Texas Standard

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

$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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]