Texas Standard

As Texas lawmakers return home, what are the big takeaways from six weeks of overtime at the Capitol? We’ll take a closer look at what happened – and what didn’t. Why some think Collin County could become one of the nation’s most highly contested political battlegrounds. Antone’s, known as Austin’s home of the blues, celebrates its 50th […] The post Antone’s celebrate...

The Legislature’s second overtime comes to a close with new political maps and a slew of Republican wins. But how do Texas voters come down on the big issues of the day? A new survey offers some answers. After years of planning and tens of millions spent already, Corpus Christi’s city council cancels a high-profile project […] The post Corpus Christi cancels controversial desalin...

No more QR or barcodes: Why Collin, Williamson and Bastrop counties are changing the way voters will cast ballots. Housing affordability is a big issue in Texas, and three new state laws aim to address it. Will they work? Many are concerned new Texas congressional maps dilute the voting power of Texans of color. But others welcome […] The post Some Texas counties switch to paper ballots ahea...

The Texas Lottery gets a second chance under new management. So what will change? A new state law now in effect targets AI-generated child pornography. But could it also ban some anime? Americans have been on the move since the founding of our country. But now, more people staying put rather than relocating for new jobs and […] The post Could a new Texas law make some types of anime illegal?...

The fight over redistricting has shifted from the Capitol to the courthouse, but plenty of serious work is still on the table when legislators return to their offices Tuesday. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins with a look at what’s left on the agenda. A new law in effect today creates a statewide alert system for […] The post New state law will give farmers a heads-up on pests a...

Three new measures are set to take effect aiming to “Make Texas Healthy Again.” Political sloganeering or genuine change? A closer look at the laws that prompted Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s visit to Texas. As we approach Sept. 1, more than 800 new laws are set to take effect. We continue our close-up of some of […] The post Educators face new risks under inappropriate material law appeared first...

Texas’ newly drawn congressional maps are aimed at helping Republicans in 2026, but they’re shaking up the political landscape already. We’ll hear just how today on the Texas Standard. Rice University’s Mark Jones on the musical chairs among Texas’ congressional Democrats, and whether these maps are likely to survive scrutiny as legal challenges proliferate. Over 800 new […] The post Elon Mu...

President Trump is using the threat of legal action to push his policies forward in Texas and beyond. We continue our series about new state laws taking effect with a look at one that prevents people from certain countries from buying land in Texas.20 years after Hurricane Katrina, how the New Orleans residents who found a […] The post Austin Butler, Darren Aronofsky talk Texas, filmmaking &...

President Trump signs an executive order ending cashless bail. We’ll dive into what that means for cities like Houston. We’re also tracking new state laws set to take effect Sept. 1, including one that aims to attract more film and television productions. Another increases the penalty for assaulting a utility worker. Plus, could the San Antonio Spurs […] The post College football arrives in...

A much-talked-about redistricting battle starts to take a back seat to other legislative priorities at the Texas capitol. As the battlefront over redistricting shifts to a multistate fight with Texas and California setting the pace, top California Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger has a message for his fellow Republicans in Texas. The Houston Chronicle’s Lisa Falkenberg tells us […] The...

Asleep at the Wheel are celebrating 50 years in the business with their latest album out this week, “Riding High in Texas.” Longtime frontman Ray Benson joined Texas Standard to talk about the band’s legacy and the music of the Lone Star State in this extended version of a conversation that first aired in June. […] The post Texas Extra: Asleep at the Wheel celebrates five d...

At the Texas Capitol, a big shift in focus as the spotlight swings from bare-knuckle politics to long-delayed flood relief. Food is labeling set to change in Texas as a sweeping new law takes effect aimed at, among other things, alerting shoppers to ingredients long the focus of concern in other countries. Austin-based filmmaker Noah Hawley likes […] The post Noah Hawley talks ‘Alien:...

President Trump claims a big win in Texas as the state House passes new congressional maps giving the GOP an edge in 2026. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom and Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media share what it means for the political landscape going forward. Are Americans falling out of love with their credit cards? […] The post The Texas House passes new district map designed to giv...

A poll on Texas’ 2026 Senate race finds a tightening GOP battle between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn, and a Democratic preference for Beto O’Rourke – who isn’t yet in the race. This morning, a federal judge temporarily blocked 11 Texas school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. We’ll bring you the latest. Texans are […] The post 11 Texas school distr...

The state says the West Texas measles outbreak is over. What that means for parents and children. Are natural gas wells, pipelines and storage facilities prepared for another dangerous winter storm? Mose Buchele of KUT News examines the inspection process. We know AI data centers need a lot of power, but they also use a lot of […] The post Could Texarkana be a political bellwether? appeared...

After national headlines and a pledge from California to offset Texas’ redistricting plans, the walkout by Texas House Democrats is over. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom has the latest on the Dems’ return to Austin and what comes next. Old satellites, tools, even food wrappers: Space debris is piling up. Now, a Texas company’s recycling […] The post A Texas firm tackles space...

Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom joins the show with a live update from the Capitol as the Legislature’s first special session ends amid a Democratic walkout. After flooding and a historically wet July, new concerns about water levels dropping. As students return to the classroom, more and more schools are being shuttered. The Standard’s Zachary Suri […] The post Tesla’s robot...

Redistricting seems like the entire political conversation in Texas right now, so it’s probably no surprise it’s influencing the U.S. Senate race. Texas received millions in federal funding for adult education programs, but it was uncertain and came several weeks late. What are the impacts of programs that give money, with no strings attached, to people and […] The post Why polic...

Gov. Greg Abbott threatens a concurrent second special session with a Democratic walkout still underway. Is there any end in sight? Details from a new release of materials withheld by Uvalde County and the Uvalde school district in the wake of the 2022 Robb Elementary school shooting. What’s behind a massive growth in virtual schooling in Texas? W.F. […] The post Virtual public school...

Undocumented college students in Texas are no longer eligible for in-state tuition. As the new semester starts, many are in limbo. As we keep an eye on the special session where Texas Democrats broke quorum, a look at another state – Oregon – where Republican lawmakers staged a walkout. A new state law that bans cell phones, […] The post No phones, devices in classrooms as Texas students ret...

Just one more full week is left in the Texas Legislature’s special session, and with House Democrats away, what happens next? Some of those Democrats have decamped to California, which is now mulling a possible redistricting effort to offset potential Republican gains in the midterms. The IRS says churches can now endorse candidates, a move that could […] The post Dinosaur tracks uncov...

Texas’ redistricting fight is has spread past state lines. New federal legislation aims to ban mid-decade congressional redistricting, and the brawl looks likely to impact upcoming elections and the 2028 presidential race. San Antonio is planning a massive sports and entertainment district, including a new arena for the Spurs, a convention center expansion and more – […] The post Charley Cro...

While the Texas House remains stalled due to a quorum break, the Senate continues its work, advancing a key education bill that could eliminate STAAR testing statewide. Texas is seeing a boom in data centers driven by AI and crypto – but the growth comes with major energy and water demands. Thanks to a $1 billion voter-approved […] The post State parks are getting bigger and better appeared...

Texas Democrats are facing legal threats and potential action from the FBI for fleeing the state during the special session. Concerns about artificial intelligence are coming to a head with the most recent round of college graduates. How it’s disrupting the job market. A proposed expansion for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in the Panhandle had been […] The post Muleshoe Refuge...

The high-stakes battle over redistricting continues. Why Democratic Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins took the risk and left the state. Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to remove Democratic lawmakers from their seats for leaving during a special session, but can he legally do that? The history of partisan gerrymandering in the Lone Star State. Why Texas has become a professional […] The post A cent...