Texas Standard

A new report from the Wall Street Journal raises questions about how a prominent Texas Republican got rich as a politician. The report puts the personal finances of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the spotlight, though his supporters are calling it a hit piece. We’ll talk with one of the reporters behind the story. A […] The post New exhibit captures the meaning of ‘The Sele...

Public schools across Texas are being put to the test. From Fort Worth to Grapevine, Austin to San Antonio, we’ll look at how communities are reacting – and in some cases, pushing back – on plans to shutter schools and shuffle the map for many students. Also, a big fight over redistricting with huge consequences – […] The post Texas school closures raise tough questions appeared first on KUT...

A billion-dollar school voucher program is coming to Texas, but the company running it is based in New York. What that means for families. A Texas father convicted of killing his daughter faces execution in less than two weeks, but new evidence is raising serious doubts in the case of Robert Roberson. New World screwworms: The parasite […] The post Texas taps vendor for school voucher rollou...

The Texas National Guard is being sent beyond state lines. We’ll unpack what’s driving the deployment and the legal battle brewing around it. The ICEBlock app, designed to alert users about ICE agents nearby, has been pulled from app stores. Critics are calling it a violation of free speech. Years after the pandemic lockdowns, what do we […] The post Legal battle brews as Texas N...

A University of Texas professor says Congress has gotten so good at frequent government shutdowns, finding the political will to get back on track could be an obstacle in itself. We’ll take a closer look. Nearly two weeks after the deadly shooting at a Dallas ICE facility, investigators say the motive may be more about […] The post Houston megachurch faces legal revolt appeared first o...

A Texas congressional redistricting fight enters the courtroom, with both sides taking different positions from those taken earlier. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey with more on the start of what’s expected to be a nine-day federal hearing over new congressional maps. The most polluted air in Texas? We’ll hear why a Houston community may have a […] The post Amarillo star...

The U.S. invasion of Grenada. The U.S. invasion of Panama. As the U.S. builds up a major military presence in the Caribbean, Katrin Bennhold of the New York Times talks about Venezuela and what she sees as the growing specter of regime change. The latest on the federal government shutdown and what it means for vital […] The post Talarico leads early in Democratic primary fundraising appeared...

The federal government is officially shut down. What does it mean for Texas, and what happens next in Washington? Also, the Supreme Court opens a new term and major rulings are ahead. What can we expect from the nation’s highest court over the next few months? And wildfire risk is climbing as the state swelters through record […] The post How the government shutdown impacts Texas appea...

A court battle is set to begin over the newly drawn congressional maps. At stake is whether they go into effect for the 2026 midterm elections. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us to talk about the recent rise in political violence. Have you heard of 7-OH? It’s the latest drug cropping up at convenience stores. Now […] The post Court weighs Texas redistricting fight appea...

A breakthrough in a murder case unsolved for more than three decades: Police say they know who was behind Austin’s yogurt shop murders. Tony Plohetski of the Austin American-Statesman and KVUE on what has led police to declare the Austin yogurt shop murders “solved” after 34 years. Many questions swirling around a highly unusual meeting of […] The post Police say Austin’s yogurt shop m...

A looming budget deadline and threats of a government shutdown: what that could mean for Texans. The Texas Democratic Party has launched an expansion plan that includes relocating its headquarters to Dallas. The decision has roiled quite a few within the party, even prompting an exodus of top staff. In Texas, there are around 11,000 students who […] The post How thousands of blind and visual...

An investigative report claims as Texas flooded on the July 4 weekend, the head of FEMA couldn’t be reached. We’ll hear more about a reported slow response from acting administrator David Richardson and what it meant for Texas during the Hill Country floods. Concerns are rising in higher ed over millions of federal dollars for Hispanic-Serving […] The post Where was the acting FE...

