Texas Standard

Texas state prisons that don’t have a/c get so hot in summer with temperatures that violate state standards for other lockups. Also, well-known former Texas Police Chief Art Acevedo questions tactics used by immigration agents in Minneapolis. We’ll hear from him about his concerns over fallout for other law enforcement. And we’ll check in to see how […] The post Analysis finds extreme heat i...

In a little-watched race, Taylor Rehmet’s surprise win for Democrats in Texas may be a potential warning shot for Republicans in a midterm election year. Is this a one-off, or is the GOP in trouble in the Lone Star State? Also, Texas environmental regulators greenlight what looks like the largest fossil-fueled power plant project in the […] The post Democrat makes surprise win in solid-red T...

With national attention focused on the tactics of immigration enforcement, a concern is growing among Texas Republicans about the political fallout. We’re still months away for an important midterm election. But this weekend, voters in one part of Texas will be picking their representative to Congress. Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media brings us the backstory […] The post Austin...

Protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley called for the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father who were taken into ICE custody in Minnesota. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a massive military buildup as President Trump warns Iran to abandon its nuclear program – or else. But […] The post Protesters, DPS troopers clash outside Dilley IC...

The second death of a person in Minnesota at the hands of ICE agents has fueled an outcry from some for another government shutdown. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers aren’t just in Minnesota, of course. They’re also showing up in small-town Texas. A look at their impact on Elgin. We’ll hear from journalists José Ralat and Rodrigo […] The post Possible government...

Pressure builds inside the Texas detention center in Dilley housing parents and children. What’s behind a protest that erupted there over the weekend? Second Amendment advocates speak out after licensed gun owner Alex Pretti is killed by Border Patrol agents in Minnesota. A look at how weight loss drugs are transforming obesity and diabetes care in San […] The post Gun rights debate re...

An update on this weekend’s winter storm – the lingering aftereffects, and when to expect things to get back to “normal.”Though the worst may be over, many extreme cold advisories have been issued statewide today, and frozen precipitation is making many secondary roads treacherous. We’ll have an update, plus a look at the storm’s impact […] The post Austin police cooperation with ICE faces r...

Texans statewide are preparing for the biggest winter storm we’ve seen in years. We’ll have the latest on a weekend of snow, ice and freezing rain that’s en route to Texas. At the moment, officials say the power grid is looking good, though localized outages are likely due to falling limbs and ice on power lines. For […] The post Texans brace for winter weather on land – and in the sea...

Texans prepare for a major winter storm, projected to be the most severe since the deadly winter storm of 2021. We’ll get an update on preparations by state officials in what promises to be the first real test of the power grid since Winter Storm Uri five years ago. A Uvalde school police officer, the first […] The post Former Uvalde officer acquitted in first criminal trial tied to sh...

Freezing temperatures and ice are in the forecast for much of Texas. We’ll go over what you need to know to feel prepared. An investigation into jail deaths in Tarrant County finds a common denominator: A lieutenant who looked on. Drone delivery could soon be coming to your front porch. We’ll cover the companies embracing the technology […] The post What to know as arctic front heads to Texa...

A year ago, President Trump began his second term in office with a promise to carry out mass deportations. We’ll have a view from the border on today’s Texas Standard. Is the state funding private schools that discriminate? An update on a lawsuit challenging the heartbeat abortion law in Texas. Plus, award-winning photojournalist and musician Tamir Kalifa combines […] The post ‘Witness...

From one end of Texas to the other: Parades, celebrations and service events in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Veteran host of “In Black America,” John L. Hanson Jr., pays tribute to the civil rights leader. We’ll also hear from the host of a new PBS documentary on the evolving legacy of […] The post ICE detainee deaths draw scrutiny at El Paso facility appeared first on...

It may be the single election day with the greatest power to reshape the Texas political landscape, and yet most Texas voters don’t bother with it. We’ll unpack it today. Do you know when the Texas primaries are? Plan to vote in them? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us with the often-misunderstood stakes of primary […] The post How San Antonio’s MLK march became on...

Dueling ballot challenges in Tarrant County: Why longtime Texas politics-watchers say they’ve never seen anything like it. A look at a teacher’s alleged sexual misconduct and a new state law that could wind up costing a local school district millions. We’ll dive into whether other school districts could be on the hook as more victims seek […] The post Texas readies for the 2026 F...

A new investigation shows officials were confused about how many were missing at Camp Mystic in the hours after the deadly July 4 Hill Country flood. A disruption in the courtroom during the trial of the school police officer accused of not doing enough to intervene in the Uvalde shooting: Why the sister of one of […] The post Austin women’s skateboarding group builds space and community app...

The Republican race for U.S. Senate heats up with incumbent John Cornyn raising a record amount of money ahead of the primary. We’ll dive into where the race stands there, as well as between Democrats Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico. Six months after the catastrophic Hill Country flood, where do recovery efforts stand? Hope for the future […] The post Proposed THC rules draw backlash fro...

The killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week sparked protests around the nation this weekend. We’ll look at what happened here in Texas. The state of Texas has handed over voter registration rolls to the Trump administration Justice Department. Why Texas Democrats and some experts fear that could have violated […] The post Minneapolis ICE shooting prompts p...

Concerns about the flu are making headlines in many places across the country. Where do we stand in Texas? Our conversation with the state’s epidemiologist to hear how concerned Texans need to be as flu season ramps up. Also, more and more Texas parents are crying foul over the rising cost of their kids playing in youth […] The post What to know as flu season ramps up in Texas appeared...

Over three years later, the first criminal trial over the police response to the Uvalde school shooting is underway. We’ll have a live report with the latest in the trial of one of the first police officers to arrive at the scene of the deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary. With a big meeting set at […] The post Uvalde school shooting trial is underway appeared first on KUT & KUTX S...

The legal case against Nicolás Maduro and his wife has begun, but how’s that going to work exactly? Venezuelans living abroad, including here in Texas, continue to react to the capture. Why Austin-based “Freedom is a Feast” author Alejandro Puyana says it’s so important we keep including their voices in the news coverage. The U.S. military might […] The post Venezuelan Texans rea...

The latest from inside Venezuela as the Trump administration takes over and an interim president is sworn in. A look at the on again, off again immigration status of Venezuelans seeking asylum in this country – and Texas, in particular. Dallas County prosecuted its first fentanyl dealer, so how did the case fall apart? Birders have been busy […] The post What entered the public domain in 202...

A historic U.S. military operation has extracted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from the country. What are the implications, both for Texas and the U.S.? University of Texas global affairs expert Jeremi Suri weighs in on this weekend’s events, including the legality of the Venezuela operation and whether it was about narcoterrorism, oil, or something more. Speaking […] The post Venezuel...

As we celebrated 10 years of the Texas Standard in 2025, our yearlong tour of the state recently took us to our partners at Texas Public Radio, based in San Antonio.  Though its many landmarks bring in the tourists, new residents are rushing in, too – putting pressure on resources like energy and water.  We explored those growing pains but […] The post Enco...

Texas Standard had the best seat in the state for the recent Geminid meteor shower. We’re revisiting our special broadcast from the McDonald Observatory earlier this month.  We’re focused on space science, including the history of this West Texas research gem – and how it’s continuing to contribute to what we know about the universe and...

As we wrap up 2025, we’re reflecting on some of the most important news moments of the past year, including what happened with new proposals aplenty passed during the biennial state legislative session.   We’ll also drill down on some original investigative reporting of the year with the Texas Newsroom’s Lauren McGaughy and look a...