Texas Standard

The state’s biggest school district, already under state control, now faces a civil rights investigation by the federal government. The probe into Houston Independent School District focuses on plans to change how special education services are delivered — what some believe may amount to illegal segregation. A massive liquefied natural gas export terminal is rising near […] The post South Te...

After three deaths on a cruise ship, fears over hantavirus are going viral online. A top Texas epidemiologist shares what science says. The race for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas is getting a lot of attention as current Attorney General Ken Paxton tries to take the seat of a fellow Republican. But what about the […] The post What to know about hantavirus appeared first on KUT & KUTX Stud...

Texas lawmakers have long known about flood dangers along the Guadalupe. So why were calls for life-saving protections not heeded? Amid lawsuits, two top state leaders say they want to make it easier for summer camps along the Guadalupe to reopen this summer, less than a year after the deadly July 4 floods. Plans to open a […] The post Valley Fever cases are rising in West Texas appeared fir...

Some of Ken Paxton’s usual big backers have not pitched in yet for his U.S. Senate race. What does that tell us about the runoff election? Houston ISD is trying something new next school year, launching so-called AI-focused schools. What’s that mean exactly? The business of craft brewing was growing for years, but now they’re shutting down […] The post Paxton faces fundraising sq...

The Supreme Court intervenes in the battle over the medication mifepristone that is used for abortions mailed across the country. An ICE agent shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez, a U.S. citizen, on South Padre Island in 2025 — but his family in San Antonio didn’t find out how he died for nearly a year. What […] The post Supreme Court order keeps abortion pill access in flux appeared fi...

A cloud of confusion over rulings involving THC and smokable hemp in Texas: What’s legal, what’s not, and why now? In this midterm election year, a test of efforts to expand legal protections and access to voting for Texans with visual impairments. We’ll hear why researchers say barriers are still common. Thousands nationwide are exonerated as laws […] The post Hemp rulings resha...

Camp Mystic withdrew its application to operate this summer, but dozens of other Texas camps are still trying to get state approval to open. Corpus Christi’s water crisis could soon mean people have to make big cuts in water usage — but there’s concern leadership isn’t prepared for the mounting emergency. A Texan in the Trump administration […] The post Texas camps race to...

The Voting Rights Act is losing more teeth. We’ll look at what a Supreme Court ruling means for redistricting. Also, another Supreme Court case is examining when and how police can use cell phone data. We’ll check in with our tech expert about what’s at stake. China is making brand-new cars for cheap. It’s hard to get […] The post How the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act r...

Corpus Christi has been careening towards a water emergency, but it’s not the only city along the Gulf with water woes. Another court battle over hemp, this time what stores can sell during a longer legal tie-up is at stake. The United Arab Emirates is leaving the world’s most powerful oil cartel. We’ll look at what that […] The post South Texas water crisis spreads beyond Corpus...

The Trump administration prepares to target elected officials in Mexico with suspected ties to cartels. That, plus the effort to build more border walls in Texas includes bonuses for some landowners in the Rio Grande Valley to speed up the process. Teachers who work as tutors could earn extra money under the new voucher plan. Sound […] The post Texas scientists discover new jellyfish species...

Texas lawmakers hold the first public hearings on last July’s deadly flooding at Camp Mystic. Sticker shock at the supermarket: How some Texans are bypassing the meat counter and going straight to the ranch. The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks with more. How Greg Abbott has reshaped the state’s top executive office. Texas is hosting 16 World Cup Matches […] The post Camp Mystic fa...

Writer/director/editor/producer David Lowery talks more about the creative relationship that inspired "Mother Mary" and his need to be so hands on with his work in this extended interview. The post Texas Extra: Filmmaker David Lowery on Dallas, Anne Hathaway and the best Texas film appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

Tens of thousands of DACA recipients are living in legal limbo in Texas under the threat of sudden deportation. We’ll look at the ripple effects in Texas and beyond. At a Baptist university well known for its conservative values, twin events at Baylor between Turning Point USA and a progressive event called All Our Neighbors is […] The post How a federal dispute briefly shut down El Paso air...

