Over the course of the year we talk with dozens of authors – some stars in the making, others well-known names among Texas readers – and today we’re sharing a selection of great reads in 2024.
Plus: Just in time for Black Friday, booksellers share their top books for holiday gifts.
Stories we’re thankful for this year
This Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on some of the stories we’ve been grateful to share over the past few months:
– A Texas-based freelance visual journalist reflecting on winning a prestigious prize
– A Uganda-born musician who calls Texas home and is taking the U.S. by storm
– A comedian landing on many best-of lists, now reconnecting with his Texas home
And much more on a special Thanksgiving edition of the Texas Standard.
State Board of Education approves Bible-infused curriculum
The State Board of Education has approved a new Bible-infused curriculum that critics say overemphasizes Christianity and is a likely violation of the separation of church and state. It’s set for introduction in schools in 2025, though it’s likely to face a long legal battle.
Election transparency vs ballot secrecy: How changes to state law may have inadvertently exposed ballot choices for thousands of Texans, and what lawmakers may try to do to fix things.
Van Zandt County, about an hour east of Dallas, is mostly rural and quiet. But a potential energy project is causing some locals to make a lot of noise.
Plus: What to know about a new question about immigration status for many seeking hospital treatment in Texas.
SpaceX backs out of Boca Chica Beach land swap
A Houston-area nonprofit that helped thousands find a new life in the U.S. disappears. A new investigation reveals surprising answers about what happened to the Alliance.
More international students than ever before are studying in the U.S., and among the top destinations are the University of North Texas and UT Dallas.
How a much-talked-about Department of Government Efficiency could affect the hundreds of thousands of federal workers in Texas.
In a surprise move, SpaceX has pulled out of a land swap deal with Texas Parks and Wildlife.
And: A few months ago, 17-year-old Tobi Haastrup didn’t know what a first down was. Now, the Houston player is one of the hottest prospects in college football.
WNBA expansion sparks hopes for Austin franchise
The president-elect says he might use the military to support mass deportations of migrants in the country without legal authorization. But there are considerable obstacles to such an effort, both legal and logistic.
A new trade policy with an accent on tariffs. How Texas might find itself in the crosshairs.
Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing to boost nuclear power in the Lone Star State.
With the WNBA set to add teams in San Francisco, Portland and Toronto, there’s speculation about a 16th team. Could Austin be next?
And: how to kickstart a Kickstarter campaign.
A closer look at the country music Grammy nods
As lawmakers prepare to take up a school voucher-like plan, many state public schools are struggling with more cutbacks.
Gov. Greg Abbott is seeking an extension of a tuition freeze for public colleges and universities.
What the tiny town of Rockdale, Texas, could teach us about the energy transition and rising demand.
Mando Rayo of the Tacos of Texas podcast breaks down the state’s new Michelin-recognized restaurants.
And: What the Grammy nominations tell us about the changing landscape of country music – and why it’s sounding a lot more like an increasingly diverse Texas.
Lawmakers start filing bills for 2025 legislative session
More than 1,500 bills were filed yesterday for the upcoming Texas legislative session. What they tell us about looming fights in the new year.
What some immigrant rights groups in Texas are doing to prepare for expected changes in enforcement as President-elect Trump promises mass deportations.
As high season for holiday shopping gets underway, consumer advocates warn about the growing popularity of “buy now, pay later” loans.
Also: A conversation with Texas-based actor David Del Rio, who’s part of the “Matlock” reboot.
Will Elon Musk have a role to play in the Trump administration?
With the presidency and a majority now in the U.S. Senate, Republicans are eyeing a trifecta of power by capturing the seats needed for a slim majority in the House. But several races still need to be called. What’s taking so long?
Elon Musk spent a great deal of his time and money helping Donald Trump win another term this fall. Will Texas’ wealthiest man have a role to play in the Trump administration?
And: More than half a million undocumented immigrants protected from deportation under the DACA program are now worried what the future holds come January. Stella Chávez of The Texas Newsroom has the story.
Texas Democratic Party chair resigns after controversial comments
The head of the Texas Democratic Party has resigned following controversial comments about transgender rights and the issue’s role in elections. Lauren McGaughy of the Texas Newsroom joins us with the latest.
He’s Texas’ senior senator for now, but could he soon be known as Senate Majority Leader John Cornyn? We’ll hear more, as well as a who’s who list of some prominent Texans who might be going to Washington as part of the incoming Trump administration.
And a new children’s picture book highlights the beauty of West Texas.
Unpacking the results of the 2024 election
A historic election cycle ends with significant gains for the GOP statewide. What do the results add up to for the future of Texas?
A closer look at the U.S. Senate race in Texas and a wider re-election victory for incumbent Ted Cruz, compared with 2018.
The largest school bond proposal in Texas history was rejected in Houston, seen by many as a referendum on the state’s takeover of Houston ISD over the past year.