A deadly shooting this morning at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Dallas. We’ll share the latest details. Workplaces across the state trying to calculate the implications of a new $100,000 fee for H-1B applications. We’ll hear more on the questions raised by the new policy and the possible fallout. How college football in Texas […] The post Rodney Crowell talks new...

After years of failed attempts, a so-called “bathroom bill” becomes law in Texas. We’ll cover what the rules say and how they’ll be enforced. Thinking of getting a COVID booster and have questions? We have answers. Why the National Weather Service offices in Austin and San Antonio are not fully staffed, even after historic flooding this summer. A […] The post Breaking down new guidance...

Some are calling it a new chapter in the relationship between higher education and Texas politics – we’ll have a closer look at what’s happening at A&M right now and why it matters. Something is missing in a new report from the Agriculture Department: an explanation for the data. Michael Marks reports on why the missing […] The post Why voters in Odessa turned against the far...

Texas A&M President Mark Welsh is resigning after a week of turmoil over a viral video and a clash over gender identity content in the classroom. What’s behind Texas’ redistricting push? KUT’s Mose Buchele reports on a political strategy started decades ago. The flesh-eating new world screwworm, a parasite once eradicated from Texas, has been […] The post Texas A&M...

Remember the Democratic walkout this summer over Texas redistricting? Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit accusing Beto O’Rourke of bribery and other charges for supporting the walkout continues – but O’Rourke appears to have the upper hand. Recovery funds are finally on the way for many in Houston who suffered damage during Hurricane Beryl and last […] The post A history of th...

Programs aimed at helping millions of low-income students earn college degrees is potentially on the chopping block. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Silas Allen joins us with a look. A series of bills aimed at preventing a repeat of the July 4th flooding tragedy in Texas’ Hill Country has passed, but some are asking if they go […] The post Remembering Robert Redford’s Texas ties appeare...

Hurricane Harvey caused historic flooding in Houston. Why developers are once again building homes in flood-prone areas. Gambling is illegal in Texas, but there is a gray area when it comes to online betting on sports teams: prediction markets and daily fantasy sports. Food banks are reporting steep increases in demand as families struggle with higher costs […] The post Matthew McConaughey r...

From the border to the rest of the state, Gov. Greg Abbott’s crackdown on immigration enters a new phase. The Trump administration’s creation of long, thin military installations along the border is affecting not just migrants but locals as well. Texas has settled another opioid lawsuit. So where’s that money going? After more than 20 years in Washington, […] The post Opera...

The contours of Texas politics are changing – part of Republican’s decades-long plan? Texas Monthly’s Robert Downen joins us to talk about what he sees as an unprecedented consolidation of power aimed at ending fair elections in Texas. Also, Texas A&M launches audits of its courses statewide – this after the firing of a professor over […] The post ‘CleaVage’ musical is...

The latest on the dismissal of a Texas A&M professor and the removal of two top administrators after political pressure over what was being taught in a children’s literature class – an incident that has led to concern about academic freedom. The impact of SpaceX launches in South Texas is felt across the border in Mexico, […] The post  Pushback in Mexico against SpaceX expansion ap...

Gov. Greg Abbott seems to be taking THC regulation into his own hands. What we know about what he wants to change. About 20% of Medicaid recipients lose access during the yearly renewal process because of all the red tape. How Texas researchers are trying to fix that. Texas is home to more than 100 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, […] The post The Texas ties to an infamous Atari flop appeared...

The Supreme Court allows ICE to round up people based on factors like appearance, at least for now. The attorneys general of New York and Texas face off over mail-order abortion pills crossing state lines. For years, rumors have circulated online about a serial killer targeting Rainey Street in Austin. A new study finds no such threat. The […] The post Study finds no evidence of serial kille...

As the dust settles on this year’s legislative action at the Capitol, where do the two main parties stand? If you buy beef, you may have noticed that it’s gotten more expensive lately. Michael Marks has the story, and whether there are any signs of relief. For several years, black bears have gradually spread throughout the Trans-Pecos […] The post What to know after black bear sighting...