Civil rights groups say the Houston City Council has caved to threats from Gov. Greg Abbott. We’ll hear more on the city’s decision to amend an ordinance limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE agents. The latest frontier in the politics of energy: Andy Uhler on rising electricity demand statewide and the challenge convincing some rural […] The post Dallasite David Lowery talks n...

A judge has ordered the release of a family held in a South Texas detention center for 10 months. We’ll have a look at the case and what’s next. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is leading a Religious Liberty Commission for President Trump. Patrick’s recent comments denying a separation between church and state could tell us […] The post ERCOT forecast raises new questions about Texas...

The state of Texas is poised to spend millions on psychedelic drug research. We’ll have the details about the clinical trials set for ibogaine. Profits for Texas restaurants are plummeting as ICE conducts more immigration raids. We’ll hear what restaurant owners want the Trump administration to do. A deadline to ensure digital materials are accessible for people […] The post Texas to launch...

The war in Iran and the big energy bottleneck presents implications for the Lone Star State. As we parse out the latest, we’ll have a closer look at the impact on oil and why one top analyst says despite record oil exports from Texas, we’re still not out of the woods. There has been a lot […] The post War with Iran hits Texas energy from two directions appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studio...

David Streitfeld wrote the new biography "Western Star" about his friend Larry McMurty. In this extended interview, you'll hear more about "Lonesome Dove," McMurtry's reaction to the television miniseries and whether McMurtry himself was more of an Augustus McCrae or a Woodrow Call. The post Texas Extra: Writer David Streitfeld on ‘Lonesome Dove’ and why Larry McMurtry loved and hated...

As Corpus Christi and neighboring cities try to head off a water catastrophe, water demand exceeds supply across Texas and there are new staggering estimates for a statewide water plan. We’ll go over the numbers, what’s behind them, and what comes next. A runoff for lieutenant governor looms in Texas — but do Texans know either […] The post Big Thief guitarist Buck Meek talks solo albu...

The biggest city in Texas faces intense pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott over cooperation with immigration enforcement. David Goodman of the New York Times joins us with more on a threat to cut funding for Houston police unless it changes a new policy on collaboration with ICE agents. What happens next to Camp Mystic? A hearing […] The post Camp Mystic ruling could shape flood accountability c...

Texas Republican Tony Gonzales has begun the process of resigning amid accusations tied to sexual misconduct. What’s next for Texas’ 23rd congressional district? There’s an annual ritual going on right now on parts of the Texas Gulf Coast. Why conservationists are celebrating the unusual display of the Attwater’s prairie-chicken. The San Antonio Spurs are headed into the […] The post W...

The state is taking control of more struggling school districts, but how effective are the takeovers? We’ll discuss with two Houston Chronicle reporters tracking takeovers in Texas. Should the state attorney general make national politics one of his primary duties as outgoing AG Ken Paxton has done? It’s become an issue as voters elect the state’s […] The post Tracking state takeovers...

After talks with Iran fall apart, energy prices are back on the rise — as are military tensions. UT global affairs expert Jeremi Suri on what happened in talks and what it means for the foreseeable future. The end of the Artemis II mission, the start of a new chapter in space exploration. We’ll have more […] The post Discovery in Central Texas cave reshapes understanding of Ice Age wildlife...

Texas Standard talked with Bob Odenkirk during SXSW about his new film "Normal." The post Texas Extra: Bob Odenkirk on ‘Normal,’ what he brings to action films and paying taxes appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts .

The threat of hail, possible tornadoes and flooding conditions spells what could be a severe start to a stormy weather season in Texas. Meteorologist Eric Berger joins us with what to expect and how it fits into the bigger weather picture. How are you weathering rising gasoline prices? We’ll hear how some Houstonians are coping. Lt. Gov. […] The post ‘They Called Us Outlaws’ revisits r...