Plus: We’ll hear about results in some key local races from our reporting partners statewide and how the results could affect the upcoming legislative session.
Why Texans can’t put abortion – or other citizen-led initiatives – on the ballot
We’ll have the latest details the 400-acre Hudson Fire in Bastrop County, which has prompted the voluntary evacuation of about 65 homes.
On this day before elections, what we’re hearing about early turnout numbers.
Twenty-six states, including California, have citizen-led ballot initiatives – but Texas doesn’t. The Standard’s Sarah Asch brings us the history of a political tug-of-war.
Also: What comes next for death row inmate Robert Roberson and how his case may be affecting attitudes in Texas toward the death penalty.
Texas Extra: ‘There’s Always This Year’ goes beyond the bounds of basketball
Hanif Abdurraqib’s latest book centers the sport, but from there spins meditations on mortality and “making it.”
San Antonio’s Institute of Texan Cultures eyed for demolition
It’s possible the most closely watched statewide race in Texas this election cycle could also be the closest once the ballots are counted. How Ted Cruz and Colin Allred are making a final push in the days before Nov. 5.
In San Antonio, plans to demolish a building once part of a World’s Fair might be put on hold because of its history. Jack Morgan of Texas Public Radio tells us more.
And: The new book “The Fall of Roe” explores the decade before the Dobbs decision and the political apparatus that made it possible.
Catholic leader dismisses Arlington nuns amid ongoing dispute with Fort Worth diocese
A new public TV documentary titled “Our Texas, Our Vote” delves into the diversity of Latino voters’ perspectives and priorities.
For over 18 months, the nuns of an Arlington monastery have clashed with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. Now, a Vatican-appointed overseer has dismissed the sisters from their duties.
A Houston ISD basketball coach has been labeled the “kingpin” behind a $1 million scheme that allegedly led to hundreds of unqualified teachers obtaining certification.
Also: The Jesus Lizard returns with its first album in 26 years and tour dates in Texas this week.
Battleship Texas still in search of a new home after Galveston deal falls through
With early voting underway, reporters in Ted Cruz’s homebase of Houston and Colin Allred’s congressional seat in Dallas asked voters what they think of the candidates and what issues matter to them the most.
More than six months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed avian flu cases in dairy cows in Texas, experts are still trying to determine the full scope of the outbreak.
Also: The only battleship to have been used in both world wars is looking for a new home. What’s to come of the U.S.S. Texas?
Presidential campaigns make high-profile stops in Texas
With less than two weeks until Election Day, presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are both making high-profile stops in Texas today.
A nonprofit is helping Black farmers in Texas build a home-grown community.
Filmmakers share the story behind “Subtopia,” a new Texas-based mockumentary about HOA drama.
And: Remembering Sister Angela Murdaugh, a Franciscan Sister of Mary and certified nurse midwife who was named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
West Texas town dealing with insect invasion
Why an arrangement to care for an aging millionaire is raising questions about a Texas Supreme Court Justice and state ethics rules.
More and more college-age students are steering clear of campus life and turning to “microcredentials” as a path to employment.
We’re talking with Nico Lang, author of “American Teenager,” a new book on growing up LGBTQ+ in modern America.
Also: Why red flour beetles have taken over the town of Socorro, just southeast of El Paso, and what’s being done to deal with an unprecedented infestation.
School vouchers, proposed in Texas, are mostly used by the wealthy in Arizona
As early voting gets underway in Texas, here’s what you need to know as you prepare to cast your ballot.
The biggest contest on the ballot, after the presidency, is the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred. We’ll be profiling them both on the Standard, starting today with Cruz.
A major shift in energy use in China could have major ripple effects for Texas.
Supporters of school vouchers in Texas believe they give parents and students more academic choices and opportunities, while detractors say they will take money from public education and essentially subsidize private schools. We’re taking a look at an Arizona program that entitles each student to around $8,000 each school year.
Lawmakers buy more time for Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson
After a series of extraordinary moves, the Texas Supreme Court issued a stay of execution for Robert Roberson, convicted in the 2002 shaking death of his child. He’s been subpoenaed to testify before a House committee next week. We’ll hear from Republican state Rep. Brian Harrison, who was instrumental in the last-minute temporary reprieve.
Why is the Texas Department of Transportation buying a Houston toll road? And what might it mean for the patchwork of toll roads run by third parties across the state?
And: The Alamo is welcoming visitors from around the world with a new offering – guided tours entirely in Spanish.
Fact-checking Texas voter roll claims
Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, sparred in their only debate last night. We’re taking a look at some of the highlights and takeaways.
Our exploration of the intersection of religion and politics in Texas takes us to a Black church outside Sulphur Springs.
Why part of the story in the fight for Texas farmworkers and Latino civil rights is left out of the schoolbooks and what it could mean to change that.
And: Gov. Greg Abbott has touted that Texas removed over 1 million ineligible voters this election cycle, including more than 6,500 noncitizens – but an investigation found these numbers were overstated.