Texas Standard

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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Texas frees immigration officer Christian Castro, who is wanted for a shooting in Minnesota, raising critical legal and practical questions about federalism. An attempt by the Trump administration to lower beef prices has many Texas ranchers upset. Also, a look at what appears to be a groundbreaking new treatment in Texas for people with Parkinsons using ultrasound to stop tremors.

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Ottawa and Washington may seem distant to many Texans, but increasing rhetoric between the two has Texas in the crosshairs. We’ll examine how a trade war between allies could wind up costing Texas billions. Other stories we’re tracking: A historic multibillion dollar settlement from Meta has been reached over the use of social media by young people. What changes, what doesn’t and what it may mean…

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Tens of thousands of acres are burning in West Texas. We’ll check in on containment efforts and the ongoing wildfire risk. Republicans from all over the country will be gathering in Texas soon to drum up support for the November election. We’ll have a look at how the Texas GOP has evolved. Chinese biotech firms have become a major force in the global pharmaceutical market. We’ll look at what…

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The data center backlash has lawmakers rolling back plans to expand high-power transmission lines. We’ll have a look at what it means for rural residents. Also, how seniors are coping with the high cost of food. Plus, if you have pet, you know veterinary care can be costly. That has some families skipping a trip to the vet. A Texas organization steps in to help. Also, mapping extreme heat: Why…

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Texas youth prisons go on lockdown after assaults on correctional staff, with one official saying young detainees are “becoming more violent and more aggressive.” We’ll hear about the effects of the lockdown and what happens next. Why are we seeing a surge in food safety concerns and outbreaks of illness in Texas and other states? We’ll dive in and share some steps on staying safe.

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How rising childcare costs and shrinking funds to help families is costing the state dearly, and why some fear a change at the federal level could make things worse. Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s flooding the airwaves with ads. Meanwhile, striking silence from his Republican challenger. Is Ken Paxton just keeping his powder dry in the weeks before elections, or is this a…

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A federal judge orders answers to the question of why families are being held so long at a detention center in South Texas. We’ll have the story. After a state takeover of schools in Houston, officials tout rising scores for schools, but are those grades being artificially inflated at the expense of students themselves? We’ll hear about an exclusive investigation by the Houston Chronicle. Also…

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At what some have described as Texas’ flagship university, the University of Texas at Austin, a proposed change in core requirements for graduation. We’ll delve into why now and what it means. In a North Texas city, some backyards are said to be disappearing with every new rainfall. We’ll hear about what’s happening in Arlington and what can be done. Also, a surrogate mother comes to…

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Border construction in Big Bend National Park is paused — for now. We’ll have an overview of the damage done and what’s next. Texas received billions from a federal program meant to help provide high-speed internet to underserved communities. But why is it pausing new projects? Texas is home to the largest detention camp in the country. A year after the opening of the detention facility at Fort…

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The report cards are in — not for students, but for Texas public schools, inching some districts closer to a state takeover. We’ll have details and more. Paxton v. Roblox: Why the Texas attorney general — and Republican senate candidate —has put a popular gaming platform in his legal crosshairs. Also, what some describe as a little like Bitcoin with a “Come-and-Take-It” attitude: Today…

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Tens of thousands of Texas families who received state money to send students to private schools are giving it back. We’ll explore why. Texas cities are watching the back and forth between the Trump administration and the courts over a federal program critics say could put thousands of Texans at risk for re-entering homelessness. John Cornyn and James Talarico have come out against imminent…

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Children are being held in Texas detention centers far longer than legal limits allow. We’ll have a check-in on the immigration crackdown. People and politicians have rallied around their dislike of data centers. What does this PR problem mean for tech companies? We’ll check in on why an El Paso project might not be affected by Gov. Greg Abbott’s new data center regulations. It’s been nearly a…

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In Corpus Christi, residents succeed in getting the Fair Water Amendment on the November ballot. We’ll delve into the details of what’s in the amendment and what comes next. A look at how Flock Safety cameras are tracking vehicles and why there’s a backlash statewide. Plus, Texans love their pickup trucks — and there’s more to love as the vehicles get bigger. But larger sizes potentially mean more…

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The Trump administration wants to revamp Head Start. How the changes could cost the state and impact teachers. President Trump has ordered changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, but the executive order does not automatically change requirements for Texas schools. Law enforcement says Flock cameras that read license plates help solve crimes. But in Houston there are growing…

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President Trump says the governor’s pause on data centers is a mistake. What it means as the industry pushes to expand. Supporters of the state takeover of Houston public schools tout it as success for overall student achievement. But critics say it’s come at the expense some high-achieving students. Does a strategy for managing rapid economic growth in North Texas offer lessons for…

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New details are emerging about the first year of Texas’ school voucher program. We’ll explain who received the vouchers and why critics still have questions. Texas cotton-growers are facing rising costs and falling demand. Our own Michael Marks looks at a new effort to revive one of the state’s signature crops. Austin Sketch Fest returns for its 17th year, featuring headlining acts like Saturday…

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New reporting is raising questions about State Rep. James Talarico’s voting address. We’ll explain what it found and why it matters. Construction crews have arrived inside Big Bend National Park as plans for a new border wall move forward. We’ll hear the latest from reporters on the ground. Could stores be charging you a different price than someone else? We’ll explain how the practice works and…

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Texas A&M professors are suing the university system over restrictions on teaching about race and gender identity. We’ll discuss the legal challenge. Some Latino voters in Texas who supported Donald Trump in 2024 say they’re reconsidering that decision ahead of this year’s midterm elections. We’ll hear what’s driving the shift. The American Red Cross has declared a national blood supply…

