Texas Standard

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...

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...