Texas Standard

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...

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...