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A look at why Sen. John Cornyn decided to back President Trump’s choice for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, after all — and what’s next. Also, why Gov. Greg Abbott has hit the brakes on any new data center projects for now. Plus, the late U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s enduring legacy. And plans are underway in Austin for a new housing development for victims of human trafficking and children fleeing…

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A voter purge is being rolled back in Texas after some eligible voters were wrongly flagged as potential noncitizens. We’ll discuss what happened and what it means ahead of the midterms. Also, for recent college graduates across Texas, the job market can be a difficult reality check. We’ll look at why landing that first job is proving tougher than many expected. Plus…

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Columbine. Sandy Hook. Santa Fe High School. Robb Elementary: Touchstones for a sense of shared tragedy. School shootings have become a part of modern life, but what do we remember of the event that opened this chapter 60 years ago? On Aug. 1, 1966, a sniper climbed to the top of the University of Texas Tower, opening fire on an unsuspecting public below. No one had any way to make sense of it.

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Texas public radio stations teamed up to tell the story of what happened after the July 4, 2025, floods — then deadly storms hit again. A conversation on how “After the Flood” updated its coverage. After years of being legal, possessing products containing Delta-8 is about to be a felony in Texas. We’ll have a look at how we got to this point. A state sales tax break for data centers may be…

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A new poll has James Talarico up five points over Ken Paxton in the race for U.S. Senate. We’ll have a look at how money and scandal could factor in. Texas shifted a lot of foster care responsibilities to third party contractors about a decade ago — but now, many have closed their doors. We’ll find out what we can learn from a key example. There’s a civil war of sorts going on at a Houston…

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Heavy rains replenished reservoirs and helped Corpus Christi delay a water emergency. We’ll explore how city leaders will use the extra time. Also ahead: Concerns over data centers cross party lines in rural parts of the state. Democrats are using the issue to win over some Republican voters. Plus, the latest “Map the Meal Gap” study shows Texas has the largest number of residents coping with food…

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Policies in Texas over when children should be removed from their parents are shifting. What do experts say about the changes? Ken Paxton just lost a step in the first major case against an alleged violator of Texas’ abortion ban. We’ll dig into what the ruling may indicate about the law. There have long been talks about connecting parts of Texas by rail, but a route between Austin and San Antonio…

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Midland ISD claims the way schools are funded has turned them into the state’s tax collector — in violation of the Texas constitution. We’ll dig into what this means and why it matters way beyond Midland. Recent flooding in South Texas brings something dangerous to the surface: Breakaway buoys in the Rio Grande. In a dystopian future, a young woman tries to make sense of her world…

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As cleanup continues after massive rains in the Hill Country, a storm from the east threatens the Texas Gulf Coast. An update on Tropical Storm Bertha: After making landfall in Louisiana, the storm headed back into the gulf. Forecasters fear it could loop back into South Texas. Texas’ World Cup summer has come and gone — almost. In Houston, an early accounting of the impact. San Antonio — a center…

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President Trump is trying to renegotiate trade agreements with our nearest neighbors —again. Why is Canada so upset? Much has been made over the political leanings of the Texas Rio Grande Valley. How are things looking for Senate candidates James Talarico and Ken Paxton in the run-up to November? An iconic LGBT night spot is facing a shutdown threat — so what happened to the San Antonio mayor’s…

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Torrential rain and flash flooding have swelled lakes in the Hill Country, forcing authorities to open floodgates. Also, why many major donors who supported Sen. John Cornyn are not backing Ken Paxton. Also, how Texas became a leader in semiconductor chip exports — and why the industry is now booming. Plus, a fashion show in Dallas puts models with disabilities at the center of the runway.

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After a week of devastating floods in the Hill Country, it’s now about clean-up and recovery. We’ll have the latest from Kerrville and more. There are two dead and hundreds rescued after floodwaters rose to record levels for a second time in as many years last week. Concerns are now about the effects downstream. In Uvalde, the flooding is testing the resilience of a community. Also…

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There are two confirmed fatalities in Texas’ Hill Country as rescues continue and precipitation finally begins to taper off. We’ll have an update on the flooding across Texas from Lucio Vasquez of the Texas Newsroom standing by in Kerrville. Rising food prices aren’t just making it tougher for more Texas families, but also for pantries and food banks trying to bridge the gap. We’ll hear what they’…

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Life-threatening floods hit parts of the Texas Hill Country as the Guadalupe River swells and flood emergencies and warnings go out. In the aftermath of shootings in Maine and Texas, a pause in ICE policy ends only hours after the change went into effect. We’ll have more from Houston’s historic East End on how the shooting has galvanized residents there. Also, the death of a Dallas…

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More wet weather for portions of Texas’ flash flood alley: A look at the forecast and warning systems put in place since last year’s deadly storms. Cities across Texas have responded to the issue of homelessness in a variety of ways. Is it worth considering a broader approach? People in Texas have been working to send relief to earthquake-devastated Venezuela, but some have questions…

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A legal battle over the deep discounts on water bills Corpus Christi gave major companies amid a looming water crisis. Why some of the new power plants for data centers are using the same permits as dry cleaners and auto body shops that don’t require an environmental review. A new effort to help more students in foster care get college degrees. What rising beef prices mean for Texas…

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Supporters call it the most important housing legislation in decades, but what does the new housing law mean for everyday Texans? In Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race, a challenge to what’s become conventional wisdom about Democratic nominee James Talarico and his appeal to Texas’ Black voters. An apparent end to the ceasefire with Iran and where that leaves consumers in Texas.

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