NTX Now

In January, Texas had 1,600 pending Medicaid applications. In August, that number was more than 210,000. The wait for food assistance, or SNAP, also grew exponentially. KERA health reporter Abigail Ruhman joined us to talk through the data. Plus, with no delegates and no official nominating to do, what's the purpose of a midterm convention? KERA's James Hartley asked a variety of experts and polit...

KERA's Penelope Rivera fills us in on a weekend press conference at which James Talarico and Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons discussed the new list of polling locations released by County Judge Tim O'Hare. She also previews of Tarrant County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. And the Fort Worth Report's Cecil Lenzen talks about a new report that shows voter fraud in Tarrant County is not as...

Shenita Cleveland is no stranger to community activism. If her name rings a bell, you may know her from her two runs for Congress in 2020 and 2022. But she's been gaining traction online recently, after she took to the streets... literally. She has become a pothole watchdog. We've come to call her Dallas's Pothole Vigilante. She joined us to talk more about her work getting city leaders to pay att...

A new study found a blood test could identify cancer recurrence in women months before the standard follow up scan. But Austin-based oncologist and breast cancer specialist Dr. Debra Patt says there is a caveat. She talked through that with KERA's morning newscaster Sam Baker. Plus, Ron and Miranda breakdown the day's top headlines. 

President Donald Trump recently announced that beef from abroad would be tax-exempt and bought at 25 percent below market price. Some North Texas ranchers say that will "brutally" impact them. The Dallas Observer's Jordan Maddox spoke to some of those ranchers. She and Lauren Drewes Daniels joined us to talk through the impacts of this move. Also, what's coming up this week on Think? Krys Boyd joi...

Our friends at KXT spun vinyl live on air yesterday. We spoke with Benji McPhail and Jackson Wisdorf on the logistics of doing this special programming, as well as reflecting on some recent musician deaths. Plus, Miranda & Ron reflect on what they learned this week, and what they're looking forward to for next week. 

A trip to the grocery store has gotten a lot more expensive in recent years. Ground beef, tomatoes and coffee have all seen big spikes, and those higher prices can be especially hard on older adults with fixed incomes. Harvest Public Media contributor Nicole Grundmeier spoke with seniors about the tough choices they’re often forced to make. Plus, more than a million and half students started class...

Ron, Miranda and Bekah run down the top stories from this week.

According to the National Weather Service, the Ross Fire currently burning in Palo Pinto and Jack counties is now the second largest wildfire in this region's recorded history. As of yesterday, no one has been injured, though livestock deaths have been reported, and the Worth Ranch Boy Scout Camp experienced catastrophic damage. The Fort Worth Report's Nicole Lopez tells us the latest on the fire'...

Arts reporter Zara Amaechi helps us unpack opening arguments in the murder-for-hire trial involving two Dallas area rappers. Also, in just two weeks, Republicans from across the country will gather in Dallas for a national party convention aimed at rallying the GOP ahead of the midterm elections. But what it means to be a Texas Republican has changed over time. Plus, UNT Health earlier this month...

Joyce O'Shaughnessy, M.D. with Baylor Scott & White researches if GLP-1 drugs might be a secret weapon in the fight against breast cancer. She shares her promising early findings.

The Denton Record-Chronicle's John Fields joins us for updates on the PGA tour, the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Wings and more. Also, Plano residents grilled city council members about a proposed new arena for the Dallas Stars at a town hall meeting this week, but they didn't get many answers. KERA's Collin County reporter Caroline Love was at that meeting and joins us to discuss.

Mid-cities reporter Andy Lusk sits down with Irving mayor Albert Zapanta to talk about the most pressing issues facing the city right now.

A Dallas judge is deciding who gets custody of a newborn with a heart defect: his surrogate or his genetic parents. The two women at the center of the case testified in court yesterday. KERA's law and justice reporter Toluwani Osibamowo was there and tells us what happened. Also, Amtrak's Heartland Flyer, the line that runs between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, is here to stay. Republican State Se...

Singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist Dolly Parton died Wednesday. Music critic Thor Christensen joined us to discuss her life and legacy. 

Ron and Miranda break down the day's top headlines. Also, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says frustration among rural Republicans over data centers, transmission lines and other state policies has grown so intense that he and some other GOP voters may refuse to vote for some Republican candidates in the November election. Plus, the Dallas Asian American Film Festival is making its debut...

Brooke Scholl is a host with our sister station WRR, and she's also a cellist who performs with the Plano Symphony Orchestra. Last week, she joined the group at the Meyerson Symphony Center to record the Plano Symphony's first album and tells us about the experience. 

A case with North Texas ties has raised questions about both abortion and surrogacy in three states with very different laws. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo previews the case. Plus, at a state House committee hearing yesterday, the Texas Water Development Board presented the state's water plan, which does not include projections for water usage from data centers. Houston Public Media's Natalie Weber at...

Kids are back to school, and as that first day excitement fades and schedules become routine, parents and teachers may begin noticing early signs that a student is struggling. Clinical psychologist Dr. Summer Rose talks about what parents and teachers should be watching for and why responding early can make such a difference. 

Julia and Ron break down the day's top headlines. Plus, the 110-year-old Highland Park United Methodist Church is being sued by the United Methodist Church’s Horizon Texas Conference. D Magazine's Bethany Erickson helps us parse through the details. 

An archeologist says early construction activities to build a border wall in the Big Bend region have already damaged a notorious historic massacre site in Presidio County. Marfa Public Radio’s Zoe Kurland reports. Plus, once the heat finally lightens up, it'll be time to get outside again. And if you're up for driving a few hours, Arkansas offers spectacular hikes through the Ouachita National Fo...

The Texas Juvenile Justice System was on lockdown for several days last week after an "exceptionally brutal" assault on a correctional officer and another at a halfway house. As of Friday, it still wasn't clear when restrictions on visitation and movement throughout the facilities would end. Law and Justice Reporter Toluwani Osibamowo joins us to explain. Also, as kids head back to school there is...

On Saturday, the Fort Worth Community Land Trust is hosting a free Homebuyer Fair in cooperation with the City of Fort Worth and the Rosemont Neighborhood Association. Becky Bass with FWCLT explains how this system of home ownership works.

A recent CDC report found cases of high blood pressure in pregnant women rose 73 percent nationally between 2016 to 2024. High blood pressure is associated with serious complications for both mother and baby. But the CDC report does not specify a cause. KERA’s Sam Baker talked about the report with Dr. Marc Wilson, an OBGYN at Texas Health Denton, who had some thoughts of his own about possible ca...

D Magazine dining critic Brian Reinhard talks about the best breweries in North Texas. Also, what's coming up this week on Think? Krys Boyd joins NTX Now to preview the lineup.