? Congratulations, you may have added time to your life. The link between voting and living longer.

The Trump administration just changed the way people should apply for green cards. They’re now su...

When the World Comes Comes to Texas is a podcast from our partners at KERA in North Texas exploring what it means to bring the World cup to the Lone Star State. We’re sharing these episodes with very Tuesday night through June 16th.

Episode 2: Raising Pro Players

Did you know that one of the world’s most premier soccer clubs happens to be in North Texas? The FC Dallas Youth Academy was founded in 2005 by the Hunt Family, and it has gone on to produce some of the world’s most elite soccer players. Chris...

When spring storms move through cities, they can intensify — creating dangerous flooding. New findings from Texas researchers may explain why.

It’s runoff Election Day in Texas. While all eyes are on the Republican Senate contest between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, we’ll also spotlight some other key races to watch as ballots are counted.

Also, Memorial Day ushered in the summer travel season — and plenty of Texans are planning vacations and looking for trips to fit their budgets.

Plus, we’re heading into Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs. Can the Spurs...

Across the Lone Star State, Memorial Day observances and events are scheduled.
Meanwhile, voters in Texas are making their lists and checking them twice with primary runoff day set for tomorrow. We’ll get you up to speed on the statewide races to watch.

Plus, we’ll hear about a new app from the folks at Texas Parks and Wildlife. We’ll also learn about the women who’ve played an oversized, but often less-acknowledged, role in conservation.

The post A preview of key races for primary runoff Election Day appeared first on KUT & KUTX Stu...

Texas-based oil-drillers are looking for a competitive advantage — and they’re turning to AI. What are the implications? Turns out regulators don’t really know. We’ll hear more.
As the nation turns to honor members of the military who gave their all while serving, what of those service members who died years later after exposure to chemicals while in uniform?
Plus, the week in politics and a rising star in Dallas — our conversation with the frontman of Cure for Paranoia.

The post Dallas hip-hop group Cure for Paranoia talks breakout Tiny Desk win appeared first on K...

As the school year winds down across Texas, one major school district considers declaring an emergency over money. El Paso ISD sounds an alarm after finding a $52 million shortfall, leaving officials with many questions and critical decisions to make.
A primary runoff for a seat on the railroad commission has implications that may not be obvious.
For Corpus Christi, some encouraging news as the city scrambles to avoid an all-out water emergency.
 And a Texas-based air carrier issues a ban on robots. Tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us resistance is futile.

The p...

The big endorsement is in. So, what does it mean for Texas’s U.S. Senate race that President Trump chose to back Attorney General Ken Paxton?
You may have heard El Niño is coming — and not just a regular, but a super version. What does that mean for Texas weather and hurricane risks?
Texas has updated its program for drivers with communication differences, like those with autism or who are hard of hearing. We’ll cover what you need to know about the changes.
Plus, we’ll profile an animal shelter program with an outsized...

When the World Comes Comes to Texas is a podcast from our partners at KERA in North Texas exploring what it means to bring the World cup to the Lone Star State. We’re sharing these episodes with very Tuesday night through June 16th.

Episode 1: Creating a new American Pastime
This isn’t the first time the U.S. has hosted the biggest sporting event in the world. The World Cup came to the country in 1994, and it was then and there that Michael Hitchcock discovered a love for the sport of soccer. Now, Hitch works as a...